Reducing married with supplements

[Katoir]

Just a question ...

Have any of you needed to reduce your thyroid dose as a result of taking supplements ?

Thanks

[greygoose]

The word 'supplements' covers a huge area. What sort of supplements did you have in mind?

You cannot replace thyroid hormone with vitamins and minerals. And, if your thyroid is failing, you can rarely get it working properly again. If ever. There are supplements purported to 'support' the thyroid, but I truly believe that they are a huge, money-making con. They might stimulate the thyroid for a while, but it's only going to be temporary.

What you might do is improve your conversion, which might mean you can lower your dose of T4 a little. But, I've never heard of that actually happening. However, maybe it does happen, but those it does happen to, aren't on thyroid forums...

Forgot to say, I taken many, many supplements since I was diagnosed. But, then, I did have many nutritional deficiencies. Taking B12 got rid of the symptoms of low B12. And taking magnesium got rid of the symptoms of low magnesium. But nothing has improved my conversion, or allowed me to lower my dose of thyroid hormone.

[Katoir in reply to greygoose]

How are you currently Greygoose? Stable ?

[greygoose in reply to Katoir]

What do you mean by 'stable'?

[Katoir in reply to Katoir]

Are you at a place you're comfortable with ? A level /position you can stay in medically for a while .

[greygoose in reply to Katoir]

Well, I suppose I am. Could be better, but I don't think it's going to get better, now.

[Katoir]

Thanks Greygoose

I'm deficient in selenium , magnesium, zinc mainly .

I was asking because I'm feeling a little over medicated ( fuzzy) and just reached 6 weeks on 2 grains.

I'm taking vit c as well as a probiotic and krill oil.

[greygoose in reply to Katoir]

Time to have a blood test, then! That will give you more information. But, I wouldn't have thought of 'fuzzy' as being an over-medicated symptom. More like under-medicated.

[Katoir]

Nope - fuzzy headachy seems to be an overmedicated sign with me ! Made that mistake before .

[Juliatom in reply to Katoir]

With right supplements,I felt overmedicated and reduced dose accordingly. Vit D3-5000,L-selenomethionine-200mcg,magnesium citrate-400 supports liver,adrenal and thyroid to function better.

Raw prenatal garden of life is helpful.

Check this restartmed.com/.Doctor has detailed explanation with patient blood reports and reasons for supplements along with NDT for many deficiencies in hypothyroid patients .

Maca and ashwagandha stimulate thyroid and may feel hyper on NDT.

[Katoir in reply to Juliatom]

Hi Juliatom

That's interesting . Thanks for reply.

How much did you have to reduce by?

How long did it take you to get to your optimum level of thyroid med?

I can feel the difference taking the supplements

Will take a look at that article . Is the L selenomethionine a form of selenium ?

[Juliatom]

stopthethyroidmadness.com/s...

L selenomethionine or yeast selenium helps absorption,T4-T3 conversion.I had started supplements 5 months before NDT .My problem is low cortisol due to long time medication on Levo only.Now Iam on 1.5 WP thyroid and not optimal due to my adrenals.

My supplements are to support adrenals and thyroid can function well.

It is important treat deficiency before rising NDT.

[Katoir]

Yes I remember us discussing adrenals before .

I think mine are ok. I'm treating obvious deficiencies from hair mineral analysis .

What level did you have to reduce from ? Also did you reduce in quarter or half grains and wait for 6 weeks or .... ??

[Juliatom in reply to Katoir]

I have reduced 1/4 grain and not going to increase NDT .I need more adrenal support than thyroid.Hypothyroid causes liver inflammation and can cause deficiency.

[Katoir in reply to Juliatom]

Yes - I would agree to always go to the adrenals first .

I would just reduce by a quarter too if necessary as per admin advice ( thank you Clutter)

I feel better for the supplements addressing my deficient areas so fingers crossed for us all!

[radd]

Katoir,

Yes, I have.

As I have addressed deficiencies, I have needed to reduce thyroid hormone replacement and now feel well.

It has taken about 18 months- two years and has also included sorting gut issues and sex hormones as well as the usual vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and having all amalgam removed. (I have Hashimotos and big MTHFR issues).

I am medicating 1 & 3/4 grains of NDT and bio-identical HRT. I test everything regularly as feel there is still a little room for improvement and may even reduce thyroid meds to 1 & 1/2 grains soon. Knowing I have MTHFR//DI02 issues has enabled me to medicate and supplement correctly.

I believe there is a definite optimal amount of thyroid meds we need to function well and many overshoot, as with so many health issues caused directly (& indirectly) by low thyroid hormone, it is difficult to assess the correct dose//ratio and what symptoms are exactly caused by what.

Educating ourselves gives us some chance of recovery ..... eventually ! ! ..

[Katoir in reply to radd]

I totally agree Radd .

Ok so if I'm overmedicated on 2 grains I think it would be wise to keep addressing the deficiencies and reduce ( to 1.75 or 1.5 - not sure )

I skipped today's dose and need to wait for latest results to be sure but I've felt like this before and been over medicated .

What amounts did you reduce by Radd?

[radd in reply to Katoir]

Katoir,

I have never skipped a dose as NDT contains T3 which our body depends on in regular small amounts. When I have felt over medicated, I have reduced by a quarter grain only.

Deficiencies can take ages to rectify and sometimes it's a case of hanging on in there.... and not only vits and minerals but hormones which depend on each other to work optimally.

Have you looked into adrenals and sex hormones ? ? .... Mine were rock bottom, and thyroid meds won't work optimally without sufficient.

I started on T4 mono therapy, various doses and the highest being 150 mcg. After four years, I reduced to 100mcg T4 and added 20mcg T3 which bought much improvement. This would total approx 160 mcg T4, and I now medicate 1 & 3/4 grains of WP Thyroid which totals approx 113.75 mcg T4.

I feel well but considering it is winter (so very cold) and I have just resumed full time work, I would envisage my need for thyroid hormone will reduce a little as I acclimatise, deficiencies continue to be improved and our seasons bring warmer weather ... but who knows ? ? ..

Test results bring clarification but it is vital to assess how we actually feel.

[Katoir in reply to radd]

Thanks for sharing Yes - adrenals have been addressed and seemingly ok.

Sex hormones are on my mind too. My GP won't allow a progesterone test which was what I was aiming at .

One step at a time I guess. Await Friday's results . May well be a storm in a t cup .

Lol

[nicoleblondebunny in reply to radd]

Hi I'm in the same situation. Self medicating with 1.5 grains and using bio identical HRT albeit patches. Whenever I try to raise to 2 grains eventually I get racing pulse and heart palps after a few weeks. I have tried upping my iron and all the rest but I don't think it's made my conversion any better. I am using rhodiola and trying to nourish my adrenals. I'm going to start dhea to try to help my premature menopause (started at 26) but have found it gave me breakouts. It's a minefield out there with supplementation and self medicating.

[Katoir in reply to nicoleblondebunny]

Wow - 26. Hard to imagine . I'm nearly 45 and still menstrusting. My body has never let me down with anything until discovering underactive thyroid about 18 months ago .

Sometimes I wonder if I should bring that self trust back . I've run marathons , had a natural home birth etc and still feel active and well but for the longing of having a second child.

I mistakenly thought going onto a thyroid med would clear the way but honestly have felt worse since then at times when trying to find the level and going over medicated .

Would you mind telling me some more detail around the process you use to reduce the med. ( amounts and timings )

Support on here is much appreciated .

[Katoir in reply to nicoleblondebunny]

I hope that works better for you nicoleblondbunny - sounds horrid having palps and racing pulse every few weeks . X

[Katoir in reply to radd]

Sounds like you have worked hard Radd.

I'm doing the same and have been working at it for about 7 months now . Wasn't as straightforward as I thought but addressing the deficiencies feels right.

Will have results on Friday. I might be ok! No fuzziness today .

[radd in reply to Katoir]

Katoir,

I didn't feel right until adrenals were supported and all sex hormones levelled.

I take the DUTCH sex hormone test which is very comprehensive and includes cortisol and cortisone .

For those us who have been slowly getting further ill over many years there are often so many imbalances to be addressed, it then takes years to achieve well being again.

I wish you well.

.

hypothyroidmom.com/a-balanc...

.

hypothyroidmom.com/progeste...

[Katoir in reply to radd]

You too.

I'm lucky really as wasn't ever ill - had several miscarriages and had a stressful situation which seemed to knock my thyroid out.

A hair mineral analysis flagged up the imbalances and I got my thyroid tested. I was not expecting any issues !

Good luck x

[olgadimitri]

I slowly lowered my levo from 225 to 175 when moved from very cold northern Canada to equator. Big climate change, all year round +30C but hashys symptoms still with me, blood tests are in range. Month ago reduce my levo and added 12,5mcg of T3. Waiting for improvement. I think supplements helping with energy level, but not reduce thyroid dose.

[Katoir in reply to olgadimitri]

So for you the supplements helping but no improvement reducing thyroid med.

I get test results on Friday but not sure what to do until then : think will skip a few days up until Friday and go from there .

I find it difficult to make decisions such as how much to reduce by and for how long.

Sometimes I think would be easier to take Levo and have someone else hold the responsibility for me .

Which supplements do you take olgadimitri?

[olgadimitri in reply to Katoir]

Yes, please post your test results and so many wonderful people will help you to understand that. I'm taking iron, B complex, B12, magnesium with B6, zinc, vit C, aloe vera. Practice yoga everyday and walk on sunrise time. Also the diet is the medicine. I try to eat healthy and read a lot about thyroid issues. When I lost my job I got very depressed, but now started volunteering, very helpful for me

[Katoir in reply to olgadimitri]

Good work !

I take a holistic approach towards it also and am taking similar supplements

Glad you're no longer as depressed and things looking brighter x

[Katoir]

Hi all and thanks for all contributions . Results today

TSH - 0.001

Ft3 - 5.4

Ft4 - 14.5

I was picking up the right things this time as when I get to the top of the range with t3 I now know that I start to feel a bit heady/foggy . I will bring it down by quarter of a grain where may be more comfortable.

I will also continue to take the supplements - a multi nutrient (geared towards conception and pregnancy ) krill, probiotic, magnesium, selenium . Nighttime - zinc and vit c. I am confident in the hair analysis as it pinpoints the deficiencies and the results indicate that they are helping rather than hindering.

I will cut a 1.5 grain tablet and a 2 grain from tomorrow .

From bitter experience I know that if I upped my t4 would rocket - also the TSH could come up a bit . There's wiggle room!

Do you agree Clutter?