I posted here last November about bloodwork I had done that showed elevated Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, indicating hypothyroidism. Of course the medical professional (RN) I was seeing at the time wanted to put me on Levothyroxine. I resisted, started taking a kelp supplement thanks to the recommendation of the good people on this board, and this year my TSH is well within the normal range. However, unfortunately, now my cholesterol numbers are high, particularly triglycerides, so if anyone has ideas how to get that under control I would appreciate the help. In any case, thanks Great Awakening! Edit to add: The doctor wants me to try diet and exercise for 3 months and then retest cholesterol. So no prescriptions for now. Again, you people are wonderful!
You're viewing a single comment thread. View all comments, or full comment thread.
Comments (100)
sorted by:
Please tell me more! I'm on Levothyroxine too. The stuff makes my knees hurt.
Without it, my TSH is not too far out of range at 4.90.
What I'm taking is Nature's Way Whole Thallus kelp, it's 600 mg per serving (1 capsule) which contains 270 mcg iodine and 35 mg sodium. I take it once a day. I got it off Amazon.
I've recommended many to carnivore and ketovore diets and some have ultimately dropped their meds altogether after a month or 2 of weaning.
Stop all pasta, sugar, bread, carbs best as possible to start. Eat meat and seafood. If u must, snack on meat products, beef jerky, pork rinds, etc. Some carnivores even do dairy and occasional veggies.
Once u commit you will find because your eating correct and real food, you will be satiated more, and you won't even need to snack. It's crazy how it works. Every single person I've ever seen on carnie eventually loses weight too, many significant actually.
Go read all of the social media comments from real people on carnie. People dropping big pharma drugs, losing weight, disappearing aches n pains, no more digestion issues, skin issues, etc. Try it for a 30 days and see if you don't think it's worth it.
Levo is basically just trying to replace your thyroid when most people just want it to start working again. Definitely supplement with boosters of your choosing when weaning off levo. Red light therapy also helps some ppl.
I wouldn't put too much worry into " the numbers " unless you truly trust your lab and doctor. Many don't do 5 panel testing and do not even know how to interpret them. They just do what the algo tells them, and who do you think designed that software ?
They often use numbers as fear porn to get victims to take their drugs. Just be aware of that. I'd go by how you feel, the variables in play slightly before and during that time. Be your own doctor. No one cares about you more than you. Use baby steps the whole way and research it all first till you're confident.
Good luck.
Thank you for your reply. Very informative.
Good info, thanks!
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279600/ Article on effect of levothyroxine on subclinical hypothyroidism.
One other question if you don't mind :
If I've been living on a liquid diet and the liquid contains no vitamins, should I go buy a multivitamin supplement?
The reason why I ask is because I've been feeling extremely lethargic while being on the liquid diet.
I'm sorry, I have no medical background whatsoever to advise you on your diet. However, I don't have my peperwork with me right now but I could swear TSH 4.9 was just at the high end of the normal range. Were you having low thyroid symptoms (weight gain, fatigue, sensitivity to cold, thinning hair, etc.) before you went on the Levothyroxine?
I've been keeping a record of when I start and stop Levothyroxine. My last stretch was July 25 through August 13, yesterday. Today I skipped the dose so it would be considered a stop day. It's mainly fatigue that I suspect Levothyroxine is causing me. I simply do not trust the drug. I also experience an increase in joint pain while taking Levothyroxine. They first started me on Levothyroxine on July 25, 2003. I have NEVER felt any benefits of the drug. People are supposed to lose massive amounts of weight and feel wonderful; that was never the case for me. The only thing that ever changes while taking the drug is a number on a lab report; that's it.
My TSH was at 5.4 last November. I found a NIH (I know) article that concluded there was really no benefit to treating subclinical hypothyroidism. I had no symptoms as far as I could tell. I'll see if I can find the article and link it for you.
Get your doctor to switch you to a natural desiccated thyroid like NP or Armour.