Ashwaganda and Hypothyroidism (after RAI)

[Koola]

Hello again dear helpful souls,

Blood test for hypothyroisism (will post at end) was finally good 4 weeks ago. Maybe not “perfect” but huge progress after 2 years. But I was still very tired. Talked to my generalist, endo unreachable, and he suggested Ashwaganda. First 3 days I was less depressed, more energy and then started feeling all manners of symptoms – hyper & hypo – dizziness, bloated stomach got worse etc. I read here that Ashwaganda can lower adrenals ? (also had a lot of emotional stress, nursing my dying cat, plus other problems). I stopped Ashw. after 6 days, 2 days ago, but I’m still feeling all weirded out and totally non functional. My blood pressure has been high for a while and I now take a light dose, half a tablet Exforge 5mg/160 mg as advised per doctor.

Supplementing with Vitamin B, C, Iron, Folacin, Magnesium. My adrenals were slightly low a few months ago, re blood test.

TSH : 2,63 range: 0,20 – 5,00

FT3 : 3,59 range: 1,8 – 4,5

FT4 : 10,3 range: 7,0 – 20,0

My question is could Ashwaganda have had such a negative effect and how long does it take to get flushed out of the system? Should I take a little less or a little more Levo for a few days? Yesterday I read that it did affect thyroid and wasn’t recommended for hyperthyroidism. So it must affect hypo. (?)

Thanks in advance.

[Lalatoot]

Your blood results suggest you need an increase in levothyroxine. When on levo TSH is often better at 1 or lower. Your FT3 has room for an increase as does your FT4. This may help your blood pressure.

Ashwaganda is best avoided in my opinion. I am very wary of all supplements and boosters unless I know what exactly is in them as it was supplementation that had an adverse affect on my thyroid and tipped it over the cliff.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Koola

I read here that Ashwaganda can lower adrenals ?

Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb and is meant to be balancing. It can, in fact, lower cortisol:

healthline.com/nutrition/as...

Ashwagandha is best known for its stress-lowering effects. The medicinal herb appears to help lower levels of cortisol, a hormone produced by your adrenal glands in response to stress ....

My adrenals were slightly low a few months ago

It doesn't seem like a good idea to use Ashwagandha in that case.

[pennyannie]

Hello Koola

I'm sure we've crossed in the ether - but can't remember

I don't know but after RAI in 2005 my blood tests never looked anything like how I felt !!

I found the Elaine Moore Graves Disease website very interesting and went on to self medicate with a T3/T4 combo - it worked, but I also trialled NDT which suits me better and where I am now, almost 2 years in.

The blood tests, ranges, and guidelines were all introduced to be used alongside Levothyroxine and are not relevant when on NDT.

NDT was the successful treatment for hypothyroidism for over 100 years prior to Big Pharma and medicine becoming a business and needing a healthy bottom line.

Patients were treated by symptoms, and for hypothyroidism a little nugget of pig thyroid was given to chew on, and if the symptoms persisted the nugget size made slightly bigger, at each interval, until the symptoms were reduced.

On NDT your TSH goes low suppressed, because of the T3 content in the tablet/grain and T4 generally goes low in the range with a T3 high or maybe slightly over but as long as you feel ok. with no fine hand tremor, it's fine. You simply dose in 1/4 grain increases, decreases, to the relief of symptoms, and you'll know when you go a little over as you'll recognise those hyper symptoms, so just drop back down by a 1/4 grain, and that's your dose.

No need for all those blood tests that don't really solve anything for the patient.

Your ability to convert any thyroid hormone replacement can be compromised if your core strength isn't maintained with optimal levels of ferritin, folate B12 and vitamin D.

I also supplement adrenal glandular as RAI can be taken up by other glands and organs within the body and since the adrenals and thyroid are closely related and support each other I believe we need to repair and support both glands.

What thyroid hormone replacement are you currently taking ?

[Koola in reply to pennyannie]

Tirosint, no additives or colorants. but I've been switching with another brand of Levo because Tirosint is much more potent. I tried NDT once and felt as if I were jumping out of my skin. So for a while, I took T3. Now my FT3 is okay.

[pennyannie in reply to Koola]

Well I just hoped you might want to try the NDT again, as it works well for me and since I've taken myself out of the medical system I am much improved, listening to myself.

So yes, if back on T4 those results would suggest you need an increase and let's hope your T3 keeps up, and your symptoms reduced.

[greygoose]

Yesterday I read that it did affect thyroid and wasn’t recommended for hyperthyroidism. So it must affect hypo. (?)

It can't affect your thyroid, because you haven't got one. As SeasideSusie says, it's an adaptogen, supposed to balance hormones. But that means balance hormone production. With no thyroid, you don't have any thyroid hormone production, so how could Ashwagandha affect it? It doesn't have any effect on your exogenous hormone. I think it was pretty stupid of your doctor to suggest it - I presume he knows you've had RAI? What on earth did he think it was going to do for you? As it is, it's more than likely reduced your production of cortisol, making you worse.

On the other hand, your doctor should have realised that your symptoms are due to being under-medicated. Your blood test results weren't good at all. Your TSH is much too high. It should come down to 1 or under. Your FT4 is much too low. You need an increase in levo of 25 mcg and a retest in six to eight weeks.

[Koola in reply to greygoose]

Amazing! My TSH hasn't been so low in centuries and it's still too high? Wow. Eternally grateful, Greygoose! Having lab & docs tell me everything was okay made it much worse. Starting to wonder if I had a whole other illness... I knew FT4 was still low but almost in the upper range. (?) Anyway, won't go back to that Doc, for sure. I'm glad I can now do something about it. Problem has been that taking only 88mcg Tirosint was exhausting so I was taking 75 mcg Tirosint every 3 days and 88mcg Greek Levothyroxin, not as strong. I'll try 88 Tirosint again.

[greygoose in reply to Koola]

You're welcome.