chemical medicines

[Linthyro]

Hi, could anyone tell me if they have successfully stopped taking levothyroxine and got healthy again by diet alone? Daniel diet etc?

[greygoose]

I think the answer to that is going to have to be a no. And I would think that, from what little I know of it, the Daniel Diet would be especially bad for hypos. Fasting isn't good for hypos, and people living on just vegetables and water would tend to be low on B12 and iron, which certainly isn't good for hypos.

[Linthyro in reply to greygoose]

Hi, thanks for that, I thought if I went on a raw only diet it was good, but maybe I need a hypothyroid recipe book or something. Thanks for your help.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Linthyro]

Going strictly gluten free will likely improve symptoms. Some need or prefer autoimmune paleo diet

But it’s very unlikely that you can stop Levo entirely. Some may find can reduce dose slightly if gut function improves

Low vitamins are very common too. Nothing to do with how good diet it, it’s to do with malabsorption in gut

[Linthyro in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes, I think outs a lot to do with malabsorbtion , I have a lot of acid and take omeparazole, but have lately been taking levo after my breakfast, not before, as I think mist of the levo got burned up as it were in the acid! I said this to my GP and he just said it could be, waste of effort on my part really. Thanks again.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Linthyro]

What are your most recent Thyroid test results for TSH, FT4 and FT3? Plus do you have high thyroid antibodies? If so this is Hashimoto's also called autoimmune thyroid disease

Low vitamins are extremely common. Have you had vitamin D, folate., ferritin and B12 tested? Add results and ranges for these if you have them

Acid reflux is symptom of being under medicated

Omeprazole is for high acid. Majority of hypothyroid patients have low stomach acid. Same symptoms but very different treatment. Most medics don't acknowledge low stomach acid exists so don't expect GP to acknowledge

pulsetoday.co.uk/clinical/m...

gov.uk/drug-safety-update/p...

However you must not just stop taking any PPI. It has to be weened off incredibly slowly and other steps taken instead

Lots of posts on here about how to do this

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/hypochl...

scdlifestyle.com/2012/03/3-...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Other things to help heal gut lining

Bone broth

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

Always take Levo on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after.

Levo need high acid to give good absorption and uptake

Many take on waking, but it may be more convenient and possibly more effective taken at bedtime

verywell.com/should-i-take-...

Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable. Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription. Watch out for brand change when dose is increased

All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting and don't take Levo in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results

Low stomach acid posts

healthunlocked.com/search/l...

[Linthyro in reply to SlowDragon]

Hello, I don't know what the last blood test showed, they just said it was OK. The GP only asks for blood test for T4. Sometimes its also for T3 and TSH, but I don't know. That's why I think I may be best seeing a private endo. Or an NHS endo to sort it out. I went on thyroxine in 1994 and suffered a cardiac arrest and heart attack at the age of 45,lucky to survive really. I changed my GP then as I was being treated for depression etc which I didn't have. The new GP then, in 1994 send me to a thyroid specialist. I don't live in the same area now. I have omoperazole for a d

[Treepie1 in reply to Linthyro]

Never accept OK for your results.Always get a copy with the ranges which are shown in brackets.You are legally entitled to them so do not be put off.

[Linthyro in reply to Treepie1]

OK, thanks, I didn't know I could see the results and also whether I would understand them anyway. I think I will ask to see an endo. Many thanks.

[greygoose in reply to Linthyro]

I believe it's more difficult to get nutrients out of raw food. Some is good, yes, but don't forget that man only developed his intellect/intelligence when he learnt to cook!

I'm not sure there is such a thing as a hypothyroid recipe book. Some people find that the Autoimmune Paleo Diet helps - and, of course, gluten-free if you have high antibodies. But, neither of those are going to cure your hypothyroidism, just maybe help you live better with it.

You say below that you take your levo after breakfast, because you were afraid that the levo got 'burned up' in the stomach acid if you took it before. Well, that's what is supposed to happen. The hormone molecules are attached to sodium molecules in levo, and you need the stomach acid to separate them. The hormone itself won't be touched by the acid. Besides, if you are hypo, you're more likely to have low stomach acid, causing absorption problems.

If you take your levo when your stomach is full of food, the stomach acid will be less likely to remove the sodium from your hormone, and there is also the danger that the hormone will bind to nutrients, like calcium and iron, and that will vastly affect your absorption.

If you think you have an absorption problem, it might be a good idea to ask your doctor to investigate your stomach acid level, and take steps to increase it, if it's low.

[Linthyro in reply to greygoose]

Hi, I have a deuodenal ulcer, so need to steer clear of acid, but I will start taking the levo before breakfast as you advise, thanks. I do not think mankind developed intelligence, I think it is something we have naturally, initially for survival. I also believe a lot of it goes unused. Thanks again for your help.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Linthyro]

Duodenal ulcer usually caused by H Pylori

Did you get antibiotics to kill it off

Omeprazole is normally only short term while it heals

patient.info/health/dyspeps...

H Pylori is also linked as cause or ongoing Hashimoto's

Have you had endoscopy to check things over

hypothyroidmom.com/hashimot...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

scdlifestyle.com/2017/04/gu...

[Linthyro in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi, yes I did get treatment for H Pylori, 2 types of antibiotic and lanzoperazole, in short I had about 10 tablets a day for a fortnight. Been better since but thedeuodenal ulcer is still there, though doesn't bother me too much really. Yes, I had as endoscopy back in 2012 and then had the treatment. Many thanks.

[greygoose in reply to Linthyro]

Developed in the sense of improved. Most being have a level of intelligence, of course, but prehistoric man's intelligence bears no resemblance to that of modern man. But, the point is that cooking your food releases nutrients that you cannot absorb from raw food, that's all.

[Linthyro in reply to greygoose]

Hi, I actually thought we cooked vitamins out of our food by cooking it, but I haven't really studied that, thanks for your advice.

[greygoose in reply to Linthyro]

You're welcome.

[Clare0116]

That's not going to happen. If you have lost most or all of your thyroid function, you will need prescribed thyroid drugs for life (and possibly purchased multi vits and minerals/ supplements). It is a natural body hormone like insulin. A very healthy diet is good for all of us but can't fix a missing hormone. The good news in the UK, is that as you now have a life-threatening illness, you will get all prescriptions free (complete a form at your pharmacy). The bad news is that Drs only have basic knowledge, Consultants arrogant and not up to date and they both only allow blood mid-range cheap synthetic T4, which might leave you still sick, hypothyroid and developing other autoimmune illnesses. There is a lot of good advice on this forum about blood-ranges and alternative brands of drugs (T3?), which you may be able to buy privately.

[Linthyro in reply to Clare0116]

Thank you, yes you are right. I'm seeing my GP on Monday with a view to getting a blood test and will ask to see an endo. Otherwise, I may see a private endo, a bit expensive but could be helpful in showing me and the GP exactly what my medication should be. I take 87.5mcgms of levothyroxine and am tired all the time and my throat feels a little sore and I can taste metal for some reason. Thank you for your helpful reply.