Getting off Thyroxin: My last blood in April was... - Thyroid UK

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Getting off Thyroxin

mg65 profile image
mg65
9 Replies

My last blood in April was all normal, this was the very first in 20 years to be completely normal. 20 years ago I was put onto 120mg of thyroxin after a bout of quinsy along with an intense and stressful year along with a 50lb weight gain. I know it doesn't suit everyone but I lost all my weight gain in 2012 in 6months on a strict Dukan diet with loads of walking.

I'm currently on 25mg when I remember, which is typically twice per week.

Since the begining, I didn't want to be on it and with trial and error it has taken me this long. Luckily the only issue I had with thyroxin was/is bone and joint pains which was sometimes breathtaking.

Some years I spent time repeatedly crashing and giving up for a while but then getting back to being clean.

I tried Vegan for 3 years, I was never sicker and eventually hospitalised for an iron infusion!

My routine now is this:

Totally clean, no processed foods, including no sugar, with zero wheat and zero tannins, keto diet.

Turmeric latte first thing which consists of warming fresh pepper and cinnamon stick shards in a dry pan before adding 4 to 6oz of oat milk. Grate a nail sized piece of fresh turmeric and fresh ginger, let it warm through. Trust me, you get used to it!

Daily Ltyrosine 500, vit P5P (B6) and Berberine 500, I take vit c 1g x2pd for 3 days when I need it if I feel like I'm getting a cold. Occationallly, 400g of Magnesium when I can't sleep.

To be fair I am a homeopath and that is my go-to for all my health issues.

I have done a huge amount of self development and with the help of Chris Paradox in the Stop Suffering School (find him on YouTube) I have been able to let go of stress/ trauma/ triggers/ego chatter. I have no doubt that this has been pivotal to my healing mentally, emotionally and subsequently physically.

I am human so occasionally I will have a blow out ... I love a good croissant dunked in top quality coffee with cream!!

I realise that we are all on our own journey but I just wanted to reach out and give a bit hope on this sometimes knightmare of a path.

Love to you all on your way xx

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mg65
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9 Replies
tattybogle profile image
tattybogle

pleased you are doing well mg65

but as you are suggesting that diet/ lifestyle changes mean you no longer need to take levo, it would be better if you gave enough detail to allow people to form a balanced opinion.

Diagnosis ?... sub-acute / de quervains /other / autoimmune hypo (Hashimoto's / Ords) unknown ?

The TSH/ fT4 / antibody results that led to you being prescribed levo ?

'Normal'/ 'Abnormal' ? (giving actual test results would be better)

Dose history/ timeline ?

The term ‘getting off thyroxin’ suggests that it is a drug. It is not. It is an essential hormone. No one should be put on Levothyroxine for anything other than thyroid issues.

Your post gives the impression that homeopathy and supplements can replace this important hormone. It most certainly cannot. Of course homeopathy can be used alongside it for a wide variety of issues, as can well researched supplements.

I use homeopathy regularly and it has its uses.

RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator

' My last blood in April was all normal, this was the very first in 20 years to be completely normal'

When it comes to thyroid hormone levels, the word 'normal' doesn't mean anything useful. What were those actual test results? i.e. TSH, FT4 and FT3?

And give something to compare this with. What thyroid blood results have you previously had that were not completely normal?

Doctors often are satisfied to see test results 'within the normal' range. Well informed thyroid patients know that this isn't useful terminolgy for thyroid hormones. What's normal for you, isn't necessarily normal for someone else. We need our thyroid hormone levels to be 'optimal for us as an individual'.

'Since the begining, I didn't want to be on it'

Thyroxin is a hormone (also known as T4), which is as vital to the body as food and drink. Thyroid hormones are normally produced by the thyroid gland. If you don't have a thyroid gland, or have a thyroid gland which is unable to produce the hormones needed, then the hormone can be supplemented by exogenous methods.

I'm always puzzled when someone posts here triumphantly, stating that they've managed to 'get off' thyroid hormone replacement. Taking replacement hormone is nothing to be ashamed of. If you need it, you need it.

Many of us when first diagnosed, do panic when we're told that we now need to 'take medication for life'. I know I was a bit shocked when this happened to me. But gradually (once the thyroid medication allowed my brain to start functioning properly again), I began to understand the importance of this particular medication. I realised that this replacement hormone was as vital to my body as the food and drink my body needed to keep it nourished and hydrated.

However, it does occasionally happen that someone gets misdiagnosed as being hypothyroid. There are a few reasons why this might happen. But it wouldn't typically take twenty years to get a misdiagnosis sorted out.

'currently on 25mg when I remember, which is typically twice per week.'

That does suggest that your thyroid gland may well be producing all the hormones needed. So taking the odd 25mcg may not be doing anything useful at all. However, even taking 25mcg once or twice a week, will be giving a potentially false thyroid test result. In order to prove that your thyroid gland is fully functional, you would need to not be taking any thyroid hormone at all for at least four to six weeks prior to a thyroid blood test. If those test numbers are all good, then there's a strong chance your thyroid is indeed fully functional. Only time will tell though whether that is permanent.

DippyDame profile image
DippyDame in reply toRedApple

Agree!

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toRedApple

Very well said, RedApple! This sort of post is not 'giving people hope', it's totally misleading them.

in reply togreygoose

Why is it still there then? Surely there are guidelines about this sort of thing.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to

No point asking me, I'm not admin!

in reply togreygoose

sorry. Not used to directing comments to right person

Zephyrbear profile image
Zephyrbear

”Trust me, you get used to it!”

Why on earth would you want to? It sounds awful! If it takes that level of effort to create a concoction that you’ll eventually get used to (thereby implying its awfulness) in order to stop my thyroid meds (which are keeping me alive and well) I’d rather stick to my evils of tea and coffee, thank you very much!

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