Hello All,
I have been diagnosed by my GP as being hypothyroid, possibly autoimmune.
I'm reluctant to go on pharma drugs, as I prefer to go down the natural route using iodine and supplements.
Has anyone else on here done that?
I'm currently reading 'The Iodine Crisis' by Lynne Farrow. 'Overcoming Thyroid Disorders' by David Brownstein MD and the latest book by Dr Sarah Myhill 'The Underactive Thyroid'.
Any thoughts please.
Thank you
Welcome to the forum Amber 1954,
So we can offer better advice, can you tell us more about your thyroid condition, eg when you were diagnosed, ongoing symptoms, plus blood test results (with ranges in brackets) for:
TSH
FT3
FT4
Plus any antibody and key vitamin tests (ferritin, folate, vitamins D and B12)
If your GP is unable to complete all the above (eg if TSH is within range, some surgeries may not be able to access FT4 and FT3 tests), you could look to do this privately, as many forum members do, for a better picture of your thyroid health:
thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...
It is not recommended on this forum to take iodine with hypothyroidism. We also do not recommend supplementing key vitamins without testing levels first.
Read Izabella Wentz too, a very useful guide. Especially if autoimmune.
Podcasts - Dr. Eric Baclavage Thyroid Answers and Let’s Talk Thyroid are also super helpful.
Iodine - there are two camps, one think it’ll cure us, the other thinks it’ll make us sicker. Especially with autoimmune, I’ve listened to lots of podcasts and some naturopaths are very pro iodine, I’ve also read some horror stories of people being made very unwell.
I’ve gone down the conventional T4 route despite being on the ‘more alternative’ end of the spectrum. I’m glandular curious. My worry is cost, consistency of dose and legitimacy of product from New Zealand given I have to hold my shit together and keep paying my mortgage. I can’t afford to experiment. However, once retired I will absolutely give it all a go 🌱
I’ll be very interested to hear how you get on and how your results are on it and will follow to hear about progress. 🌱🦋🌱
You might find this post and test results after adding iodine informative
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Hashimoto’s and iodine generally not seen as a good idea
Suggest you at very least get your iodine levels checked
Unless vegan you are unlikely to have low iodine levels
Genova Diagnostics for iodine test
thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...
Click on "Read the list of available tests" and on page 3 of the pdf you'll see
Urine Iodine Test:
Specimen requirements: Urine
Cost: £71.00
Order Code: END25
Turnaround time: 5 - 10 days
Iodine is an essential trace element, vital for healthy thyroid function. Adequate levels are required to enable the production of T3 and T4 thyroid hormones, whilst also being required in other areas of health.
Deficiencies can lead to impaired heat and energy production, mental function and slow metabolism. Urine iodine is one of the best measures of iodine status. This test is not performed as a loading test, but can be used to establish existing levels or to monitor iodine supplementation.
Vegans can get plenty (too much) iodine from sea vegetables.
Teenage girls in the UK were found to have low iodine status, due to low milk consumption.
Yes, best not to eat too many sea greens
more importantly you need both thyroid antibodies tested for autoimmune thyroid disease
If both antibodies are negative, an ultrasound scan of thyroid
If autoimmune disease confirmed you need coeliac blood test
And also test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Thank you for your reply. I've done a test through Medichecks and all of the above well in range.
Interesting about coeliac blood test. My mother was a 'full blown' coeliac, not just someone intolerant to gluten. I do avoid bread etc., but gluten (if that is the problem), is in so many things.
I'll look into a test. Thanks
All family members should have been tested for coeliac when your Mum was diagnosed
Thank you. Dont think it was ever considered back in the 80's when she was diagnosed. I try and avoid most of things, as best as possible, particularly grains. Don't feel they agree with me. I also believe my Mum suffered from undiagnosed 'leaky gut'. Much gluten intolerance has now been put down to the fact they spray crops with glysophates.
Agree absolutely
Hi Amber1954
Try not to think of thyroid hormone replacement in the context of “taking pharma drugs”. You’ll be replacing hormones your thyroid is struggling to make, just as a type 1 diabetic would need to take insulin.
I think loads of us when we start on this journey think there must surely be a “natural” way of fixing it.
In the early days, you might be able to slow things down by improving your diet etc. But iodine is contraindicated for autoimmune thyroid disease. If anything, those who’ve gone down the route of taking iodine (often because they’ve been wrongly advised by an assistant in a health food shop) make their autoimmune disease far worse not better.
If it’s something you really want to look into, please try to find out for certain whether you are iodine deficient. And don’t get sucked in by people saying you can do a patch test—that’s not at all accurate. I think SlowDragon has already suggested a urinary iodine test.
How hypothyroid are you? Did your doctor tell you any test results?
Thank you for your help. Back in 2015 I was suffering from a chronic skin condition, my GP was no help, just wanted to treat symptoms not get to the root cause. According to my GP blood results for liver, kidney, thyroid, nutritional deficiencies were in normal range.
It's a long story, too long to put on here, but I decided to go to see a Functional/Environmental medical Doctor privately. At the time one of my results from her was iodine deficiency. I was advised to take iodine in the form of seaweeds and seagreens. She explained about the iodine 'crisis' that affects so many people. I did an iodine loading test and looked to the work of Dr Brownstein MD and was referred to the book 'The Iodine Crisis' by Lynne Farrow.
With regards to my skin condition, following a major detox programme through my private doctor, I got my skin back, despite my GP telling me it was something I would have to live with. Plus the original blood results from my GP were way from normal.
Following a routine blood test, I was told I was I was autoimmune hypo. In November I did a test through Medichecks. All vitamins, foliate, ferritin, B12, vit D well within range.
Results
TSH 2.62 green
T3 4.3 green
Free 10.8 red
Thyroglobulin 26.9 green
TPA 98.4 red
They have advised another test in three months, which will be now. My report said my low thyroxine is likely to be temporary, but test again. My TPA is elevated, which means I run a risk, but risk is still low. This is just a brief of the report.
Due to my experience of GP's in the past, just to throw tablets at something, I have a reluctance to go down the Levothyroxine route straight away. I may have to in the end, I'm just exploring all options.
Looking at the different posts on here, it all sounds a rather complex condition, with no easy route, we are after all so individual.Unfortunately, due to now being retired, I'm not in a position to go down the private route anymore and go back to the Dr I saw over my skin.
you are unlikely to be offered levothyroxine at the moment with those results , even if the fT4 remains under range at next test.
Your raised TPOab certainly indicate an autoimmune attack has occurred to your thyroid, and this is likely to continue and slowly worsen over many years, but hypothyroidism will not usually be diagnosed and treated with Levo unless TSH goes over range.
Hypothyroidism diagnosis and treatment in UK is largely dictated by the TSH rising above the ref range UNLESS they have reason to suspect central / secondary hypothyroidism (ie a failure of pituitary to increase Thyroid Stimulating Hormone appropriately when T4 is low, meaning the thyroid isn't being 'asked' to produce more T4 ... rather than a 'thyroid' problem where thyroid is so damaged by autoimmune disease it is unable to produce enough T4)
However you should definitely take note of this low fT4 level if it continues , as you would really expect TSH to have risen higher than it is now in response to such a low fT4 level .. and it is not impossible to have a problem with autoimmune thyroid disease AND a problem with the pituitary / hypothalamus that produce TSH.
Are you taking anything known to lower TSH ?
Thank you for your reply. Yes, that's why I am querying before going back to my GP (I have a new one now), because she has prescribed Levo 50mcg.
I'm going to get me levels checked at the end of this month with another test by Medichecks, as they suggested as repeat test after 3 months.
I'm not taking anything that I'm aware of that might lower my TSH. I take multi vit, vit d, c, zinc, quercetin and NAC.
are you in UK ? is this an NHS GP ?
most people in UK take years to eventually get prescribed Levo if fT4 is a bit under range but TSH is 'ok'.
Yes and yes. That's why I query everything. One to take my health in my own hands now. Do all the research then decide. Thank you for your reply 👍😊
ironically there are several people on here currently who are banging their heads against an NHS wall of GP's who wil not consider treating their low/ lowish T4 as a problem while their TSH is in range ...and who would bite their GP's hand off if offered 50mcg Levo to try .
not suggesting you should take it at this point as i totally understand your caution before going down that route ... just pointing out the irony .
So don't be surprised if you get some Private Messages asking where you GP is located.
I'm in Wales
Back in the early 1980s I was vegan. My hair had begun to fall out. I began taking kelp tablets.
Back then, I knew nothing about testing for iodine insufficiency before supplementing.
Two years later I was diagnosed with under active thyroid. Years after that, I found out it was auto immune.
I think I exacerbated my own thyroid problem. Be cautious if you go down the iodine route.
I have been on levothyroxine for 35 years. I would take it, it's not worth looking at alternatives
Thank you Ladymaude52, I'll think about it 👍😊. If I had taken my GP's advice over my skin back in 2015, I'd still be on steroids and emollient creams. As it was I was able to help clear my skin by going through a major detox programme, by starting to clear the build up of toxins that had accumulated in my system over the years. Reading 'The Iodine Crisis' opened my eyes to the bromides, chlorides, fluorides etc that our body is bombarded with, many of which I had in my system plus, that kicks out the iodide that we all need. Hence toxins coming out through my skin instead of normal exit routes. I always investigate every avenue first. 👍😊
Part of that is due to American authors' response to their local circumstances. We don't have bromated flour products in the UK, for example, and in any case you don't consume flour products.
hello 👋
as someone who tried desperately to treat/cure/reverse my thyroid disorder through lifestyle, I would share 10 years on that nothing will replace the medication you need and the longer you go without it, the harder it will be to get treatment right when you do decide to take it. If you want to take a “natural” approach to medication then NDT is your best avenue. Sending you healing vibes ✨
Thank you, but not quite sure though what you mean by NDT non destructive testing?
Cheers 👍
natural dessicated thyroid 🙂
Hi, thank you. I did wonder 😅👍
Did you try NDT?
I’m on it at the moment and really like it but I have left myself untreated too long and I also did a ketogenic diet so now I have adrenal issues which complicates things x
Mmmm interesting. I do also follow a paleo ketogenic diet, as I'm dairy intolerant and grain doesn't agree with me. 👍😊
I was in ketosis for about 18 months, carnivore at times too. Suddenly over about a month my entire system crashed and I became extremely hypothyroid x
This is so difficult to know which route to take. I've read so many things from different Dr's. Even they don't seem to agree on a protocol. There is no one course of action. Seems to be very trial and error. Mind you, as humans, we are all very different, so not easy 👍😊
NDT was used for many years v successfully before big pharma got in on the act. Hard to source in the UK I get mine from overseas.
Hi Amber1954,
What brand of multivitamin due you take?
Pure Encapsulations this one, but normally Biocare
is it the one called ONE? Already has 150ug iodine in it and zinc, do you take extra zinc on top of this?
No, I don't take any extra.
Are you a vegetarian or vegan? I did read quickly through your post and replies so apologies if you've already answered that question.
I was curious as the forum doesn't usually recommend taking multivitamins. It's best to test to confirm those vitamins that we are short of before supplementing and then only taking what is needed.
Are you planning to take additional iodine on top of what is already contained in your multivitamin?
There are others on the forum that are better placed to offer guidance regarding multivitamins so hopefully they will respond to your post.
I'm only at the start of my thyroid treatment and have only been on levothyroxine since last August post partial thyroidectomy. It's been a battle to get this far (understatement!) as I was continually told there was nothing wrong with my thyroid despite having a low in range FT4 for many years, currently below range and also being symptomatic.
Although I did struggle at first, for me starting levothyroxine has been life changing. I felt different almost immediately even only taking such a tiny amount; I've now titrated up to 25mcg.
It is overwhelming as there is so much to learn but the members here have lots of experience and knowledge.
Best wishes.
I think if it was possible to cure thyroid in alternative ways we wouldn’t be here in the forum 
I tried many ways, countless books, supplements, accupuncture, Ayurveda you name it, all I can say is that it doesn’t work.
Unfortunately, there are many people on this forum who aren't better when they're they're treated conventionally, because they're treated inadequately, or who struggle to get any form of help or treatment from their conventional doctors. THAT'S why many are on this forum, not because 'supplements don't work'.
Looking to improve your health yourself, be it through diet, nutrition, exercise, alternative therapies, etc, often runs alongside wanting to increase your knowledge. It is very healthy to want to be informed. To want to feel more in control when facing a gp and to feel empowered to ask the right questions. And to keep an open mind to alternative approaches.
Dr Alan Christianson - Iodine Controlled Diet
Iodine 
Medichecks mistake?
