Health issues I'd like to share

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

My health has been relatively good most of my life, except for my thyroid. When hypothyroidism was diagnosed, I was put on medication, and things were great! But then I found that there are numerous cysts on my thyroid and it was swelling. Doc says that is indicative of low or no iodine in my system, and that I need to take iodine. Seems that lack of iodine could lead to cancer down the road. But by taking the iodine, the symptoms of hypothryroidism (extreme fatigue, brain fog, feeling cold) have come back with a vengence. I know that when my thyroid medication is adjusted, things will be fine again. I'm so glad that this was found now, and that I know why I'm feeling lousy today!

[OneGrassRoot]

1. That thyroid stuff is a mess.....

As you well know, the tests are so unreliable -- or, perhaps, how doctors interpret them are unreliable. So few really understand the various aspects of the tests.

I am SO glad you know why you are feeling lousy today and that you'll feel better very, very soon.

A naturopath I saw ages ago told me how important it is to use sea salt -- but in its natural form it needs to be a pink or even gray hue, not pure white. This supposedly helps keep much of this in balance. They even recommend taking like 1/4 teaspoon a day just as a pure supplement.

I hope you start next week feeling like a new woman!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Luckily, Doc doesn't just look at the tests

She looks at the patient, and tests reflexes and stuff. One of the big insurance companies took her off their "preferred doctor" list because she kept treating someone for hypothyroidism when the lab numbers said she was "normal". Doc did this because despite the test results, the patient was still exhibiting symptoms of hypothyroidism.

I've been eating sea salt, but not the grey or pink hued kind. Thanks for the tip--will switch.

[OneGrassRoot]

3. I know....you are so blessed with your doc.....

she knows to look beyond what is on the lab sheet and actually look at the patient as a whole. That is a beautiful thing!

She is rare, however. Although I must say, a neurologist I have worked with for 15 years (professionally, not as a patient) is a fan of nutritional and other alternative approaches. He specializes in headache and head pain syndromes.

He has found he sees many women with these syndromes and symptoms whose hormones are out of balance, which leads to a whole host of other issues. So, he's focusing very much on bioidentical hormones, thyroid supplementation, vitamin D, etc., etc.

I give him a lot of credit.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

8. He deserves it!

Nutrition and hormones both can play a big role in one's overall health. Since you mentioned headaches, you may be interested in reading an article Doc wrote about them:

http://www.futurevisionsfoundation.org/Headaches.htm

[Cleita]

4. Do you use iodized salt? That should help. n/t

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

9. Yes, Thanks for asking!

I've used iodized salt all my life. You see, this thyroid problem goes back a couple of generations--my grandmother had hyperthyroidism, goiter, and then surgically induced hypothyroidism. My mother was in the womb when my grandmother started having her thyroid problems, and Mom has hypothyroidism as well. So we have all eaten iodized salt all our lives--but it was the white kind, not natural, and no one in my family uses that much salt. Plus we live far from the ocean, so we don't get iodine from eating fresh food from there.

[SheilaT]

13. This also brings up the fact

that our own mothers' and grandmothers' health and nutrition affects us. In your case you know of the generational thyroid problems. Many people have no way of knowing or finding out that what mom or grandma ate, consumed, was around is a reason they have some problem now.

[I Have A Dream]

5. I'm so glad that you know what is causing your problem, ayesha.

It's so frustrating getting to that point. I'm also so happy that you have such a wonderful doctor.

I know that I also have a problem, and it's not yet under control. The kelp tablets that I take have really helped with the mental fog aspect for me. As a computer programmer, I cannot afford to be in "la la" land during work hours.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

10. Did you know it isn't wise to eat broccoli regularly?

It can inhibit the absorption of iodine into the system. In fact, I just googled to make sure this was correct, and found a whole list of foods that you shouldn't eat more than once or twice a week. It includes cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and soy. Hmm. I knew about broccoli, but not the others. There are several article on this, but the only one that would load is this one:

http://www.drjondunnnewsletters.com/Newsletters/2008-04...

It has a lot of information about iodine deficiency and the health risks associated with it.

[I Have A Dream]

14. Thank you!

[OneGrassRoot]

16. No way!!! Wow, I need to look at that list.....

I had no idea. I eat a lot of cabbage, brussel sprouts, etc. (vegetarian here)

I wonder if the sea salt balances that?

I'll read. Thanks, Ayesha!!!

[I Have A Dream]

19. I'm a vegetarian also, OneGrassRoot.

You might want to consider using kelp tablets.

[OneGrassRoot]

26. Do you think that's needed in addition to the sea salt?

Why oh why isn't there a magickal supplement to balance everyone according to their individual needs? lol.

I really would love to have hair analysis or salivary (not sure which is preferred nowadays) to know where I stand so I could approach supplementation more wisely. I do feel comfortable with my own intuition for the most part, and can often tell what's needed.

The progesterone cream use is helping after getting through the two weeks of spotting, the high-dose B-complex and adrenal stimulant are doing well.

I also got Andrew Weil's one a day vitamin for women, plus essential oils.

Now, maybe my memory will improve enough to remember to take them all!

[I Have A Dream]

27. If the sea salt is working for you, you probably don't need the kelp.

I'm a salt-aholic, so maybe that would work for me as well.

Are you at all concerned about your sodium intake? If so, then maybe the kelp something else to try. (They're really inexpensive -- $6 or so for 200 at GNC.)

I'd love to have an analysis done as well.

[OneGrassRoot]

28. I'm actually careful about sodium intake....

and use the sea salt sparingly, but make sure to only use that as, supposedly, it's really good for you.

That's good to know the kelp is so inexpensive. I've become so uninformed about nutritional things in the last few years, and have forgotten much of what I DID learn since the late 80s when I became vegetarian, but it seems kelp is also a good source of protein.

I'll definitely check it out. Thanks, Dream.

[MorningGlow]

6. Interesting, Ayesha

Hypothyroidism is so complicated. Glad your doctor is on top of things. I know I owe my life to my homeopathic m.d. for the same reason. The HMO we have now won't let her be my primary doctor (she doesn't work with HMOs anymore--doesn't like them dictating how long she can meet with a patient, etc.), so I have to have a medical "beard" of sorts. I go to him for my sinus infections but I still go to her for all my thyroid work. My "offical" m.d. hasn't protested yet--and he'd better not!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

11. Good for you!

A lot of our patients are the same way--they have a PCP because their insurance demands it, but they come to us for their health needs. It is so neat to have a Naturopath and Homeopathic Doctor (one and the same) on staff. Doc regularly consults with her about many things--a true partnership, even though Arkansas doesn't recognize her Naturopathic/Homeopathic credentials and she has to work as a PA.

[MorningGlow]

15. I miss my old HMO

from my full-time job. It was Aetna. They didn't have my doc on their list, either, but they didn't care that she was my PCP. Once we switched to BlueCross/BlueShield, they started nagging me to pick a "real" PCP--in fact, I got a letter and called their customer service number to find out what exactly they wanted, and the customer service rep was THREATENING! She kept saying that I had "better" pick a PCP from their list or they wouldn't honor any other services--bloodwork and prescriptions and the like. Sheesh! The good thing is I have to pay full shot for my Armour Thyroid anyway (no generics means no copay with our plan), so I don't have to tussle with BC/BS about that. It's like the whole course of my thyroid treatment operates outside the system. It costs a lot (the price of Armour has quadrupled in the past couple of years for no discernible reason), but I would never cut corners when it comes to this.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

7. Glad you're dealing with it.

Hypothyroidism can destroy your life.
Mine died when I was in the seventh grade -- preadolescent. It was Hashimoto's disease which is the most common cause of hypothyroid.

I have taken Armour Thyroid ever since (that was around 1966) and have argued with many doctors who want to put me on Synthroid which is not the same thing and not as bioactive!!

You MUST have a doc who treats you with enough thyroid to reduce your symptoms and increase your energy. For some reason most docs don't want to give you enough thyroid that you feel good -- they go by the almighty blood tests!! GRRR!!

I go to an anti aging doctor who says she can give me bio-identical thyroid which I did not know they had. She also does pellet implants under the skin for DHEA, testosterone and such. I have had a testosterone pellet implant and it gave me lots more energy. That's another hormone that doctors don't want to give to women -- it might make us confident, aggressive, hairy, and OH NOOOOOO -- horny!!!


Excellent website with tons of info:

www.stopthethyroidmadness.com

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

12. Rest assured we will up my Armour

in fact, Doc herself has thyroid issues and has assured me we'll get the proper dosage of Armour set. Luckily, my last refill on this prescription is this month, so I have at least a couple of weeks to determine the proper dosage for me so the new scrip will be correct.

[catzies]

17. Thyroid issues ar so under-discussed on a holistic level in our society

There's some good stuff in this thread and I hope you will get your symptoms under control and get back on top of the world soon.

[omega minimo]

18. "vibes" for you

ayeshahaqqiqa, so glad you have a good doctor and lots of info/support. Do you have acupuncture available?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

22. Something very similar

called Entertropic Therapy. If I need acupuncture, I know where I can go to get that done, too, though it wouldn't be "in house".

[Why Syzygy]

20. Sea salt

doesn't contain iodine.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sea-salt/AN01142

A natural practitioner suggested radishes to pep up a sluggish thyroid.
More suggestions:
http://standing1.home.mindspring.com/thyroid/goodfood.h...

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

23. Interesting reading

but in one place it says to eat cabbage, broccoli, etc, in moderation, and in another place it says to take those things....did I read it wrong? I'm confused!

I use a Doulton water filter--Doc says it is the best, as it filters out aluminum and other stuff you don't need.

[Why Syzygy]

29. Hmm?

Are you referring to the second link? It has two charts. One for hypo and one for hyper.
Is that what confused you?

[Tumbulu]

21. I used to buy kelp capsules for the Iodine

but now I eat a sheet of sushi seaweed everyday. It has less iodine than the kelp capsules I used to take. But it is so tasty and it seems to provide a decent amount. The key, as I remember is to eat it every day as it is not stored in the body.

Good luck!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

24. Hmmm

that sounds very interesting! How does it taste? I'll have to see if I can find it around here!

[Tumbulu]

31. well I actually love the taste

and so does my daughter, she eats a sheet of it in her lunch every day, plus a bunch of the school kids eat it as well. Supposedly seaweed is the most nutritious vegetable after all, plus it supplies many minerals such as Iodine. It is a good snack and is pretty inexpensive. Less expensive than taking kelp capsules.

[Sanity Claws]

25. Certain foods can affect thyroid hormone levels

Soy and cruciferous (sp?) foods may lower levels of thyroid hormones.
I did some internet research on this a few months ago and see that there is some dispute about this but if I were you, I'd avoid soy and see how I felt after a month or two.

[Shallah Kali]

30. Soy bothers my Grandmother's thyroid

After she had her heart attack the 'health program' the specialist sent her to pushed soy soy and more soy. Soy chips, soy burgers, soy everything. Soon she couldn't sleep at night and on her next checkup her thyroid was way off. She stopped the soy and her levels stopped going haywire. This doesn't mean this will effect everyone with thyroid problems but it is good to be aware of if you eat lots of soy vs. the occasional bit of tofu or edamame.