Posted by tealady on December 15, 2003, at 23:10:46
In reply to Re: Thyroid alternatives? - Tea Lady, posted by Maxime on December 14, 2003, at 13:43:29
> Wow, you really know a lot about this. :) I am very glad I posted now.
>thanks, I HAD to learn...
> I do take zinc as well. I was having trouble with my hair falling out from stress and so that was how I initially started taking the selenium and zinc combo. I later read that it was good for the brain and since I am bipolar .... well I need all the help I can get. :)
yes it's good for you...you need at least 8mg of elemental zinc per day..and may need up to 25 mg or 30mg per day of elemental zinc..so check what you take. I take 10mg per day personally and then "topup" occasionally as needed. make sure it is ELEMENTAL zinc equivalent.
The hair falling out when stressd is often low iron BTW
>
> I don't think I have ever had my ferritin tested. I know that often I have low iron stores. I am still anorexic but not nearly as starved as I used to be. I actually eat one meal a day now.
>
ferritin is one part of the iron studies blood test..but you can just get it run separately. Most docs don't know about it..including endos ..and don't run it..so make sure you ask (demand) it. It is not an expensive test, so your doc should be happy to run it for you. Ferritin shows iron stores. It's the one that is important in how you function.. and it will drop before you are anemic usually.
If under 50, you need supplemental iron. It will stop your hair falling out probably and make a huge difference to how your body utilizes thyroid hormones..and how you feel.
I had some iron injectins (not recommended as they stain your skin..like a tatoo)and I remember after my first one I felt so happy and full of energy I started singing on the peak hour train! <g>. Low iron causes depression and fatigue and apathy.
> Thyroid antibodies? I have no idea at this point. I do remember that several years ago I went to see a doctor in another Province where I was living at the time. She did so many tests on my thyroid. She did say at the time that I didn't have any antibodies, but to be honest, I can't remember what that meant. I have to admit I need to learn much, much, much more about my thyroid.Try and get a photocopy or a fax of ALL your test results ..you might be able to get a copy of those old results too..and keep them all in your own personal folder. This is handy for monitoring how you are going as well its easier when you go to a new doc a they aren't lost! By law you are entitled to them I think.
Well demand a test for anti TPO at least..I suspect you might have those..if not, you're probbably OK.
People with antiTPO often start out hyper and then go hypo..as antibodies attack thyroid intially it swells and you go hyper,...as more is destroyed , you g hyp.Then of course, most switch form hyper to hypo to hyper to ..very similar to bipolar, (only they have other symptoms like cold hands and feet, fatigue, aches and pains, carpal tunnel etc)..
...at least until the thyroid has shrunk then are always hypo..of course the amount hypo varies from a little to a lot
That's why I think you need to test your antibodies..some docs will say..makes no diff, the treatment is the same..but they ARE cerain things you can do to help with antibody supression, and you're far more likely to go to the trouble of doing them if you know this to be the cause of your hypo....selenium is one of the things!The main one is usually anti TPO...but some will run anti microsomal, and there is also anti TG and TSI (or TBII someplaces)..but anti TG is not that important usually as if you have this you usually have TPO antibodies as well and TSI is more relevant to hyperthyroid.
Still take whatever you are offered.<g>
The microsomal antibodies is run interchangeably with anti TPO..but usually gives a higher result..it does with me. No sure if this means it's a broader test or not. Guess I should find out the exact diff.But at least ask for antiTPO, OK?
>
> I swing between vegan and vegetarian diet. Usually I go a few months vegan and then I need to have an intake of eggs etc. Once my B12 dropped so low that I had to have injections. So that is the only reason that I will break down every once in while and eat eggs and some dairy.
suprise..B12 was the next thing I was going to mention..it's fairly common for hypothryoids to be lowish..and it seems to also work in with thyroid hormones and iron perhaps.
>
> Grrr. You know, I asked my doctor if I should be taking the synthroid on an empty stomach and she said it didn't matter! The only reason I asked was because when I was living in the U.S. for a few months (I live in Canada) my synthroid prescription had a label on it that said to take on an empty stomach. It was a pain in the butt to take them on an empty stomach because all the other meds I take have to be taken with food. But I am going to try again. :)well most people do..but I guess it's not really an absolute. The thing is if you do take it on an empty stomach, you get the same amount every day..but if you take it with brekkie say..then it depends what you eat for brekky , how much you absorb.
If you always had salmon for brekkie, then you just adjust the amount of thryoid hormone you take up just a little to compensate and you get the same amount every day.
The problem happens when you have say yoghurt and a glass of milk for brekkie..then you would need to really increase the amount you take..and if you had different brekkies on different days , then the amount of thyroid hormone you get absorbed varies...which is just fine IF you know what you arew doing.
Like if I have a "more hyper" time..I just might drink some milk with my thyroid meds or I could just take less...etc
Just most people don't realise this until they've played with the meds for a while
>
> I'm going for a blood test this week for my thyroid. I will be sure to have it as early as possible. :)
OK ask for TSH, FT4, FT3, anti TPO, ferritin, B12I was going to suggest this before you mentioned the b12..and don't take any more B12 until the test..or iron for a week before (even in your multi for iron).
>
> I'm going to check out the post you wrote that you made reference to.http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20030903/msgs/259853.html
and then if you go to the bottom of the post..read all the links in the soy thread..OK...and these have links to good posts on a thyroid forum..read those too<g>
>
> Thanks again!!!
>
> MaximeLots of other things..but this is a good start!
JanPS. I'm on that natural thyroid med (called THYROID in Canada) that Noa mentioned as well as T4...but I wouldn't worry about that just yet, until you look at these other things
poster:tealady
thread:289139
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20031204/msgs/290329.html