Hyperthyroidism Support Group
Hyperthyroidism (or "overactive thyroid gland") is the clinical syndrome featuring weight loss (often accompanied by a ravenous appetite), fatigue, weakness, hyperactivity, irritability, apathy, depression, polyuria, and sweating. Additional symptoms may include palpitations and arrhythmias (notably atrial fibrillation), dyspnea, loss of libido, nausea, vomiting, and...
I was recently diagnosed with hyperT. I was told I had to take RAI and not given ANY options. Those same doctors lied on their report and said they talked about other treatment options (I had my partner with so I know I did not hear anything else offered). I have a distaste for western medicine and this experience has reinforced that. I'm doing TCM Acupuncture and Herbs, it seems to help. I'm taking Tapazole but want off - is that dangerous (both the drug and going off of it)? I don't have a doctor right now. I would prefer to treat it naturally. Has anyone done this successfully.
My FT4 is 3.78 in the normal range of 0.75-1.54 and my TSH is 0.03 -way below the range of .50-6.00. I'm a little scared of this... but I do know RAI of out of the possible treatments for me.
My FT4 is 3.78 in the normal range of 0.75-1.54 and my TSH is 0.03 -way below the range of .50-6.00. I'm a little scared of this... but I do know RAI of out of the possible treatments for me.
I understand your concern about not wanting to take meds to treat/control your thyroid levels. I didn't want to either and did go the 'natural' route. Unfortunately I ended up in the hospital for several days with a suspected thyroid storm. I went on meds (I take the MMI - Methimazole) where I am, after 10 years of taking it, on a very tiny doses per day.
I suggest you find another doctor. Any doctor who does not list all forms of treatments for thyroid health and only pushes for RAI (as did my first Endo) is NOT the doctor to keep seeing.
Do not be surprise to see on the forums that many people with thyroid disease are on their fourth, fifth, or more doctors until they found the right one to see and orders the correct labs and doesn't actively pushes for an RAI if a patient does not want one.
One reason why many doctors pushes for an RAI is that they feel it is easier to dose patients with replacement meds when they've gone hypO. Unfortunately many of these same doctors do not correctly dose their patients and end them making them severely hypO.
Keep reading and researching, asking questions and you will know which treatment feels right for you as I did. I stay proactive and watch all dietary and environmental triggers to keep my thyroid as stabled as possible.
{{{hugs}}}
Disease Forum. I was looking around and your title caught my eye.
It seems your perspective on western medicine is exactly like mine, and to answer your question, so far I have been using the natural route. One year ago I seen an Endo who wanted to use RAI testing.
I was able to think for myself, refused and was left with no doctor
for months treating it naturally myself. This is of course is unwise,
I could have had a thyroid storm.
Tomorrow I'll see my new doctor for the second time and find out whether I've really been doing the right thing so far. So my story is
just like yours. My FT4 was also high, but not as high as you. My TSH was also low. Both out of range. Half a year ago I seen a holistic doctor who did better tests, he diagnosed me with autoimmune graves. Now I was able to bring my FT4 into range naturally without drugs. But the new tests showed my TSH was still low and a new test, TSI showed I had Graves Disease.
As for nutrition and iodine. Iodine everyone says to avoid. Nutrition, yes, avoid sugar and keep a log of the effects different foods have on you.
PS Don't change your medication until a new doctor does further testing, and ask him about dropping the meds.
Best, P.H.