and Polly - hypothyroidism

[Guest guest]

Hi Anne,

>I'd definitely have to disagree with you saying

that most people do not get better with synthetic T4. .

Anne, I didn't mean to give you that impression. Perhaps I should have said

that the synthetic T4 usually doesn't work as well as the natural thyroid in

alleviating symptoms. The synthetic T4 may clear up some symptoms

but it usually will not clear up as many symptoms as the natural. However,

there are also a few cases where the synthetic T4 is more appropriate. But

you don't know until

you have tried it and seen the difference.

>But I do feel you need to be careful with what you

are saying - treating true thyroid problems without the advice and watch of

an MD is unsafe .

You got the wrong impression. Just because I'm suggesting that natural

thyroid is often much better, doesn't mean I'm advocating using it without

the advice and watch of a physician. Besides, it would be very difficult to

do so. You can't go down to the health food store and buy the natural

thyroid that I'm talking about. The thyroid in the health food store does

not contain the thyroxine. Although there are ways to get it without a

prescription, most people will need to get a prescription for the type of

natural thyroid that I'm talking about. Also, one should use the blood

tests as an adjunct to treatment. It is just that often too much faith is

put in the blood tests, and not enough into what the patient is

experiencing. My blood tests said I was fine, but my urine test said that I

needed thyroid. (A urine test is better, and you can use a urine test on

adults, but it is not reliable on children. That is why I didn't mention

this type of test before.)

>As Jeannine stated -

if the thyroid problems are due to pituitary hypofunction then there is a

good chance that the ability of the pituitary to stimulate cortisol

production is impaired. This absolutely must be tested before ever

starting on thyroid replacement. A person could die if they have

undetected cortisol insufficiency and they start taking boatloads of

thyroid replacements. The thyroid hormone will 'eat up " cortisol and in a

person who can not produce adequate stress amounts....well it can be

lethal.

I was aware that this could be lethal, and that one must check adrenal

function and regulation before administrating thyroid.

>I've been there and done that with a son who landed in ICU

That is terrible. I'm sorry that that happened. Your point is perhaps that

with children with mito, you have to be much more cautious than with other

diseases, and that frequent monitoring of hormones is essential. Hence, I

understand anyone's reluctance to place less faith in blood tests. Yet, you

and your doctor had to adjust the results of the blood tests to your son's

body. It was not just that every child needs to have exactly the same blood

test results. In this sense, you can perhaps see how the blood tests can be

useful, but not a perfect indicator of what is happening in the body.

>so please be careful with what you are advising on this list.

With exchanges like this, I hope we can continue to learn from each other,

and I hope it becomes more apparent that we aren't so very far apart in our

opinions.

Polly