Thyroidstory returns (with a new vitamin list)
Sure, the name is a little different, but it’s the same content (going all the way back to the beginning), and the same author, so let’s get back to the story…
As I posted last, I had an appointment with a local doctor who specializes in hypothyroid treatment with Armour Thyroid, and weight loss (kind of a holy grail combination for hypothyroid patients)! I did indeed go see him, and the first thing he did was bump my Armour dose from 105mg a day to 240mg a day. I was instructed to start off taking one 60mg pill in the morning and one in the afternoon, then add one more in the morning after a couple weeks, and one more in the afternoon a couple weeks later, if I felt I needed it.
This was astounding. I didn’t have to convince him it was OK to raise my dose. He even explained to me that my earlier theory about why suppressing TSH with Armour is perfectly OK was actually completely correct, and the only numbers you really need to track are free T3, blood pressure and heart rate (the last two are to ensure you’re not actually hyperthyroid on your current dose).
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Iodine deficiency: Testing yourself, and treatment
Apparently, from what I’m reading now, iodine deficiency is more common than you might think. It is also incredibly easy to test for basic iodine deficiency at home. Now, this test is not very precise, so if it indicates a serious deficiency, you may want to talk to your doctor about getting what is known as an “iodine loading” test done. But, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, no?
So, you’ll need a bottle of tincture of iodine (2%), the standard orange antiseptic liquid from grandma’s medicine cabinet (You may need to ask at the pharmacy. My local store doesn’t stock it in the first aid/band-aid aisle). Swab a silver-dollar sized circle on the inside of your arm, and watch it for the next 24 hours. If you are not iodine deficient, the circle should keep a strong orange color for the whole 24 hours. If it fades before then, you could use iodine supplementation.
HOW to go about getting that iodine in your diet is where things start to get tricky.
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My current regimen
Well, here’s what I’m going to be taking starting later this week (when my old vitamin packs run out):
Morning:
- Thyromine (thyroid/adrenal glandular with supportive herbs and amino acids)
- TwinLab Women’s Ultra Daily Multivitamin (has a lot of herbal ingredients on top of a very complete multi-vit … including selenium and 100% iodine) [added: I read the back of the bottle, and realized the values on the label were for a dose of FOUR capsules. So I'm taking two, which is still more than 100% of most things.]
- NOW B-50 (I’m debating whether I need this … The TwinLab multi covers the same nutrients as the B-50. But I figure that just means it’s the equivalent of taking a B-100, right?)
- Schiff “Guided Mineral” Cal-Mag-Zinc (chelated, plus Vit. D for proper absorption) [added: You're supposed to take two of these as well. Eep!]
Mid afternoon: 30mg Armour
Late afternoon: 30mg Armour
Bedtime: 45mg Armour Read more
Natural Supplements: Thyromine
I ordered a 6 month supply of Thyromine (their “buy 4 get 2 free” deal), and expected to have to use it for at least a couple weeks before I could really say if it was helping at all, but much to my surprise the effects were almost immediate. I’ve tried various vitamins and other “thyroid support” supplements, and none of them has made as noticeable a difference as Thyromine has. It’s a rather spendy product (which is why I opted for the 6 month supply … the discount was very persuasive. ;-), but so far I think it’s quite worth it.
The three “active” ingredients are l-tyrosine (an amino acid), bovine thyroid powder and bovine adrenal powder. In addition, there are four herbal/nutritional ingredients: Guglipid, which I have seen in many thyroid supplements; Nori, a seaweed rich in iodine and trace minerals; Piper longum (long pepper) extract, which they say helps increase thyroid hormone production; Ginger extract, which is often recommended as a systemic herbal “tonic” and digestive aid.
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Hypothyroidism, Vitamins & Minerals
Just a quick overview here, because everything I read seems to have a slightly different take on the issue, and I am a bit paranoid about making sure I’m posting good information. But there are indeed some nutrients that are very important to to thyroid function, and some supplements that seem like a good idea for almost any hypothyroid patient to take. As always, take my advice with a grain of salt, do your own research, and if in doubt, ask a doctor…
- B Vitamins — B vitamins are very important to the body’s synthesis of T4. A standard B-complex supplement will ensure you’re getting a sufficient supply of them. I take a B-50 supplement a few times a week to get the full B vitamin complex… you can also get B-100 supplements, but if you’re at all worried about taking too much B, the B-50 should be fine. However, some studies show that niacin (B3) supplementation can actually lower thyroid hormone levels, so be sure to keep up with your regularly scheduled blood tests, if you start taking B vitamins!
- Iodine — Iodine deficiency was once the leading cause of hypothyroid disorders. Iodine supplementation in table salt has largely eliminated iodine deficiency in the developed world, but it’s still worth checking if your iodine levels are adequate. If you are NOT suffering iodine deficiency, beware any advice to use iodine supplementation for your hypothyroidism… too much iodine can actually cause thyroid problems as well!
- Selenium — Selenium is used in the synthesis of T3 from T4. If your blood tests suggest your T3 levels are lagging behind your T4, you might try a good multi-mineral supplement with selenium. However, in cases where a patient is both selenium and iodine deficient, some studies have shown that selenium supplementation can actually make hypothyroid conditions worse. Again, it might be worth having your levels tested before taking supplements, but in most cases I’d imagine over-the-counter mineral supplements are unlikely to contain high enough levels of anything to cause a problem, if taken as directed.