Maca. Horny Goat Weed

[Zuzka1]

Can I take it with hashimotos? To try and get some sort of sex life going......?

[Clutter]

Maraphipps,

I suggest you Google "Levothyroxine + Horny Goat Weed" to see whether there are interactions.

[greygoose]

Your sex life is suffering from a deficiency in T3. Not a deficiency in Horny Goat Weed.

There was a discussion on Maca recently - you could search for it - but I don't think sex was mentioned as a reason for taking it...

[Zuzka1 in reply to greygoose]

I know I'm clutching at straws. I know I am. I'm just feeling so desperately unhappy and ill. It's exctally a year ago this all started with me and basically nothings changed. I feel as bad as I did then. I can't cope thinking I've another year ahead of me like this. I'm broken right now. I can't stop crying. I'm so angry all the time. I can't function. I'm being such a shitty mother and wife and person. I know I see my endo Friday but Friday feels like a life time away. I hate this. I hate it so much. It's making me a person I don't recognise and I don't like.

I'm just clutching at straws

Marax

[greygoose in reply to Zuzka1]

Well, none of us like it! And we all know exactly what you mean, we've experienced much the same symptoms ourselves. And, if you're anything like me, lack of libido is the least of your problems.

Nothing has changed because you've only just found a good doctor, but having found her, it's very unlikely that things will continue like that for another year - who told you it would? Progress is slow, it's true, but it should be upwards and onwards from now on. You've got to have faith, and you've got to have patience. Nothing will be solved by champing at the bit, or holding your breath till you turn blue.

[Zuzka1 in reply to greygoose]

Like I say I'm clutching at straws. Yes libido is the least of my worries but when trying to learn about all this different things pop up all the time and because I feel so rubbish I think 'oh that will help'!! Just wishful thinking I guess.

No one said it would be another year, I'm just terrified it will be. It's a year ago that I have what I call my first big 'crash'. Its exctally how I feel right now. The lowest of the low. I am not a functioning person. I've not felt like this all the time that's for sure but when it hits it's really mega isn't it?

I'm trying as hard as I can to understand it all, I'm trying as hard as I can to deal with it all too. This group is so important to me and I'm finding it very frustrating trying to explain to 'normal ' people what this is like. It's so up and down. Right now I'm down.

I know I sound like a child. I know I do. I'm crying as I write this because this is not me!! I'm a happy, go lucky person, full of life and energy. I'm always the first person up to dance and I'm always the one saying 'come on let's do this'! I'm so far removed from me right now it's blowing my mind. My husband says life with me is like being on a express train. (He means that in a fun way) Not so much anymore.

I keep reverting back in my head that I need to be taking T3 as T3 is the 'happy/metabolic/wellness/libido/energy bit.

The scenic route to T3 via T4 is depressing me.

I'm sorry any of us have this. I really really am.

I want me back. I hope my endo gives me 150mg of Levo on Friday.

We shall see.

Thank you as always for helping me. I cannot explain my appreciation.

Marax

[greygoose in reply to Zuzka1]

You can't explain it to other people. Unless they have it, people just can't understand, because 'we don't look sick'! Sometimes, those that live with us can understand, from experience. My three grown-up kids now understand, but my ex would never have. Thank god I divorced him before it got to bad! In fact, I divorced him on a hyper swing, otherwise, I would never have had the energy! But none of my 'friends' understand, and neither does my brother. he talks about me 'choosing' to be sick!

I think you're deluding yourself about T3. Yes, it's the active hormone, and yes your FT3 is very low. But T3 is not an instant fix. It's not a happy pill! It's still going to take time to make you well. Most people still need T4, as well as T3, and your FT4 is very low, too. So it would be a very good idea to bring that up first. Remember, your body has been sick, and deprived for a long time. You can't suddenly start bombarding it with T3. You'd make yourself ill - worse than you are now. You need to go slowly. Let your body get used to the T3 that is converted from T4, the natural way, first.

But, it's not just about hormones. Look at your ferritin. What are you doing about that? It needs to be at least mid-range. Your B12 is much too low, too. That will be causing symptoms. You need to supplement that. You should get your vit D tested, too. That's probably low. And so are a lot of other things going to be. Why not concentrate on the things you know you can do, before grasping at straws? I'm sure you need zinc and magnesium, far more than you need horny goat weed. Which is more like Russian roulet, than a last straw, because it doesn't suit everyone at all, let alone improving things. But, raising your essential nutrients will help enormously.

Now, let's talk seriously. Your Frees are pretty low for someone on 125 mcg. I know it's only a small dose, but I would expect your FT4 to be a bit higher than that. So, the next question is : do you have some sort of absorption problem? Are you gluten-free? Do you suffer from bad digestion? Are you taking PPIs? Do you take your levo on an empty stomach, one hour before food, etc. etc. etc.?

[Zuzka1 in reply to greygoose]

Ok, I've been GF for about 3 weeks. Im still bloated but my bowels are in a better state.

I don't know what PPi's are.

I take my Levo about 6.30am with water. I eat about 8am.

I take my iron around 6pm.

Who looks after my Vit D and b12? My endo or my DR? Neither seem that bothered.....

I'm going to bring it up with endo on Friday.

I don't have my gall bladder.....I now have a appointment in march to see a gastronomic specialist.

Ferritine, I was going to eat liver once a week?

[greygoose in reply to Zuzka1]

I really don't know how effective eating liver is. When I was a kid, children with anemia were forced to eat raw liver every day! I don't know how much iron you'll get from cooked liver once a week. But, if you do go down that route, make sure you eat it with a source of vit C. Mashed potatoes with onion gravy, comes to mind as the most palatable solution!

Or, there's a nifty recipe for grilled liver with lemon juice and parsley...

If you're taking iron pills, you should be taking 1000 mg vit C with it, to help absorption.

OK, so three weeks isn't very long on a GF diet, things should improve more as you go along.

PPIs are Proton Pump Inhibiters that doctors love to prescribe at the slightest excuse! If you go to the doctor with acid reflux - which can be a symptom of either high stomach acid, or low stomach acid - they will prescribe PPIs to reduce your acid. But, if you already have low acid, that is not what you want, and it will make digestion and absorption even more difficult.

Another problem we have is that doctors know nothing about nutrition. A doctor will look at your B12 result and say it's fine - or even perfect - because it's in range. But, as with hormones, the important thing is, where it falls in the range. It needs to be at least over 500, or you risk developing neurological damage, and a lot of other nasty things. But, doctors don't know that. You're on your own with that one.

As for vit D, you'll probably be able to persuade your doctor to test it, but your endo probably won't be interested because it's 'just a vitamin' (it isn't, it's a prohormone).

I don't have my gall bladder, either. But it doesn't seem to have affected me in any way.

[Zuzka1 in reply to greygoose]

Ok I'm not really keen to eat liver! I just don't have any other ideas! Do you?

I do take 1000 Vit c with my iron.

Ok so B12 I order now on line?

When u say damage what do u mean? A little nervous now!

Ok Vit D I will go to DR.

Gall bladder I wonder if that effects my absorbing?

[greygoose in reply to Zuzka1]

No, I don't think the lack of gall bladder affects your absorbing.

I mean things like neuropathy in the extremities. When my B12 was at 350, I was losing the use of my left arm. It can cause brain fog, etc. B12 is the nerve vitamin.

Yes, you can order on Amazon. You want sublingual methylcobalamin (B12) 5000 mcg. Good ones are by Solgar or Jarrows. Just pop it under your tongue and leave it to dissilve in its own time. When you've finished the bottle, go on to a maintenance dose of 1000 mcg of the same.

With that, you need to take a B complex. The Bs all work together, so you need to keep them balanced.

As for the iron, are you saying that the iron you're taking is not raising your levels? What are you taking, exactly? How much?

[Zuzka1 in reply to greygoose]

Yes that's exctally what I'm saying with my iron. I'm on 80mg daily and have been for 6 months and no change really.

Ok I'm going to order all the B stuff now. Thank you.

Btw. Hats off to you re divorce. I've been through that too....looking back I wonder really how long I've been ill. Divorce is a bit savage. I think my kids ( I left it incredibly late) think I'm a nutter. One day I'm fun/happy mummy, next day I'm a miserable foul mummy. I'm 43 and my eldest is about to turn 4 and my youngest is two next week.

I've ALWAYS struggled with my weight ( not this bad). Ironically I used to think ' oh wish my 'excuse' was my thyroid.'. My god. How foolish I was and how uneducated.

X

[greygoose in reply to Zuzka1]

Yes, as the Chinese say, 'be careful what you wish for...'

I suggest, you post a new question, just about iron. I don't know a lot about it, but other people on here do. Ask how much you should be taking. Perhaps you're just not taking enough.

[Zuzka1 in reply to greygoose]

Thank you greygoose i can never explain how much you help me xx

[greygoose in reply to Zuzka1]

My pleasure. xx

[Zuzka1 in reply to greygoose]

All the B stuff is ordered. Is there a special time I take them? As in, with my iron? Or not? Etc etc x

[greygoose in reply to Zuzka1]

Iron is best taken on its own, with just the vit C.

It doesn't matter when you take the sublingual B12, because it doesn't touch the stomach. But, people reckon it's best to take vitamins in the morning, because they have a tonic effect. Can't say I've found that to be so, but... In any case, take the B complex at least two hours away from levo. Perhaps with lunch?

[Zuzka1 in reply to greygoose]

Ok perfect. And I can take the higher dose of B12 and the complex together?

I'm going to rattle with pills by the end of this 😃

I now totally feel more positive.....it the lack of control and being in the 'hands of my Endo and DR' that also freak me out.

My DR must of seen my bloods and no calls or anything re my iron. You can feel like a sinking ship can't you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Xxx

[greygoose in reply to Zuzka1]

Doctors just don't know enough about it. Break your leg, or get measles, and your doctor will probably be excellent. But, don't go bothering him with unimportant things like hormones or nutrients, because they don't have the knowledge to be competent.

Yes, you can take the B12 and the B complex at the same time. But, don't swallow the B12!

I saw a so-called Hertoghe doctor in Paris. His most comforting words were : you won't need me forever; once you learnt how to deal with this, you'll be fine on your own. Well, he spoke truer than he knew! I wouldn't even go back to him, now. I'm much better off on my own. Even he knew nothing about nutrition!

[Zuzka1 in reply to greygoose]

Well right now I'm thinking please don't you ever leave me alone!

I need you. Very much so. Xx

[greygoose in reply to Zuzka1]

I won't. I intend to hang around as long as possible! lol

[Zuzka1 in reply to greygoose]

Haha! Good....and that's not what I meant!!

[greygoose in reply to Zuzka1]

lol

[Babybluea in reply to greygoose]

Copper helps absorb iron

[greygoose in reply to Babybluea]

And?

[Babybluea in reply to greygoose]

Hoping that helps the person above sorry for tagging the wrong person

[greygoose in reply to Babybluea]

But this thread is 3 years old. I'm sure everybody has moved on since then.

But, are you suggesting that she should take copper to help absorb iron? If so, I would add that one should get tested for copper before taking any because hypos are usually high in copper and low in zinc. In which case, they really don't want to add any more copper. Excess copper is not a nice thing to have.

[Ebs73]

I have used Maca on and off for years. But being optimally treated is definitely the first step. Doing an anti inflammatory diet making sure you're on good quality supplements such as d3 k2 b12 selenium vit c etc... There is a chance that Maca could make you feel wired if everything else is out of wack. I find it is an amazing aphrodisiac I take it for hormone balance but that is a side effect I noticed.

[Astridnova]

Are Maca and horney goat weed the same thing?

[Zuzka1 in reply to Astridnova]

Yes

[Silver_Fairy in reply to Zuzka1]

No they are not the same Horny Goat Weed is a Chinese medicinal plant. The name refers to three species of plants called Epimedium sagittatum, grandiflorum and brevicorum.

Maca is a root vegetable related to potatoes that is native to the mountains of Peru.

They are often put together in supplements though.