Natural treatment

[nettiboo1982]

I'm really new to meds and I hate them already I feel worse than I did when I went to docs is there a more natural way too treat hypo? I'm looking at kelp jelly any good? Would things like that nee to be taken with other supplements for maxium effect

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

It is my opinion that iodine supplementation is only appropriate in people being treated with thyroid hormone if they have their iodine levels tested properly.

You need to realise that thyroid hormone itself has a lot of iodine in it. About 65%. So someone on a fairly common full replacement dose of 150 micrograms of levothyroxine is getting near enough 100 micrograms of iodine.

Given that a common recommendation is a total intake of 150 micrograms of iodine, that is two thirds of the way there.

It is, perhaps, reasonable to assume that most people get at least 50 micrograms of iodine in their diets.

Do, please, read some of the posts here on the subject of iodine.

It is also my opinion that it might not be the best thing in the world to think about thyroid medicines in terms of natural and synthetic. I have read of all too many people who have run the course of levothyroxine, desiccated thyroid, liothyronine and all sorts of combinations. And they end up on whatever happens to work best for them - if the desiccated works best, they take that. If they do best with at least some synthetic thyroid hormone, they take that. I have seen some go from fervent advocates of one or other regime - perhaps doing brilliantly for a while - to (perhaps reluctant) adherents of a completely different regime.

Wishing you well whatever you decide.

Rod

[nettiboo1982]

Im not getting on with this medication at all tonight ive had arm cramps really painful leg cramps hysterical laughter then crying then laughter again all within an hour of dose. This cant be a normal reaction too the meds surely

[Hidden]

It may be useful to give members/sufferers a bit more info to go on to help you - what 'meds' have you been prescribed? probably Levo starting dose? please post your dosage and recent blood tests with ranges. Remember if you have been suffering with symptoms for a while it WILL take a while to get the dosage right for you.

Still it's good you have a diagnosis and started treatment, - but things don't come right without checking some building blocks too i.e. vitamins and minerals (which are often deficient or low with us Throidies) i.e. Vit D, serum irons - folate, ferritin, B12 also magnesium and selenium help too (I have epsom baths and some brazil nuts!). Also some take their replacement hormone first thing without food, or some prefer before bed. It's a bit of a jigsaw! best wishes J

[nettiboo1982]

Hi thanks my tsh was 40.04 & t4 was 4.9 starting dose was 125mg levo which i got doc to agree too 100mg. My doc point blank refuses too test for vitamin and mineral deficiencies ive been told I dont need them as meds will sort it all out. Plus my blood count was normal so doc said it didnt point to deficiencies

[valerie]

Hi Nettiboo 1982, your levothyroxine won't work well if your minerals and vitamins are low in the range so your GP is wrong and you could end up feeling not so good for this reason. The vitamin and mineral levels won't improve if your thyroid medication doesn't work and your thyroid medication won't work if your mineral and vitamin levels are low so you can see that it is a bit of a vicious circle. You need decent levels of of the minerals and vitamins stated in spareribs message to get good conversion of T4 to T3 so it really is important to try and get some basic blood tests for these things even if you have to go privately. How long have you been on levothyroxine? Normally one starts at a lower dose and works up, say 25mcgs for elderly and cardiac patients and 50mcgs for the rest. Have you got your ranges for your blood test results as the ranges vary with different laboratories.