Naturally helping thyroid issues?

[slmommy]

Hi,

 I´ve lurked around here a while but never posted.  I know there was a huge thyroid thread in the past... but I wanted to ask if anyone has had any success in naturally curing their hypothyroidism (or at least being able to go on a lower dosage)?? I hate the idea of being chained to pills for the rest of my life.

I was diagnosed with hashimotos around 14? I don´t really remember much other than my TSH was over 600 and everyone freaked out.  Didn´t have many symptoms other than being cold all the time, my fingers and toes were turning white, and depression. I have been on synthroid, about 175 for many years now... I´m currently 28.  My daughter was born 2 years ago and about 6 months after she was born I got very sick and learned I am Celiac, and have been off gluten since. I know there is some connection between the two but have never seen much in-depth info.

I´ve seen things online about avoiding soy, fluoride, certain foods, adhering towards a more TF diet...  Has anyone ever tried to treat their own hypothyroidism? Especially anyone on a high dosage like me? Does anyone know what kind of dr. would even entertain these types of questions... homeopathic, naturopathic? I´m not that familiar with alt. med.

Thanks!

[utahmama]

Wow, OP.  I could have written your post, except for the fact that I'm still dealing with hashimoto's and have never been treated.  My antibodies are over 600 as well.  I'm cold all the time and get hives on my lower extremities from being cold.  I have basically all the symptoms of being hypo yet every dr I've been to says that my TSH is normal so why treat me.  One dr tried 20 mg of synthroid for a month b/c I insisted.  It didn't help so he just said we shouldn't keep treating.  (this was about 10 yrs ago).

I FINALLY found a dr who I think will help me.  My appt. is this week. He's an endocrinologist MD but studies Ayurvedic medicene and has a natural approach.  I'm hoping and praying that he will be able to help me feel normal again.

Good luck to you.  I'll be following this thread to see what other's suggest.  I hope you get the answers you need to help you too!

[slmommy]

hi utahmama, thanks for the reply!

It wasn´t my antibodies though, it was my TSH that was 600+, I don´t remember the exact number.  It was the highest my dr. had ever seen, I was retested to confirm and then sent to a specialist. I wish I remember more, but I was 14 and didn´t really care. I never had any additional treatment or issues, just went on synthroid until found the right level.

I don´t know, a lot of thyroid info I see online is focused at people who have "normal" TSH but symptoms.  I went to the Stop the Thyroid Madness website and it´s all about that... but I think I´m the opposite??

After my daughter was born I went down to 125 but have worked back up, 137-150- and now back to 175 (which was pre-baby level).

I recently moved to 175 after a TSH of 14.89, but I wasn´t experiencing any symptoms or noticing anything different.

Last time my TSH was really high in college (30´s) I did notice because of depression/trouble concentrating.

Does anyone else have really high TSH´s? It seems like most people have "normal" but many symptoms...

I was hoping my level would stay lower when I went lower after having a baby.  I was also hoping cutting out gluten would maybe lower my level, but doesn´t appear to be so...

[slmommy]

Ok, so well, I´ve been reading about this all day...

in regards to my last high TSH, my free T4 was normal, and my dr. didnt order free T3 - just total T3, which is at low end...

apparently synthroid is just T4 replacement, I guess I need to get a free T3 test, maybe I am low there and should try t3 replacemente or Armour... I had considered this before when reading through the old thyroid thread on here, but was pregnant at the time, so didn´t want to mess around with too much stuff...

I wonder if I need T3 and started getting that in addition, maybe that would lower my T4 need??

Anyone with similar experience??

[slmommy]

Utahmama-

the stop the thyroid madness website is pretty helpful (but overwhelming at first)

I read a lot there yesterday.  I am also going to try get an appt. with a different dr. this week.

this article is helpful about exams to ask for:

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/recommended-labwork/    (the site has a lot of info on why apparently TSH isn´t a good way to diagnose or dose hypothyroidism)

let me know how it goes for you!!

[heatherdeg]

You may want to read Andrea Beaman's books.  She cured her thyroid issues twice (because she went back to an eating style that really brought it all back into being).

http://www.andreabeaman.com/health/

Hope this helps.  

[slmommy]

thanks for the link, I will def. check it out!!!