Needing alternative to thyroxine

[Ples]

I'm new here.

I have osteoporosis and have been told that one of the reasons is because I take thyroxine. Have been taking it for 34 years. Is there an alternative to take? What can I do.

Look forward to your response.

[4336]

Yes, you could try Natural Dessicated Thyroid however, difficult to get unless you see a private doctor. Google Dr Barry Peatfield and give his clinic a call. He has done wonders for me since coming off Levo last year.

Good luck

[Ples in reply to 4336]

Thanks very much for your reply. It is of interest to me and I will get in touch and make an appointment with Dr Peatfield. So many folk have responded it's amazing and most appreciated.

[Clutter]

Ples,

Who has told you osteoporosis is caused by thyroxine? There is insufficient evidence to prove that Levothyroxine causes osteoporosis but low TSH may cause faster bone turnover which can be a risk for osteoporosis.

google.co.uk/search?q=evide...

There are alternatives to Levothyroxine but you are unlikely to get them prescribed on the NHS and will have to obtain them privately or buy online and self medicate.

[Ples in reply to Clutter]

I was told by a nutritionist in London that certain medications are contributing factors and one of them is Levothyroxine.

Thanks for replying.

[Clutter in reply to Ples]

Ples,

You should ask your nutritionist to provide research substantiating that.

[Ples in reply to Clutter]

Will do. Thanks

[26-gme in reply to Ples]

It very disturbing, when you put your faith in the medical professionals and they don't tell you the side effects. Hope you find a satisfactory outcome.

[AloeAli]

I would recommend taking a very high quality (not High St.) Calcium & Vit. D. Supplement. I've been taking one since I heard about this in around 2001. As I understand it it's the T4 part of any thyroid supplement - whether synthetic or natural, but the information I saw at the time did suggest it was linked with taking higher levels of T4, so if natural, 4gr or over. I was on 4gr at the time so it did concern me, but I'm a keen advocate and user of non High St. health supplements generally.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to AloeAli]

Both calcium and vitamin D should be tested before supplementing.

[Marz in reply to AloeAli]

AloeAli - if you are taking large doses of VitD - it has been suggested here that there is a need for VitK2 MK7 to be added - so that the improved levels of Calcium uptake from foods - do not remain in the arteries - but are directed to the bones and teeth. Since 2001 - there have been new discoveries about calcium and how it can be one cause of atherosclerosis. I have also read that calcium is used in the breaking down of old bone and not in the formation of the new. Osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Dr Sarah Myhill covers osteoporosis well on her website and in her book - Sustainable Medicine.

drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/Osteopo...

[AloeAli in reply to Marz]

Thank you for the info Marz but I didn't actually say I was taking large doses of Vit D., but a very high quality brand. I take a quality Calcium supplement which of course needs to contain Vit D as the 2 need to go together for correct absorption, and I use the recommended amount. I also attend regular nutritional trainings on health supplements across the board with my company's nutritionist, but didn't/don't want to get into too much detail here for obvious reasons.

[Marz in reply to AloeAli]

I did start by saying *if* you are taking ...... Does your company not suggest K2 MK7 with VitD ? - just interested I have always understood that D3 improves the uptake of Calcium from foods - so additional calcium is not always needed - always happy to learn !

[Ples in reply to Marz]

Gosh, I am very grateful to have had you reply. Definitely I have done myself no favours by not having sun holidays for the last 13 years. This I must change and make sure to get into the sun for two weeks, twice a year if possible. Strontium interests me - a nutritionist in Cardiff told me to take it but order it online. I was too scared to do it as I had no idea exactly what to order - never went back to her because I thought her advice unprofessional.

Some foods are bothering me like nuts and hummus that make me go to the loo too often.

Stress has also been a factor. Oh dear I need to change my lifestyle. Exercise is no problem .

Soon I will be going to Australia to visit relations and hopefully get some sun and on my return might well get an appointment with you.

Thanks for your kindness in replying and interesting knowledge passed on. I am most grateful.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to AloeAli]

Vit D needs to be tested before supplementing (look up City Assays for finger prick test) and should be taken with Vit K2 (mk7) and magnesium. Unless you are vegan and don't eat nuts and seeds or dried fruit or pulses, you are unlikely to need calcium. Calcium blood tests come back in the normal range unless there is something wrong with your parathyroids or kidneys as your body steals from teeth and bones to make bloods correct. If you really have low calcium you can get symtoms like low B12 - tingling extremities

[Ples in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Thanks for reminding me about Vitk2 . I did take it for a while but then forgot about it. Need to get back to it.

[Ples in reply to AloeAli]

Thanks so much for replying. Since November I have been taking private supplements at quite a cost and hoping they will improve things.

[Marz]

Ples - drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/Osteopo...

[shaws Administrator]

Your dose of thyroxine may have been too low and your doctor may have been happy to keep your results 'in range' when the TSH should have been 1 or lower.

Dessicated thyroid hormones - the original replacement which has been in use since1892 in different forums but discontinued due to the pharmaceutical companies big push and now not prescribed in the UK despite the fact it has all of the hormones a healthy gland would have produced. I think it might also help bone help as well. This quote is from a doctor who would never prescribe levothyroxine only NDT or T3 only for thyroid hormone resistant patients. NDT (natural thyroid hormones from pigs or cows thyroid gland contain T4, T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin and calcitonin helps bones.

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

You can source this privately. There are several makes. If you were interested you'd have to put up a new post asking for a Private Message to be sent to you.

Some doctors will prescribe on a 'named-patient' basis and this is where they can be obtained.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/treatm...

If not you'd have to source your own. A list of NDT below.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/treatm...

[Angiemacm]

Hi i was diagnosed with an under active thyroid 7 years ago sorry I can't remember the name of the tablet I took for it anyway I was on it for a year and now I'm waiting on a bone density scan as I have a Smashed vertebrae 4 fractures to my Ribs in my back Been in agony for 17 months had to leave my job I'm now on gabapentin I take 2 3x a day but 6 years ago I was admitted to hospital as the pain in my lower back was unbelievable got a scan was told that my discs had crumbled away does anyone think that maybe it is all linked with osteoporosis? Xx