Hypothyroid - possible to transition off medication?

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Hypothyroid - possible to transition off medication?

Postby Lizzy_F » Sat Sep 04, 2021 1:02 pm

Hi everyone. I am not looking for medical advice. I am hoping to connect with others who may have been diagnosed as hypothyroid in the past, and have been able to transition off of thyroid medication after adopting Dr. McDougall's eating plan. (Starch Solution)

I was diagnosed as hypothyroid in 2008. Since that time, I have been taking natural dessicated thyroid (NDT) replacement medication (currently Nature throid, previously Armour).

If anyone has had experience coming off of this type of medication, or even synthetic thyroid medication (i.e. Synthroid) I would love to just hear about your personal experience.

It has become increasingly difficult to maintain a relationship with a doctor who will precsribe NDT. I'm not convinced that I want to go through a transition to synthetics. I would really rather get off of this merry-go-round all together if that seems possible.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can share experience with this issue!
Beth

"Long-term sustainable change is what we are really after." ~Jeff Novick
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Re: Hypothyroid - possible to transition off medication?

Postby VeggieSue » Sun Sep 05, 2021 4:50 am

Lizzy_F wrote:Hi everyone. I am not looking for medical advice. I am hoping to connect with others who may have been diagnosed as hypothyroid in the past, and have been able to transition off of thyroid medication after adopting Dr. McDougall's eating plan. (Starch Solution)


Some people who have lost large amounts of weight have been able to reduce and even come off thyroid meds, but like with Type 2 diabetics, if they regain that weight, they need to go back on them.


It has become increasingly difficult to maintain a relationship with a doctor who will precsribe NDT.


When I was first told I had a TSH around 8 (apparently I had a high TSH for years before that but was always told it was "normal" because that practice didn't treat until it was over 10) I convinced my doc to order Armour. He didn't want to because of religious reasons (He was orthodox Jewish), but after a few months I agreed to let him switch to Synthroid because my TSH numbers swayed up and down too much. Once we got my dose of Synthroid worked out I've been on this for around 20 years now.

I'm not convinced that I want to go through a transition to synthetics.


I know some of the "experts" on the Internet think natural thyroid hormone is best, but Dr McDougall doesn't agree and orders the levothyroxine to all his patients who need thyroid replacement. Here's his newsletter article on hypothyroid that explains his reasoning:
https://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2005nl ... hyroid.htm
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Re: Hypothyroid - possible to transition off medication?

Postby debknott » Sun Sep 05, 2021 10:10 am

After a matter of months on the McDougall starch solution, my doctor did need to lower my thyroid medicine dose by half. I do still need to take it though. I probably always will. I used to use Armour thyroid too, but the specialist convinced me that levothyroxine is one of the few medicines that works perfectly for its intended purpose, so I switched to it, and am glad I did.
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