General Medicine

» Elaine Moore - Approach to Mild GD with Osteoporosis

In response to Approach to Mild GD with Osteoporosis posted by dana65:

Hi Dana,
Your TSH won't change for a very long time regardless of your treatment, but your FT4 level should have fallen a bit in 3 weeks if you're following a low iodine diet. Adding goitrogens also helps because these foods block iodine absorption. Best, Elaine

» dana65 - Approach to Mild GD with Osteoporosis

In response to Approach to Mild GD with Osteoporosis posted by daisyelaine:

Hi Elaine -- Regarding goitrogens, would you mind taking a look at this website and commenting on its viewpoint? When I googled "goitrogens" this was #2 on the list. It dates back to 1995, though, so perhaps newer research has countered this viewpoint.
Here's the site: http://www.ithyroid.com/goitrogens.htm
Thanks. -- Dana

-- posted by dana65

» Elaine Moore - Approach to Mild GD with Osteoporosis

In response to Approach to Mild GD with Osteoporosis posted by dana65:

Hi,
I have several articles on that website and while I mostly agree with John, I have a different viewpoint on goitrogens.

When you read about the thyroid you'll find many opposite viewpoints. I suppose you could cause some imbalances if you stuck to one specific goitrogen, like the cruciferous vegetables in the Brassica family and overdosed on them.
But in recommending goitrogens, most naturopaths state that you should vary the types of goitrogens and limit yourself to 1.5 cups of raw goitrogens daily and reduce the amount if hypothyroidism develops.
Used properly, goitrogens can be compared to a mild ATD drug. ATDs also work by blocking iodine absorption. With goitrogens you're also taking in lots of bioflavinoids and other antioxidants that help reduced oxidative stress. Best, Elaine

» nurseheatherone - Newly diagnosed with Graves Disease

In response to Newly diagnosed with Graves Disease posted by daisyelaine:

Hi all! I have been on Tapazole 10 mg for 5 weeks now and over the past two weeks I have noticed that I am getting a few painful ( canker) sores olong my tongue. I rarely get colds, just other problems like GD, alot of times instead of getting afull blown cold I will get these sores in my mouth. My mother gets them too and said they are Auto immune viral sores. MY question is, could this possibly be caused by low WBC's, I fear that itr may be a side effect from the Tapazole but everything I read says that sore throat and fever are when you need to call the Dr. Any advice would be great!
Heather

-- posted by nurseheatherone

» nurseheatherone - Newly diagnosed with Graves Disease

In response to Newly diagnosed with Graves Disease posted by nurseheatherone:

So I went to see the naturopathic Dr. today and got alot of supplements! The Dr. was very quiet and seemed to think that the most important thing to start with is alot supplemts to Detox my system. I am taking a meal repalcment shake in the morning with Medicleat that helps to heal the gut, I am also taking pro EFA liquid ( Omega 3,6,8,9), I am taking Glutagenics( glutamine), Biogest( digestive enzymes), Co q-10, Carnitine synergy(he liked the mixture of acetyl carntine and just plain carnitine), and B-complex. The only supplements he wanted me to continue that I was previously taking was the b-10 and L acetyl carnitine form GNC, the rest including the multi-vitamin he did not like.

He is sending for all sorts of labs, VIT D, Vit B, glten sensitivity and Glucose-insulin tolerance tests. As far as diet goes so far he said to eliminate dairy and only eat red meat 1-2x per month. I suppose the rest will come after he gets my results back. My only concern with him was that he was so quiet I was not sure how experienced he was with GD. He said that he said that he has had people go into remission with GD but when I tried to get his opinion on RAI he just said that he has had some pt's have luck with that too!

He is a chinese medicine Dr who specializes in accupuncture as well. I suppose since I am taking Tapazole he is goignt o try this regimen for about 3-4 months he said and he also encouraged me to get off of my cholesterol and BP meds( my BP is not high anymore but my cholesterol is). I have a full blown cold so I am going to see my GP next week to find out the result of my CBC and get the rest of the blood work done. I was going to use the excuse that I would be trying to get pregnant in the near future so I would like to get off the Tricor and lisinopril asap.

Sorry to ramble, I would love to know what you think about this regimen, any advice would be appreciated!
Heather

-- posted by nurseheatherone

» Elaine Moore - Newly diagnosed with Graves Disease

In response to Newly diagnosed with Graves Disease posted by nurseheatherone:

These sores are referred to as apthous ulcers and they're very common in people with celiac disease and even mild forms of gluten sensitivity. Do you notice that they're worse when you eat certain foods? Too much sugar and salt act as triggers for me.

» Elaine Moore - Newly diagnosed with Graves Disease

In response to Newly diagnosed with Graves Disease posted by nurseheatherone:

It sounds like an excellent regimen. I'm surprised, though, that you have a high cholesterol since cholesterol is generally low in hyperthyroidism. In the old days we used to test cholesterol levels to tell if people were hypothyroid or hyperthyroid with high cholesterol levels suggesting hypothyroidism. There are some familial conditions that cause high cholesterol, or maybe your high cholesterol began when you were in the subclinical phase of GD.
Since statins are so hard on your liver and Chinese medicine often treats imbalances via the liver, I'd suspect he would want you off statins. CoQ10 is fantastic for lowering blood pressure. I'll be interested to hear if your bp changes once you've been on it for a while. Keep us posted. Best, Elaine

» nurseheatherone - Newly diagnosed with Graves Disease

In response to Newly diagnosed with Graves Disease posted by daisyelaine:

that is good to know about the ulcers, I have never related them to anything I have eaten nut I did have a full weekend of family and lots of foodm so that could have contributed. Along with my ulcers I usually feel run down and this time I got a cold along with them, but luckily the ulcers are almost gone, the cold not so much. I am getting tested for Gluten sensitivities so it would be interesting to see if they are related in my case. As far as the cholesterol goes, mine has always been a bit higher than the normal range but last year when I gained about 15 lbs is when it got pretty high (327)my doctor put me on Tricor becasuse I got a rash form lipitor. When I found out I was hyper my cholesterol was 244. Dr Kan( naturopath) would like to treat me with another regimen and stay away from statins. MY blood pressure has been very low, I seem to have the opposite of everything in Graves( weight gain, high cholesterol, low BP) My Dr is weary of taking me off of mu lisinopril even though I have had to half my dose for the last 6 months,this is why when I tried atenolol my BP dropped so low, because I probably dont need BP medication. I am taking 300 mg of C0 Q-10, it seem like a lot, but that is what Dr.Kan recommended. I thougth that I would be on some of those herbs discussed in your book, I am assuming if I was nto on the tapzole than they might be suggested? The only thing about my new regimen is that it is expensive, any websites or places to get natural supplements?
I will definetely keep everyone posted!
Thank again!
Heather

-- posted by nurseheatherone

» Elaine Moore - Newly diagnosed with Graves Disease

In response to Newly diagnosed with Graves Disease posted by nurseheatherone:

Hi,
300 mg isn't too high for CoQ10, and with the lowest doses seen in hyperT a higher dose probably is needed. Most of the herbs like bugleweed and lemon balm have the same actions as ATDs and it would make it hard to gauge which is helping more if you were on both ATDs and herbs.
Life Extension has a sale going through the end of Sept at www.lef.org. I buy most of my supplements from them and also the vitamin shoppe and puritan's pride at www.vitaminshoppe.com and puritanspride.com
I definitely watch for the sales and all of these places do have sales.

» kiolli - T3 levels

In response to T3 levels posted by daisyelaine:

Elaine

Thank you for your previous responses. One other symptom I have been having intermittently since even before being diagnosed with graves and even after RAI are spasm like pain in my jaw on both sides. I also feel very tired with this discomfort. It could be TMJ because I do grind my teeth. This started over the past 3 years. I occasionally wear a mouth guard at night when I sleep. I am wondering if this is a side effect of the generic synthroid and a symptom of graves since I have had it before dx and ater treatment. Could I have some damage in my nervous system since it took so long to dx me with the graves. It is very uncomfortable, thank goodness it is
intermittent. Maybe it is a type of migraine? Kim

-- posted by kiolli