Homeopathy

Farfelue

Hello again,

I need to pick your brains here, with regards to homeopathy.

I have some thyroid homeopathy remedies, in granules of 30C.
But I don't know if I should use them or not.

Here goes: when you use homeopathy, it triggers your body into getting the right response at sort of fixing itself. It's the cure of the similar.

So, being Hashimoto, do I want to take it or would I make myself worse?
I certainly don't want to trigger my thyroid into working, because it will send me into Hashi crisis.
However, if the remedy works like Armour (because it's too crushed pigs' thyroids, but that have been processed according to homeopathic laws) it would be essentially the same as taking Armour?

I'm willing to give it a try IF it helps my symptoms, NOT if it brings my thyroid back to life.

I am considering this because I'm taking 3x20mcg Liothyronine at the moment (T3) which is quite a bit, although I don't get the hand tremors nor the palpitations. My T4s are a bit low but I don't do well on Levothyroxine so each time my endo asks me to increase back to 75mcg I'm not well, so I have to stay on 50.

So if figured, I could reduce Liothyronine to 2x20mcg daily, keep at 50mcg Levothyroxine and add 3 pills of homeopathy remedy once or twice daily.

Did you follow all that?
Any input please?

tecallahan

What is the name of the homeopathic product that you have? I am familiar with homeopathic remedies -- and most of them are either good, or at least do no harm. But I have never heard of one for thyroid disease. Very interesting and would like to hear more about this remedy.

Terri

Farfelue

Oh great, thanks Terri.
It's thyroidinum.

x

Farfelue

"This homeopathic remedy made from a tiny portion of dried sheep thyroid gland. It is recommended that it is taken at the 8x potency. This may trigger the stimulation of the natural thyroid to start producing the two important thyroid hormones"

From the internet... and correction, thyroidinium is from Sheeps' thyroid not pigs, from what I read.

But you see, it "stimulates" the thyroid. Do I really want to stimulate it?

I know I am in need of T4, I've been feeling hypo lately (hence the itching probably, dugh!), so it could be a great compromise for me.
What do you think, with the Hashi I mean?

tecallahan

So you are hypothyroid, right? That means your thyroid is under-producing of T4 and potentially that it is not converting T4 to T3. If you are feeling hypo, it generally means you are too low on T3 -- T4 is an inactive hormone and it's only purpose is to be converted to T3. If you have enough T3 in your system, your body doesn't need T4 at all.

But, I think you said you have a bad reaction to too much of your T3 replacement -- so it would make sense that this homeopathic remedy might help with some of your symptoms.

If I felt under-medicated and couldn't get a doctor to help me, I would probably try the homeopathic remedy. I would do a trial where I wouldn't change anything else - same diet, same meds, same supplements, etc -- then keep a diary of anything that changes. You could start sleeping better, or your skin could improve, you could have more energy, less depression, etc... you have to sort of take an inventory of yourself each day. I think the worst that could happen is that the homeopathic remedy does nothing.

I take Thyrocsin as a supplement to Armour -- it has Vitamin C, Vitamin E, B12, Iodine, zinc, selenium, copper and L-Tyrosine. My Naturopath suggested it. So, I think it's reasonable to supplement your thyroid meds.

Farfelue

Hi Terri,

Thank you for taking the time to reply.
I am on plenty of T3, that's where I don't understand this hypo episode. I am a little low on T4 but like I said, if I increase my T4 meds I get side effect so I'd rather stay on a low dose.
My T3 intake is optimal so I don't get it.

I think I will give it a try, like you said, not change anything and see how I get on over 2 weeks. It's long enough in my books to see if something is better or worse.

I've been on this T3 T4 dose for a few months now and it was going brilliantly. Though I've hit a patch of depression and hypo symptoms since January. Is it down to the meds though? Cant' blame everything on the thyroid.

What's your view?

tecallahan

Hi Terri,

Thank you for taking the time to reply.
I am on plenty of T3, that's where I don't understand this hypo episode. I am a little low on T4 but like I said, if I increase my T4 meds I get side effect so I'd rather stay on a low dose.
My T3 intake is optimal so I don't get it.

I think I will give it a try, like you said, not change anything and see how I get on over 2 weeks. It's long enough in my books to see if something is better or worse.

I've been on this T3 T4 dose for a few months now and it was going brilliantly. Though I've hit a patch of depression and hypo symptoms since January. Is it down to the meds though? Cant' blame everything on the thyroid.

What's your view?

Sometimes Hashi causes your levels to swing wildly within a few days, then swing back. I have Hashi attacks where suddenly my TSH goes up to 20.71 and my T3 and T4 drop to almost nothing. I had a bad flu in January that stoked my immune system and my Hashi antibodies doubled. I was so hypo, I could barely function. Then, 2 weeks later it was over and I was back to normal levels.

I hope that this supplement will support you a little more as you go through this.

Terri

Farfelue

Hello Terri,

I have found this link, quite helpful:
http://www.underactivethyroid.com/app/homeopathic_medicines_for_underactive_thyroid.asp

I am still unsure whether this is a good remedy for Hashi... I might be doing myself more harm than good.

On the thyroid-disease forum I read that some people strongly advocate sea salt and kelp but others were saying it's detrimental if you are Hashimoto...

lmelangley

If I were you, I'd see if I could find a homeopathy specialist or a doctor who's willing to work with you on using honeopathy products. I've never heard of anything that will fix an ailing thyroid, although there are things that can help. I'm always a little hesitant to put something into my body unless I can actually talk to someone face to face (or in a place like MFP online) who knows first hand about the product. Remember that there are few regulations on things sold online. This could work for you, or it could do nothing, or it could do bad things.

Farfelue

To Imelangley
Thanks for replying. I am familiar with Homeopathy and use it for everything, I'm just not sure about the Hypo remedy due to Hashimoto. I think you are right. I need to know more before trying it out.

To Terri
You said "Sometimes Hashi causes your levels to swing wildly within a few days, then swing back. I have Hashi attacks where suddenly my TSH goes up to 20.71 and my T3 and T4 drop to almost nothing."

Forgive my ignorance on this but I still can't get my head around Hashimoto. I thought that once my thyroid was finished I wouldn't have Hashi episodes. How do they work, why do they happen?
My TSH was 166 when I was diagnosed which to me seems pretty much that my thyroid is dead.

Why and how can one still have a Hashi storm when well medicated?

I'm not understanding that bit well... can you enlighten me? Sorry if it is an obvious notion.

tecallahan

To Imelangley
Thanks for replying. I am familiar with Homeopathy and use it for everything, I'm just not sure about the Hypo remedy due to Hashimoto. I think you are right. I need to know more before trying it out.

To Terri
You said "Sometimes Hashi causes your levels to swing wildly within a few days, then swing back. I have Hashi attacks where suddenly my TSH goes up to 20.71 and my T3 and T4 drop to almost nothing."

Forgive my ignorance on this but I still can't get my head around Hashimoto. I thought that once my thyroid was finished I wouldn't have Hashi episodes. How do they work, why do they happen?
My TSH was 166 when I was diagnosed which to me seems pretty much that my thyroid is dead.

Why and how can one still have a Hashi storm when well medicated?

I'm not understanding that bit well... can you enlighten me? Sorry if it is an obvious notion.

Was your thyroid removed? Hashimoto is an autoimmune disease. Your body is creating antibodies that are attacking your thyroid. I assumed you still had a thyroid...

Farfelue

Yes yes I still have it! All of the darn thing!

But why would Hashi create a hypo storm now that I am on meds? and optimal meds too?
I was 166 TSH when diagnosed so I had assumed that Hashi had killed off my thyroid.

tecallahan

Hashimoto Disease is the #1 cause of Hypothyroidism. You can't really treat you Hashi. You can only treat your hypothyroidism and then monitor your thyroid, and try to manage your symptoms, but there's no cure for Hashi.

Right now, my TSH is .164, but my Hashi antibodies are very high (off the chart). So Hashi doesn't go away when your thyroid is optimized -- Hashi continues to attack - sometimes the antibodies will quiet down and go low, sometimes they will storm. My doctor and I believe that my Hashi antibodies storm when I am fighting another infection (such as a cold)... it seems to happen when my immune system is stoked.

My Naturopath recommended gluten-free diet + meditation/yoga/exercise + organic/natural diet to help the antibodies to quiet down.

Sorry!! Not good news, I know!
Terri

kagero1976

I just wanted to chime in here that I found out I had thyroid antibodies about 15 years ago and they were in the 400s. About 10 years later they tested them again and they were in the 400s. A year or two they tested them again after I had been on a gluten free and dairy free diet for 4 months and they were in the 30s. *scratches head*

I only had them tested those three times (usually they just test my tsh or t4 and sometimes my t3). So I don't know for sure that they didn't swing wildly through the years but I believe they were always in the 400s until I went gluten free. Then they decreased. There is a pretty strong correlation between the two.

It is just an option to consider trying if you aren't gluten free already:-)

tecallahan

WOW - that's amazing!! IThank you so much for the info about your gluten-free success!! know my doc asks me constantly - did any gluten sneak in? I have to swear on the bible that I am not eating any gluten.. LOL!! My antibodies have been 143 consistently since November, 2011 -- I've been gluten free and dairy free since January - they aren't down yet, but I am hoping.

But I did get rid of Reverse T3 and brought my cholesterol down to 171 with HDL of 83. So, I am getting there!!

ginnylee74

WOW - that's amazing!! IThank you so much for the info about your gluten-free success!! know my doc asks me constantly - did any gluten sneak in? I have to swear on the bible that I am not eating any gluten.. LOL!! My antibodies have been 143 consistently since November, 2011 -- I've been gluten free and dairy free since January - they aren't down yet, but I am hoping.

But I did get rid of Reverse T3 and brought my cholesterol down to 171 with HDL of 83. So, I am getting there!!

Hi Teri

Did your cholesterol improve because of eliminating the gluten? Or because of your Thyroid meds? I stopped my cholesterol medicine because of the fact I was getting lower leg cramps and when I stopped the meds the cramps stopped. However my cholesterol went up. Have to see my Dr. regarding that. Does my question make sense?

Ginny:flowerforyou:

tecallahan

WOW - that's amazing!! IThank you so much for the info about your gluten-free success!! know my doc asks me constantly - did any gluten sneak in? I have to swear on the bible that I am not eating any gluten.. LOL!! My antibodies have been 143 consistently since November, 2011 -- I've been gluten free and dairy free since January - they aren't down yet, but I am hoping.

But I did get rid of Reverse T3 and brought my cholesterol down to 171 with HDL of 83. So, I am getting there!!

Hi Teri

Did your cholesterol improve because of eliminating the gluten? Or because of your Thyroid meds? I stopped my cholesterol medicine because of the fact I was getting lower leg cramps and when I stopped the meds the cramps stopped. However my cholesterol went up. Have to see my Dr. regarding that. Does my question make sense?

Ginny:flowerforyou:

I know the lower leg cramps and feet pain from statins is really bad!! I also get cramps in my neck from it. I used to go off the meds on my own when I was doing a cycling or running event - then my chol would fly up.

Not sure if gluten-free or Armour caused the chol to go down?? -- I went gluten and dairy free in January and started on Armour at the same time and stopped taking Lipitor at the same time. Had my chol tested in late February and it was high -- 298. Then I was retested 4 weeks after that and it was 171. My Naturopath was even astonished that it came down that far that fast!! I also am now off of Lisinopril - blood pressure med I've been taking for 4 years. About 3 weeks ago, I noticed that my b.p. was 97/60 - definitely too low. Doc said to stop taking b.p. meds and monitor -- so 3 weeks with normal b.p. -- it came up to about 110/70 after the meds got out of my system.

I also take CalMag and/or Natural Calm - extra calcium and magnesium helps a lot with leg cramps - but I don't think it does anything for cholesterol.