New Member

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone, I was recently told about your group from one of your members and

encouraged to join. I was diagnosed hyperthyroid this past September and I am

now hypothyroid. I'm not sure how that happened as it has not been explained to

me by my former endocrinologist. I was told I had thyroiditis but that my hypo

condition is most likely permanent. My insurance has changed and I am trying

to establish with a new doctor. I was put on levothyroxine and was getting

worse. Finally talked my doctor into trying Armour. He started me on one gram

and I felt better but got worse again. I am currently on 1 1/2 grams of Armour

and now I am unable to sleep but some of my other symptoms have subsided. Since

I am between doctors now I am struggling with this on my own, waiting for an

appointment. Has anyone experienced sleeplessness on Armour and what has

worked. I have tried melatonin and 5htp but I just can't sleep. My corisol

levels were not normal but have not been explained to me so I'm wandering around

in the dark about this, trying to educate myself. I have read taking Isocort

would help with the cortisol problem and possibly help me sleep. Any

suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Kerrie

[Guest guest]

Hello Kerrie, and

welcome to our forum where I hope you will get all the help and support that

you need.

When adding any

form of the active thyroid hormone T3, either synthetic or natural, it is

always best to start with a low dose. We usually recommend starting natural

thyroid extract at 30mgs (half a grain) for 7 days, and then increasing by

another 30mgs. After 3 weeks, if no adverse reaction, you increase by another

half grain again and keep on increasing in this way until you find the dose

that makes you well. However, what doctors are not aware of are the many

associated conditions that go along with being hypothyroidism that must be

recognised and treated. See the attached document and go through each of these

by way of a process of elimination. The usual problem is that patients

are suffering with low adrenal reserve, and you need to get the 24 hour

salivary adrenal profile done through Genova Diagnostics. Check our FILES

SECTION of this forum (accessible from the Home Page). On the page that opens,

scroll down to 'Discounts on Tests and Supplements' and in that document, open

the 'Genova Diagnostics' file. Follow the instructions for ordering, ensuring

you write Thyroid Patient Advocacy' as your practitioner to get your discount.

Genova will send the results to you, but post them on the forum so we can help

with their interpretation and tell you what you need to do next. Also, whilst

in the Genova file, you might want to get tested to see if you have Candida

antibodies - another associated condition.

Your sleeplessness

could be caused because your adrenals are secreting too much cortisol when you

go to bed - your cortisol output should be at its lowest at night to enable you

to get to sleep. Do you start taking any adrenal supplements, or any other

mineral/vitamin supplements until you get the tests you need done. You can

cause harm to yourself if you take them and you don't need them. Ask your GP to

check your levels of iron, transferrin saturation%, ferritin, vitamin B12,

vitamin D3, magnesium, folate, copper and zinc and again, post them to us on

the forum so we can help with their interpretation. If any of these are low in

the range, thyroid hormone cannot be properly utilised at the cellular level

and you will continue to suffer symptoms of hypothyroidism and more. In

case your GP is not aware of the effect low levels of these specific nutrients

has on your thyroid function, copy out the attached references to just some of

the research/studies done to show that this is the case. I have also attached a

document written by Dr Peatfield that should explain more about the

thyroid/adrenal association.

Hope this helps

Luv - sheila

Finally talked my doctor into trying Armour. He

started me on one gram and I felt better but got worse again. I am currently on

1 1/2 grams of Armour and now I am unable to sleep but some of my other

symptoms have subsided. Since I am between doctors now I am struggling with

this on my own, waiting for an appointment. Has anyone experienced

sleeplessness on Armour and what has worked. I have tried melatonin and 5htp

but I just can't sleep. My cortisol levels were not normal but have not been

explained to me so I'm wandering around in the dark about this, trying to

educate myself. I have read taking Isocort would help with the cortisol problem

and possibly help me sleep. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks! Kerrie

No

virus found in this message.

Checked by AVG - www.avg.com

Version: 2012.0.1901 / Virus Database: 2109/4737 - Release Date: 01/11/12

3 of 3 File(s)

WHY THYROID HORMONE REPLACEMENT MAY NOT BE WORKING FOR YOU.doc

MINERALS AND VIT. TESTING.doc

A17.THYROID AND ADRENAL DYSFUNCTION.doc

[Guest guest]

Thanks Sheila, I've just ordered the salive test and will post results as soon

as I have them. I'm waiting for an appointment with my new doctor, they are

suppose to call me to schedule this. I am having such difficulty getting to

sleep and staying asleep it is wearing me down. I will stop adrenal supplements

until I have my test results. I thank you for your help and support and will

post again as soon as I have this. I will start my Armour at 30 and increase

the dose as you have suggested. I will keep you posted. Thanks again! Kerrie

xx

>

> Hello Kerrie, and welcome to our forum where I hope you will get all the

> help and support that you need.

>

Moderated to remove old messages!!

[Guest guest]

Hello Terry

Welcome to the group!

Please can you advise what medications you are on, what symptomws you have, any

relevant blood tests and anything else you feel relevant

best regards

chris

>

> Hi I am a new member. I have had a thyroid problem for many years and have

been taking medication which has made not a scrap of difference to my

debilitating symptoms. I was recommended to this group because I want to take

charge of my thyroid problem. I hope to learn through others experiences how to

deal with it. I am hoping this group will offer support along the way, and help

to answer any questions I may have on my journey, many thanks for accepting me,

Terry

>

[Guest guest]

Welcome

Terry and I am sure that you will get all the help and support you need from

TPA. First, check through the following to see whether you are suffering with

any of these associated conditions that go along with suffering symptoms of

hypothyroidism and that stop the thyroid hormone from working. If you have any

recent blood test results, show them here together with the reference range for

each test done and we will help with their interpretation.

There

are MANY reasons and many medical conditions associated with thyroid disease

that stop thyroid hormone from getting into the cells, where it does its work.

I mention these over and over and over again - ad nauseum - people must be

bored with the same old stuff, but as each new member joins us, they need to

know about these.

The main condition responsible for stopping thyroid hormone from working is,

quite simply, a patient’s thyroid hormone dose is too low because the

doctor or consultant refuses to increase it, because the serum thyroid function

test results appear OK. Sometimes, the thyroxine dose is too high, yet patients

still don't feel well. They continue to suffer. Some reasons for this:

1.

You may be suffering with low adrenal reserve. The production of T4, its

conversion to T3, and the receptor uptake requires a normal amount of adrenal

hormones, notably, of course, cortisone. (Excess cortisone can shut production

down, however.) This is what happens if the adrenals are not responding

properly, and provision of cortisone usually switches it on again. But

sometimes it doesn’t. If the illness has been going on for a long

time, the enzyme seems to fail. This conversion failure (inexplicably

denied by many endocrinologists) means the thyroxine builds up, unconverted.

So it doesn’t work, and T4 toxicosis results. This makes the patient feel

quite unwell, toxic, often with palpitations and chest pain. If provision of

adrenal support doesn’t remedy the situation, the final solution is the

use of the active thyroid hormone, already converted, T3 - either synthetic or

natural. You can check for such a possibility by going to the FILES SECTION of

our forum http://health.grouops//thyroid treatment/files/

and scroll down to the folder entitled 'Medical Questionnaires' and complete

the Adrenal one. Let us know how you score. You can also get the 24 hour

salivary adrenal profile from Genova Diagnostics. See the File entitled

'Discounts on Tests and Supplements'. When ordering, write that Thyroid Patient

Advocacy is your medical practitioner. They will send out a kit to you and the

results will be sent direct to you. When you receive these, post the results on

the forum with the reference ranges and we will help with their interpretation.

2.

Then, we have systemic candidiasis. This is where candida albicans, yeast,

which causes skin infections almost anywhere in the body, invades the lining of

the lower part of the small intestine and the large intestine. Here, the

candida sets up residence in the warmth and the dark, and demands to be

fed. Loving sugars and starches, candida can make you suffer terrible

sweet cravings. Candida can produce toxins which can cause very many

symptoms of exhaustion, headache, general illness, and which interfere with the

uptake of thyroid and adrenal treatment. Sometimes the levels - which we

usually test for - can be very high, and make successful treatment difficult to

achieve until adequately treated. As above, do the 'Candida Questionnaire' and

let us know how you score, and again, you can be tested by Genova Diagnostics

to give you diagnosis.

3.

Then there is receptor resistance which could be a culprit. Being

hypothyroid for some considerable time may mean the biochemical mechanisms

which permit the binding of T3 to the receptors, is downgraded - so the T3

won’t go in. With slow build up of T3, with full adrenal support

and adequate vitamins and minerals, the receptors do come on line again.

But this can be quite a slow process, and care has to be taken to build the

dose up gradually.

4.

And then there are Food allergies. The most common food allergy is allergy to

gluten, the protein fraction of wheat. The antibody generated by the body, by a

process of molecular mimicry, cross reacts with the thyroperoxidase enzyme,

(which makes thyroxine) and shuts it down. So allergy to bread can make

you hypothyroid. There may be other food allergies with this kind of effect,

but information on these is scanty. Certainly allergic response to

certain foods can affect adrenal function and imperil thyroid production and

uptake.

5.

Then we have hormone imbalances. The whole of the endocrine system is linked;

each part of it needs the other parts to be operating normally to work properly.

An example of this we have seen already, with cortisone. But another

example is the operation of sex hormones. The imbalance that occurs at

the menopause with progesterone running down, and a relative dominance of

oestrogen is a further case in point – oestrogen dominance downgrades

production, transportation and uptake of thyroid hormones. This is why

hypothyroidism may first appear at the menopause; the symptoms ascribed to this

alone, which is then treated – often with extra oestrogen, making the

whole thing worse. Deficiency in progesterone most especially needs to be

dealt with, since it reverses oestrogen dominance, improves many menopausal

symptoms like sweats and mood swings, and reverses osteoporosis. Happily

natural progesterone cream is easily obtained: when used it has the added

benefit of helping to stabilise adrenal function.

6.

Then, there is the possibility of mercury poisoning, caused through amalgam

fillings - these might need to be removed but you need to seek a Dentist who

specialises in the removal of amalgam fillings.

7.

One of the main reasons why thyroid hormone is not being utilised at the

cellular level is because you might be suffering with low levels of iron,

transferring saturation%, ferritin, vitamin B12, vitamin D3, magnesium, folate,

copper and zinc - these have to be tested for, and treated.

When

you have been quite unwell for a long time, all these problems have to be dealt

with, and since each may affect the other, it all has to be done very

carefully.

Ask

your doctor to work with you to help you find the cause. The balancing of these

variables is as much up to you as to your doctor – which is why a check

of morning, day and evening temperatures and pulse rates, together with

symptoms, good and bad, can be so helpful. To this end, check out Dr Rind's

Metabolic Metabolic Temperature Graph http://www.drrind.com/therapies/metabolic-temperature-graph

If

your doctor tries to tell you that low levels of the above mentioned nutrients

have nothing to do with your low thyroid state, copy out the following of just

a few references to the research/studies that have been done to show that there

is a very big connection. Doctors are not taught about this at medical school,

so we have to help them where we can - so they, in turn, can help their other

patients.

Low

iron/ferritin: Iron deficiency is shown to significantly reduce T4 to T3

conversion, increase reverse T3 levels, and block the thermogenic (metabolism

boosting) properties of thyroid hormone (1-4). Thus, iron deficiency, as

indicated by an iron saturation below 25 or a ferritin below 70, will result in

diminished intracellular T3 levels. Additionally, T4 should not be considered

adequate thyroid replacement if iron deficiency is present (1-4)). 1.

Dillman E, Gale C, Green W, et al. Hypothermia in iron deficiency due to

altered triiodithyroidine metabolism. Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative

Physiology 1980;239(5):377-R381.

2.

SM, PE, Lukaski HC. In vitro hepatic thyroid hormone deiodination

in iron-deficient rats: effect of dietary fat. Life Sci 1993;53(8):603-9.

3.

Zimmermann MB, Köhrle J. The Impact of Iron and Selenium Deficiencies on Iodine

and Thyroid Metabolism: Biochemistry and Relevance to Public Health. Thyroid

2002;12(10): 867-78.

4.

Beard J, tobin B, Green W. Evidence for Thyroid Hormone Deficiency in

Iron-Deficient Anemic Rats. J. Nutr. 1989;119:772-778.

Low

vitamin B12: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18655403

Low

vitamin D3: http://www.eje-online.org/cgi/content/abstract/113/3/329

and http://www.goodhormonehealth.com/VitaminD.pdf

Low

magnesium: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC292768/pdf/jcinvest00264-0105.pdf

Low

folate: http://www.clinchem.org/cgi/content/full/47/9/1738

and http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/thy.1999.9.1163

Low

copper http://www.ithyroid.com/copper.htm

http://www.drlwilson.com/articles/copper_toxicity_syndrome.htm

http://www.ithyroid.com/copper.htm

http://www.rjpbcs.com/pdf/2011_2(2)/68.pdf

http://ajplegacy.physiology.org/content/171/3/652.extract

Low

zinc:http://www.istanbul.edu.tr/ffdbiyo/current4/07%20Iham%20AM%C4%B0R.pdf

and http://articles.webraydian.com/article1648-Role_of_Zinc_and_Copper_in_Effective_Thyroid_Function.html

·

NOTE: When your blood tests come back, ask your doctor for a copy and remember

to always get the reference range and post them on the forum. This is because

doctors will often tell you that there is not a problem because blood tests

have come back within the reference range. You need to know where about in the

reference range they are. We will again, help with their interpretation.

It

is a fact that many of us are being left with no option other than to go down

the self treatment route, and it is essential that you learn how to look after

yourself, which is why TPA is here. I personally consider it is quite

irresponsible not to give members the facts and as much information in how to

do this as possible, because it can be dangerous to self medicate without the

knowledge. You will get everything you need from us, and we have three medical

advisers to keep us on the right road.

There

is light at the end of the tunnel and we will help you find it.

Luv

- Sheila

Hi I am a new member. I have had a thyroid

problem for many years and have been taking medication which has made not a

scrap of difference to my debilitating symptoms. I was recommended to this

group because I want to take charge of my thyroid problem. I hope to learn

through others experiences how to deal with it. I am hoping this group will

offer support along the way, and help to answer any questions I may have on my

journey, many thanks for accepting me, Terry

No

virus found in this message.

Checked by AVG - www.avg.com

Version: 2012.0.1913 / Virus Database: 2114/4856 - Release Date: 03/07/12

[Guest guest]

If you scroll towards the end of the Adrenal Questionnaire 'Interpreting

the Questionnaire' it will tell you there what your results mean and you

will be able to tell whether you have mild, medium or severe adrenal fatigue

Terry. This is the same with the Candida Questionnaire.

It does appear you have some degree of adrenal fatigue and if

you can afford it, I would get the 24 hour salivary adrenal profile to check

your levels of cortisol and DHEA at the four specific times during the day,

i.e. 8.00a.m. - 12 noon, - 4.00p.m. and again at midnight. Go to our Files

section thyroid treatment/files/

and scroll down to the folder 'Discounts on Tests and Supplements' and open the

Genova Diagnostics file. Place your order according to the instructions there

quoting Thyroid Patient Advocacy as your practitioner. The results will be sent

to you and you should then post them on the forum together with the reference

range and we will help with their interpretation.

Because of your Candida result, I would also order the test to

see whether you have candida antibodies. Both of these must be treated if your

results show positive because no amount of thyroid hormone can be utilised by the

cells until these are treated.

Luv - Sheila

I have made an appointment to see my gp next week to get blood tests done and

have filled in the adrenal and candida questionaires.

The Adrenal questionaire scores as follows:

Questions answered 37

Points:

Key signs and symptoms 25

Candida:

Total 130

Many thanks Terry

No

virus found in this message.

Checked by AVG - www.avg.com

Version: 2012.0.1913 / Virus Database: 2114/4859 - Release Date: 03/08/12