Graves' Disease Support Group

No its not safe!!! Its a metabolism BOOSTER and appetite suppressor..

If you have graves or any other thyroid disease you can not take anything like this or other diet aids because they can alter your thyroid function as it changes your metabolism.

well I thought that I may have miss read the article but I didnt. Apparently is very safe especially for thyroid patients because its not a stimulant. You can read about it at www. thyroid-info.com search hoodia gordonii or desert plant

Then click on sticking out our necks

You can try it but in my eyes and medically speaking...just because one person wrote an article doesnt mean its ok. I have seen and heard from my endo, many cases of women becoming permenately hyper and needing treatment due to hoodia and phentermine also things like Hydroxycut, Metabolife just to name a few. Also heard of the opposite happening that your thyroid is so reved up from the pills that when you finally stop them, your thyroid crashes. I personally wouldnt play with the chance of taking something like that when we already have thyroid issues. I do know my endo said Green Tea products are safe.

When my endo was first trying to figure out if I really HAD Graves, only my t-3 was high,and my tsh was low because of it. He asked me once if I was taking any energy supplements or the like cause they can mimic hyper too, and mess with the t-3, which governs the metabolism. Even decongestants are a no no,and if you see a dentist have carbocaine(sp) instead of novacaine, it has epenephrine in it, which can speed up our hearts too. Anything that speeds us up , even caffeine, isn't recommended, although coffee,in small quantities, is okay, if it doesn't bother you.

Dispite what Mary says I wouldnt touch something like that with a 10-ft pole. Id be scared to death to mess around with that stuff.

I think Mary Shomon ended up Hypo, and thats why she takes Hoodia. The pure form of Hoodia is just supposed to make you feel more full, but some herbal tea or a big glass of water may do the same trick. I find that a lot of time when I think I'm hungry, I'm really thirsty, so I try to drink a big glass of water first. I have also had a lot of luck keeping a food journal, and recording the calories and fat grams of everything I put in my mouth. I usually stop at 1300 calories and 20grams of fat, and that normally helps.
When I don't follow my plan I balloon.

Anything that alters the metabolism WHEN the thyroid levels are NOT stable shouldnt be taken due to false blood readings( just my opinion).
T4 converts into T3 and hence the hyper readings, feelings and sensations.
This can be a tricky subject as so many of us have weight gain when supposedly HYPER causes weight loss.
So therefore a lot of different opinions on this one.
Ok here goes....just my personal opinion......

T4 converts into T3. This causes the HYPER effect.
Some are super T converters (myself included) and the T3 thyroid hormone is the hormone that regulates metabolism.
BUT and this is a big BUT......because of anti-thyroid meds, I am a firm believer THESE meds make us gain the weight by
blocking the T3conversion HENCE the weight gain.

From what I have seen in others...it is ONLY the long time UNDIAGNOSED that lose weight with Hyper and then when on ATDS they gain.

There are NATURAL metabolism boosters.
My own personal preference are :


Vitamin B Plus (all the B vitamins)

Calcium * Vitamin D combined( the reason being that Calcium doesnt absorb easily in the body and sits in the gut (stomach) but taken with either Zinc or Vitamin D breaks it down and the body absorbs it)

And good old fashioned fruit and vegetables.

There are metabolism enzymes that I have NOT tried yet and am currently researching it (will let you know how I go).
Also L-Carnitine BLOCKS the thyroid hormones so dont take if HYPO or had RAI/SURGERY.
Another well known fact is vitamin C is full of SODIUM.

My last point on the subject is this.......
EVERYONE gains weight and although it can be depressing, it can be severe, it can be so damn frustrating the only good thing that I know that will get rid of SOME of the weight is exercise and proper eating.And a damn good treadmill!
I have NEVER known anyone to go back to their ORIGINAL weight and the reason being is simple.
OUR ORIGINAL WEIGHT WAS WHEN WE WERE HYPER........which before diagnosis causes weight LOSS.

Just my two bobs worth.

Debs

Forgot to add though...i am open to any suggestions in regards to weight loss but refuse to take any diet pills.
The only people who benefit from those are the manufacturers who suck people in by thinking they can lose weight by them.
The secret is ...keeping the weight off which doesnt usually happen when the pills are stopped.

One other thing I forgot to mention.......
WE HAVE GRAVES AND ALTHOUGH IT IS A DISGUSTING DISEASE, WE ARE BREATHING.
WE ARE ALIVE!

Beware of Mary Shomon, very crazy stuff going on with her and her advise!!! Just my opinion but I wouldnt try even half that stuff she does!!! I dont know just seems like another Lady whos in remission and thinks she's cured.
If you want to take that approach more power to ya though!!! and good luck.