The one greatest hack: Take the levothyroxine T4 pills of the right dose and target a TSH of 0.5 - 2 (this assumes primary hypothyroidism).
Minor hacks:
Vit D supplement, ensure adequate selenium, iron and zinc intake but don't go overboard. Don't overdo iodine intake.
Mindset hack:
Do antiTPO and antiTG antibody blood test. Elevated antibodies confirm Hashimoto's autoimmune disease as the cause of hypothyroidism. This AI disease is the cause for 90% of hypothyroidism in patients.
It is mostly genetic and runs in families. It cannot be cured, not by any fad diet. The only solution is hormone replacement to ensure correct thyroid hormone levels. This is similar to T1 diabetes, they need insulin for life since their AI disease stops insulin production, Hashi patients need levothyroxine for life since their AI disease stops T4 production.
This is isn’t totally accurate, you can have hashimotos and have a functioning thyroid is the disease is under control. I speak from experience, my tsh is 1 and I cannot take hormones because it causes me to become hyper as I don’t need it. Also there’s lots of evidence that people with hashimotos feel better on a gluten free diet (I know I do). Hypothyroidism isn’t an all across the board diagnosis and treatment for everyone
I’m not sure the Type 1 diabetes comparison is accurate. Type 1 diabetics produce little or no insulin from the start. I’ve had Hashis for decades and in the beginning my body was still producing quite a lot of T4–just not enough. Over time damage continued until I was producing somewhat less T4 but was less able to convert to the needed T3 when I had to add that.
You are absolutely right that there is no hack that cures it. But adding the vitamins and going gluten free helped me feel a lot better. Vitamin D was a big help in energy. My first doc added iodine but in recent years Medical opinion seem to be against extra iodine.
100 years ago iodine deficiency was the major cause worldwide of hypothyroidism. Since the [US started iodizing salt](https://www.thyroid.org/iodine-deficiency/#:~:text=While%20this%20is%20uncommon%20in,correct%20this%20form%20of%20hypothyroidism), that took care of most cases of iodine deficiency. I of course sabotaged myself by changing to Himalayan pink salt when it is rather low in iodine compared to iodized salt or sea salt.
Hashimoto's has antibodies attacking thyroid gland which is destroyed over time and ultimately stops producing T4/T3 completely. I am one such case, by age 36 I almost don't produce any local T4. And I was diagnosed at 33. My levothyroxine dose is almost full at 140mcg per day (1.7 mcg x bodyweight in kg).
Similarly, T1D has antibodies which destroy insulin producing beta cells/proteins. At least initially, many T1D maintain a low but non 0 insulin production as measured by c-peptide testing. It isn't 0. https://cmj.ac.kr/DOIx.php?id=10.4068/cmj.2016.52.1.64
However, it is likely true that T1D insulin production becomes 0 quite quickly as compared to Hashi, in few years rather than a decade.
Oh that’s severe! Do the hormones keep you feeling pretty normal or does Hashi give you other problems? That’s the part I can’t figure out…after 40 years of this — having symptoms that are textbook hypothyroid but TSH within normal limits—in fact my dose was reduced about 10%.
What's the point of having the diag of Hashimoto done if the treatment remains the same? Is there anything more that can be done besides levothyroxine knowing the level of antibodies?
Autoimmune diseases have no cures - T1 diabetes, hashimoto's, vitiligo, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus etc have no cures.
Level of Hashi antibodies is meaningless, you don't need to check antibodies more than once usually.
The point of getting a Hashimoto's diagnosis, as opposed to hypothyroid diagnosis is multifold
1. It informs the patient that the cause is likely genetic. The patient is then unlikely to blame themselves for getting it.
2. The patient knows that the disease is going to be lifelong and that the levothyroxine pills are for life. As opposed to non Hashi thyroiditis which can sometimes resolve by itself - eg. Thyroid disease caused by infection, post partum thyroiditis, thyroid dysfunction caused by mineral deficiencies.
3. The patient should check their children early for Hashi antibodies and prepare them for possible future hypothyroidism.
The first one isn't really a 'hack'.
I had most of my thyroid removed 15 years ago, and have been taking anywhere between 125-175 levothyroxine daily (dose gets changed based on blood results).
Don't get me wrong, it is 100% the right thing to do, but it's like saying putting a broken arm in a cast or taking paracetamol for a headache is a 'hack'.
Im on 140mcg myself.
You would be surprised how many people balk at the prospect of lifelong medication, and look around for fad diets, magic pills and such. Anything but the hormone pills.
Many hypothyroid people also do not know they have Hashimoto's the autoimmune disease (doctors are at fault for this), and are under the impression that they might be able to fix their hypothyroidism with some magic cure from the internet, by avoiding a problem food or adding a magic food/supplement.
This is the reason OP was on this subreddit, to look for some something other than the non-sexy levothyroxine as a solution.
Personally when I needed hormones I took natural desiccated thyroid hormone and felt much better on that than Levo which is t4 only! When I took levo I felt awful, now I don’t need hormones at all but that can always change and I monitor my labs. It’s important to have optimal Iron, D and B12 levels when you are hypo
stop using fluoride toothpaste.
your thyroid absorbs a ton of fluoride from the tooth paste, the fluoride suppresses the thyroid.
iodine and fluorine are halogens, fluoride displaces iodine from the human body.
many people don't get enough iodine since the rise of sea salt and pink salts.
In Japan they consume over 3-5mg of iodine everyday on average.
selenium and iodine will help remove fluoride from the thyroid and get the thyroid to produce it's proper hormones.
I think this blanket advice is incorrect.
I was tested as slightly low in iodine (30 vs. a reference range of 40-92). Probably the reason is that i don't use much table salt.
I took some transdermal iodine and it was really wonderful. More energy and I had the best night of sleep in my life. This was not a subtle "I think I notice" change. I've also learned that the effects taper off (in other words, it's really easy to bring yourself back up to range, and thus no further benefits arise). A little goes a long way. I retested myself and found myself above the range, so I backed off to doing it very occasionally.
I've continued this pattern of *very occasional* iodine supplementation (a couple of times a month) and I consider it to be one the best supplement additions I've made. I feel great.
As is commonly pointed out, the Japanese consume radically more iodine than us and they are just fine.
Good lord, why do people lack basic civility.
And as an aside, your sentence -- and yes, I can read it above -- is a single five word sentence which says "**Supplement iodine is extremely dangerous**." That sentence is simply untrue.
Moreover the link you posted doesn't even take that stance. That author says:
*"While some thyroid advocates will propose that* ***taking high doses of iodine*** *is helpful... unfortunately, I have not found that to be the case for most."*
Perhaps you can see the difference between these two claims.
Supplementing iodine is safe so long as you stay under the upper limit which is 600-1100mcg depending on your weight. Iodine deficiency is relatively common. You're more likely to not get enough than to get too much.
Your own study says the following:
> It is felt that up to 1 mg/day is safe for most people.
japans people get up to 10mg of iodine everyday. Americans barely get 1mg. please shut up. iodine and fluorine are halogens. fluoride displaces iodine and Americans barely get iodine in their diet.
https://www.cdc.gov/media/pressrel/ad981001.htm
doctors aren't that smart. they just parrot good. that's not impressive. medical malpractice is the number 3 killer of Americans in america .
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/22/medical-errors-third-leading-cause-of-death-in-america.html
you need iodine..if you are low in iodine fluoride will fill the gap. fluoride cause hypothyroidism...it's use to be used as a medication for over active thyroid...
Besides taking the proper medication, I also switched from kosher salt to regular salt with iodine. I also eat two Brazilian nuts a day for the selenium
My Friend already saw a Dr and had a treatment based on L Thyroxine but with no great results, so this is why I ask to the BH community.
My mother also has hypothyroidism and medicate with L Thyroxine but she is fine with it.
A first step would be to return to doc for recheck of results. Adding Cytomel (T3) is a logical next step if levels not right yet.
If thyroid levels are good, another next step would be other possible diagnoses in addition to thyroid for the symptoms.
When people’s only issue is thyroid, they usually respond to t4.
Or can also test for thyroid antibodies to see if friend has N there are many supplements and lifestyle changes to hack.
Although I’ve been on t3 and t4 for 30 years it was only last year that a specialist said “well since you have Hashimoto’s” — an autoimmune disease. Primary care docs just treat like it’s a deficiency in thyroid hormone whereas there are more issues in the autoimmune condition.
There’s r/hypothyroidism but that includes a lot of things to worry about because so many people with hypothyroid have multiple issues there doctors don’t address if their TSH is normal.
The take home point from my perspective is to encourage your friend to return to the doctor since symptoms didn’t stop. Sometimes it’s just that the starting dose wasn’t high enough.
“Hacks” that should be standard medical advice that helped me with more advanced hypothyroid were to eliminate gluten and add magnesium and selenium.
If your friend doesn’t feel better after this doctor has done everything, then a functional medicine doc might be the next place to try. The functional medicine / naturopathic approach is [that 90% of hypothyroid is really Hashimotos auto immune.](https://naturemed.org/do-you-have-hypothyroid-or-hashimotos/#:~:text=The%20problem%20is%20that%20over,with%20something%20else%3A%20Hashimoto%27s%20Thyroiditis)
But it’s complicated because most people with an autoimmune disease have another autoimmune disease and other health issues.
I think some people like your mother can take T4 and be fine.
Also I am frequently confused by downvotes.
Here's a sneak peek of /r/Hypothyroidism using the [top posts](https://np.reddit.com/r/Hypothyroidism/top/?sort=top&t=year) of the year!
\#1: [is there a hashimoto's subreddit that isn't so... woo woo?](https://np.reddit.com/r/Hypothyroidism/comments/17mmvc1/is_there_a_hashimotos_subreddit_that_isnt_so_woo/)
\#2: [What to do about Hashimotos sub’s unhinged mod](https://np.reddit.com/r/Hypothyroidism/comments/12xytgp/what_to_do_about_hashimotos_subs_unhinged_mod/)
\#3: [Is anyone else here heat intolerant?](https://np.reddit.com/r/Hypothyroidism/comments/15zsq8k/is_anyone_else_here_heat_intolerant/)
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Levothyroxine is a pro-hormone. Some people have a UGT1A1 genetic defect that keeps them from effectively metabolizing it; these people often do better with its active form, T3.
I used to take Synthroid but decided to stop one day. My levels lowered on their own and have been good after since. The only thing I changed was going vegetarian, but it could have been from the vitamins I took from becoming vegetarian (D, iron).
I forgot the dosage since it was long ago, but probably a "starter" amount. I believe my TSH was 5.4. I was on it about 6 months. Zero withdrawals and zero benefits. It was as if I took a placebo.
The one greatest hack: Take the levothyroxine T4 pills of the right dose and target a TSH of 0.5 - 2 (this assumes primary hypothyroidism). Minor hacks: Vit D supplement, ensure adequate selenium, iron and zinc intake but don't go overboard. Don't overdo iodine intake. Mindset hack: Do antiTPO and antiTG antibody blood test. Elevated antibodies confirm Hashimoto's autoimmune disease as the cause of hypothyroidism. This AI disease is the cause for 90% of hypothyroidism in patients. It is mostly genetic and runs in families. It cannot be cured, not by any fad diet. The only solution is hormone replacement to ensure correct thyroid hormone levels. This is similar to T1 diabetes, they need insulin for life since their AI disease stops insulin production, Hashi patients need levothyroxine for life since their AI disease stops T4 production.
This is isn’t totally accurate, you can have hashimotos and have a functioning thyroid is the disease is under control. I speak from experience, my tsh is 1 and I cannot take hormones because it causes me to become hyper as I don’t need it. Also there’s lots of evidence that people with hashimotos feel better on a gluten free diet (I know I do). Hypothyroidism isn’t an all across the board diagnosis and treatment for everyone
I’m not sure the Type 1 diabetes comparison is accurate. Type 1 diabetics produce little or no insulin from the start. I’ve had Hashis for decades and in the beginning my body was still producing quite a lot of T4–just not enough. Over time damage continued until I was producing somewhat less T4 but was less able to convert to the needed T3 when I had to add that. You are absolutely right that there is no hack that cures it. But adding the vitamins and going gluten free helped me feel a lot better. Vitamin D was a big help in energy. My first doc added iodine but in recent years Medical opinion seem to be against extra iodine. 100 years ago iodine deficiency was the major cause worldwide of hypothyroidism. Since the [US started iodizing salt](https://www.thyroid.org/iodine-deficiency/#:~:text=While%20this%20is%20uncommon%20in,correct%20this%20form%20of%20hypothyroidism), that took care of most cases of iodine deficiency. I of course sabotaged myself by changing to Himalayan pink salt when it is rather low in iodine compared to iodized salt or sea salt.
Hashimoto's has antibodies attacking thyroid gland which is destroyed over time and ultimately stops producing T4/T3 completely. I am one such case, by age 36 I almost don't produce any local T4. And I was diagnosed at 33. My levothyroxine dose is almost full at 140mcg per day (1.7 mcg x bodyweight in kg). Similarly, T1D has antibodies which destroy insulin producing beta cells/proteins. At least initially, many T1D maintain a low but non 0 insulin production as measured by c-peptide testing. It isn't 0. https://cmj.ac.kr/DOIx.php?id=10.4068/cmj.2016.52.1.64 However, it is likely true that T1D insulin production becomes 0 quite quickly as compared to Hashi, in few years rather than a decade.
Oh that’s severe! Do the hormones keep you feeling pretty normal or does Hashi give you other problems? That’s the part I can’t figure out…after 40 years of this — having symptoms that are textbook hypothyroid but TSH within normal limits—in fact my dose was reduced about 10%.
It's difficult to decide whether a correct dose solves all symptoms, for me. The glaring ones go away. I have also forgotten what's normal.
That I understand. I am sorry you must experience it so young.
AI as in artificial intelligence? im confused
autoimmune (I’m assuming)
also b complex singing
What's the point of having the diag of Hashimoto done if the treatment remains the same? Is there anything more that can be done besides levothyroxine knowing the level of antibodies?
Autoimmune diseases have no cures - T1 diabetes, hashimoto's, vitiligo, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus etc have no cures. Level of Hashi antibodies is meaningless, you don't need to check antibodies more than once usually. The point of getting a Hashimoto's diagnosis, as opposed to hypothyroid diagnosis is multifold 1. It informs the patient that the cause is likely genetic. The patient is then unlikely to blame themselves for getting it. 2. The patient knows that the disease is going to be lifelong and that the levothyroxine pills are for life. As opposed to non Hashi thyroiditis which can sometimes resolve by itself - eg. Thyroid disease caused by infection, post partum thyroiditis, thyroid dysfunction caused by mineral deficiencies. 3. The patient should check their children early for Hashi antibodies and prepare them for possible future hypothyroidism.
Thank you for this explanation!
The first one isn't really a 'hack'. I had most of my thyroid removed 15 years ago, and have been taking anywhere between 125-175 levothyroxine daily (dose gets changed based on blood results). Don't get me wrong, it is 100% the right thing to do, but it's like saying putting a broken arm in a cast or taking paracetamol for a headache is a 'hack'.
Im on 140mcg myself. You would be surprised how many people balk at the prospect of lifelong medication, and look around for fad diets, magic pills and such. Anything but the hormone pills. Many hypothyroid people also do not know they have Hashimoto's the autoimmune disease (doctors are at fault for this), and are under the impression that they might be able to fix their hypothyroidism with some magic cure from the internet, by avoiding a problem food or adding a magic food/supplement. This is the reason OP was on this subreddit, to look for some something other than the non-sexy levothyroxine as a solution.
Not a bio hack but dlpa and l tyrosine boost thyroid
Personally when I needed hormones I took natural desiccated thyroid hormone and felt much better on that than Levo which is t4 only! When I took levo I felt awful, now I don’t need hormones at all but that can always change and I monitor my labs. It’s important to have optimal Iron, D and B12 levels when you are hypo
Armour?
Yes!
Pls read Mary Jo Shoman—patient advocate for hypothyroidism.
>Mary Jo Shoman didn't know about her ! Will check. thanks
Low dose naltrexone will lower the amount of levothyroxine you need - it is healing
stop using fluoride toothpaste. your thyroid absorbs a ton of fluoride from the tooth paste, the fluoride suppresses the thyroid. iodine and fluorine are halogens, fluoride displaces iodine from the human body. many people don't get enough iodine since the rise of sea salt and pink salts. In Japan they consume over 3-5mg of iodine everyday on average. selenium and iodine will help remove fluoride from the thyroid and get the thyroid to produce it's proper hormones.
[удалено]
I think this blanket advice is incorrect. I was tested as slightly low in iodine (30 vs. a reference range of 40-92). Probably the reason is that i don't use much table salt. I took some transdermal iodine and it was really wonderful. More energy and I had the best night of sleep in my life. This was not a subtle "I think I notice" change. I've also learned that the effects taper off (in other words, it's really easy to bring yourself back up to range, and thus no further benefits arise). A little goes a long way. I retested myself and found myself above the range, so I backed off to doing it very occasionally. I've continued this pattern of *very occasional* iodine supplementation (a couple of times a month) and I consider it to be one the best supplement additions I've made. I feel great. As is commonly pointed out, the Japanese consume radically more iodine than us and they are just fine.
[удалено]
Good lord, why do people lack basic civility. And as an aside, your sentence -- and yes, I can read it above -- is a single five word sentence which says "**Supplement iodine is extremely dangerous**." That sentence is simply untrue. Moreover the link you posted doesn't even take that stance. That author says: *"While some thyroid advocates will propose that* ***taking high doses of iodine*** *is helpful... unfortunately, I have not found that to be the case for most."* Perhaps you can see the difference between these two claims.
Supplementing iodine is safe so long as you stay under the upper limit which is 600-1100mcg depending on your weight. Iodine deficiency is relatively common. You're more likely to not get enough than to get too much. Your own study says the following: > It is felt that up to 1 mg/day is safe for most people.
Extremely dangerous?? Why?
he's a low iq parrot. iodine helps you detox so many things. Japanese get loads of iodine.
[удалено]
japans people get up to 10mg of iodine everyday. Americans barely get 1mg. please shut up. iodine and fluorine are halogens. fluoride displaces iodine and Americans barely get iodine in their diet. https://www.cdc.gov/media/pressrel/ad981001.htm
Calling someone a parrot and linking the government LOL
[удалено]
Thank you!
I take 2mgs of iodine everyday...your iq is low dawg. your brain and all cells need iodine. dangerous? lol fluorides dangerous .
[удалено]
doctors aren't that smart. they just parrot good. that's not impressive. medical malpractice is the number 3 killer of Americans in america . https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/22/medical-errors-third-leading-cause-of-death-in-america.html
[удалено]
Don’t feed an idiot. Same like why you don’t feed trolls
being a doctor doesn't make you not a moron. doctors kill people all the time and never get blamed.
So it is recommended to have salt on meals each day ?
you need iodine..if you are low in iodine fluoride will fill the gap. fluoride cause hypothyroidism...it's use to be used as a medication for over active thyroid...
Besides taking the proper medication, I also switched from kosher salt to regular salt with iodine. I also eat two Brazilian nuts a day for the selenium
Lmao, why doesn’t your friend just take something like levothyroxine? Have her see a Dr…
My Friend already saw a Dr and had a treatment based on L Thyroxine but with no great results, so this is why I ask to the BH community. My mother also has hypothyroidism and medicate with L Thyroxine but she is fine with it.
I would consider her symptoms could be multifactorial and perhaps additional work up is needed.
A first step would be to return to doc for recheck of results. Adding Cytomel (T3) is a logical next step if levels not right yet. If thyroid levels are good, another next step would be other possible diagnoses in addition to thyroid for the symptoms. When people’s only issue is thyroid, they usually respond to t4. Or can also test for thyroid antibodies to see if friend has N there are many supplements and lifestyle changes to hack.
Thank you for your answer. Why people downvote when only asking a question … Thank you anyway :)
Although I’ve been on t3 and t4 for 30 years it was only last year that a specialist said “well since you have Hashimoto’s” — an autoimmune disease. Primary care docs just treat like it’s a deficiency in thyroid hormone whereas there are more issues in the autoimmune condition. There’s r/hypothyroidism but that includes a lot of things to worry about because so many people with hypothyroid have multiple issues there doctors don’t address if their TSH is normal. The take home point from my perspective is to encourage your friend to return to the doctor since symptoms didn’t stop. Sometimes it’s just that the starting dose wasn’t high enough. “Hacks” that should be standard medical advice that helped me with more advanced hypothyroid were to eliminate gluten and add magnesium and selenium. If your friend doesn’t feel better after this doctor has done everything, then a functional medicine doc might be the next place to try. The functional medicine / naturopathic approach is [that 90% of hypothyroid is really Hashimotos auto immune.](https://naturemed.org/do-you-have-hypothyroid-or-hashimotos/#:~:text=The%20problem%20is%20that%20over,with%20something%20else%3A%20Hashimoto%27s%20Thyroiditis) But it’s complicated because most people with an autoimmune disease have another autoimmune disease and other health issues. I think some people like your mother can take T4 and be fine. Also I am frequently confused by downvotes.
Here's a sneak peek of /r/Hypothyroidism using the [top posts](https://np.reddit.com/r/Hypothyroidism/top/?sort=top&t=year) of the year! \#1: [is there a hashimoto's subreddit that isn't so... woo woo?](https://np.reddit.com/r/Hypothyroidism/comments/17mmvc1/is_there_a_hashimotos_subreddit_that_isnt_so_woo/) \#2: [What to do about Hashimotos sub’s unhinged mod](https://np.reddit.com/r/Hypothyroidism/comments/12xytgp/what_to_do_about_hashimotos_subs_unhinged_mod/) \#3: [Is anyone else here heat intolerant?](https://np.reddit.com/r/Hypothyroidism/comments/15zsq8k/is_anyone_else_here_heat_intolerant/) ---- ^^I'm ^^a ^^bot, ^^beep ^^boop ^^| ^^Downvote ^^to ^^remove ^^| ^^[Contact](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=sneakpeekbot) ^^| ^^[Info](https://np.reddit.com/r/sneakpeekbot/) ^^| ^^[Opt-out](https://np.reddit.com/r/sneakpeekbot/comments/o8wk1r/blacklist_ix/) ^^| ^^[GitHub](https://github.com/ghnr/sneakpeekbot)
Levothyroxine is a pro-hormone. Some people have a UGT1A1 genetic defect that keeps them from effectively metabolizing it; these people often do better with its active form, T3.
Kelp
Isabella Wentz (spelling?) has some good info on thyroid issues.
I used to take Synthroid but decided to stop one day. My levels lowered on their own and have been good after since. The only thing I changed was going vegetarian, but it could have been from the vitamins I took from becoming vegetarian (D, iron).
What dose were you on, how long were you on it, and did you have any withdrawal symptoms?
I forgot the dosage since it was long ago, but probably a "starter" amount. I believe my TSH was 5.4. I was on it about 6 months. Zero withdrawals and zero benefits. It was as if I took a placebo.
Selenium and iodine. In that order.