Hypothyroidism

[munson]

This is a little off topic for a motorcycle forum, but I have to share a little bit about my journey this summer. As most of you know, I was diagnosed with papillary carcinoma, had my thyroid cut out, got irradiated, and started on synthetic hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Until two weeks ago, I generally felt pretty crappy. Then I learned about a natural HRT made from, get this, desiccated porcine thyroid gland. It was originally made by the Armour Ham company in the first half of the 20th C. It went out of style when the synthetic stuff was created. Now it is made by a real pharmaceutical company and is FDA approved. The deal is I now feel like my old self! I have energy to spare, I can think and concentrate again, and darn it I just feel good! I have learned a lot about hypothyroidism, and have something to share with my buds.

As many has 20% of middle-aged and older women are hypothyroid. The symptoms are low energy, brain fog, lack of focus and concentration, weight gain and nothing works to get it off, depression, anxiety,reduced reflexes, problems with blood pressure, muscle aches and pains, infertility, mild hair loss, skin problems, and reduced sex drive. Got your attention now?

Part of the problem is the lack of iodine in the diet. The FDA introduced iodized salt into the consumer market to help get it into the average diet. Now doctors tell us to cut back on salt. Some multivitamins like the WallyWorld generic for Centrum provide the minimum RDA of 150 mcg. That's not much. Iodine is required by the body to support many hormone functions. Most of us are deficient in it. If you and/or your wife have any of these symptoms, see a doc and get your iodine levels tested, and get your thyroid hormones tested. Many women just blame it on age, or the change, but it could be an easy to treat iodine deficiency. There is hope!

Is your thyroid making you fat?, by Mary Shomon.
http://thyroid.about.com/library/quiz5/blthyroidquizi.htm

[Dick]

I haven't read the rest of the forums today (been partyin' with Grif and Andy!!), butt this IS a topic for just about any forum we have. You oughta get some more exposure to your post, John - Chit Chat or sumpthin'!! With maybe links to it in other places? Dunno - butt I do thank you for sharing what sounds like great news for anyone experiencing hyperthyro.e.i...... how do you spell that again?!?!

Glad you're on the fix to your old self, and I know someone else who is happier about it than me!!!!!

[nightcrawler921]

Great post John. This is something a lot of people don't think about. Glad to hear yoou are feeling better.

Here is another great website about iodine. http://www.iodinesource.com/ They also sell a great product for people with thyroid problems. I have been taking their Detoxified Iodine for a couple of months now. You can tell the difference.

[hschisler]

Good info, and thanks for sharing. As Dick says, yes -- by all means we need to be sharing these things with each other. That's one reason why we have the non-bike forums (Chit Chat, Humor, etc.), IMO.

Glad to hear you're firing on all cylinders now, but... uh.... please don't be posting any photos! :rolleyes:

[cfell]

So.. my Mom, Dad and 2 of my 5 siblings have had their thyroid killed or removed.... I told the doc who ran "tests" and said.. hmm.. you're ok on the thyroid...

So, ok.. if they can't help, what's a cajun to do? Go se a Tree-teur? Anyone got a name.. uh.. Marie Laveux? eeeeeeee!

[astuber]

John,

About 20 years ago I developed hyperthyroidism and had radioactive iodine (3x) to kill off my thyroid. As a result, I have to take Levoxyl as a replacement. My endocrinologist added a T3 component (Cytomel) and reduced the Levoxyl dosage about 8 years ago. I have felt much better since that time and highly recommended it.

Physicians know that your thyroid produces an 80%/20% ratio of T4 to T3 yet persist in prescribing only the T4 component as a replacement. It is unfortunate that many physicians brush off complaints about how you feel on thyroid replacement. It sounds like you have found a good physician that actually listens to their patients.I know I have and have stuck with him even though he no longer accepts my insurance.

[munson]

Great post John. This is something a lot of people don't think about. Glad to hear yoou are feeling better.

Here is another great website about iodine. http://www.iodinesource.com/ They also sell a great product for people with thyroid problems. I have been taking their Detoxified Iodine for a couple of months now. You can tell the difference.
I ordered some Iodoral, and Sweetpea and I started on it today. I'm looking forward to seeing that difference! Thanks!