Thyroid problems
Replies
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Some caution is required here, I think. Placebo can help considerably with nonspecific subjective symptoms, but there's no evidence they do anything at all for the underlying pathology. With a placebo treatment, someone with hypothyroidism might feel less tired or otherwise symptomatic, but they'll still at elevated risk for the complications normally associated with hypothyroidism.The simple fact that regulatory agencies do not regulate these products tells you that they can have little to no impact on the body. ...but placebo is a powerful force.
There's a discussion of this very subject at SBM today, as it happens.
I would say extreme caution is required. This is in no way an endorsement, but the highest criticism of the supplement industry.
The very fact that it is a supplement is an advertisement that is has little to no potential to have any meaningful impact. These products basically come with a label saying "Go ahead and take my money, but this will do nothing for you"
This is about the closest I come to anger on this site, when people give dangerous advice recommending supplements or diet when medicine is absolutely required under the observation of a medical professional.6 -
Would a GP be able to diagnose hypothyroidism based on a basic blood test from a checkup? I am discussing my bloodwork with my GP next month but didn't ask them to take a special look at my thyroid. My mom has hypothyroidism and I've always suspected I do too because we share symptoms.0
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if these supplements worked so great we would have no need for endocrinologists or thyroid meds prescribed by them. everything has side effects sure, but drugs prescribed by a dr are regulated by the FDA and the over the counter ones are not.a thyroid issue is nothing to mess with and can get worse over time.That would be like having kidney disease and using cranberry pills to try and cure it.3
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phlegmfatale1 wrote: »Would a GP be able to diagnose hypothyroidism based on a basic blood test from a checkup? I am discussing my bloodwork with my GP next month but didn't ask them to take a special look at my thyroid. My mom has hypothyroidism and I've always suspected I do too because we share symptoms.
A GP could request a TSH to begin with, especially if you have genetic history. The new normal range is 0.2-2.0. From there you may request a full thyroid panel if necessary, but you need an endocrinologist to dig into the data and make the determination, or an exceptional and devoted GP.
There is simply too much information available to sort through for a GP.2 -
CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »if these supplements worked so great we would have no need for endocrinologists or thyroid meds prescribed by them. everything has side effects sure, but drugs prescribed by a dr are regulated by the FDA and the over the counter ones are not.a thyroid issue is nothing to mess with and can get worse over time.That would be like having kidney disease and using cranberry pills to try and cure it.
There are actually a ton of ways to cure thing naturally but aren't recommended by doctors because; one, they would the Pharmaceutical companies would lose money, and two, doctors are not really suppose to recommend them to us, plus natural things don't always world for everyone just like medicine doesn't always work. And just because something is FDA approved doesn't mean it good for us either.0 -
CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »if these supplements worked so great we would have no need for endocrinologists or thyroid meds prescribed by them. everything has side effects sure, but drugs prescribed by a dr are regulated by the FDA and the over the counter ones are not.a thyroid issue is nothing to mess with and can get worse over time.That would be like having kidney disease and using cranberry pills to try and cure it.
There are actually a ton of ways to cure thing naturally but aren't recommended by doctors because; one, they would the Pharmaceutical companies would lose money, and two, doctors are not really suppose to recommend them to us, plus natural things don't always world for everyone just like medicine doesn't always work. And just because something is FDA approved doesn't mean it good for us either.
Since when did supplement companies become non-profit? Last I checked this was a $5B industry. An industry profiting with absolutely no shred of scientific proof.
There are no regulations about what a physician can or cannot recommend - the are not under the authority of the FDA and can do pretty much whatever they want under their medical board and license. OTC products are regulated by the FDA. Supplements are protected from regulation simply because THEY HAVE NO IMPACT ON THE BODY. Regulations are risk based - Scheduled Rx under the highest regulations, then Rx, then OTC.
If something is "good for you" then you should be able to reproduce the data.
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CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »if these supplements worked so great we would have no need for endocrinologists or thyroid meds prescribed by them. everything has side effects sure, but drugs prescribed by a dr are regulated by the FDA and the over the counter ones are not.a thyroid issue is nothing to mess with and can get worse over time.That would be like having kidney disease and using cranberry pills to try and cure it.
There are actually a ton of ways to cure thing naturally but aren't recommended by doctors because; one, they would the Pharmaceutical companies would lose money, and two, doctors are not really suppose to recommend them to us, plus natural things don't always world for everyone just like medicine doesn't always work. And just because something is FDA approved doesn't mean it good for us either.
which is why I said everything has side effects, as for natural things,supplements are not natural,they are all man made,I mean prescribed meds are too. thyroid issues are nothing to mess with though and you should not just take an over the counter supplement. you have to see a dr regularly to check your levels and so on. how are they going to monitor your levels if you are on a supplement they know nothing about? they cant adjust your levels if need be due to that. if you have a thyroid issue why are you not seeing a dr and letting them take care of it?0 -
phlegmfatale1 wrote: »Would a GP be able to diagnose hypothyroidism based on a basic blood test from a checkup? I am discussing my bloodwork with my GP next month but didn't ask them to take a special look at my thyroid. My mom has hypothyroidism and I've always suspected I do too because we share symptoms.
A GP could request a TSH to begin with, especially if you have genetic history. The new normal range is 0.2-2.0. From there you may request a full thyroid panel if necessary, but you need an endocrinologist to dig into the data and make the determination, or an exceptional and devoted GP.
There is simply too much information available to sort through for a GP.
yeah my daughters GP did a thyroid test(what they could do) and it said she has an underactive thyroid. she was referred to a endocrinologist,where she has been tested 4 times in the last year or so and guess what? her thyroid is in normal range,she doesnt have a thyroid issue,no PCOS, no insulin resistance like the first endo stated(she has saw 2 in this time,the first one was rude and didnt know her butt from a whole in the ground).. she goes back to her other endo in jan to keep an eye on things, this just goes to show you that a GP can be wrong and so can their tests,but then again they are limited to how they test certain things0 -
CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »if these supplements worked so great we would have no need for endocrinologists or thyroid meds prescribed by them. everything has side effects sure, but drugs prescribed by a dr are regulated by the FDA and the over the counter ones are not.a thyroid issue is nothing to mess with and can get worse over time.That would be like having kidney disease and using cranberry pills to try and cure it.
There are actually a ton of ways to cure thing naturally but aren't recommended by doctors because; one, they would the Pharmaceutical companies would lose money, and two, doctors are not really suppose to recommend them to us, plus natural things don't always world for everyone just like medicine doesn't always work. And just because something is FDA approved doesn't mean it good for us either.
Since when did supplement companies become non-profit? Last I checked this was a $5B industry. An industry profiting off absolute no shred of scientific proof.
There are no regulations about what a physician can or cannot recommend - the are not under the authority of the FDA and can do pretty much whatever they want under their medical board and license. OTC products are regulated by the FDA. Supplements are protected from regulation simply because THEY HAVE NO IMPACT ON THE BODY. Regulations are risk based - Scheduled Rx under the highest regulations, then Rx, then OTC.
If something is "good for you" then you should be able to reproduce the data.
Never said supplement companies didn't profit, but the pharmaceutical industry is almost a $500 billion industry they're banking in way more, anyway I'll explain myself a little more.
one thing that I learned about my condition is that I have an Iodine deficiency that caused Hypothyroidism, because of that my doctor wanted to give me a combo prescription of iodine and some other stuff, long story short after trying some meds that made me sick, I wanted to go a natural route in which I looked for natural ways to ingest Iodine. After talking to a couple of doctors I found that if you take Iodine you usually have to take it with selenium to balance it out and protect your body. So I found a natural supplement that contained both Iodine and selenium at the right dosages, did some research and talked to a couple of doctors to make sure it was safe to take and how it would effect my body.
This is an article about Iodine and selenium the doctor in this article doesn't even agree with taking supplements but he explains how iodine can be both bad and good for you
https://chriskresser.com/iodine-for-hypothyroidism-like-gasoline-on-a-fire/
and this one explains how it affects those with Hashimoto
http://jeffreydachmd.com/hashimotos-selenium-and-iodine-part-two/
Like I said I looked into what was in the supplements, for me, these two things were the most important but there were other things that were included in the supplement that is also beneficial in controlling my condition.
I'll admit it was careless of me to mention the supplement with advising the OP to consult with a doctor first, but I thought that was obvious.
Anyway I'm done here I enjoyed this vigorous discussion, but I find it a bit pointless going back in forth, so Peace ✌️ and have a good day.
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Never said supplement companies didn't profit, but the pharmaceutical industry is almost a $500 billion industry they're banking in way more, anyway I'll explain myself a little more.
That the pharmaceutical industry is naturally evil -- which is one reason they're the most regulated industry we have -- does not make the supplement industry good. (Actually, Big Pharma is no more evil than any other large industry. They're in it for the money. That's corporations for you, even the most benign. It only seems to be more evil because what they do affects our health more directly than most others.)
I cordially disagree with @CSARdiver on one point. While it's usually true that supplements do nothing, I don't think that's why they're unregulated. I think they're unregulated because Big Supp applied pressure to Congress that prevented them from authorizing the FDA to regulate supplements. The best that can be done is to force supplement makers to include (usually in fine print) the "Quack Miranda Warning" about any suggestion of health claims: "These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease."
Very often supplements indeed do nothing. Other times they have a slight effect, to the point where they might interfere with real drugs, or they might be harmful to a degree. (Remember ephedra?) That's the problem. Because they have not been researched to anything like the same degree as real drugs, we don't know. Supplements are not shown to be either effective or safe. They may be both ineffective and unsafe, particularly in those cases where the material actually in the capsules is not what it says on the label.2 -
phlegmfatale1 wrote: »Would a GP be able to diagnose hypothyroidism based on a basic blood test from a checkup? I am discussing my bloodwork with my GP next month but didn't ask them to take a special look at my thyroid. My mom has hypothyroidism and I've always suspected I do too because we share symptoms.
Yes, a primary care physician can diagnose and treat hypothyroidism.
Some people will require (or eventually require) a referral to an endocrinologist, but many cases respond well to basic medication protocol and the patient can be treated by their PCP and may never need to see an endo.
There is a genetic component, so your mom having it is (or should be) reason enough to have yours checked.
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phlegmfatale1 wrote: »Would a GP be able to diagnose hypothyroidism based on a basic blood test from a checkup? I am discussing my bloodwork with my GP next month but didn't ask them to take a special look at my thyroid. My mom has hypothyroidism and I've always suspected I do too because we share symptoms.
Yes, a primary care physician can diagnose and treat hypothyroidism.
Some people will require (or eventually require) a referral to an endocrinologist, but many cases respond well to basic medication protocol and the patient can be treated by their PCP and may never need to see an endo.
There is a genetic component, so your mom having it is (or should be) reason enough to have yours checked.
I would still ask to see an endocrinologist. they go to school to study these issues and can be more helpful than a regular GP can.the GPs tests can be wrong,like they were in the case of my daughter.0 -
What supplements do you take? What kind of food should be avoided?
The supplement I take is 1 Body Thyriod support supplement you can get it off amazon for about $25, they also sell it at Vitamin Shoppes if I'm not mistaking
The main food I stay away from is gluten, because it's more difficult for people with Hyothriodism to break down food that contain gluten, you don't have to give it up completely just minimize your intake. I kind a gave it up completely because that's what works for me.
Also some veggies, particually cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and kale because it interferes with thyriod production especially if you have an iodine deficiency. These are some of my fave veggies I still eat them just not as much
The vegetables that you mention are not necessary bad if they are cooked. Eating them raw and in large amount is the problem.0 -
phlegmfatale1 wrote: »Would a GP be able to diagnose hypothyroidism based on a basic blood test from a checkup? I am discussing my bloodwork with my GP next month but didn't ask them to take a special look at my thyroid. My mom has hypothyroidism and I've always suspected I do too because we share symptoms.
If something shows up in your blood work they should refer you to a specialist to confirm.0 -
Please tell me how a supplement or special diet is going to resolve an AI disorder. I agree that eating in a certain way might alleviate some symptoms of an AI disorder but no WOE is going to make my body stop attacking my thyroid. If there way I would do it without hesitation.1
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No there isn't. Any proof of this comical statement?CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »if these supplements worked so great we would have no need for endocrinologists or thyroid meds prescribed by them. everything has side effects sure, but drugs prescribed by a dr are regulated by the FDA and the over the counter ones are not.a thyroid issue is nothing to mess with and can get worse over time.That would be like having kidney disease and using cranberry pills to try and cure it.
There are actually a ton of ways to cure thing naturally
Complete and utter nonsense. Doctors don't work for the pharmaceutical companies. Doctors can and do recommend supplements, like when a patient has a known deficiency, but since "natural things" don't treat diseases, doctors don't recommend them.but aren't recommended by doctors because; one, they would the Pharmaceutical companies would lose money, and two, doctors are not really suppose to recommend them to us
Medicine almost always works, as evidenced by mountains of data to prove it. "Natural things" almost always never work.plus natural things don't always world for everyone just like medicine doesn't always work.
Yeah, so what's your point? Did anyone claim that fda approval means 100% safety. All medicines carry risk, but there is also benefit.And just because something is FDA approved doesn't mean it good for us either.
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phlegmfatale1 wrote: »Would a GP be able to diagnose hypothyroidism based on a basic blood test from a checkup? I am discussing my bloodwork with my GP next month but didn't ask them to take a special look at my thyroid. My mom has hypothyroidism and I've always suspected I do too because we share symptoms.
A GP could request a TSH to begin with, especially if you have genetic history. The new normal range is 0.2-2.0. From there you may request a full thyroid panel if necessary, but you need an endocrinologist to dig into the data and make the determination, or an exceptional and devoted GP.
There is simply too much information available to sort through for a GP.
It all depends on the insurance company that the person carries. In the absence of Hashimoto or other serious thyroid issues, and if a patient is responding to the proper medication as dx by the GP, most insurances will not OK a visit to an endrocrinologist (aka specialist), specially if the insurance company is an HMO; a person may have better luck with a PCP.
And by the way, the GP can and most of the time do request a full thyroid panel. I have a low grade hypothyrodism treated and controlled with T4 and T3 for the last 12 years and yearly monitored. When I requested to my doctor a consult with an endocrinologist to see if everything was OK, my doctor did a series of test, including antibodies, and sent the information to the insurance company and my request was declined because the insurance didn't find any abnormal symptoms or test results to justify the expense of seeing an specialist. What my GP was doing was OK.
OP: Do see a doctor because thyroid problems need to be treated promptly and correctly.
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^^^Yes EXACTLY. Taking medication is always a risk-benefit analysis. Fortunately thyroid medications are generally well-tolerated by the general population. There are also other evidence-based options aside from Synthroid in the rare case that a patient has an adverse reaction.2
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In regards to the endocrinologist discussion--I have an endocrinologist because I happen to have Hashi's AND Diabetes so double whammy right there! Because my antibody test and SED test always come back positive (elevated) my insurance will cover it. I also am treated by my PCP for this issue. I get routine TSH and free T4 testing through my regular doctor and if all looks "normal" then she writes my prescription. If something is amiss I go see the endocrinologist.
I was diagnosed almost by accident. I was having some GI trouble and specialists ran several different tests and my Hashi's was discovered at that time.0 -
Years ago, when I couldn't lose weight, no matter what I was eating and how much I was moving, I got checked for low thyroid. My mother had been on medication for 30 years, so I knew it was a possibility. Sure enough, I was hypothyroid. I started medication and I was able to lose weight. It took about a year to get the right dosage, but once we did, I had no issues with the meds.
Recently, after a year with several breaks in exercise due to injury and travel, I noticed that my weight had gone up. I was having energy issues as well. Looking for a reason, I thought maybe it was time to increase my medication. So I got my thyroid tested. It was fine. So, without that excuse, I decided to get serious about my eating. I joined MPF, began logging everything, and I started losing weight.
So, bottom line: see a doctor, get the tests done and find out what's really going on.
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CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »phlegmfatale1 wrote: »Would a GP be able to diagnose hypothyroidism based on a basic blood test from a checkup? I am discussing my bloodwork with my GP next month but didn't ask them to take a special look at my thyroid. My mom has hypothyroidism and I've always suspected I do too because we share symptoms.
Yes, a primary care physician can diagnose and treat hypothyroidism.
Some people will require (or eventually require) a referral to an endocrinologist, but many cases respond well to basic medication protocol and the patient can be treated by their PCP and may never need to see an endo.
There is a genetic component, so your mom having it is (or should be) reason enough to have yours checked.
I would still ask to see an endocrinologist. they go to school to study these issues and can be more helpful than a regular GP can.the GPs tests can be wrong,like they were in the case of my daughter.
There are no tests that an endocrinologist orders that a GP cannot also order. And FWIW thyroid hormones fluctuate all the time, especially for the overwhelming majority of people with thyroid issues caused by Hashimoto's. So it would be impossible to say that a test was "wrong" unless two tests were run one immediately after the other (like seconds after) and showed wildly different results.1 -
CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »phlegmfatale1 wrote: »Would a GP be able to diagnose hypothyroidism based on a basic blood test from a checkup? I am discussing my bloodwork with my GP next month but didn't ask them to take a special look at my thyroid. My mom has hypothyroidism and I've always suspected I do too because we share symptoms.
Yes, a primary care physician can diagnose and treat hypothyroidism.
Some people will require (or eventually require) a referral to an endocrinologist, but many cases respond well to basic medication protocol and the patient can be treated by their PCP and may never need to see an endo.
There is a genetic component, so your mom having it is (or should be) reason enough to have yours checked.
I would still ask to see an endocrinologist. they go to school to study these issues and can be more helpful than a regular GP can.the GPs tests can be wrong,like they were in the case of my daughter.
There are no tests that an endocrinologist orders that a GP cannot also order. And FWIW thyroid hormones fluctuate all the time, especially for the overwhelming majority of people with thyroid issues caused by Hashimoto's. So it would be impossible to say that a test was "wrong" unless two tests were run one immediately after the other (like seconds after) and showed wildly different results.
I'm a microbiologist and can order any of the same blood work. Am I qualified then to make a proper diagnosis?
It's a matter of experience in the field. A GP is simply not going to have the specialized knowledge to properly diagnose and prescribe a treatment regimen in comparison to a specialist.
A GP would not have the experience to know that thyroid disorder diagnoses may take several month of repeated blood work for a proper diagnosis.
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I'm a microbiologist and can order any of the same blood work. Am I qualified then to make a proper diagnosis?
It's a matter of experience in the field. A GP is simply not going to have the specialized knowledge to properly diagnose and prescribe a treatment regimen in comparison to a specialist.
A GP would not have the experience to know that thyroid disorder diagnoses may take several month of repeated blood work for a proper diagnosis.
No, of course you're not qualified. You aren't a medical doctor.
But diagnosing and treating hypothyroidism is something that is well within the scope of what primary care physicians are allowed to and are qualified to diagnose and treat. I was diagnosed a year and a half ago with Hashimoto's by an internal medicine doctor. I continue to be very successfully treated by a PA. Both were/are well aware of and up to date on proper testing and treatment protocols. There is zero need for me to see a specialist at this point and I may never need to. Now if I develop issues that she can't successfully treat then at that point it would be appropriate to see an endo (and I would insist on it).
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CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »phlegmfatale1 wrote: »Would a GP be able to diagnose hypothyroidism based on a basic blood test from a checkup? I am discussing my bloodwork with my GP next month but didn't ask them to take a special look at my thyroid. My mom has hypothyroidism and I've always suspected I do too because we share symptoms.
Yes, a primary care physician can diagnose and treat hypothyroidism.
Some people will require (or eventually require) a referral to an endocrinologist, but many cases respond well to basic medication protocol and the patient can be treated by their PCP and may never need to see an endo.
There is a genetic component, so your mom having it is (or should be) reason enough to have yours checked.
I would still ask to see an endocrinologist. they go to school to study these issues and can be more helpful than a regular GP can.the GPs tests can be wrong,like they were in the case of my daughter.
There are no tests that an endocrinologist orders that a GP cannot also order. And FWIW thyroid hormones fluctuate all the time, especially for the overwhelming majority of people with thyroid issues caused by Hashimoto's. So it would be impossible to say that a test was "wrong" unless two tests were run one immediately after the other (like seconds after) and showed wildly different results.
ok the PCPs and GPs here only run a certain type of test. if you are considered having a high level they will send you to a endocrinologist for a full panel. thats what happened with my daughter(her regular dr said she had a thyroid disorder, and all testing so far says No). my daughter went to one endo,they did the test and we never heard back(they never answered the phones and did not have an answering service to leave messages),so she had to see another one they did the full workup and compared it to the last endos test. levels were fine, she then had to go back every three months,again levels were fine, the endo also did testing for pcos, hormone imbalance,free testosterone,insulin resistance and a few others that my daughters regular dr did not run and said they could not run(maybe its different in some states?).
which is why she had to see the endo. my daughter goes back to the endo in jan to check her levels yet again.so yeah I would say the test her GP gave her was wrong(inaccurate maybe a better term), because all concurrent tests say she has none of these health issues at all. heck I have had fasting labs in the past that came back looking like I wasnt fasting when I was. trust me if her dr could do all this testing it would save a 2hr round trip every 3 months to her endo.Now her GP still runs all the basic tests but she still has to see the endo where they too draw blood and run a full panel/workup to see if anything changes and they compare it to the other drs results as well. I just know what I know and I ask questions and was told that the regular PCP/GPs dont run full tests for those types of things,they send you to a specialist.0 -
I was on levothyroxin and doing good. I had the energy to hit the gym and was stubborn enough to go 5x a week. Then I personally decided I didn't want to be on this synthetic stuff. I started taking thyroid supplements WITHOUT consulting my Dr. BIG MISTAKE. I eventually ended up in this downward spiral where I gained it all back. I went from being below the 200# mark for the first time in almost a decade to 230. Don't mess with your stuff. See a Dr. You will feel so much more amazing one you get your levels regulated.1
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