If you aren't doing these two things then you are potentially missing out on an improvement in your symptoms. Diet and exercise by itself are probably not enough to "cure" your condition though it may for some but it will allow you to feel better, help maintains your weight and improves thyroid function. Techniques such as meditation are also incredibly powerful at reducing stress and help you cope with difficult situations.
Stress may not always be within your control, but what you can control is how well you cope with it by adding certain techniques. I've written extensively about diet, exercise and thyroid function on this blog before so I won't go deep into it now. Lastly, and perhaps the most important thing you can do is to try and find a physician or Doctor who is willing and able to help you with your condition. Doctors such as endocrinologists and PCP's may, surprisingly, not be best suited to help you.
These physicians tend to be engrained in their logic and thought patterns and are not really interested in newer or alternative therapies even though these therapies are well studied and proven to be effective.
In most cases, it's not worth the energy to fight with your Doctor for tests or medications. A better approach, however, is to find a Doctor who is already knowledgeable and understands how to help.
You can find more information about how to find a thyroid doctor here. In most cases, discontinuing your thyroid medication abruptly or otherwise is not a wise decision. The exception would be if you are starting a new medication, altering your dose or if you are doing it with physician supervision. It's far better, instead, to try other therapies which are proven to be effective with a knowledgeable physician. I'm Westin Childs D. I don't practice medicine anymore and instead specialize in helping people like YOU who have thyroid problems, hormone imbalances, and weight loss resistance.
I love to write and share what I've learned over the years. I also happen to formulate the best supplements on the market well, at least in my opinion!
You can read more about my own personal health journey and why I am so passionate about what I do here. Is it safe to stop taking thyroid medication? Let's jump in:. And when I say important, that's really an understatement.
These patients then go out and seek alternative therapies to try and feel better. Symptoms associated with stopping thyroid medication include:.
Worsening of brain fog Increased fatigue Increased weight gain Increased menstrual irregularity Increased hair loss Worsening of constipation or GI issues Worsening memory function Increased pain And other symptoms of hypothyroidism.
This may sound depressing, but it doesn't have to be. Instead of stopping your medication there is another approach. Download my Free Resources:. Foods to Avoid if you have Thyroid Problems: I've found that these 10 foods cause the most problems for thyroid patients. The Complete List of Thyroid Lab Tests: This list includes optimal ranges, normal ranges, and the complete list of tests you need to diagnose thyroid hypothyroidism correctly!
There will always be exceptions to these reasons, but most of you will probably feel worse if you stop taking your thyroid medication for the following reasons: 1. Your Body May be Reliant upon the Medication The first group of patients that should never stop taking thyroid medication includes those who do not have a thyroid or those who have had their thyroid removed. This typically stems from conditions such as hyperthyroidism or thyroid cancer.
That means you will NEED to take thyroid medication for the rest of your life. If you can't produce it naturally then you have to take it in some other way. Does that mean that you need to suffer from any existing symptoms? Even some supplements, such as iodine, can alter this axis. Imagine this scenario: If you have Hashimoto's, and you've had it for many years, there is a good chance that you have some element of permanent thyroid damage to your gland.
Thyroid Supplements do not Replace Thyroid Hormone They aren't as powerful as medications Lastly, some people make the assumption that taking thyroid supplements such as those available over the counter may allow for them to stop taking their thyroid medication. You would be correct. Heres a study showing effects of aluminum on the brain.
Or you might be thinking artificial colors in my Thyroid medication? Or perhaps you were just tested for food allergies and you tested positive for things like wheat , dairy and corn and you tested positive for these.
Now, I want you to imagine if you unknowingly have problems with any of these binders, fillers, artificial colors , heavy metals, sugars, etc …. Worst case scenario, you could flare up your immune system causing more damage to your thyroid gland and at the very least develop some new symptoms that you may not have had before things like headaches, fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, congestion, breathing problems and other symptoms.
If any of this resonates, I suggest you cross reference your medications by checking out RX list. Do that here. Have ever thought that about your digestion and gut health and how it might be linked to poor thyroid function? Let me explain a few important things when it comes to digestion, gut health and thyroid function….
Nutrient deficiencies, depending on the nutrient you are deficient in can lead to poor T4 to T3 conversion, poor thyroid hormone production, and lastly poor Thyroid cellular function. This is problem 1. The 2 nd problem we ofte see in our patients with Thyroid disease, is gut infections.
This might be a yeast overgrowth, it might be a bacterial overgrowth SIBO or it might be infection like Pylori. Many of these infections are caused by long standing problems with insufficient production of proteolytic digestive enzymes or the Hydrochloric acid HCL I mentioned just a moment ago. Before I move onto the next area, I want to say one more thing here related to digestion and thyroid disease and this is really important if you take a T4 Thyroid replacement like Synthroid, or Levothyroxine.
When you take Synthroid or Levothyroxine you are taking a T4 only hormone preparation. What this means is that your gut, still needs to take this T4 and convert it into T3 thyroid hormones. One of the most common patterns I see in my thyroid patients is Low T3 levels and one of the main reasons for this low T3 is poor digestion or infection. Thyroid Under-conversion- otherwise known as Low T3.
Chronic Stress is no stranger to those who suffer with thyroid disease. Too much cortisol, too little cortisol or too little DHEA pose huge problems for proper thyroid function. Your liver is involved in over different functions. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism cause respiratory muscle weakness and decrease pulmonary function.
Thyroid storm occurs due to a major stress such as trauma, heart attack, or infection in people with uncontrolled hyperthyroidism. In rare cases, thyroid storm can be caused by treatment of hyperthyroidism with radioactive iodine therapy for Graves disease. The main feature is usually an enlarged thyroid gland with pain or tenderness that develops rapidly over hours.
Acute or infectious thyroiditis Symptoms may include pain in the throat, feeling generally unwell, swelling of the thyroid gland and, sometimes, symptoms of an overactive thyroid gland or symptoms of an underactive thyroid gland.
Symptoms usually get better when the infection is treated with antibiotics. The most obvious symptom of subacute thyroiditis is pain in the neck caused by a swollen and inflamed thyroid gland.
Sometimes, the pain can spread radiate to the jaw or ears. The thyroid gland may be painful and swollen for weeks or, in rare cases, months. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search.
Paying for medications can be stressful. It is a smart investment to get affordable health insurance if you don't already have it.
If you are covered by Medicare or Medicaid coverage, your thyroid treatments should be paid for under these plans. There are a number of strategies you can use to remember to take your thyroid medication. Your phone, computer, or another alarm can be programmed to give you a daily reminder. You can keep your medicine in an obvious place in your bedroom, bathroom, or kitchen, or you can use a pill organizer to keep you on track.
Unfortunately, there isn't a natural or herbal replacement for thyroid hormone. Just like a person with type 1 diabetes needs insulin, you need thyroid hormone for survival.
And there are no natural substitutes for antithyroid medications. Hyperthyroidism can cause undesirable symptoms like anxiety and excessive sweating. But it can also cause weight loss and a reduced need for sleep, which some actually welcome. While you may experience some symptoms of overactive thyroid more than others, and you may even consider some of them beneficial, it is important to be aware of the strain this condition is putting on your heart, bones, and overall health.
You need to be involved in the decisions regarding your care, and how you feel about your medication and its effects are of central importance. With a thyroid condition, your symptoms can be a good reflection of how well the medication is working. But the constellation of symptoms and side effects associated with thyroid disease can make it difficult to know whether you feel better overall with or without your thyroid medication.
Since you may be conflicted about your thyroid medication, it is a good idea to think about your reasons for feeling so conflicted, to discuss these reasons with your healthcare provider, and to fully understand the consequences of untreated thyroid disease. Most people who have thyroid disease feel better with the appropriate medication. However, thyroid disease is complicated, and you can develop new symptoms when you begin your treatment, either due to the wrong medication dose or the way that your body compensates and responds to the medication.
Sometimes, it can take a few months to adjust your medication, but the end result is well worth it. Again, be sure to discuss any concerns with your healthcare provider and do not cease taking your medication without consulting with her first.
Losing weight with thyroid disease can be a struggle. Our thyroid-friendly meal plan can help.
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