My thyroid stopped working at puberty. I was started on thyroid glandular, but then spent most of my life on synthroid. Only in the past few years, since I stopped gluten, have I understood that I have/had Hashi's. I say
had because it's no longer in an active phase. And in all these decades I've never had antibodies tested. But I react badly to iodine, which a segment of Hashi's people do. Switching from synthroid to T3 was the first thing that made a + difference in my ME. The endocrinologist I saw in those early days believed there would be no difference in changing my thyroid rx, felt my temperature imbalance might be best treated with HRT. (the temperature issues were, I believe, eventually corrected w/ B12/folate)
I'm giving you a bunch of thyroid links that I've found helpful, in no particular order. Dr. Karrazian, Dr K news, was the first person I saw saying that iodine could be a bad thing. Rudy Dragone had excellent info re how to increase dosage and thyroid receptors, maybe not relevant for you. I hope this is not too much information!!!
@Gondwanaland is living with active Hashi's, might have some useful input.
http://advancingthyroidcare.wordpress.com/2010/03/21/three-phases-of-treating-hashimotos/
https://www.youtube.com/user/TheRLCLabs Several Hypothyroid vids, incl Dragone
5 Lies About Your Thyroid Disease That You’re Likely to Hear:
By
http://thyroid.about.com/bio/Mary-Shomon-350.htm, About.com Guide Updated May 30, 2012
http://thyroid.about.com/od/thyroidbasicsthyroid101/a/5lies.htm
http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/rt3-ratio/
Dr. Izabella Wentz’s website and blog can be found at
http://www.thyroidrootcause.org/.
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Rudy Dragone, http://www.clarkspharmacyaz.com/health-professionals/
"Wilson's T3 Thyroid Syndrome"
Wilson's Thyroid Syndrome' describes a population of patients who have normal thyroid blood tests (TSH/T4), and yet experience symptoms of low thyroid and low daytime oral temperatures. (< 97.8').
Low average daytime oral temperatures (<97.8)
...Long article with protocol...
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http://drknews.com/iodine-and-hashimotos/
As I explained in the book, iodine stimulates the activity of the thyroid peroxidase (TPO) enzyme, which triggers thyroid hormone production. This is why so many thyroid supplements contain iodine, even though the thyroid only needs enough iodine to fit on the head of a pin each day in order to perform its duties.
Supplementing with iodine stimulates the production and activity of TPO. For most people with Hashimoto’s, TPO also happens to be the site of autoimmune attack, and surrounding thyroid tissue is damaged in the process. So everytime TPO production is stimulated, the immune system, which perceives TPO as a foreign invader to be eradicated, responds more aggressively and amps up the attack.
I simply believe, based on my research and clinical experience, that iodine is an unnecessary risk when managing Hashimoto’s, especially since we have safer and more effective ways to work with a improperly functioning immune system.
(please see “The effect of iodine restriction on thyroid function in patients with hypothyroidism due to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis” in the studies post).
In this study subjects with Hashimoto’s were divided into two groups. One group ate a normal diet. The other group was put on a diet that strictly avoided iodine so that they consumed less than 100 mcg per day. Eighty percent of the group who avoided dietary iodine experienced complete remission of their thyroid symptoms!
Therefore I am asking my Hashimoto’s patients to avoid iodine rich foods, such as seafoods, seaweeds and iodized salt in order to see how this affects clinical outcomes.
http://drknews.com/some-studies-on-iodine-and-autoimmune-thyroid-disease/
If you’re interested in some of the research that has been done on iodine and autoimmune thyroid diseases, this post is for you.
Although adequate iodine consumption is important for thyroid hormone production and iodine deficiency is the most common cause of hypothyroidism worldwide, its supplemental use in autoimmune thyroids is contraindicated. Iodine is the major cofactor and stimulator for thyroid peroxidase (TPO). TPO is the enzyme that is under attack with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. It appears that increased iodine intake, especially as a supplement, increases the immune attack on the thyroid.(1)
Although this phenomenon does take place in clinical practice at times, iodine supplementation with autoimmune thyroids does not always lead into thyroid hyperfunction. Rather one observes increased levels of TPO autoantibody levels that multiply dramatically with iodine supplements, and in many instances increased production of thyroid overactive symptoms.
...In conclusion, 78.3% of patients with hypothyroidism due to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis regained an euthyroid state iodine restriction alone. Both a low initial serum TSH and a high initial urinary iodine concentration can be predictable factors for a recovery from hypothyroidism due to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis after restricting their iodine intake.(13)
comments:
maca as it is recommended for Hypopyseal-Gonadal malfunction in his book but I gather it has a lot of iodine. I am interested in taking it for hormonal balance
...discovered
spirulina is very high in natural iodine....Not only does spirulina have iodine but I found some studies saying it activates TH-1 immune cytokines, a double whammy for the TH-1 dominant person.
http://drknews.com/eating-gluten-increases-need-for-thyroid-hormones/
http://drknews.com/hashimotos-hypothyroidism-immune-basics/
A mistake many people make is thinking low antibody levels mean their autoimmunity is not that bad, or that high antibody levels mean it is very bad. This can be true, but the opposite can be true as well. A person with low antibody levels can have terrible Hashimoto’s flare-ups while a person with higher antibody levels can be symptom-free and feel great. This is because the antibodies do not destroy the tissue themselves, they merely paint targets on it. It is up to the immune system to then decide whether it will attack the tissue with a knife or a blow torch. Of course, the most desirable outcome is to produce no antibodies to the tissue, which indicates the Hashimoto’s is in remission. But in the meantime, your symptoms will tell you more about the severity of your Hashimoto’s than your antibody panel.
Compounds that stimulate TH-1
(These stimulate TH-1 and dampen TH-2. Avoid if you are TH-1 dominant. If you are TH-2 dominant they may make you feel better.)
- Astragalus
- Echinacea
- Beta-glucan mushroom
- Maitake mushroom
- Glycyrrhiza (from licorice)
- Lemon balm
Compounds that stimulate TH-2
(These stimulate TH-2 and dampen TH-1. Avoid if you are TH-2 dominant. If you are TH-1 dominant they may make you feel better.)
- Caffeine
- Green tea extract
- Grape seed extract
- Pine bark extract
- White willow bark
- Lycopene
- Pycnogenol
Some people have clear reactions to these compounds. I have known TH-1 dominant people who ate the perfect diet and could not figure out why their autoimmune condition was out of control. Turns out they drank echninacea tea daily. The same goes for TH-2 dominant people and green tea.
On the other hand, a TH-1 dominant person may feel better using compounds that activate TH-2, and vice versa. Stimulating the weaker TH helps many people restore balance and improve symptoms.
Also, some people are so immune reactive they react to everything on both lists. Other people find compounds on both lists help them. Another group finds no reaction to the compounds on either list. Although we can identify some basic immune mechanisms, it’s important to remember not everyone’s body “follows the rules,” so pay attention to your symptoms. Your practitioner also may be able to run a lab panel to test for a TH dominance, which is explained more in the thyroid book.
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Am I TH1 or TH2? http://wellnessalternatives-stl.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/am-i-th1-or-th2.html