A Thyroid question

[Bill Ryan]

Dear Friends, we already have a thread about hyperthyroidism, titled Hyperthyroidism - Overactive Thyroid. But I have a question about the opposite — hypothyroidism.

I'd noticed in past months that my blood pressure was low all the time. Not clinically low, but typically about 105/65, which is 'low normal'. That's hardly anything to complain about!

But it used to be 'normal normal', meaning about 120/75. So I saved up some $$ and treated myself to a heart scan, which I do every year anyway purely as routine. Everything was 100% strong and fine. And I also did a blood test for any markers that might be connected with lowered blood pressure.

Everything was normal, except for my TSH, a thyroid-stimulating hormone produced by the pituitary gland. That was very high, at 12.15. It's supposed to be 4.5 or less. The high TSH means that my pituitary is working extra-hard to try to boost my thyroid. My Free T4 was normal, but on the low end (0.94).

So all this is an indicator of low thyroid activity, one of the knock-on effects being... low blood pressure. It seemed to fit.

But the other symptoms of low thyroid (fatigue, gaining weight, feeling cold, anxiety, depression, muscle soreness, etc etc etc, OMG!), are all 100% absent. It's just the slightly lowered blood pressure, nothing else at all.

My questions: (if anyone has any easy answers at their fingertips, maybe from their own experience?)

1. How to remedy low thyroid activity naturally? (All the mainstream health sites recommend a pharma drug called levothyroxine, which is a synthetic T4 hormone. Of course, I will NOT take that. )
2. The small amount of reading I've done suggests that taking extra iodine is not the solution, because (as best I understand it) that can sometimes make an underactive thyroid worse. Does anyone know more about this? (I do take iodine every day.)

[onawah]

My thyroid got fried when I was in the hospital after my NDE when I was 24, and was getting Xrayed routinely.
It's difficult getting an accurate reading from mainstream doctors, but I finally got a good doctor when I was in my 50s and was accurately diagnosed as hypothyroid.
He prescribed Armor Thyroid (which is an extract of thyroid taken from pigs and that seemed to be working, according to the results of the next checkup.) Synthroid is the synthetic version and is very toxic.
At that same time, I was a member of a women's group and one of the women had been telling us all about what a health boon taking Royal Peruvian Maca powder was for her.
So we all tried it and also got very good results (except for one woman who had had a hysterectomy and apparently there are complications in those instances).
Most of us in the group were going through "the Change", or had been on the other side of it for a while and were initially having hot flashes and night sweats, etc.
So I had been taking Maca for maybe a couple of months at the same time as taking Armor Thyroid before I went for my next checkup.
My doctor did a blood test to see how my hormone levels were and he was amazed and puzzled at the change, just since the last checkup.
He said he needed to drastically reduce the amount of Armor Thyroid and he asked me if I had been doing anything else different since I had started on Armor Thyroid.
I told him about Maca which he had never heard of, but he was fascinated and did a lot of research on it and subsequently began recommending it to his other patients.
I don't take Armor at all anymore, but have continued taking Maca, and it keeps my energy levels up and I have never had hot flashes or night sweats or any of those pre and post menopausal symptoms at all since I started taking Maca (though I was before that).
(It's also good for men with thyroid issues, or who have erectile dysfunction.)
There are 2 main types--one is raw and the other is heat treated or "gelatinized" and so not as potent.
There are also different colors with slightly different characteristics.
I always take the raw organic powder. There are lots of options on the Vitacost site.
There is a guy based in Vilcabamba who sells it: https://therawfoodworld.com/product/maca-powder-16oz/
It doesn't just grow in Peru anymore.

Posted by Bill Ryan (here)
Dear Friends, we already have a thread about hyperthyroidism, titled Hyperthyroidism - Overactive Thyroid. But I have a question about the opposite — hypothyroidism.[/LIST]

[Alecs]

Posted by Bill Ryan (here)
Dear Friends, we already have a thread about hyperthyroidism, titled Hyperthyroidism - Overactive Thyroid. But I have a question about the opposite — hypothyroidism.

I'd noticed in past months that my blood pressure was low all the time. Not clinically low, but typically about 105/65, which is 'low normal'. That's hardly anything to complain about!

But it used to be 'normal normal', meaning about 120/75. So I saved up some $$ and treated myself to a heart scan, which I do every year anyway purely as routine. Everything was 100% strong and fine. And I also did a blood test for any markers that might be connected with lowered blood pressure.

Everything was normal, except for my TSH, a thyroid-stimulating hormone produced by the pituitary gland. That was very high, at 12.15. It's supposed to be 4.5 or less. The high TSH means that my pituitary is working extra-hard to try to boost my thyroid. My Free T4 was normal, but on the low end (0.94).

So all this is an indicator of low thyroid activity, one of the knock-on effects being... low blood pressure. It seemed to fit.

But the other symptoms of low thyroid (fatigue, gaining weight, feeling cold, anxiety, depression, muscle soreness, etc etc etc, OMG!), are all 100% absent. It's just the slightly lowered blood pressure, nothing else at all.

My questions: (if anyone has any easy answers at their fingertips, maybe from their own experience?)

1. How to remedy low thyroid activity naturally? (All the mainstream health sites recommend a pharma drug called levothyroxine, which is a synthetic T4 hormone. Of course, I will NOT take that. )
2. The small amount of reading I've done suggests that taking extra iodine is not the solution, because (as best I understand it) that can sometimes make an underactive thyroid worse. Does anyone know more about this? (I do take iodine every day.)

I share the same symptom, Bill.

I too decided that synthetic hormone is off the table. The Armor Thyroid is the alternative my holistic physician recommended. I would say to seek out the best available brand, if deciding to use it.

Iodine supplements is something I avoid; I'm not willing to take the chance of further harming the thyroid. I do eat wild salmon and other cold water fish and seafood; just not too much because I can feel the thyroid 'inflame'.

I also focus on adrenal health, and try to reduce foods containing oxalates and some goitrogens--spinach, nuts and berries as examples, otherwise I consume cheese with these foods. Also, any brassicas I eat are cooked.

One of my go-to online knowledge bases is drberg.com.

I also avoid as much exposure to EMF/EMR as I can.

Onawah -- much appreciated for sharing about Maca! Healthrangerstore.com has organic Maca powder too.

[Bill Ryan]

Posted by onawah (here)
...one of the women had been telling us all about what a health boon taking Royal Peruvian Maca powder was for her.
[ ... ]
I told him about Maca which he had never heard of, but he was fascinated and did a lot of research on it and subsequently began recommending it to his other patients.
I don't take Armor at all anymore, but have continued taking Maca

That's SO SO fascinating. (Thanks!) Maca is readily available here in Ecuador, and I have a bunch of it already in jars in my larder. Most interestingly, purely by intuition in the last couple of weeks I'd been adding it to my morning drink of cacao. (See the very interesting Raw Cacao thread.)

But an important question! How much do you (or should someone) take? Are there any suggested limits?

Posted by Alecs (here)
I share the same symptom, Bill.

Thanks also!
Just low blood pressure but nothing much else? Or were you meaning elevated TSH? (Is a TSH level of 12 quite high, or very high? )

Posted by Alecs (here)
I too decided that synthetic hormone is off the table. The Armor Thyroid is the alternative my holistic physician recommended. I would say to seek out the best available brand, if deciding to use it.

If I went that route (which it does seem I might not have to), is this a prescription-only thing?

Posted by Alecs (here)
Iodine supplements is something I avoid; I'm not willing to take the chance of further harming the thyroid.

How and why might iodine supplements harm the thyroid? (And is it possible I take too much?)

[onawah]

I don't know what to recommend as far as dosages. Women I've known who take it have simply experimented, starting with a teaspoon a day then increasing until they actually felt too hyper.
I take a tablespoon per day these days, and take it when I first get up, since it's energizing and can interfere with falling asleep.
But I'm not at all active these days; I know one women who does a lot of physical work on her property (she runs a retreat center) and she was taking a lot more, last I heard.
I've never heard of anyone experiencing ill effects by taking too much except for women who have had hysterectomies, though I suppose it's possible.

Posted by Bill Ryan (here)

Posted by onawah (here)
...one of the women had been telling us all about what a health boon taking Royal Peruvian Maca powder was for her.
[ ... ]
I told him about Maca which he had never heard of, but he was fascinated and did a lot of research on it and subsequently began recommending it to his other patients.
I don't take Armor at all anymore, but have continued taking Maca

That's SO SO fascinating. (Thanks!) Maca is readily available here in Ecuador, and I have a bunch of it already in jars in my larder. Most interestingly, purely by intuition in the last couple of weeks I'd been adding it to my morning drink of cacao. (See the very interesting Raw Cacao thread.)

But an important question! How much do you (or should someone) take? Are there any suggested limits?

Posted by Alecs (here)
I share the same symptom, Bill.

Thanks also!
Just low blood pressure but nothing much else? Or were you meaning elevated TSH? (Is a TSH level of 12 quite high, or very high? )

Posted by Alecs (here)
I too decided that synthetic hormone is off the table. The Armor Thyroid is the alternative my holistic physician recommended. I would say to seek out the best available brand, if deciding to use it.

If I went that route (which it does seem I might not have to), is this a prescription-only thing?

Posted by Alecs (here)
Iodine supplements is something I avoid; I'm not willing to take the chance of further harming the thyroid.

How and why might iodine supplements harm the thyroid? (And is it possible I take too much?)

[Ravenlocke]

I found this article by Dr Westin Childs about Iodine supplementation, titled

Is using Iodine safe for Your Thyroid?

Here is the link:

https://www.restartmed.com/is-using-iodine-safe

~~~

On one hand, iodine is a critical nutrient required for the creation of thyroid hormone.

But on the other, it has the potential to cause thyroid dysfunction and trigger autoimmune thyroid disease.

So how are you supposed to look at iodine as a thyroid patient? As a thyroid-boosting ingredient that will help you feel better or as a surefire way to make your thyroid worse?

The safety of iodine has almost nothing to do with iodine itself and everything to do with how much you take.

Here’s why:

Iodine and Thyroid Function

What exactly is iodine?

Iodine is a trace element that your body requires in order to manufacture thyroid hormone.

Without iodine, your body is not able to produce thyroid hormone and you will develop hypothyroidism.

While it may be tempting to run out and use iodine I would caution against that action without reading this information first!

In some cases, using high doses of iodine can be dangerous (1) and that’s exactly what we are going to discuss here.

Iodine is a hotly debated topic due to a variety of reasons.

First:

The only way we humans get iodine is through our food.

Iodine can either be acquired by consuming naturally occurring iodine in foods such as seaweed or it can be taken in foods that have been iodized (such as salt).

This sets up a scenario in which it’s relatively easy to become deficient.

Think about it:

How often are you consuming seaweed or kelp?

And are you actually using iodized salt?

Remember:

Celtic sea salt and Himalayan pink salt typically do not contain iodine.

Second:

The second reason has to do with a perfect storm of scenarios that have collided to create our current situation.

The current paradigm of thyroid treatment focuses largely on lab tests and not on individual patients. This paradigm has resulted in many patients who feel like they are not being heard or treated appropriately.

Simultaneously, we also have evidence that many people are iodine deficient which is a known cause of thyroid dysfunction.

It’s easy to see why these patients, who are not being treated adequately by their current doctors, turn to iodine as a potential source of treatment for their thyroid problems.

This has set the stage for different strategies and opinions about how to properly use iodine and anecdotal evidence that the use of iodine can cure thyroid-related problems.

Third:

And, finally, there are further issues regarding the ‘source’ and ‘purity’ of various sources of iodine.

Back in 2011, there was a nuclear reactor leak from an earthquake in Fukushima (2).

This caused nuclear waste leakage and the concern that naturally occurring sources of iodine from seaweed and kelp were contaminated.

In addition, there’s also concern that seaweed and kelp naturally accumulate heavy metals and other materials that have been dumped into the ocean.

The concern is that people who consume their iodine and kelp may be causing more harm than good to their bodies because of these reasons.

We are going to attempt to tackle many of these issues and really talk about whether or not it is safe to consume iodine.

Risks of Using Too Much Iodine

Is it actually safe to consume iodine?

There are advocates on the internet who suggest that consuming many times the average recommended dose is actually not only safe but effective in treating thyroid dysfunction.

I’m going to discuss several reasons why that may not be a good idea.

We know that iodine is essential to thyroid function, but we also know that too much of a good thing can cause issues.

If you are considering using high-dose iodine I would suggest you take a look at these conditions prior to doing so.

#1. Thyroid Cancer

Perhaps the most concerning problem is that of thyroid cancer.

Some studies have shown that iodized salt prophylaxis (adding iodine to salt) was associated with an increased risk of cancer afterward.

Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean that iodine consumption is causing thyroid cancer, but it is still something worth considering.

This data comes from Australia and dates back to the 1960’s.

Around that time period, Australia increased iodine supplementation in certain areas of the population.

They found that 20 years later the rate of thyroid cancer had increased from 3 in every 100,000 to 8 in every 100,000 patients (3).

Again, just because the rate increased over this time period doesn’t necessarily mean it was due to the iodine supplementation.

It could have also been due to an increase in thyroid cancer awareness or due to new imaging techniques (finding the cancer earlier).

But, to support the idea that there is a connection between iodine intake and thyroid cancer other studies have shown similar findings.

A similar event occurred in Sweden which found that higher iodine intake was associated with a higher incidence of thyroid cancer (4).

#2. Autoimmune Thyroiditis

Another big problem that we must deal with is the increasing rate of autoimmune thyroiditis.

Autoimmune thyroiditis (such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis) is a condition in which your own immune system attacks and destroys your thyroid gland over a period of time.

Many studies have shown that the risk of developing autoimmune thyroiditis increases with iodine intake.

This information comes from a study in Poland where researchers found that the rate of autoimmune thyroiditis increased from 1.5% to 5.7% over a 7 year period (5).

I don’t think it’s necessarily true that iodine results in autoimmune thyroiditis development but more likely that it exacerbates underlying conditions which further the expression of the disease.

What does that mean?

It means that certain people who would have likely developed Hashimoto’s at some point in their lives had an acceleration of the disease process due to isolated iodine supplementation.

#3. Fetal Hypothyroidism

Adult bodies are supposed to be able to handle temporary high doses of iodine excess due to some protective mechanisms that exist in the body.

As you take high doses of iodine, your body reacts by blocking the uptake of iodine into the thyroid gland.

This mechanism exists to prevent the production of excess thyroid hormone.

But this mechanism doesn’t exist for the fetus.

Studies have shown that the fetal thyroid does not have the same ability to block iodine uptake when compared to the mother (6).

This means that using high doses of iodine while you are pregnant may result in fetal hyperthyroidism.

Studies have shown that using iodine during pregnancy results in changes in TSH levels of cord blood compared to women who do not supplement.

Having said all of this, we also know that pregnant and lactating women require higher amounts of iodine during pregnancy.

It may be wise to use a slightly higher amount of iodine while pregnant while avoiding excessively high doses of iodine.

#4. Iodine-Induced Hyperthyroidism

Your thyroid requires about 150mcg of iodine per day to produce thyroid hormone.

If you don’t get this amount your thyroid may enlarge which causes thyroid goiter.

In some situations, providing a sudden increase in iodine can actually result in the excess production of thyroid hormone from your gland (7).

This can flood your system and may result in a condition known as hyperthyroidism.

Hyperthyroidism is the exact opposite of hypothyroidism where your body produces too much thyroid hormone.

While this condition doesn’t happen all the time, there is a risk that it may occur in certain populations of people.

People who are at increased risk include:

• People in iodine-sufficient areas (such as the United States) who suddenly take excessive doses of iodine (more than they need).
• People who have previously had episodes of postpartum thyroiditis in their life who suddenly take high doses of iodine.
• People who have thyroid goiter who suddenly take large doses of iodine.
• People who have Graves’ disease who are taking anti-thyroid drugs. This group is prone to developing iodine-induced hyperthyroidism if they take iodine. In addition, using high doses of iodine may reduce the effectiveness of anti-thyroid medications.

I think part of the problem with iodine supplementation is that no two cases are exactly identical.

It’s possible for some people to take as high as 50mg of iodine per day and not experience any issues, but if you fit any of the conditions listed above then that dose of iodine can actually trigger serious problems.

Be wary of people and providers who recommend, without hesitation, large doses of iodine universally.

How Much is Enough?

There is obviously a large range of iodine that you can consume.

Some over-the-counter supplements contain around 100 per day while other supplements contain up to 12.5mg per dose.

When you consider that 1,000mcg is equal to 1 milligram it’s easy to see the difference in potency.

Some over-the-counter iodine supplements contain more than 100 times the daily recommended dose.

This makes it very easy to accidentally overdose on iodine which makes it very easy to cause problems and toxicity.

To determine how much you should be taking we can look at the following image:




This image includes the various ranges of iodine intake and how they relate to whether it is a sufficient amount for your body.

Notice that the dosages are in the MCG (microgram) range and not the milligram range.

Per this chart, an excessive amount of iodine is classified as more than 300mcg taken per day.

The adequate range is defined as 100-200mcg per day.

When you take into iodine intake, it’s important to realize that your body has the capacity to store a certain amount of iodine in both your thyroid and other tissues.

So, it may be necessary to take higher than normal amounts of iodine temporarily to replete this store if you are deficient for a period of time.

Consider this example:

If you go 6 months consuming less than 20mcg of iodine per day you may run the risk of depleting the iodine storage in your body.

In this case, it wouldn’t be enough for you to consume 100mcg per day because this wouldn’t allow for you to utilize iodine and replete your storage.

Instead, you may need to temporarily consume 300mcg or more per day for a set period of time.

I find that most people do well when supplementing between the 100 to 200mcg range per day and this range will keep you out of the excessive dose and reduce your risk of negative consequences.

How to Supplement Safely with Iodine

Does all of this mean that you should avoid using iodine at all?

No, not at all, and that’s not what I’m trying to say.

Instead, my recommendation for using iodine is to use only enough to meet your needs and to slowly titrate up (increase your dose) only if necessary at that point.

According to several studies, and my own personal experience in treating patients, I believe that using around 50 to 150mcg per day is a very safe range.

That’s why I put no more than 75mcg of Iodine in my T3 conversion booster.
So, how should you proceed if you want to try using an iodine supplement?



I recommend starting out in the 50 to 150mcg range. To get there you may need to use a small supplement (not a highly concentrated supplement such as Lugol’s solution).

There is a lot of fear out there regarding the nuclear contamination of kelp and seaweed from the nuclear leak at Fukushima.

I’ve found that this fear is largely unfounded considering recent studies show that the vast majority of that radiation would have been cleared a few years after the leak (8).

Another concern some people have is heavy metals.

But, again, recent studies show that the levels of heavy metals in seaweed and kelp are very minor (9) and not in sufficient quantity to cause problems.

You should, therefore, be fine using iodine from seaweed (by eating it) or using supplements that contain iodine from seaweed.

If you also have T4 to T3 conversion issues then I would consider using a supplement that contains other ingredients such as zinc and selenium which can also be thyroid-protective.

Conclusion

The bottom line?

While iodine is an essential nutrient required for thyroid function it is not something that you should consume in incredibly high amounts.

Contrary to popular belief on the internet, high iodine intake has been associated with an increased risk of several conditions including autoimmune thyroiditis, thyroid cancer, and hypothyroidism.

While it may be true that some people can tolerate incredibly large doses of iodine that doesn’t mean that all people can or that all people should even consider doing so.

In my experience, using an appropriate amount of iodine is sufficient to replete iodine levels in the body and maximize thyroid function.

Using high doses of iodine may be tempting if you believe that you can ‘reverse’ your thyroid condition, but it may actually cause the opposite.

When in doubt, make sure you look to the clinical studies as a guide (not anecdotal evidence).


References:

#1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4192807/
#2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4356974/
#3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9349576/
#4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8543389/
#5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11751062/
#6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22841183/
#7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11396708/
#8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4833270/
#9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5824826/

[samsdice]

Dear Bill,

I have the auto-immune disorder called Graves' Disease which causes hypo - I recommend you finding a good Endocrinoligist and get a test (TSH, T3 & T4 - as well as TRab )thyroid antibodies).

As regards treatment, they may recommend Carbimazole dosages which you probably don't want to take (unwise if you have Graves' - you'll end up losing your thyroid)

You may require Selenium - do you have any symptoms like itchy or puffy eyes?

Lastly, you'll most likely benefit from a daily handful of Brazil nuts which are packed with Magnesium & Selenium.

Stay clear of Iodine.


Links:

http://elaine-moore.com



Kind Regards,
Steven

[Myristyl]

Hi Bill, it might be worth eliminating Gluten from your diet for a few weeks to see if there is any improvement. From personal experience I can say that gluten produces all sorts of weird effects not directly related to the gut, e.g. balance issues, pins and needles, nerve pain, amongst other things. I'm not saying it is causing the issue but it may be exacerbating it and there is no harm in giving it a go

p.s Gluten free 'products' are generally awful. I call them Pleasure Free Food.

[onawah]

I looked into the gluten issue a while back and saw some reports saying that gluten sensitivity is actually often mistaken for the reaction that comes from consuming grain that is commercially grown rather than organically grown.
The real issue is glysophate.
The reports said that commercial wheat is being soaked in glysophate both while growing, and after the grains are harvested.
Needless to say, it's very toxic.
There were lots of reports from people in the US who thought they were gluten sensitive, who went to vacation in countries where glysophate was not being used, and found that they could eat grains with no problem.
One caveat however, is that organically grown grains in countries where glysophate is used may be getting glysophate just because it drifts in the wind, and is recirculated in the water and soil as well.

Posted by Myristyl (here)
Hi Bill, it might be worth eliminating Gluten from your diet for a few weeks to see if there is any improvement. From personal experience I can say that gluten produces all sorts of weird effects not directly related to the gut, e.g. balance issues, pins and needles, nerve pain, amongst other things. I'm not saying it is causing the issue but it may be exacerbating it and there is no harm in giving it a go

p.s Gluten free 'products' are generally awful. I call them Pleasure Free Food.

[Bill Ryan]

Wow, and my most sincere thanks to everyone. (Another testament to how much Avalon members collectively know and understand about just about everything that matters! )



A brief interim response:

• I do think I've been taking too much iodine. I'm stopping right now.
• My gluten intake is very low. (I almost never eat wheat)
• I'll be taking a heaped teaspoon of Maca with my morning cacao from here on out.
• No 'itchy or puffy eyes'. I have no symptoms apart from slightly lowered blood pressure and a TSH reading of 12.
• I take 200 mcg of selenium 1x every 3 days. But I might increase that a little.
  
  —and—
  
  
• I've edited Ravenlocke's VERY useful post above (all about iodine) to add and include all the helpful links, images and formatting.
  

[Myristyl]

Posted by onawah (here)
I looked into the gluten issue a while back and saw some reports saying that gluten sensitivity is actually often mistaken for the reaction that comes from consuming grain that is commercially grown rather than organically grown.
The real issue is glysophate.
The reports said that commercial wheat is being soaked in glysophate both while growing, and after the grains are harvested.
Needless to say, it's very toxic.
There were lots of reports from people in the US who thought they were gluten sensitive, who went to vacation in countries where glysophate was not being used, and found that they could eat grains with no problem.
One caveat however, is that organically grown grains in countries where glysophate is used may be getting glysophate just because it drifts in the wind, and is recirculated in the water and soil as well.

Posted by Myristyl (here)
Hi Bill, it might be worth eliminating Gluten from your diet for a few weeks to see if there is any improvement. From personal experience I can say that gluten produces all sorts of weird effects not directly related to the gut, e.g. balance issues, pins and needles, nerve pain, amongst other things. I'm not saying it is causing the issue but it may be exacerbating it and there is no harm in giving it a go

p.s Gluten free 'products' are generally awful. I call them Pleasure Free Food.

That is true about the Glyphosate being probably/ definitely harmful despite clearance by regulators, however, for those of us with this problem gluten is also present in Barley and Rye. I have tried organic and spelt without success. Since I'm not keen on eating food laced with glyphosate it makes it, in a way, not so bad being coeliac. The wider issue is one of auto-immune and whether all these different ailments are caused by the same underlying mechanism. Namely stresses to the immune system caused by chemicals and pharmaceuticals etc.

[Agape]

Namaste from the other side Bill 🙏😅🪷

Similar case here. I've taken long detailed blood test from the advanced medical institution where mum went, got away with long profile each time, mostly "in norm" no matter my symptoms, to their overall cheers as they say they're not used to see people with "all stars in line"(*** the middle) anymore BUT to their joy again, they once determined that both of my THS and TH 3, TH4 were practically absent
I asked, what do you mean by "zero THS" ? I feel fine . No I'm not slow and lethargic, not suffering from sleepiness, overating or obesity, nothing is showing otherwise,
they still insisted I am in danger and need to take their supplement , so I will "get back on speed".

I thought , what an interesting idea 🤔

After few weeks ( in 2014 or so ) the pills started to make me bit unwell , kind of stuck and uncomfy and I was getting more colds and flues , instead of less,
I had an argument with the lab for being vegetarian,

the doctor swore number of times that they have right to refuse me if I refuse their treatment and don't eat like she does ,

jokes apart , I of course figured out it's working completely against me and stopped taking them after almost 4 months ( of genuine personal effort not to disappoint ) however,

to their utter amazement whenever they tested my thyroid levels later it showed some activity regardless .

But due to mountain colds and other colds, it's activity fluctuates and may depend on temperatures, I figured out that our body temperature vs the role of thyroid gland in thermoregulation work in both directions.

Even though, it's important to maintain stable temperature and avoid extremes.

Iodine does me no well but there are other things I like to take instead,
for example .. pomegranate juice , or any other red berry juice , per territory.

It's also quite possible to use auto - voice - massage, by either whistling, throat singing or otherwise humming , preferably close to nature as possible ,

it's ok to improvize and find ones own way with it.


In Bills case, it's clear again they are overshooting and offering supplement at the very suspicion of inflammatory disease of the thyroid,
perhaps with hope that Bill will eventually start slowing down ?


Definitely no to iodine and no to "things in tins". Also no to very fermented foods that may contain large amount of "healthy fungi" and "probiotics",

as they boost the inflammation in that stage.

[Alecs]

My apology, Bill, for replying late to your questions of Post #4.

The only presumed thyroid-related symptom I experience for the hypothyroid issue is lower blood pressure--about the value you indicate. And actually, thinking about it, I also have some vertical ridges in my nails which may also be a noticeable symptom.

The reference range ("normal" range) for my TSH tests is .4 to 4.5, so 12 would I guess be quite high. Although my value exceeded 10 many years ago I didn't take anything to manage it, and still don't. The TSH value has come down to within the reference range.

Yes, I believe Armor Thyroid, like synthroid, is prescription. I apologize for giving the impression that it may not be.

[Bill Ryan]

Posted by Alecs (here)
My apology, Bill, for replying late to your questions of Post #4.

The only presumed thyroid-related symptom I experience for the hypothyroid issue is lower blood pressure--about the value you indicate. And actually, thinking about it, I also have some vertical ridges in my nails which may also be a noticeable symptom.

The reference range ("normal" range) for my TSH tests is .4 to 4.5, so 12 would I guess be quite high. Although my value exceeded 10 many years ago I didn't take anything to manage it, and still don't. The TSH value has come down to within the reference range.

Yes, I believe Armor Thyroid, like synthroid, is prescription. I apologize for giving the impression that it may not be.

Thanks so much again!

My new regime:

1. No more iodine supplements.
2. A heaped teaspoon of Maca every morning.
3. Set my Spooky2 Rife machine (see the threads here and here) to 'hypothyroidism'. (I'd set it to 'low blood pressure' before, but it made no difference — of course, I realize now because that was a symptom and not the cause.)
   — (I'd also applied a blue Stimcare patch over my heart, purely as an experiment. My friend's world-class athlete children, Noam and Pema, use Stimcare patches all the time when training and racing, as besides other things they assist muscle efficiency and recovery. So I figured it might assist my heart. (Stimcare sponsors them, so they get as many as they need all free, and they very kindly gave me one to try.) But that made no difference either. I doubt if I can easily apply it to my thyroid!

I'll report back in a couple of months!

[lunaflare]

Hi Bill,

My TSH levels have consistently been above the recommended range in my blood tests. Yes, a level of 12.15 sounds high, so I understand why you might be concerned.

Based on what you’ve shared, my advice is this: **Don’t worry about it!** You seem healthy!

I was on a never-ending path to lower my TSH levels, but I found that it was an expensive waste of time, probably overloading my liver as well. I no longer take vitamins, minerals, or supplements, and I don’t get my blood tested anymore.

I practice yoga regularly and try to minimize stress...

Overall, I feel really good considering all the other challenges we face in the world.

[AriG]

I have had Hashimotos since 2013. My recommendation would be to have aTPO antibody test. If these antibodies are present, you more than likely have Hashimotos aka autoimmune thyroiditis. Barring taking T4 or what I take, T3 (requires no conversion by kidneys), 5000 IUs of Vitamin d per day is your best “natural “ treatment. Also have your kidney function tested. I recently have had a decrease in function in one kidney (blockeage of unknown origin after painful cystoscope and stent placement and removal). New wisdom is suggesting that there is a kidney/thyroid connection, albeit not understood.

[AriG]

A few things I failed to mention:

Gluten is not the enemy. Use organic wheat products and avoid DATEM, an enzyme that is used as a dough conditioner that is also used to provide structure in of all things, yoga mats.

Iodine in moderation (1/4 teaspoon of iodized salt per day) helps to moderate tsh fluctuations.

Take vitamin B complex including B1.

Use fermented foods like Kim chi to keep a healthy gut flora.

Avoid municipal water and fluoride. Fluoridated toothpaste is ok, just don’t swallow.

Stay warm. Low thyroid function reduces not only body temperature but pulse rate. I thought I had the pulse of an athlete at 60 bpm. NOPE! It was my failing thyroid.

Reduce stress. Clear your mind. Visualize healing and healthy plump mitochondria and elongated telomeres.

Find your passion and do not think about illness. Don’t give it energy. Put your focus outside of yourself.

Traumatize your skin- the largest organ. Trauma to skin causes healing that rejuvenates the support structures below the epidermis . Exfoliate, sweat, sauna and or hot tub.

Laugh more. Don’t take this illusion too seriously.

And I follow about 1/2 of my own advice. And I am generally in good shape at 60. Most guess me to be in my forties. Thank god for make up. lol.

You are an amazing individual, Bill. Remember that!

[Bill Ryan]

Ari, lovely to see you here again!! And thank you so much for what you've shared and suggested.

This is just a placeholder to catch you while you're online... I'll reply in full tomorrow morning.

[AriG]

Good to be here. I check in and read from time to time. Just haven’t had anything of much value to share until I saw your post. 😘

[Bill Ryan]

Posted by Bill Ryan (here)
I'll reply in full tomorrow morning.

First, a major general thought.

If I'd asked ChatGPT about this, I'd have got a 100% mainstream answer 'trained' from hundreds of online pharma sites. When I posted the thread, I wasn't even sure if anyone might have anything helpful to offer, but I wanted to hear a human response if there was one. To my delight, many of you have now chipped in to share your very valuable personal experiences. No AI can replace that.

Posted by lunaflare (here)
Based on what you’ve shared, my advice is this: **Don’t worry about it!** You seem healthy!

Yes, I am! Frequent high mountain hikes, and no other symptoms. I'm blessed by living in a remarkably healthy natural environment, tap water from a mountain spring, no iPhone, and more. And I have zero anxiety about anything in my own life. My old rural farmhouse is fully paid for, and while I live very frugally all my needs are met. All that alone is surely a major positive health factor.

Posted by AriG (here)
I have had Hashimotos since 2013. My recommendation would be to have aTPO antibody test. If these antibodies are present, you more than likely have Hashimotos aka autoimmune thyroiditis. Barring taking T4 or what I take, T3 (requires no conversion by kidneys), 5000 IUs of Vitamin d per day is your best “natural “ treatment. Also have your kidney function tested. I recently have had a decrease in function in one kidney (blockeage of unknown origin after painful cystoscope and stent placement and removal). New wisdom is suggesting that there is a kidney/thyroid connection, albeit not understood.

I'll test my TSH again in a couple months, and if it's affordable, yes, I'll happily do a TPO antibody test — but I do strongly suspect all is fine with that. And yes, I do already take 5000 IU of Vitamin D per day.

Posted by AriG (here)
A few things I failed to mention:

Gluten is not the enemy. Use organic wheat products and avoid DATEM, an enzyme that is used as a dough conditioner that is also used to provide structure in of all things, yoga mats.

Iodine in moderation (1/4 teaspoon of iodized salt per day) helps to moderate tsh fluctuations.

Take vitamin B complex including B1.

Use fermented foods like Kim chi to keep a healthy gut flora.

Avoid municipal water and fluoride. Fluoridated toothpaste is ok, just don’t swallow.

Stay warm. Low thyroid function reduces not only body temperature but pulse rate. I thought I had the pulse of an athlete at 60 bpm. NOPE! It was my failing thyroid.

Reduce stress. Clear your mind. Visualize healing and healthy plump mitochondria and elongated telomeres.

Find your passion and do not think about illness. Don’t give it energy. Put your focus outside of yourself.

Traumatize your skin- the largest organ. Trauma to skin causes healing that rejuvenates the support structures below the epidermis . Exfoliate, sweat, sauna and or hot tub.

Laugh more. Don’t take this illusion too seriously.

And I follow about 1/2 of my own advice. And I am generally in good shape at 60. Most guess me to be in my forties. Thank god for make up. lol.

You are an amazing individual, Bill. Remember that!

Yes re Vitamin B, and yes re fermented foods. (Kefir and yoghurt are my go-to)

I laugh a lot! (I hope that many may note that a lot of my forum posts are humorous.

Re 'Exfoliate, sweat, sauna and or hot tub', that's a good reminder that I should go to the hot pools more, where there's an excellent steam room I can go in and out of in all day if I want.

Re 'stay warm', I'm happy that I almost never feel the cold at all.

Re 'Put your focus outside of yourself', I think about the rest of the world far more than about myself! (Again, I think that may show in my forum posts.)

Posted by AriG (here)
Good to be here. I check in and read from time to time. Just haven’t had anything of much value to share until I saw your post. 😘

Thank you so much again for taking the time to share your experiences!