Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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You may remember me, a few months ago I decided to wean myself off Synthroid .15mg for hypothyroidism.

Background: 46yo male, 5'10, retired from military in 2004. By 2006 I had gained 50lbs (to 240lbs) and firmly in the throes of metabolic syndrome. High Trigs, High Chol, High Blood Sugar, High Blood Pressure, gout, fatty liver disease, hypothyroid.

I lived like this for 4 years, docs just kept medicating me more, diets didn't work.

Discovered Primal Blueprint (MDA) and paleo Sept 2010. Results: Now 178lbs, no more gout, blood pressure, trigs, chol all in the optimum range, off of all medicine--except Synthroid.

Military doc, in military hospital (lucky me), says I will be on Sythroid the rest of my life. Never had hashimotos, surgery, radiation--it just quit. Well, against that advice, 2 months ago, I started cutting my .15mg pills in half. I haven't noticed any changes. I made an appt to get my TSH checked and nurse said I would have to come in and talk to the doc since it's been so long.

What should I tell him?

What tests should I ask for in addition to TSH?

My appt is in 4 weeks, I think I will quit the Synthroid altogether until then--thoughts?

Thanks, dudes and dude-ettes!

flag	asked Aug 10 2011 at 20:30 akman 3,482●1●5●16

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tell him nothing.....when he asks about the medicine say you been on it. Then see your result and see what he says......then tell him. Then see what he says.....then you can see right thru him or see if he is a solid dude. – The Quilt Aug 10 2011 at 20:49

in my heart you have a squillion up-votes for that comment :) – Karin Aug 10 2011 at 21:20

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@quilt - why not be up front? do you like being lied to? – g. Aug 10 2011 at 21:30

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do not supplement a damn thing til you get a full panel.....and make sure they do a reverse T3 and Antibody panel too with the TSH T3 T4 etc.....if they back off you got your answer.....douche. – The Quilt Aug 10 2011 at 21:32

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Up here in Canada it is really hard to get a reverse T3 test from a GP. Usually an endocronologist orders that one. I managed to bluff my new doctor into changing me from Eltroxin to natural desiccated thyroid by telling him I was going to change anyway even if I had to kill a pig and cut out its thyroid myself, but would prefer a supervised trial on it. It worked! – henny Aug 10 2011 at 23:33

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Jon · Answer 1 · 2011-08-10 21:15:12Z UTC

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TSH, T4, T3, and possibly the thyroid antibodies (specifically TPO, Tg). Even if the antibodies come back negative, you can't say for certain Hashimoto's isn't the issue. I like the Quilt's suggestion but you'll probably tick the doc off for not being upfront so that's up to you.

answered Aug 10 2011 at 21:15

Jon
1,304●2●7

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if you tick off the doc he is a douche.....move on to another. – The Quilt Aug 10 2011 at 21:30

All I have ever been tested for since the first time I was diagnosed is TSH. I never had symptoms of hypothyroid, but TSH was 40 or so. I will add TPO and Tg to the request. – akman Aug 10 2011 at 21:50

Agree with Jon - it is certainly possible to have Hashi's without the antibodies showing up in bloods. That is my personal experience, weird pain/sensation in my throat (which selenium resolved) and other symptoms. Even the decent endos will admit that, but there aren't many of those around! – sallycinnamon Aug 11 2011 at 9:51

@ Quilt... well-played lol. – Jon Aug 11 2011 at 20:32

MsDanyaL · Answer 2 · 2011-08-10 21:26:51Z UTC

I also have Hypothyroidism with no diagnosis of Hashimotos' I agree with what is said above you need to have a thorough set of tests done with T3 T4 and TSH levels checked . If they are still low there are many BETTER options than synthroid to take . You can go with an all natural medication that is easier for the body to absorb and will make you feel SO MUCH better you won't believe it . NatuThroid or Armour Thyroid are both available by prescription and covered on most health plans .. Docs just don't offer them because of the Drug companies' grip on illness and profit. Ask your Doctor to switch to one of those medications if you need to say on them . also make sure you go on a good Adrenal supplement - almost 80% of the time thyroid malfunction is related to adrenal problems. solaray and gaia make two of the best ones I have tried - they help with mental clarity and fatigue . Good luck

Travis Culp · Answer 3 · 2011-08-10 20:45:37Z UTC

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You should see if they'll do T3 and T4 as well so you can see where in the cascade the problem lies.

Do you supplement with iodine and selenium?

answered Aug 10 2011 at 20:45

Travis Culp♦
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The only supplements I take are 5000iu Vit D, B complex, and CoQ10. – akman Aug 10 2011 at 21:48

Bill · Answer 4 · 2011-08-10 20:45:09Z UTC

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Have you tried Iodine? Going too low in carbs + overactivity made me get some hypo symptions and a mildy elevated TSH (1.91-2.1 were my 2 tests). Supplementing with Iosol and later Iodoral has elimated most of my hypo symptoms along with appropriate carb intake. Selenium is needed with Iodine as well.

answered Aug 10 2011 at 20:45

Bill
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	I have never had any symptoms of hypothyroid other than a TSH of 40. They adjusted my dosage of synthroid for 2 years till it got down to 4. Since starting paleo, in May 2011 my TSH was .55. I'm on .15mcg of Synthroid which is actually a pretty high dose. – akman Aug 10 2011 at 21:52
	You sure you don't have Hashi's? Thats a pretty high TSH – Bill Aug 10 2011 at 22:23
	1.9-2.1 TSH is considered high? What am I missing? The normal range according to Labcorp is 0.5-4.5? Midpoing = 2.5. My TSH has been 0.5-0.75. So technically I'm hyperthyroid, right? But I have hypothyroid symptoms. – Namby Pamby Aug 11 2011 at 5:15
	Bill, how much iodine (and selenium) are you taking? And how much dose of Losol or Lodoral? Were you tested for Hypothyroid antibodoes or Reverse T3? How were you diagnosed or areyou just treating yourself? – Namby Pamby Aug 11 2011 at 5:17
	I tested Rt3 and it was fine, antibodies were none existent after 3 tests and now I always consistently check just to be sure. All my numbers were fine, but I dianogosed myself after Chris Kressers thyroid series. I was what they call "subclinical". Paul Jaminent hypothesizes that a TSH between 0.5 and 1.0 is perfect. – Bill Aug 11 2011 at 16:15

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Stopped my Synthroid, now have to go to doctor.

4 Answers