Re: newly diagnosed - try acupuncture first?

April 13, 2011

If you have hypothyroid, I have never heard of it cured with acupuncture. If you

need a thyroid hormone, you won't get it with acupuncture.

<>Roni

Immortality exists!

It's called knowledge!

Just because something isn't seen

doesn't mean it's not there<>

From: ledbyrain <ledbyrain@...>

Subject: newly diagnosed - try acupuncture first?

hypothyroidism

Date: Tuesday, April 12, 2011, 6:36 PM

Hello,

I was recently diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Yesterday, my TSH level was 10.95,

my Free T3 was 2.8 and Free T4 was .72. They want to start me on 50 mcg of

synthroid now but I'd like to try intensive acupuncture for a few weeks and then

get a second baseline before committing to medication for the rest of my life.

The endocrinologist believes that pregnancy cause this but that it's permanent

because I am 15 months post-partum. These numbers seem relatively modest from

what I've read and besides fatigue (normal for having a young child, I think), I

don't identify with any other symptoms.

Has anyone had success with acupuncture? Do you think three weeks would be

enough time to see some change?

I would appreciate any guidance you can offer.

------------------------------------

April 13, 2011

In 1993, I began acupuncture treatments for seasonal allergies and low thyroid.

My DOM focused manly on the liver meridian and I did feel better. My digestion

improved, energy level improved and my mental fog seemed diminished. I saw him

regularly for 12 years.

My labs never showed any change, but I did function better.

He also gave me chinese herbs, such as ginseng.

My seasonal allergies were what changed remarkably, and now they are very

manageable every season with natural remedies.

So, if I were to base my answer solely on experience, I would have to say that

success was limited to symptoms only. The treatments did not affect lab results.

Good luck with your treatments. I believe that acupuncture can be of benefit and

I hope it is for you.

O'Connell

newly diagnosed - try acupuncture first?

hypothyroidism

Date: Tuesday, April 12, 2011, 6:36 PM

Hello,

I was recently diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Yesterday, my TSH level was 10.95,

my Free T3 was 2.8 and Free T4 was .72. They want to start me on 50 mcg of

synthroid now but I'd like to try intensive acupuncture for a few weeks and then

get a second baseline before committing to medication for the rest of my life.

The endocrinologist believes that pregnancy cause this but that it's permanent

because I am 15 months post-partum. These numbers seem relatively modest from

what I've read and besides fatigue (normal for having a young child, I think), I

don't identify with any other symptoms.

Has anyone had success with acupuncture? Do you think three weeks would be

enough time to see some change?

I would appreciate any guidance you can offer.

------------------------------------

April 13, 2011

You have to have T3/T4 or you will die; if you don't have enough you

will be sick. You can't get it from acupuncture. You might have a

spontaneous remission but don't depend upon it; I think they are very

rare except in cases like post-partum or perhaps when something you're

eating or taking is depressing thyroid function and that substance is

removed.

Acupuncture does not show beneficial results above chance or placebo in

credible studies. There was one exception that I read about last year

[well, sort of an exception]: A large study was done on acupuncture in

which one group was provided the recommended treatment with the needles

inserted according to the recommendations of the experts in the field.

The other group had the needles inserted at locations chosen at random.

Patients in both groups reported a small improvement with there being no

advantage shown to placing the needles properly or randomly.

This was reported in the Tampa Tribune; I didn't follow up further so I

don't know how credible it is.

The level of the TSH reading is probably more related to how long you've

been untreated than to the severity of the disease. If you could post

your complete lab results [be sure to include ranges] then perhaps

someone here can offer advice. My advice is that you need T4/T3 and I'd

suggest you take it and titrate to the proper level.

Luck,

..

> Posted by: " ledbyrain " ledbyrain@...

>

<mailto:ledbyrain@...?Subject=%20Re%3A%20newly%20diagnosed%20-%20try%20acu\

puncture%20first%3F>

> ledbyrain <ledbyrain>

>

> Tue Apr 12, 2011 9:07 pm (PDT)

>

> Hello,

>

> I was recently diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Yesterday, my TSH level

> was 10.95, my Free T3 was 2.8 and Free T4 was .72. They want to start

> me on 50 mcg of synthroid now but I'd like to try intensive

> acupuncture for a few weeks and then get a second baseline before

> committing to medication for the rest of my life. The endocrinologist

> believes that pregnancy cause this but that it's permanent because I

> am 15 months post-partum. These numbers seem relatively modest from

> what I've read and besides fatigue (normal for having a young child, I

> think), I don't identify with any other symptoms.

>

> Has anyone had success with acupuncture? Do you think three weeks

> would be enough time to see some change?

>

> I would appreciate any guidance you can offer.

April 13, 2011

ledbyrain,

You wrote:

>

> I was recently diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Yesterday, my TSH level was

10.95, my Free T3 was 2.8 and Free T4 was .72. They want to start me on 50 mcg

of synthroid now but I'd like to try intensive acupuncture for a few weeks and

then get a second baseline before committing to medication for the rest of my

life. The endocrinologist believes that pregnancy cause this but that it's

permanent because I am 15 months post-partum. These numbers seem relatively

modest from what I've read and besides fatigue (normal for having a young child,

I think), I don't identify with any other symptoms.

You risk irreversible damage the longer your thyroid hormones are low. If you

are determined to try acupuncture, I suggest you start the Synthroid first. If

that approach can reverse the condition, you will know to decrease the Synthroid

when your TSH gets to be too low. It doesn't have to be an either/or decision.

Chuck

April 13, 2011

I'm sure that acupuncture as an adjunct to proper thyroid hormone replacement

can be helpful in some people for symptoms. As for curing the illness, it cannot

do that.

<>Roni

Immortality exists!

It's called knowledge!

Just because something isn't seen

doesn't mean it's not there<>

From: ledbyrain < ledbyrain@... >

Subject: newly diagnosed - try acupuncture first?

hypothyroidism

Date: Tuesday, April 12, 2011, 6:36 PM

Hello,

I was recently diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Yesterday, my TSH level was 10.95,

my Free T3 was 2.8 and Free T4 was .72. They want to start me on 50 mcg of

synthroid now but I'd like to try intensive acupuncture for a few weeks and then

get a second baseline before committing to medication for the rest of my life.

The endocrinologist believes that pregnancy cause this but that it's permanent

because I am 15 months post-partum. These numbers seem relatively modest from

what I've read and besides fatigue (normal for having a young child, I think), I

don't identify with any other symptoms.

Has anyone had success with acupuncture? Do you think three weeks would be

enough time to see some change?

I would appreciate any guidance you can offer.

------------------------------------

April 14, 2011

Thank you all for the information and support. After reading your comments, I

initiated the Synthroid and will attempt acupuncture as an adjunct therapy. My

husband and I plan to conceive another child soon and I cannot risk the

imprecision of treating hypothyroidism with acupuncture alone while pregnant.

One more question - my acupuncturist thinks that it is important to know my

antibody numbers (I already provided my TSH and Free T3/T4). Have you found that

the antibody information provides information relevant for treatment above and

beyond the numbers I've already obtained?

Thank you.

April 14, 2011

---- " ledbyrain@... " <ledbyrain@...> wrote:

> Thank you all for the information and support. After reading your comments, I

initiated the Synthroid and will attempt acupuncture as an adjunct therapy. My

husband and I plan to conceive another child soon and I cannot risk the

imprecision of treating hypothyroidism with acupuncture alone while pregnant.

One more question - my acupuncturist thinks that it is important to know my

antibody numbers (I already provided my TSH and Free T3/T4). Have you found that

the antibody information provides information relevant for treatment above and

beyond the numbers I've already obtained?

>

Antibodies mainly indicate that you can expect your dosing needs to be variable,

at least initially. They can also explain low apparent TSH readings, since very

high antibody numbers can suppress TSH. Other than that, the treatment is pretty

much the same.

Chuck

April 14, 2011

!Have you found that the antibody information provides information relevant

for treatment above and beyond the numbers I've already obtained? "

*

When I asked my doctor if I should have an antibody test, since I have

Hashimoto's, he said it doesn't affect management. He is the same doctor

who told me he didn't care to know that I have Hashimoto's, because it's

treated the same as under-active thyroid, which is a condition, not an

autoimmune disease. When I went to the Mayo Clinic for a biopsy, they

diagnosed the Hashimoto's.

I'm not sure he's right, because he's been wrong about a lot of things. I'm

looking for a new doctor, but most of them aren't taking new patients.

Barb

*

On Thu, Apr 14, 2011 at 11:46 AM, ledbyrain@...

<ledbyrain@...>wrote:

>

> Thank you all for the information and support. After reading your comments,

> I initiated the Synthroid and will attempt acupuncture as an adjunct

> therapy. My husband and I plan to conceive another child soon and I cannot

> risk the imprecision of treating hypothyroidism with acupuncture alone while

> pregnant. One more question - my acupuncturist thinks that it is important

> to know my antibody numbers (I already provided my TSH and Free T3/T4). Have

> you found that the antibody information provides information relevant for

> treatment above and beyond the numbers I've already obtained?

>

> Thank you.

>

April 15, 2011

Grrrrrrr! These doctors and drug companies and insurance companies make me so

mad!