Ultra Thyroid Support

[Riley1969]

I have just been told I have over active throid and is there any supplements that may help like for instance Piping Rock Ultra Throid support .thank s chris-riley

[appyalison]

Hi Chris,

I am under active so don’t know anything that could help. I am sure someone will come along and help soon. Good luck.

[Valarian]

Do you have any recent test results/ reference ranges (usually in brackets after the result), Chris?

[Valarian]

By the way, there are people here who know lots more about supplements than I do, but if anything, this looks as if might stimulate the thyroid- presumably not something anyone with an overactive thyroid is likely to want to do ?

[silverfox7 in reply to Valarian]

I was thinking the same!

[Riley1969]

Doctor just said my T4 count was 18 when it should be 9

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Riley1969]

Riley

If you can post your test results with their reference ranges we can comment. Ideally we need to see

TSH

FT4

FT3

Thyroid antibodies

and it's helpful if the following have been done

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

If you have been prescribed anything for your apparent over active thyroid can you say what you've been given please.

[Riley1969 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Am on Propranadol 10mg would have been stronger but have asthma.doctor only have me T4 result as 18 feeling very low

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Riley1969]

Riley1969

Unfortunately T4:18 is meaningless without the reference range. Ranges vary from lab to lab and on here we see 7-17, 9-19, 12-22, and others, so we can't interpret your result.

If you are in the UK you are legally entitled to your results, so ask at reception for a print out (don't accept verbal or hand written results as mistakes can be made), make sure the reference ranges are included, then post the them on the forum and members will be able to help.

[Valarian in reply to Riley1969]

Propranolol ? This is a beta blocker, which should help resolve symptoms including rapid heart rate, palpitations, perhaps some tremor and breathlessness.

By itself, it won’t reduce thyroid levels (or at least, not by very much), but a reasonably mild case of being hyperthyroid might in any case resolve itself, and the propranolol could make it easier to live with the symptoms in the meantime. Has a date been set for a follow-up blood test?

[Riley1969 in reply to Valarian]

Thanks hope mine is mild and follow up blood test is on Fri .GP said st John's wort I was taking could mess up results so stoped taking it now just trying to get fresh air when nice out and use might box.take care Chris

[Valarian in reply to Riley1969]

Are you on any other supplements ?

[Riley1969 in reply to Valarian]

Was taking loads but doctor said pack them all in just taking odd paracetamol and a multi vit maybe should pack this in till I have next blood test ?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Riley1969]

When you say you were taking loads of supplements......can you list EXACTLY what you were taking

For example BIOTIN supplements can give false blood tests results that falsely suggest a person might be hyperthyroid

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

[Riley1969 in reply to SlowDragon]

Taking a multi vit garlic Q10 the odd paracetamol valerian to help me sleep and on doctors advice stopped taking stjohns wort over a week ago .thanks

[Valarian in reply to Riley1969]

The ‘reference range’ is usually just that - a range. To make sense of the results, you need to know the ref range for that particular lab. Although 9 could be within range, I’ve not seen a range for FT4 with 9 as the top of the range (but I suppose it could exist!). Similarly, 18 could be above some ranges, but I would be surprised if it were double the top of the range.

If you’re in the U.K., you are entitled to a copy of whatever tests they took, including the range. They will almost certainly have tested at least TSH at the same time.

[MiniMum97]

If you are overactive, you also need your trab or TSI antibodies checked to rule in/out graves. If overactive and no Graves then you herd an ultrasound to check for nodules. Could also be an inflamed thyroid - did the doctor do an exam?

Whatever you do DO NOT take the supplement you mentioned as it contains iodine which you do not want to take if you have an overactive thyroid.

[greygoose in reply to MiniMum97]

Actually, it's the hypos that don't want iodine. Iodine is anti-thyroid, lowers levels of thyroid hormone, and used to be used to treat hyperthyroidism. But, even so, I wouldn't recommend anyone take it without being followed by a specialist that knows what they're doing.

[MiniMum97 in reply to greygoose]

My understanding is that iodine can induce hyperthyroidism and is needed for the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones (which is why too much of it can cause hyperthyroidism). People with Graves are recommended to avoid iodine or high iodine containing foods such as kelp. See links below:

btf-thyroid.org/projects/io...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/1...

Similarly iodine deficiency can cause hypothyroidism (this is apparently rare in the wearer world although I read a study the other day that suggests it is becoming more prevalent) but too much of it can also be harmful and I believe it can trigger/worsen autoimmunity so is not recommended for people with hashis.

[helvella Administrator in reply to MiniMum97]

The BTF link includes this:

High dose iodine preparations such as kelp can lead to both hypo- and hyperthyroidism in susceptible individuals with an underlying thyroid disorder so are best avoided.

I tend to think of a additional 150 micrograms of iodine (such as this product supplies) as being significant.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to helvella]

I tend to think of a additional 150 micrograms of iodine (such as this product supplies) as being significant.

I agree with this. I did a urine iodine test 3 years ago, my result was exactly in the middle of the range - 150 (100-199). The practioner I was consulting with at the time advised I take a "multi" which contained 150mcg iodine. I questioned this, saying I wasn't deficient, I was nicely mid-range so that didn't signify any problems so surely I shouldn't be taking iodine. Her answer was that it was "a small amount" and wont hurt. I retested 6 months later and it was 250 (100-199). I class an increase of 100 points, with such a relatively small reference range, as quite a significant increase in a sort time. I ditched the supplement and the practioner.

[MiniMum97 in reply to helvella]

I didn’t say 150mcg of iodine was insignificant? Or that hypos should take iodine. The post is about someone with hyperthyroidism.

[greygoose in reply to MiniMum97]

Iodine is one of the ingredients of thyroid hormone, that is true. Just as sugar is one of the ingredients of a cake. But you can't make a cake with just sugar.

Not all hypothyroidism is caused by iodine deficiency, which is why you should get your iodine tested before supplementing. But, even if you are deficient, the solution is not as simple as just taking a supplement, because iodine is also anti-thyroid, as I said, and used to be used in the treatment of hyperthyroidism. If you are deficient, you need to be under the care of a doctor who knows what he's doing, not just self-treat with kelp.

[Valarian in reply to greygoose]

The thing that first caught my attention was that it wasn’t immediately obvious whether the product was intended for hypos or hypers !

[greygoose in reply to Valarian]

I'm afraid I wasn't able to find the exact product by googling, because there several different Piping Rock thyroid supplements. However, thyroid 'support' is usually for hypos - or the Worried Well - because 'support' isn't usually what those with hyperthyroidism need.

[Valarian in reply to greygoose]

... but how would someone just diagnosed as hyper know that ?

[greygoose in reply to Valarian]

I don't think the manufacturers care whether they know or not, really. As long as they sell their product. In my opinion, nobody should be taking a 'thyroid support' product.

[helvella Administrator in reply to greygoose]

Surely the lack of any information, even “for hypothyroidism”, or similar, demonstrates that it’s name is what they are using to sell it? Not what it does nor what it contains.

[greygoose in reply to helvella]

Absolutely agree. But, for me, all types of multi-vits are one huge great con. I don't think any of the do anything.

[Valarian in reply to helvella]

Yes Helvella, but you aren’t someone who has just been diagnosed with some disease you have never heard of, and which is giving you awful symptoms !

I think anything masquerading as a health supplement should be required to clearly state what it is supposed to do, and who the product is/ is not suitable for. However, I suspect I’m on another planet so far as that is concerned