Everything has its place. That is a motto I repeat to myself often. Sometimes you need to do things just to get to the next step.
I have found myself doing this more often as I dig deeper into finding the root of my health issues. My health is important and while I’m not a fan of conventional treatment, it has its place. I have always told myself that if I need a medication, I will take it as a step towards healing. Sometimes our bodies become broken and in need of a Band-aid.
(written by contributing writer, Jessica)
Currently, my body is in need of a Band-aid. Between my Hashimoto’s and a drawn-out miscarriage, my body was in crisis. My progesterone is tanked out. After long discussions and a lot of thought, I decided that I need to work with a doctor to help my body. What I knew to work wasn’t working and it was beyond my knowledge at this point.
I literally cringed when my doctor flippantly told me I need to take progesterone as I had about zero.
I do know this isn’t a permanent thing, it is a way to help my body heal. Band-aids aren’t meant to last forever, they are to be used until the wound is healed. In my case, I will take the progesterone while my body continues to heal. I will continue to work on healing my gut and supporting my thyroid until my body can balance my hormones on its own.
Thyroid medications are dispensed often times without thought by practitioners, “Here, take this, it will make you feel better!” While it is very probable that if your thyroid panel numbers are out of range properly dosed medication will help you feel good, they are not always the solution to long-term healing and health.
Looking past the upfront issue to dig deeper into health is what will bring healing. Yes, your thyroid may be causing your symptoms but what caused your thyroid to act upon you?
Supporting your body with nutrition, supplements, and cleansing can help bring you to a place of repair. The medication will bring you to a place of functioning so that you can work on healing. I know too well how difficult it can be to wrap your mind around diet and supplements when your body is fighting you each day.
Finding a practitioner that will help look past just the thyroid is the key…and frankly, is rather tricky. Most doctors just want to prescribe a medication for your thyroid and run labs once or twice a year. It makes me angry when I hear of so many people suffering from debilitating thyroid symptoms that could be managed with diet, supplements, and medication if someone would listen to them.
photo credit – Leeser on Canva
Covering up the problem with a medication is only going to work for a while. A lifetime spent on a medication meant to boost the thyroid may possibly cause long-term damage. This is particularly true when it comes to autoimmune conditions that can cause swings between hypo and hyper thyroid-ism. While a medication may work one day, it can totally reek havoc on your body if you start to swing in a different direction.
This is why addressing the needs of your body becomes crucial. Each of us is so different in our needs, we need to look at the entire picture our body is trying to paint.
Please don’t misunderstand my words, thyroid medications have their place. They can be the breaking point of getting our thyroid working so our bodies can function. Some of us need those medications for life, with tweaks as our thyroid ranges change. Don’t be afraid of medication if you need it, it can be a much-needed Band-aid to your healing.
However, don’t underestimate your body’s ability to heal when cleansed and given the proper nutrition it needs through food and supplements. Don’t ignore your symptoms, push to get answers to what your body is telling you. There is hope for healing from thyroid disorders.
Do you take thyroid medication? How has it helped in your healing process?
Jessica
Make-Your-Own Gummy Vitamins
Good article. Have you had your adrenals (DHEA & cortisol) tested? I was surprised not to see adrenals mentioned especially when it comes to low progesterone and thyroid issues. From what I’ve read adrenals are often the underlying issue. My ND describes thyroid as a moody prom queen and adrenals as a hard working janitor that know one notices. I started DHEA supplements and my ND cut my thyroid in half in hopes of eventually taking me off of it. I don’t have Hashimotos so understand that this isn’t the same situation, sounds like you’ve been through a lot, I hope your body starts to feel better soon!
Hi M.
Yes, I’ve had my adrenals looked and currently, they are holding their own! I have struggled with adrenal fatigue before and your ND is right, they get a work out.
Hashi’s is a bit different but adrenal fatigue can be one of the keys of healing with it as well.
Thanks for your thoughts.
My friend is Bromium or Bromine..poison.. confusing or T3 .. they know what there doing. Peter
if i but had the money to spend on therapies that would work! DHEA is probably a key thing for me. alas, insurance does not cover effective things. i finally broke down and got an Rx fora sleep aid—a decade ive not slept. the one thats not addictive, they wont cover. the one that is…they will. just gotta laugh at this point. i dont even care anymore. at almost 50, i’ll take possible addiction if it gets my adrenals some relief. my goal is train my body to sleep once its rested some, and then wean off it. SOMEthing’s Got To Give.
Oh, Helene, I understand that frustration. Some times you just need to give your body that help it needs through medication.
I always tell my husband I need to grow a money tree to cover all the supplements and therapies I want to try.
I hope you get some relief soon.
Yes, I am on thyroid medications – synthroid and T3.
I went to an OB-GYN for no periods after coming off the pill, and the he put me on armour thyroid. He did a terrible job of explaining why he was doing it. “Some women with your problem take this,” he said. “Call me when you get a period or in 3 months… whichever comes first.” Ummm… what problem, exactly? He had no clue! He never even tested my hormone levels before putting me on something.
This experience helped me find my way to a different doctor, who did look at my hormones and put me on T3. I have since moved, but I’m with a doctor at a clinic that trained the one that put me on T3. A year after that terrible experience with that one doc, I am now diagnosed with PCOS, and I’m waiting to have surgery to remove endometriosis and have my ovaries decreased in size – what I really believe to be at the root of all my issues.
So I’m with you. “Band-aids” have their place, but I am very wary of doctors who have no interest in helping you find out WHY you aren’t feeling well or having symptoms. We need to be better advocates!
Bromine is the culprit. Please look at any any flour bread products.. contaminated with Bromium
I have been on Synthroid for years and Armour for a couple years. Never noticed much of anything other than it made a lot of my hair fall out. I was on a low dose. Have had a bio-meridian test done and been to an endroconologist. Also a few classes on thyroid and hashis. I decided to take myself of my thyroid after learning that being on thyroid actually kills it off anyways. I didn’t want that to happen. I believe more in nature healing and eating healthy. I’m not saying others should do this especially if your taking high does but I would just try to do what’s best for your body. We know our bodies best. Good luck!
I have been taking Armour for about 2 years and the dosage kept going up and up and I would feel a little better then super tired again. I recently found out I have Hashimotos and am off gluten, dairy, soy and refined sugars now. I feel SO much better! I am working with an ND and a chiropractor that does nutritional counseling and muscle testing. There is a good book that the chiropractor recommended called “Why do I still have thyroid symptoms? When my lab tests are normal.” It was a great book that described what was going on in our bodies in great detail. I also recently took an adrenal test and haven’t received the results yet but expect there will be an issue there as well. I went off caffeine (mostly, I’m a nurse and usually work NOCs) and I also feel more alert in the morning as long as I’ve gotten enough sleep. Not craving a caffeinated beverage when I first wake up has helped me feel better.
I started a new medication that is supposed to help with autoimmune disease. Low dose naloxone. Maybe look it up. The reviews are amazing but I don’t know yet as I just took it once so far.
Hello and thank you for reading.. I been struck by a few strange illnesses.. Just we all will tell here.,,I was recently informed of the effects of Bromine on the central nervous system and t3.. well I tell you all that .. unless you stop eating processed bread products. Flour laces bromine and Alloxen with Fluoride . We are all in for a rude awakening.. Pure poison has slowly crept into our bodies as we continue to think we are eating healthy on BREAD products . I don’t know how else to say it. We are in a mad dash for Prosperity. Health Physical .. Emotional and Spiritual..,,,… Health is Paramount .. Bromine in Everything along with Diabetes causing Alloxen.. We all most tell as many as possible. Word of mouth.. Iodine is now being removed from salt.. As it was from bread products. I hope you try and see.. Bread Poisoning..Write.back Peter Thyroid . Diabetes low T and a few more..Given to.us by our FDA.
Any suggestions on finding a good ND?
Joyce, I would really recommend visiting the Stop the Thyroid Madness website. There is so much good information there to study. From that site, there is a page that recommends patient groups you can join. There is an excellent natural thryoid Yahoo group linked to there that I highly recommend. Finding that group and the sttm website several years ago probably saved my life. The folks on the group are all thyroid/adrenal/hashimotos patients. Everyone is very knowledgeable and very helpful, giving very generoursly of their time and knowledge.
http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com
Peter is so right about the toxicity we get from Brominated flour and other sources of bromines and halides in our diets. Absolutely toxic for the thyroid and adrenals. I highly recommend reading up on the sttm site about iodine therapy for thyroid. Proper elemental iodine levels are essential for thyroid health. Bromines block the iodine receptors in your body. I won’t go too much into it here, but iodine has been Godsend for me and is very inexpensive. I just made my own iodine from the basic ingredients purchased on ebay. It cost about $55 to make a quart of iodine–enough to last me at least a year. Yahoo has an excellent iodine group also. Recommend Dr. David Brownstein’s book “Iodine; Why you need it, Why you can’t live without it.”
Oh, forgot to mention, the Yahoo natural thyroid group is an excellent resource for locating doctors around the country knowledgeable in thyroid and adrenal issues. They post in their files tips for finding a “good doc” and also maintain an up-to-date list of recommended good docs around the country. Good luck! Lisa
Another good place to look for a practitioner is to look from some trained in functional medicine.
http://www.functionalmedicine.org/about/whatisfm/
They are trained to look for the root cause of medical issues. I am currently pretty happy with the one I am seeing.
If there is not one listed in your area, another way to find a doctor that does this kind of treatment is to call your local compounding agency. They tend to have a good handle of what kind of doctors are using their pharmacy and what alternative treatments they use.
It took me three doctors to find one I’m pleased with….don’t be afraid to stand up for your patient rights and gets some answers.
I hope that helps you.
Several months ago, we were suddenly without insurance, which meant I wasn’t going to the doctor for twice-yearly blood tests, which means I ran out of thyroid medication. I did some research and found that there were things I could do in my diet, with supplements, etc., that I was NEVER told. So I looked at my natural foods store, found a supplement, and haven’t felt like I’m better or worse. I have been waiting for an opinion like yours to be voiced. Thanks!
HI Donielle,
I’m sorry to hear about your health but it sounds like things are getting better. I agree medications have a place. I have been on “natural” thyroid supplements while working with my diet and nutritional supplements. My numbers are still not up and I may have to start taking a med for T3.
But I just wanted to say I LOVE my Dr. I found him through Dr. Kharrazian’s site which is a great resource if it has not already been mentioned. He practices functional medicine and is very knowledgeable.
http://www.thyroidbook.com/practitioner-locator.html
I am seeing Dr. Chris Turnpaugh and he’s great. I hope this helps people find a Dr. in their area. Thanks for writing the post!
Sarah