Functial approach to medicine

[haggisplant]

Do people recommend this book?

Functional Approach to Hypothyroidism: Bridging Traditional and Alternative by Kenneth Blanchard

I definitely want to stay on t4 as I know that I convert well. I also have too much chaos with small children to focus on timings of t3. But it’s getting the balance right! I’m starting to observe I’m better if I take with food for example. If I don’t I go hyper and then get the fatigue crash.

I noticed this book recommends this, and also a little more in the winter - something else I notice.

[haggisplant]

I take it that’s a yes Marz!

[haggisplant in reply to haggisplant]

I’ve bought it on kindle. His observations around pms are interesting. What I’ve wondered is that if on a certain dose (125) and taking with lots of water and well before breakfast, the lack of oestrogen after a period can make me a little hyper.

This ties in with what ive recently learned around tsh raising mid cycle in response to oestrogen slightly lowering t4.

I know this goes against what’s often said but I’m concluding that my personal best tsh is roughly 1 and not as low as 0.4 etc as it has been at times (obviously I don’t know when they were done in my cycle.) and also as tsh helps convert t4-t3.

Of course the effect of rising and falling oestrogen and progesterone have symptoms too; it’s un muddling what does what.

[haggisplant in reply to haggisplant]

And this, which I’ve always said as I was 20 when diagnosed. And struggle with exercise with small children!

“A minority of patients will continue to feel very well on 100 percent T4, and in that case, I will leave them on that regimen. My observation is that young people who exercise a great deal may indeed be well treated with 100 percent T4, presumably because exercise enhances T4 to T3 conversion in tissues, resulting in a favorable T4:T3 balance at the cellular level.”

[haggisplant]

Taking with food also ties into what I know about setting your circadian rhythm; eating within half an hour of waking / around 6:30 helps to set this so that you make more melatonin and sleep better, in conjunction with daylight, exercise etc and a light supper before bed.

[haggisplant in reply to haggisplant]

I think high fibre breakfasts cause issues with absorption though, such as museli and nuts.

[BadHare in reply to haggisplant]

I haven’t read the book, but do follow Chris Kresser, who’s a functional medicine practitioner. I feel best if I do restrictive eating & avoid both breakfast & supper. Prior to this & before I took thyroid meds, I ate a high protein breakfast, though not as early as 6.30. My present eating regime is better for me with regard to meds & supplement timing as my diet is very high in fibre, & too high in calcium, both of which could inhibit hormone absorption if I ate earlier. We’re all so different, it’s good to try new things to ascertain what suits us best individually.

[Marz]

I have not read the book - but have noticed his name mentioned here from time to time ..

[milkwoman]

I was a patient of Dr. Blanchard. He truly saved my life when no other physician would listen to me. His protocols have worked for me so yes, I do recommend his book.