Thyroid patient.....new here. :)

[tinabee]

Hello, and good morning. :)

I found this website doing a search on the raw food diet, and thyroid problems. I was diagnosed as hypothyroid this summer (July 25th), and I have been taking Armour since then. I've also found out that my adrenals are not in the best of shape. My physician prescribed me 10mg. of hydrocortisone a day, but I don't take it, because I hate the way it makes me feel......so I've been doing a more natural form of adrenal support by taking Isocort.

Currently, I'm taking 3/4 of a grain of Armour, and 8 isocort pellets a day. I did begin to eat a mostly raw diet as soon as I found out I was diagnosed, and I have lost about 37 pounds. (I have 50 more to go!) According to the protocol on http:/www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/ I should have upped my dosage of Armour quite a while ago, but I feel fine at this dose, and don't want to suppress my thyroid anymore with an increased drug dosage.

My two big reasons for wanting to continue the raw diet are: weight and cellulite loss, and healing my thyroid gland....not necessarily in that order. I am also 39 years old, and am beginning to go through all kinds of hormone ****. not sure if any of you have ever heard of PMDD (a more severe form of PMS) but I also suffer from this, and I've had hot flashes for the last 3 years. My paternal grandmother went through menopause in her early 40's...I have a feeling I'm following in her footsteps.

As I've stated before, I'd like to lose the excess weight while keeping my skin from sagging in the process (I've heard dry skin brushing and coconut oil helps), get totally off of thyroid meds, and balance my hormones so that my transition into menopause can be as smooth as can be expected.

From what I have read here, there is hope that I can heal my thyroid. Maybe because I haven't been on drug therapy very long, the chances are good I can get off the meds sooner rather than later. Any advice you can give me is greatly appreciated. :)

[Toni in OR]

Howdy! I was in the same place you are last February. I was dxed last September with Hasimoto's Thyroiditis, started Synthroid right away, started having hot flashes and showing signs of peri-menopause, gaining weight, absolutely incredible pms and mood swings. I was suicidal and completely nuts for 2 weeks out of every month. I am only 31 but it was very obvious that I was starting menopause. A friend sent me a link to a raw site and testimony and I went raw within 3 days (it took me a bit to really commit ;) ). I saw an almost immediate improvement in my emotional stability. My cycles have gone back to normal (no more weird spotting for weeks on end), no cramping, very light, I lost 10 pounds in the first month and am still losing, slowly but it is happening. My skin is clearer and healthier then it has ever been.

I still take my Synthroid. I would love to think that it will heal itself but as that hasn't changed yet, I am not holding my breath. I am feeling so much better that I am ok with that.

Good luck!!

[firefaery]

You may want to think about getting your iodine levels tested. It's the iodine (or lack thereof) that causes thyroid problems. Many people get off meds with appropriate supplementation. Good luck on your journey!

[wyjoz]

here is an article on Thyroid; hope it helps. http://thyroid.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.thyroid%2Dinfo.com/articles/udoerasmus.htm Joz

[Nix]

I disagree with him (the dr. in the article) about fruit intake, it is what is helping me stay raw and my energy is going up, up, up...
I definitely suggest a daily regular dose of sea veggies. My personal favorite is Dulse, although I find use of kelp to be great as well. There are so many, some I would rather have in powdered form thank you!
I have a good friend who is a nutrition specialist and a raw foodist. She highly recommends the sea veggies along with the good fats. She doesn't recommend very many oils generally and really pushes me to eat the whole nut instead. I also find that parsley has good omega oils too.
Good luck, stick around it gets interesting around here! ;)
Nix

[rawpriestess]

I am still going through menopause, and yet, when I was eating cooked, it was horrible, hot flashes to the extreme, sleeplessness, weight gain, PMS, horrible mood swings, suicidal thoughts, YES, I had them all, as I started eating raw, it has gradually gone away, but eat any cooked, and sleeplessness hot flashes, UGH!!

so, eating raw has made it all better, I still have my period, very light, but it's there, no cramping, no hormone shifts, nothing to speak of, just a nice easy life.

so eat 100% raw, and you'll feel so much better.

[raw-siobhan]

I was recently diagnosed with the PMDD (about 3 months ago) and it just terrified me. I have had the diagnosis of hypothyroidism for about a year and a half now. My original TSH level was tested at 209! I was a sick, sick girl. I could barely walk because of the joint pains and muscle cramps. I had to crawl up and down the stairs of my house, took 6 or 7 hour naps during the day (not to mention sleeping 10 hours at night), and there was the 60 pounds I gained, plus many more symptoms. My hope is that a solid commitment now to this lifestyle with help me in both of these areas. I wish you the best of luck and I will be takng this journey with you. Keep us updated as your health evolves - and I know it will!

[tinabee]

Thank you for the encouraging posts, all....and your experiences. It's also good to know that those of you whose health was in much dire shape than mine were able to rebuild, and undo some of the damage. :)

I'm really glad I'm not the only one going through this!! About one week out of the month, my breasts are very sore, sometimes my upper arms even ache a little bit, and I have at least two days out of the month where I do not leave the house, because I just want to be totally alone!! I don't get the suicidal thoughts, but I do get completely antisocial. I'm also spotting a couple of days before my cycle gets going, and spotting a couple of days afterwards.

When my TSH was checked, I was at a 9.213.......I could not *imagine* being at an over 200 TSH!!! :eek:

My plans are to eat as healthfully as possible, and gradually wean off the meds as I experience hyper. symptoms. There is just no way I am increasing my dosages if I can avoid it.

Thank you also for the links.....I'll be checking those out as well. And, I'm with you....there is no way I'm giving up fruit!! ;)

[aquagirl]

I Too Am Your Age And Was Having Hot Flashes And Was A Roaring BITCH :eek:
I Don't Have A Thyroid Prob But I Did Have 3 Levels In My Lumbar Spine Fused
I Was Not Happy (even After 4 Mos. IT Takes 9-12mosFOR FUSION TO COMPLETE) With My Recovery I Started Raw My Mood And Sweating Subsided And (shhhshhshshsh) My Back Is Better Too!!!!!!