Low carb in general definitely works with hypothyroidsim, @bowlerae. In fact, it was my endocrinologist who put me on the low carb path in the first place. Whether keto does is an individual issue. I can tell you that the stress of going keto tanked my thyroid function (there were other contributing factors, such as working phyiscally hard labor outdoors for 4 days without proper electrolytes/fluids, and we haven't identified what was the most significant). I'm not sure what my current game plan is, as with finally getting my thyroid back level again (which took me about 18 months), I'm kind of scared to go keto again, as I can't handle more hits like that (tripled my TSH well above acceptable range for anyone, much less for my age group), but I can't find my level eating with just traditional low carb. I keep hitting the binge/behave/stress/binge, etc. cycle, and it is doing my head in.

But for many others on keto with hypothyroidism, it has improved all their numbers and symptoms. I just know with the added issue of my insulin resistance, I could never go full throttle paleo either, with all the fruits and "naturally sweetened" items... So for me, I think it is all about finding your level.

And BPC may not work for her. In fact, Leanne Vogel of healthfulpursuit.com makes a Rocket Fuel Latte geared more for women's hormone balance and minimizing insulin reactions, and such. I despise coffee (no matter my numerous and different attempts to start a love affair with it), and can't bring myself to try her recipe...but other folks LOVE it...

Take what works for you. Try out other things that interest you. Make your program fit you. Succeed in your life and in your goals...

bowlerae wrote: »

@knitormiss that Rocket Fuel Latte sounds amazing and I can't wait to try it. I will also recommend it to my roommate.

@bowlerae - you'll notice, too, that she has 3-4 variations of the recipe. Additionally, in the podcast (or transcript of it), Leanne clearly outlines what you can change within her recipes versus what is an integral part of the recipe and it's success. She also outlines her keto journey, from former carb cycling to no longer doing so - from all manner of AS to using things like Lucuma Powder and Yacon Syrup with minimal glycemic impact. She talks about fasting and all manner of interesting things.

As a woman with many hormonal issues, I think Leanne appeals particularly to me because she has faced many similar types of issues - or variations therein. I find the majority of her podcasts very enlightening.

I should clarify something I said above, too. My fear of going keto again is partially because I can't do this step down naturally and ease in business. I'm all or nothing. I'm 400 grams of carbs or 20 grams of carbs. Going 150 - 30 - 100 - 40 - 80 - 5 cannot be good for me...overall. I'm just struggling, because I'm a food addict, through and through, and the siren song of foods gets me, particularly during stressful times...

I felt FABULOUS on keto...until I didn't. Along the way, I just hit a wall. I go back to see my endocrinologist in about a month, and hope to work through some better strategies for me.

KnitOrMiss wrote: »

I should clarify something I said above, too. My fear of going keto again is partially because I can't do this step down naturally and ease in business. I'm all or nothing. I'm 400 grams of carbs or 20 grams of carbs. Going 150 - 30 - 100 - 40 - 80 - 5 cannot be good for me...overall. I'm just struggling, because I'm a food addict, through and through, and the siren song of foods gets me, particularly during stressful times...

I felt FABULOUS on keto...until I didn't. Along the way, I just hit a wall. I go back to see my endocrinologist in about a month, and hope to work through some better strategies for me.

Have you had your Reverse T3 tested? Every time I raise, I feel great and then I crash. That usually means high RT3. It's also why extreme calorie cutting and strenuous exercise are not good for thyroid patients.

KnitOrMiss wrote: »

@gentlereader75 - My Reverse T3 was above the range on the lab's options, and I'm taking a T3 medication twice a day, but I feel good taking it, then sometimes (maybe 50% of the time), I crash as bad as a full carb load. I was considering asking my endo about the compounded extended release form, but I've heard bad/questionable things about that, too...

I'm so sorry the T3 isn't working for you. Maybe you need to lower your T4 and add another dose of T3? I've also heard bad things about extended release T3. Hope you can get things adjusted--I know how frustrating it is.

Not keto but low carb and hypothyroid. It's worked out well for me, most of the time though I plateau'd after losing 50 pounds and I'm sort of stuck. I've recently read that coffee can be the bad guy there as people with thyroid issues can react to caffeine by producing huge spikes in cortisol that in turn produces reverse T3s which effectively shut down your T3s which are the key metabolic elements to a healthy metabolic rate of calorie burn.
At least that how is I interpreted it.
So that's a tip I'm testing now, cutting down on my excessive coffee drinking. I've heard there's a double bonus in that another huge cortisol producer is lack of sleep. Coffee reduction should help there too.
I hope that's some use to you.

I have hashi's. I take almost a full replacement dose of natural desiccated thyroid.

I honestly haven't noticed any real change to my thyroid. My energy is slightly higher and steadier but I attributed that to steadier blood glucose. Otherwise, no change.

@LauraCoth - You aren't the only one with weird side effects. I won't have any of the normal reactions, but if there is some half@$$ random side effect that only 1 in 1,000,000,000 people have, Murphy's Law is I will get that, or something equally as crappy. Hence my reluctance. Plus, having just moved, I don't have confidence in any compounding pharmacy here. I'm seriously tempted to have my old place make it (trusted and proven for a decade with me!!) and mail it to me, but I'm worried about temperature control and such. I had a check that was mailed from 20 minutes away took 8 days to be delivered!!!

Like I said, I plan to talk with my doc about it. He hadn't wanted to switch me to NDT back when I asked about it, but that was when I was feeling good and level with my meds. He was concerned about me feeling good, then going back to feeling crappy again for a long while before I could get level on the NDT, but since he's been adjusting my meds for the past 18 months, I think I'll revisit that topic as well... I did agree with his reasoning before...but that was far before we got to this point...

The generic of Cytomel doesn't seem to make me nauseated, but it raises my thermal factor - like I'll be sweating inside a room set at 70 degrees unless I have a fan on me...seems 4-8 hours, either side of a dose.

@JennifrClaire - Interesting info about the caffeine/crash situation. I've been on this party bus too long, and haven't been able to function without caffeine in a long while. I only take it M-F, none on the weekends, etc. I might try switching and weaning to see if I can help my situation, as that might explain why sometimes I have that bonk/narc effect in the AM's after my T3 med, and other times I don't...particularly my PM dose... For me, the hardest thing is med timing. I generally don't eat breakfast until 9 or so, when I get hungry...which means lunch is usually 2-3 pm, which is nearly always almost on top of my second dose of T3 meds. It was hinted at that food with the T3 isn't an issue the same way it is with T4 meds, but I'm wondering how much that is true....

So glad this thread started....I am hypothyroid and currently take medication. I eat LCHF and seem to feel pretty good, also it seems as if my energy level has increased. I walk 2 miles 5 days a week. But the weight is not going any where. I read how people lost a good bit at the beginning, but not me. Don't get me wrong, I have lost some weight 7 lbs to be exact and that's since March so comes out to around 1 pound a month. Was hoping for more than that. I was just wondering this morning if my medication may cause me not to loose weight. I go back to the doc in a couple weeks and will consult with her about it all and get more blood work.

I have Hashimoto's as well. I take armour and have just started LCHF approximately a month ago. Combined with exercise I have lost 14 pounds in a month and feel so much better. I don't if it works for everyone but it seems to be working for me as of right now. Also, you'll never know till you try. Mama always told me to turn your nose at something until you try it. LOL

@canadjineh , I have been taking armor for years and it took them a little while to get me regulated but when they did it made a world of difference. Hopefully, you will continue to feel better as time goes on.

We mainly went with meds because of how I was feeling and not so much the numbers - but the numbers in my case showed what was happening to my body. It's nice feeling a bit warmer for a change.

Oh no @nvmomketo..... for me - I'd probably be happy in Arizona in August
I even looked forward to hot flashes lol.