Thyroid.

[juno jones]

We had a thread on this a few weeks ago, just as I was starting a regimen (great minds think alike). I wanted to see how others were doing.

I began by taking supplements for my thyroid plus vit D.

I felt more energy so I added an Adrenal supplement.

I felt even better after a couple of weeks so a week ago, I added Raw Thyroid which is as close as I can get to Armour or Naturthroid without a scrip.

My energy levels are thru the roof, I don't feel bloated when I eat and I am now wearing what were tight clothes I couldn't fit into a few weeks ago.

I think there's something to this.

I now understand my craving for stimulants. I haven't felt this energized in decades. Then again, I found out recently that I was born in the wafting clouds of nuclear tests which contained radioactive iodine, the same stuff they use to shut down overactive thyroid glands. No wonder I've been tired and overweight most of my life.

Ayesha! Any info on iodine supplements would be welcome right about now! :hi:

[I Have A Dream]

1. I'm sure that ayesha has much more information, but...

have you ever taken kelp tablets? Kelp is really high in iodine.

They really helped my brain fog. (I noticed a big difference before and after.) I have Neptune on the ascendant, so I don't think that I'll ever totally get rid of it, but the kelp tablets really helped.

(It's really inexpensive too.)

[juno jones]

2. I will try it.

The brain fog has been a persistent problem. Along with lack of sex drive. Those are the two symptoms I haven't been able to get a handle on yet. Thanks! :hi:

[Callie McAllie]

9. when you figure out a remedy for the

lack of sex drive, please be sure to share!

I've lost my libido and I don't know where to find it. Quoting a friend. But it fits.

[juno jones]

11. LOL! n/t

[MagickMuffin]

5. Raw Thyroid does contain Kelp

Not sure if 300mg is enough of a boost but it does have Kelp in it.

Ingredients
Thyroid Tissue: 50mg, Adrenal Tissue: 20mg, Pituitary Tissue: 10mg, Thymus Tissue: 5mg, Spleen Tissue: 5mg, Kelp: 300mg


I thought I would look into it since I've been gaining weight lately and haven't really changed my diet that much. I'm thinking about trying this and see if it helps.

[juno jones]

12. Yes it does (just checking) Whatdya know! Thanks!

I was having the same phenomena of weight gain. I have a fairly physical job and should at least maintain my weight on a decent diet. But I've kept gaining. I've excercised (10 hours a day on your feet with a baker's paddle will do that for you) and only managed to add more bulk as the muscles developed but the fat stayed.

I'd say the raw thyroid has made quite a difference in just a week. Of course this was on top of a month's course of the more vitamin-based supplements. I pretty much came to this in desparation, because I know how to eat and take care of myself, and nothing was working anymore. I knew something was wrong when I had to abort my yearly cleansing fast because I was getting ill on it.

On the whole I'm feeling better now. The cracks on the soles of my feet have healed and my hair and skin have improved. I have more energy and feel healthy, especially when I keep up on fruit and veg juice smoothies and the like ;).

I'm thinking the next step is to look up my local naturopathic physician and have a chat with her.

[Shallah Kali]

8. l-glutamine takes the fog out of my brain

the brain can use it instead of glucose for fuel. Just take a 1/4 teaspoon or break open a capsule under your tongue. It has little to not taste, at most a faint sweet taste. I take it for gut healing (celiac, ibs) but read in The Mood Cure http://books.google.com/books?id=SdZFPeTQyX4C&q=glutamine it helps sugar cravings when taken under the tongue. I found it woke me up really good when brain fog hit me one evening and I needed wake up enough to make cut up some veggies for dinner safely. It was almost like someone stuck a pin in me I woke up so quick! I made the mistake of taking my usual morning dose of 1tsp which was way too much for an evening dose as it kept me up that night.

I have neptune conjunct moon which forms a t-square w/midheaven opposite mercury. can I blame my propensity for brain fog on them? ;)

[juno jones]

13. In that case I can claim

my Neptune conjunct IC is cause of my inherent dreaminess as well! :D

[Missy Vixen]

3. I have a dead one.

I take levothyroxine. After reading about the kelp tablets, I'm going to start taking them, too.

My doctor took me off Armour after some recent testing uncovered cardiac issues in some of those taking it. I trust him, so I'll take the other stuff. It doesn't work as well, but that's the way things are. (grrrr.)

Additional energy would be great. I'd also like to get rid of the brain fog, and a metabolism that makes a sloth look energetic.

Other than that, I'm fine. ;-)

[I Have A Dream]

4. Hi, MV. I take more than what the bottle says.

I think that it says 1 tablet, and I take 4. I started out taking even more just to get it into my system.

(I'm not a doctor though, of course, so please keep that in mind.)

I take it in the morning rather than the evening just in case it might keep me awake.

I hope that it works for you.

[juno jones]

14. Check out naturthroid (I think thats the spelling)

A lot of people who were taken off Armour's formulation lately (apparently they changed formulas) have had good luck with that.

I've done a lot of lurking over at the chat rooms like yahoo groups on this subject (and others). You get a lot of good information about which treatments seem to do the best for the most people. If you haven't already, check them out.

[FarPoint]

21. Can one buy the Naturthyroid

over the counter or does a physician need to prescribe?

[juno jones]

22. I think it is prescription only.

But on other boards I have heard that you can buy it from certain online drugstores without a scrip. Best to check out 'Stop the Thyroid Madness' website and fan out from there. There's more info there to help one make descisions. Right now, there's a huge shortage due to a lot of people switching from Armour, etc, so I'm not sure how availible it is.

I'm working on building up a pattern of effectiveness and going to a naturopath for a scrip for naturthroid if I still think I need it in a month or two. Right now the OTC raw thyroid is proving very impressive.

[Shallah Kali]

6. Selenium is important for thyroid function

http://thyroid.about.com/library/weekly/aa072000a.htm

Regarding the thyroid, selenium is a component of the enzyme that helps convert T4 to T3 peripherally, so deficiencies of selenium may impair thyroid function and promote hypothyroidism. According to the New England Journal, "selenium deficiency can result in thyroid injury and decreased extrathyroidal triiodothyronine production" (reduced peripheral T3 production.) Some experts believe that low T3 levels may be characteristic in areas with insufficient selenium. Studies also show that excess intake of selenium may also depress T3 levels. With some scientists suspecting that there may be a viral component or trigger to certain autoimmune conditions such as the common thyroid condition known as Hashimoto's Disease, the anti-viral properties of selenium also become more interesting, and further research into that connection as relates to thyroid disease particularly would be illuminating.

Brazil nuts, liver, & shell fish are the richest food source:
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=95#foodsources

If you choose to supplement it is best to use a chelated form where the selenium is bound to an amino acid which greatly enhances absorbtion. Selenium is one of those vitamins one can get too much of so stick to the suggested daily allowance whether in a multivitamin, multi-mineral or single supplement. example I take this Now Foods selenium http://www.swansonvitamins.com/NWF091/ItemDetail?n=4294967185 which is in the form of L-Selenomethionine 200 mcg. which is almost 300% of daily value so I take it only 2 or 3 times a week. I admit for the first week or so I took it daily but started feeling like my body was saying enough at that point and so cut back.

more info on nurtrients needed for proper thyroid function for your consideration = keep in mind that high doses of vitamin a are antagonistic to vitamin d so it may be best to stick with eating carrots, yams, etc or a natural betacarotene that the body converts to vitamin A as needed if you want extra A.
http://thyroid.about.com/cs/shames/a/supplements.htm

[Shallah Kali]

7. BTw it isn't just radioactivity that hurts our thyroids - it's Perchlorate & Flouride in our water

http://thyroid.about.com/sitesearch.htm?terms=perchlorate
http://thyroid.about.com/od/toxictriggers/a/cdcperchlorate.htm

http://thyroid.about.com/od/thyroidbasicsthyroid101/ss/preventthyroid_7.htm
http://thyroid.about.com/sitesearch.htm?terms=fluoride

[juno jones]

15. I've heard that.

Perhaps it did damage when I was younger, but I have been drinking well water and non-flouridated city water for years now. Bellingham doesn't flouridate. It comes up every election and keeps getting rejected, thank goodness. Of course, there are other sources, like foods processed with floridated water, etc.

[BanzaiBonnie]

10. I have an appt. with my nurse/practitioner tomorrow

My saliva tests came back as way low cortisol, far below normal in the am and at the very lowest levels at other times in the day.

That and the symptoms I have point to adrenal fatigue.

Here's hoping things go well and I'll soon be bright eyed and bushy-tailed.

[juno jones]

16. Good luck!

:hi:

It's no fun being tired all the time.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

17. I'm glad you got your thyroid supplemented!

There are millions of people who are either untreated or under treated for the draggy-ass caused by a dead thyroid. Something like 20 or 30 million in the U.S. So all the people who are skinny, who gripe at the fat people on DU, swear up and down that endocrine disorders are rare. The hell they are!!

Mine died when I was eleven years old and that was a LOOONG time ago. I've been on Armour ever since; docs have switched me to synthroid and I have raised HELL. Armour works much better than synthroid but the doctors don't believe it when the patients yell about it.

It's an autoimmune disease. My mom had it too, and it hit her at the same age, preadolescence.

Oh and for the sex drive, women AND men need testosterone. Small amounts. You can get compounded Test from a compounding pharmacy, and most doctors don't know about them. Look up anti-aging doctors and find a good endocrinologist.

Excellent website with tons of information:
www.stopthethyroidmadness.com

I'm not a doctor, but I've lived with the draggy ass for a few decades now. I do have a BA in biology, though, which means I know just enough to be dangerous! :D

[juno jones]

23. Thank you for the information and the link.

I have been there before but didn't have it bookmarked yet. :hi:

[Manifestor_of_Light]

25. Read this article about women and testosterone.

It's the best discussion I've seen about weight loss and women. This guy gave women a shot of nandrolone, 30 mg, every two weeks:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=222x66961

[juno jones]

26. Thanks again.

I know there is probably some underlying endocrine problems beyond the thyroid. The weight gain and sex drive point to it. Whether I'll be able to afford to see a specialist is beyond me, as I can't really afford to do it. My supplementation has been a DIY project, as I can't really afford the docs and tests.

I do have a wellness visit at the local clinic in a week. The doc there has been pretty receptive to my needs. I will bring some of this info in, and perhaps she can find me a specialist within their sphere.

[WhiteTara]

18. here's to things going well

I am so interested in your saliva test. What was it called? I want to work more with these kinds of tests. Thanks :hi:

[JanusAscending]

19. Would this have anything to do with

the dry mouth I've been experiencing for the past year or so? I had thyroiditis a year ago, and the endro,Dr. said to just watch it, and not treat it. It started out low(hypo), so my GP put me on Synthroid. Then it went too high and caused irregular heart beats, so they took me off. I get it checked every few months, and they claim it's back within the normal range. However I'm still gaining weight, and very sluggish. My mouth gets so dry (cotton mouth) that I can't swallow sometimes. I've been chalking it up to old age, but I don't have dry eyes or lack of mucus. I tried fiddling with my meds so see if one of them might be causing the dryness, and so far I can't pinpoint any. The only med I refuse to stop is my Nexium. I have terrible reflux problems without it. The other meds are spiriva inhaler for my COPD, singulair for allergies, and once nightly Advair inhaler. Do you think I should ask my Dr. to include a saliva test when I go for my Thyroid bloodwork next time? I'm due to go next month.

[BanzaiBonnie]

27. You can get the test online from Canary Club

You order it online and they send you the kit and instructions. Then you get the results sent right to you.

Please work with health care pro so they can help you with what to supplement and dosages.

[Why Syzygy]

20. Atomidine

I've just started taking this, and I swear my energy level has already increased. AND I'm not freezing in the A/C! I read about it on another forum as an aid to revitalize the pineal gland.

It's about $3.00 less at iherb.com. I also read a different dosage schedule on another site, ie. take 1 drop on day one, increasing by one up to day five, and then decrease by one the next five days. Repeat for three weeks. That's probably the schedule I'll try. A third site suggests increasing by one up to 10-15 drops per day, until you feel normal. If you feel jittery, cut back.


I'm also taking Source Naturals Colloidal Life trace minerals, and they seem to make me feel peaceful.

Atomidine in the Edgar Cayce Readings

Atomidine is a liquid iodine preparation that was recommended as a therapeutic measure in over 600 readings. Cayce regarded this specially formulated “atomic” iodine as far easier to assimilate than other forms, and even gave advice regarding its preparation. According to the readings this mineral is a vital element in the makeup of the human body and is essential to the process of building new cells. It also was valued for its stimulating, balancing and purifying effect on the endocrine glands, which are responsible for our internal harmony:

The Atomidine—that is activative in the glands, especially the thyroid, the adrenal and all the ductless activities through the atomic forces in iodine, the one basic force with potash—makes for a balance throughout the functionings of the body itself (636-1).

Within a few weeks…the system will be changed, and also the vibrations through the glandular forces that control the lymph circulation in alimentary canal as well as organs of the pelvis…the Atomidine acts as a gland purifier—causing especially the thyroids and the glands of the stomach, particularly the pyloric portion of the stomach and throughout the duodenum, to change in the form of secretions thrown off—and this affects directly the circulation (3104-1).

In order to gently stimulate the system and then give it time to adjust, Atomidine was always to be taken in cycles that alternated several days of dosage with several days of rest. Many readings recommended only one drop per day for this purpose, although others increased this dose by a drop a day for several days—a regimen adopted by the A.R.E. Clinic after studying some 75 different plans. Dr. William McGarey reports that this approach has brought positive results in many cases.

Users are advised that only one drop supplies four times the minimum daily requirement of iodine and it is possible to overdo if not careful. Atomidine should not be taken at the same time as Formula 636, Formula 637, seaweed products, Calcios or multi-mineral preparations containing iodine. Because this mineral has a stimulating effect on the circulatory system, it should be avoided by those with heart problems.

Too much iodine can cause restlessness, nervousness, insomnia and rapid heartbeat—reactions which tend to quickly disappear when it is discontinued. Positive reactions include feelings of well being and a welcome energy boost.

http://caycecures.com/pdf/atomidine.html

http://shop.caycecures.com/atomidine.aspx

[juno jones]

24. Thank you.

I will be checking this out.

(Looking forward to not freezing my ass off in well-heated rooms this winter! My husband will rejoyce! No more 'butterball turkey butt' snuggling up at night! :D)

[BanzaiBonnie]

28. I had my follow-up with my nurse practitioner

She started me on Adrenal support, DHEA and vit D. At least now I don't feel like sleeping all the time.

She's sent the scripts for testosterone and progesterone to the compounding pharmacy. I'll be starting those ASAP.

[OneGrassRoot]

29. Raw Thyroid

Hi everyone. :hi:

Whenever there have been threads on thyroid previously, for some reason I always thought you guys were referring to "raw thyroid" as a generic term. It dawned on me in this thread that it is a product: Raw Thyroid.

I found it, ordered it, and it arrived today.

Here's to hoping it has a similar beneficial effect some of you have experienced, for the draggy-ass syndrome, lost libido (and I can't find it), etc.

You guys are funny! :)

(Though it's hard to laugh or smile about anything today, as I know we're all grieving alongside FirstLight)

:grouphug:

[Manifestor_of_Light]

30. Hi OGR.

The usual substance that gets prescribed by doctors is Armour Thyroid. Ground up pig glands. Doctors prescribe Synthroid which is less effective and costs more. Those of us who are old thyroid patients kick and scream and insist on Armour. There is a shortage going on at the moment and people are rightly freaking out.

Hope the raw thyroid helps you. I have never taken it.

Go to this website for TONS of good info:

www.stopthethyroidmadness.com

And yes we are all grieving with FirstLight.

:grouphug: