This year, 2012, marks the tenth year I started working with and learning from patients after desiccated thyroid turned my life completely around. It all began with the creation of the Yahoo group Natural Thyroid Hormone users–a still-active group. And the next few years of “patients sharing with patients” provided incredible information.
And when it comes to the variety of thyroid med treatments, here’s a general summary of ten years of patient experience:
- T4-ONLY MEDS: do not work well for a large body, if at all, leaving patients with continuing hypothyroid symptoms in their own degree and kind. Those who feel they are doing well on T4 end up seeing increasing symptoms of a poor treatment…eventually (or don’t recognize their symptoms of a poor treatment). By observation, more than 50% of those on T4-only end up with screwy or debilitating adrenal function, low iron, low Vit. D and more side effects of a poor treatment. Some put on T4 (because of a transient high TSH lab test result) probably never needed any thyroid treatment in the first place, like my sister-in-law.
- SYNTHETIC T3 WITH SYNTHETIC T4: a definite step up from T4-only in improvement of symptoms. Unfortunately, though, we see more and more doctors prescribing this rather than breaking through their ignorance and prescribing natural desiccated thyroid with its T4/T3/T2/T1/calcitonin, because all they know about is synthetics.
- T3-ONLY: another good step up from T4-only. Patients note they have to be diligent in taking their multi-dosed T3, having no T4 to rely upon for conversion. Also used temporarily by those who want to lower high RT3 while correcting the causes.
- NATURAL DESICCATED THYROID: gives the best results, say many patients over the past ten years who tried the synthetic T4/T3 route or others, since it gives exactly what a healthy thyroid would give (T4, T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin). There just appears to be something synergistically powerful when you give yourself exactly what your own thyroid would be giving you. If you have issues, it’s usually due to a cortisol or iron problem, which need to be corrected. More info here.
- COMPOUNDED THYROID: Be careful, say experienced patients, when your doctor prescribes this! It’s far more expensive, and the less expensive prescription pill forms of NDT work well anyway. Also, some patients have been shocked to find out that what they were taking was compounded synthetic T3 and synthetic T4. Beware, say informed patients, when your doc says “it’s specially formulated for your particular needs” (for most, this is a mute point. The prescription pills for fine.) or “time-released is good” (Not, say patients, who found it runs out far too quickly).
- OVER-THE-COUNTER THYROID SUPPLEMENTS: Just a few years ago, patient experience found them to be weak substitutes for prescription desiccated thyroid meds. But the last few years saw the introduction of good OTC products which patients report have done them well! ThyroGold brought out by the late Dr. John C. Lowe is one, even if quite strong and the need to pour out the contents and divide.
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YES VIRGINIA, YOU CAN HEAL YOUR ADRENALS WITHOUT USING HC!
And just as patient experience has revealed great information about a variety of thyroid treatments, the same patient experience is breaking ground with adrenal treatment as I write this! Namely, a small but growing body of patients have been doing the T3 CIRCADIAN PROTOCOL FOR ADRENALS, as first discovered by UK patient and author Paul Robinson, and it’s working!
And even more exciting? It’s working with natural desiccated thyroid, not just T3!
Now of course, Paul doesn’t feel that “healing” is the right word. He prefers that it’s “promoting better adrenal function”. He’s right. But “healing” fits when one has gone from the misery of low cortisol, to the glee of better adrenal function….and achieved from just several weeks of doing the protocol correctly, as compared to a few years with the use of HC and its problematic side effects.
To read more about this exciting new discovery, go here. You’ll also see the link to order Robinson’s book, of which Chapter 16 covers this use of T3 in promoting better adrenal function.
Important notes: All the information on this website is copyrighted. STTM is an information-only site based on what many patients worldwide have reported in their treatment and wisdom over the years. This is not to be taken as personal medical advice, nor to replace a relationship with your doctor. By reading this information-only website, you take full responsibility for what you choose to do with this website's information or outcomes. See the Disclaimer and Terms of Use.
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9 Responses to “Ten years reveal what works with thyroid treatment, plus healing adrenals without HC!”
Gerry
Howdy! Quick question that’s entirely off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My blog looks weird when browsing from my iphone 4. I’m trying to find a theme or plugin
that might be able to fix this problem. If you have any suggestions, please
share. With thanks!
Judy Judy
Thyroid damaged 12 yrs ago while having hyperparathyroid surgery. Chronic fatigued sence. Taking 112 synthroid. Gaining weight lab test normal. Tired of being tired. Any suggestions?
(Go here: https://stopthethyroidmadness.com/t4-only-meds-dont-work)
Cheryl
Hi guys..
Ten years ago I was diagnosed with graves disease and Unfortunatly my left started bulging immediately.. I been living with this situation for a while now and its really starting to bother me.. Thankfully since I’ve found this site I’m switching from my synthroid meds to a dedicated thyroid in the next week.. Does anyone have information that can help my left eye ;-(… I would appreciate anything you have.. I’m so desperate to find a solution and I’m not giving up.. Anybody out there.. Please help!
dolly
cheryl, i stumbled upon this site by accident and read your post. but it looks like 2014 posted, so I hope you have found a cure for the exopthalomus in your eye. I used Dr. Christopher herbal “eyebright” and did eye washes. Mine came down really fast. I had “cow eyes” bulging beyond belief in 1979. hope this helps. I got the info from a DC way before Dr. Christopher passed, but I do think his son still has the website. cayenne pepper, bayberry root, eyebright herb and 1 or 2 more was in the original formula.
best to you
Phil E.
I have taken 100mcg T3 single dose at bedtime ONLY since last year. I didn’t need to take cortisol with T3. I learned a lot from the late Dr. Lowe, and pretty much followed his protocol for single dosing. I had to follow MY body and dose according to what works for me, not anyone else’s answers for his/her body.
I think everyone needs to be open-minded and read as much as possible. If your dosing doesn’t make you feel better, you’re doing something wrong. Change it. And don’t think that someone else’s protocol will be your miracle! What’s good for me, probably won’t work for you, but maybe it will.
Likewise, although Paul’s protocol isn’t for me, it works for him, so bravo.
From Janie: “Paul’s protocol” probably was working for you…from the backside. lol. i.e. taking T3 at bedtime ends up giving the adrenals better T3 anyway, since it can be still be around when that four-hour window begins. It’s also one reason Lowe wrote the foreword in Paul’s book–Lowe knew the brilliance of what Paul had done. 🙂
Hera
Maybe also on the list – iodine! It turned out that I was having hypothyroid symptoms because I had an iodine deficiency. I took desiccated thyroid only until my iodine levels came up to a healthy level by taking iodine supplements. I now seem to keep my iodine level up, and have no hypothyroid symptoms, by making sure to use salt with iodine (Celtic sea salt) in my food, and eating plenty of other iodine-rich food, like seaweed and fish. The iodine test is a simple urine test, I think all people with hypothyroid should monitor their levels!
Linda S.
Hi Dana,
THANK YOU for doing so much research and then posting your results online for everyone to read! There’s SO much great info on your site.
Like you, I have been on a quest for many years to find what has been wrong with my family. We’ve had something “going on” for five generations or more. Lyme and its miserable co-infections seem to explain just about everything, from psychosis to dark urine to the little, dark-red spots on the skin, to ADHD and hypothyroidism, etc.
This email isn’t really meant to be posted, although you’re certainly welcome to if you want.
Warm regards,
Linda S.
(From Janie: I believe Linda’s post above is actually in response to another page on STTM written by Dana about Lyme: https://stopthethyroidmadness.com/lyme-disease/)
Montana NAR
Thank you, Janie!
I sure appreciate all your educational efforts in revealing the truth behind (what should be) simple thyroid treatment.
Your courage of facing up to the AMA and Big Pharma medical world is to be commended!
Eric
I’m am so excited about the CIRCADIAN PROTOCOL FOR ADRENALS!! I’m off to buy a spanking new alarm clock just for that 2:30 am wake up 🙂
The book is on it’s way and I’m looking forward to reading it cover to cover… just as I did with the STTM revised edition.
Thank you for this site and the resources it links to. It is saving my life.