Does natural work ?

[Ruth63]

Is it possible to raise hormone levels naturally ?

[greygoose]

What exactly do you mean by 'naturally'? If you mean with vitamins and minerals and changes to diet, the answer is probably no, not significantly. Or, do you mean with with 'natural' Dessicated thyroid?

The usual treatment is levo, which is only 'unnatural' because it's synthetic, but the molecular structure is exactly the same.

We'd really need more details to answer in a meaningful way.

[Ruth63 in reply to greygoose]

Thank you for your reply, I did mean diet and vitamins, as keep seeing a lot about foods we eat etc so wondered if it ever worked.

[greygoose in reply to Ruth63]

Diet and vitamins can help with symptoms and conversion, but can't repair a damaged thyroid. Nothing can do that.

[Ruth63 in reply to greygoose]

Ok thank you for your help.

[greygoose in reply to Ruth63]

You're welcome. Do you have a thyroid problem?

[KT77 in reply to greygoose]

Spot on. I used to be such a health nut, coconut oil this coconut oil that, superfoods, supplements, protein, no sugar, low carb, high carb blah blah blah....felt and looked like crap. Always knew something was missing in my body. These days a bit of thyroid hormone every morning and I'm up and running. And the sugar is back on the menu can't stop smiling after I eat it : ) I did keep the coconut oil though - I feel it does me good.

[greygoose in reply to KT77]

I'm sure it does.

[Ruth63 in reply to greygoose]

Not sure what my problem is at the min, as waiting on specialist appointment as bloods point to secondary hypothyroidism, though I have a goiter also and I've seen nothing that says goiters come with secondary.

[greygoose in reply to Ruth63]

Secondary hypo is still hypo. I suppose it's possible to have a goitre but I don't know.

Secondary hypo is when you have a low TSH along with low Frees. Is that what you have? Do you have a copy of your results?

If you have secondary hypo, there's even less chance that you can sort if with diet, because the fault lies with the pituitary or the hypothalamus, due to a benign tumour or a bang on the head, or something.

[Ruth63 in reply to greygoose]

Yes my ft3 and ft4 are low with the tsh 0.81 my gp has finally referred me to an ENT specialist and a thyroid specialist but seems like it's taking forever, I just wondered if there was anything I can do to help myself as I'm feeling really poorly lately, I have ordered more blood test as sure they have dropped more with how I'm Feeling.

[greygoose in reply to Ruth63]

Yes, that sounds like central - secondary is a pituitary problem, tertiary is a hypothalamus problem, but as you don't know which is causing the problem yet, we refer to it as Central hypo.

There's not a lot you can do, no. Why didn't your doctor start you on thyroid hormone replacement if your Frees are low? Why make you wait for the endo appointment? That's just cruel!

You could ask your doctor to test your nutrients - vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin - these are often low when you are hypo, and will cause their own symptoms, so supplementing them if they're low might help.

If I were you, I'd go back to your doctor and ask him to give you some Synthroid while you're waiting, out of the goodness of his heart. But, you do need to see an endo because if it's a pituitary problem, other hormones will also be low, making you feel worse, so they all need to be tested. Your adrenals could be affected. And only an endo can do that, I believe.

[ShinyB in reply to greygoose]

Sorry to gatecrash on Ruth63's post - what other hormones would also be low if it's a pituitary problem? Thanks Good luck with the specialist, Ruth

[Rmichelle in reply to ShinyB]

Hey shinyb if GG does not reply you could Pm her.xx

[greygoose in reply to ShinyB]

- Hormones Secreted by Anterior Pituitary:

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)

Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)

Lutenizing Hormone (LH)

Growth Hormone (HGH)

Prolactin

Beta-Endorphin

- Hormones secreted by Middle lobe of Pituitary:

Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone or Intermedins

- Hormones Secreted by Posterior Pituitary:

Oxytocin (OT)

Antidiuretic Hormone or Vasopressin (ADH)

But I don't know if they test them all.

[ShinyB in reply to greygoose]

Thank you Still trying to piece the puzzle together. My recent results below which include some of them. Do you mind having a look and seeing if there is anything of significance?

FOLLICLE STIM. HORMONE 41.5 IU/L (Post-meno 25.8 - 134.8)

LUTEINISING HORMONE 22.4 IU/L (Post-meno 7.7 - 58.5)

TESTOSTERONE 0.804 nmol/L 0.00 - 1.80

SEX HORMONE BINDING GLOB 139 nmol/L,22.00-142

FREE ANDROGEN INDEX 0.58 Ratio 0.40 - 8.00

PROLACTIN *83.7 mIU/L 102.00 - 496.00

[greygoose in reply to ShinyB]

Well, some of them do seem low, but I don't know enough about them to comment. Sorry.

[Ruth63 in reply to ShinyB]

I know prolactin is low which can be caused by pituitary, I only know as I had same tests but my prolactin levels were normal but fsh and lh were high, all pituitary hormones.

[Ruth63 in reply to greygoose]

I know my ferritin has came back at 30 which I understand to be in range but lower end, nothing else has been tested yet, I didn't know if gp was allowed to prescribe me anything with not knowing exactly what it is.. my prolactin came back good but my lh and fsh levels came back a bit high, but that was only other tests I've had so far apart from ultrasound to rule out thyroid cancer.

[Ruth63 in reply to Ruth63]

I should add that I had about 5 x rays before I was 13, and a big bang on head also I survived sepsis and pneumonia about ten yrs ago, and I also took a punch to head 2 yrs ago at a concert ( It was 2 men fighting I just got caught in middle of it) so I know with all these they can cause problems with pituary gland.

[Rmichelle in reply to Ruth63]

Ruth you sent your last message to yourself? Greygoose would not get that message.😊

Poor you taking all that punishment, my ferritin was a very dire 10 back in january and have now managed to raise it to 27 after 3 months-interesting what you said about the pituary gland as my sister has problems with this gland and is under a neurologist and seeimg endocrine-she suffered years of domestic violence from a vile ex husband(glad to say long gone and hopefully dead) sorry but true. She took years of being hit on the head and it has now left its mark, also a few strokes to over the years but is ok now.😊

[Ruth63 in reply to Rmichelle]

People really don't think before they lash out, I would say all the physical abuse has probably contributed towards your sisters problems, just from what I've read though. How did you raise your ferritin, was it with vitamin tablets or with diet ?

[Rmichelle in reply to Ruth63]

I take floravital iron liquid but gp did offer me sups too but now i am being referred to GI has they said there could be a problem with my iron as im celiac too. Xx

[Ruth63 in reply to Rmichelle]

I'll look for that Thank you. Wish you luck with your journey.. its funny to think a year ago I had no idea where thyroid was or what it's function was never mind that it could cause so many problems x

[Rmichelle in reply to Ruth63]

Ha yes join the club but thanks to this great site i have learnt from others including Greygoose-i call her professor greygoose as she knows her stuff!! Xx

[Ruth63 in reply to Rmichelle]

I agree I felt very much alone and the support on this group is amazing and though I wish nobody had to go through it , it's nice to know I'm not on my own and others understand, my partner just switches off when I try talkingto him about it, as he just has no idea what I'm talking about x

[Rmichelle in reply to Ruth63]

Typical man-mine is very supportive but he would have to listern anyway as he would not have much choice!!!😊😊

[greygoose in reply to Ruth63]

After all that, it wouldn't be surprising if the pituitary was struggling to cope! Let's just hope you get an endo who knows what he's doing!

Did you tell your GP all that? Can't you get fast-tracked in to see an endo?

[Ruth63 in reply to greygoose]

I didn't mention it at the time but I will be bringing it up at next appointment, I've just sent off another blood test to look at my frees again as I'm sure they have dropped so will take next results to Drs and will ask for vitamin levels to be checked.. I hope they do it as all these private tests are costly.

[greygoose in reply to Ruth63]

Do you use the companies recommended on ThyroidUK? The do have special offers from time to time.

Yes, you must tell your doctor everything. It might not mean much to him, but you want it all on your records.

[Ruth63 in reply to greygoose]

Yes I use medi checks I just missed out on the 20% off deal ( story of my life). I will make another appointment and ask for checks though.. Thank you for all your advice x

[greygoose in reply to Ruth63]

You're more than welcome. Let us know how you get on.

[Ruth63 in reply to greygoose]

I will do, thank you again x

[Marz in reply to Ruth63]

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

The above was posted today -

[greygoose in reply to Ruth63]

That is very low. Has he done an iron panel?

I don't know if he is, either. But seems worth asking if you've got a lot of symptoms.

[Naomi8 in reply to KT77]

And gluten free?Dairy free?interested in your feedback

[KT77 in reply to Naomi8]

I eat both. I had my antibodies tested twice and they came back low so I'm using that as an excuse I gave up gluten for 6 weeks once as an experiment and felt no difference. And gave up dairy for 30 days and again couldn't tell any difference. I came to the conclusion that unless you have a strong feedback from your body to not eat something then carry on eating it.

[Ruth63 in reply to KT77]

I thought gluten free was meant to help if a lot of mucin under skin (thick skin) I was going to try that as my skin is thick .

[Naomi8 in reply to Ruth63]

not heard that before.Where did you read that?I've only read about GF diet lowering thyroid antibodies & helping leaky-gut-syndrome

[Ruth63 in reply to Naomi8]

Look up mucin, that's how I found out about it after an interesting conversation with someone on Facebook.. I think mucin can also be hypothyroidism symptom x

[Naomi8 in reply to Ruth63]

I know about mucin,just not seen the gluten reference before.