Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

12

1

Has anyone taken dessicated thyroid for minor thyroid issues? And your results?

Thanks!

EDIT: Started taking dessicated thyroid on 12June11. Will update with results.

EDIT:* 22June11, have taken dessicated thyroid every day for ten days. I've noticed more balance in my energy levels and focus, and I have been able to fall asleep a little faster

EDIT: 20July11, have taken dessicated thyroid every day for over a month. I start taking it in the morning and evening. I fell off the wagon for a bit (as far as diet) and didn't notice the weight/water gain/retention I normally would have seen. My thinning hair also doesn't seem as thin (also supplementing Saw Palmetto). So far, so good!

EDIT: 05Aug11, still taking one pill in the mornings and evenings. No change at the moment.

edited Aug 5 2011 at 15:10

asked Jun 8 2011 at 14:59

Ben
4,101●1●9●29

1

Thanks for the updates! – Vrimj Jul 21 2011 at 21:27

upvoted before, thanks for updating! were you diagnosed with hypothyroid? and is it a prescription you are taking? or something you obtained for experimentation? – g. Aug 5 2011 at 15:51

Yes thanks for the updates Ben. – Jack Kronk Aug 5 2011 at 15:51

2

@grenadine- this is purely based of self diagnosis and experimentation. My mother and grandmother suffered from hypothyroidism. @Jack Kronk- No problem!! Thanks for keeping up! – Ben Aug 5 2011 at 16:01

Rock_Paper_Shirley · Answer 1 · 2011-06-08 15:21:03Z UTC

4

I have, and for a while, I was looking thinner in my midsection, but I otherwise wasn't sure if it was helping. I stopped taking them and my midsection looks big again (I know, leptin would be the typical answer, but I'm not hungry all the time and really don't eat all that much) so I just actually started back on them today. It's my understanding that it's better to take them without food for two hours (like Armor).

I also take dessicated pituitary and adrenal glands. I'm a lifeless lump without them!

answered Jun 8 2011 at 15:21

Rock_Paper_Shirley
4,131●3●14

1

Which kind(s) do you take and where do you get them from? Thanks! – Thumper Jun 8 2011 at 15:27

2

I get them from Amazon.com (I have a free Prime account until July) and I get the Natural Sources brand of adrenal, which is just adrenal glands, and the thyroid is a "synergistic complex" with thyroid, adrenal, spleen, thymus and kelp. They also have one by "Ulta Enterprises" which is just thyroid which I also take sometimes. For pituitary, I've been buying Swanson. Read all the comments at Amazon - I found those to be most helpful since it's the experiences of real people taking these things. I was afraid to try them at first, but I didn't see any neg reactions from other people. – Rock_Paper_Shirley Jun 8 2011 at 16:15

CaveRat · Answer 2 · 2011-06-08 16:50:30Z UTC

I'm exploring this myself. I've wondered about thyroid for years but my standard test was always 'normal'. Now I have a large cyst (benign) on one side. My endocrinologist has mentioned 'surgery' and I'm not too thrilled at that so I'm exploring other options.

The first thing I did was do additional labwork, and paid for it out-of-pocket (which means I only got the most basic) and they show hypothyroidism pretty clearly.

I highly recommend those additional tests - you can get lab and discount info through the forum for Stop the Thyroid Madness (a book - I don't have it) if your MD won't help you. If you take them before you start dessicated thyroid (or during a break) they'll give you a benchmark and a clue on which way to go. You can also get adrenal and ferritin tests (anemia is commonly associated with thyroid issues, and is for me)

Anyway I also bought the same Natural Sources brand btw, and figure they can't hurt.

One thing: don't take them with milk or calcium fortified juices: the thyroid hormone binds to the calcium and isn't available for the body. And don't overdo the iodine if you're taking extra (the Natural Sources brand already contains some as well).

henny · Answer 3 · 2011-06-13 05:24:10Z UTC

I've been on synthetic T4 only (Eltroxin) for years and have never felt completely well even though lab tests indicated I was "fine". Despite my asking various doctors over the years to try alernate meds it has taken me until this month to find a doctor willing to prescribe desiccated thyroid.

Just after I got my prescription (June 7th) I saw an endocronologist who indicated that even though he would be doing lab tests, how I feel will override the lab results. I should probably go buy a lottery ticket!

In the past few days my body temperature has been rising to nearly normal (it was low before) and I am a bit more energetic as well.

sallycinnamon · Answer 4 · 2011-06-13 09:07:49Z UTC

A good forum to get some more info is at realthyroidhelp.com

People with all sorts of thyroid problems (every kind you can imagine) are on the forum and are often more knowledgable than doctors.

Unfortunately, a lot of people who used Armour (the biggest dessicated thyroid brand) were doing really well until the company changed the formula and screwed everyone up. I think the formula has only just been changed back, but it has caused people huge issues and a lot of trial and error to find another decent brand that works for them.

invisible ink · Answer 5 · 2011-07-20 22:24:23Z UTC

I take Nature-Throid (also known as Westhroid and Thyroid in Canada) which is a great dessicated porcine alternative to Armour since the change in formulation. I actually do much better on it than I did even before Armour changed their formulation. I feel great and everything has improved substantially (energy, mood, skin) except for my thinned out hair and my weight (it is still tough to lose weight) since starting it a few years back.

As for endocrinologists that prescribe dessicated thyroid - I think it's becoming easier to obtain it as more and more people have success on them. It certainly doesn't hurt to ask around before you commit to a doctor. There's a pretty good list of endocrinologists who definitely do if you go to thyroid-info.com

Dessicated Thyroid

5 Answers