Does anyone know how much fucus I should take to equal .088 mg. of Levoxyl? Thanks

Is your Levoxyl prescribed by your Doctor ?
Have you discussed with your Doctor that you intend to stop taking it ?

I don't think you can just substitute one for the other.

Paul - Admin hat off.

Yes, it is prescribed and no I havent discussed it w/ him. I was unaware you could not substitute.

That's the same amount of thyroid I am on.  I had radioactive treatment for a nodule back before I knew about the btd.  But I am on synthroid.  The levoxyl
doesn't work for me, I end up with fatigue, depression and hair loss when I was
on levoxyl.  I think the synthroid stays in my system longer.  I hate having to
take it everyday, and wish there was a way to get off of it.  But I think that RAI
shrunk my gland down to a very small remnant.  Would love to hear other's
stories on this, also.

Fucus provides iodine, but has other useful properties in managing avoid lectins.  If your thyroid is really gone, fucus isn't going to bring it back.  If you have poor function because of insufficient iodine, it may help.  Ask your doctor if it's OK to try fucus along with your medication.  It might be possible to reduce your dose at least, but you need to be under a doctor's supervision and monitor thryoid function.  I had borderline high TSH, but not requiring synthroid yet.  Bladderwrack and/or kelp supplements brought my TSH farther down into the normal range.

I tend to forget about this, but Fucus would still be useful in managing lectins, probably more important than being an iodine source, but my initial concern was the thyroid, so keep forgetting about all the other benefits.  With an irradiated or otherwise nonfunctional thyroid would there be any risk from taking the iodine in the form of fucus.  Iodine is normally preferentially concentrated in the thryoid.  Is it unhealthy if distributed to the rest of the body in the absence of functioning thyroid?  I doubt it since Deflect O is not contraindicated.  Fucus is one component of Deflect O.

Paulam, I had my thyroid removed last year because of papillary cancer.  This was followed up in a few months by RAI.  I am now taking 0.150 mcg of Synthroid.  I simply don't know about taking fucus so cannot answer your question about it.  I have decided I am not going to chance anything which might interfere with the action of the Synthroid so if I'm not sure about something then I don't take it.  Initially, I was taking 0.125 mcg of Synthroid but was feeling fatigued.  Now, I feel great.  

Did you have a body scan after the RAI treatment?  I did and I shall have a followup one this coming August, a year later.

Quoted from cherylhcmba

Fucus provides iodine, but has other useful properties in managing avoid lectins.  If your thyroid is really gone, fucus isn't going to bring it back.  If you have poor function because of insufficient iodine, it may help.  

Cheryl, good info on the fucus. I am wondering, however, how one would know if the thyroid is really gone or if you just have poor function? Does the TSH  test answer this question?

Sorry, made a mistake in my message above.  I'm taking 125 mcg of Synthroid (not 0.125 mcg).  

Well, I usually see the endo md in the beginning of each year.  Last Feb. she did
an ultrasound and sort of showed it to me right there in the examination room.
She said my thryoid was "tiny".  I honestly don't know whether it's shrunk for good.
(Reminds me of Honey I Shrunk the Kids), anyway, I know that off the meds, I have
hypo symptoms that are pretty disturbing.  I really feel for anyone having thyroid
problems, as they can make you seem like you are having "mental" problems.  I
think it's hard for someone who has a normal functioning thyroid to relate to.  
I would think that the btd is a good preventitive for those with thyroid problems in
the family.  Wish I knew about it way back when.

Paulam, did you have a biopsy of that nodule?  I'm just curious as to why you had RAI treatment.  I hope you don't mind my asking.

I had my thyroid out in 1996.  I had a very very small papillary microcarcinoma, follicular variant.  They took the whole thyroid because I had a history of having radiation for tonsilitis when I was a baby.  I also had a parathyroid adenoma.  
I didn't have RAI after the surgery because the tumor was so tiny and encapsulated.

I was on suppressive doses of synthroid for years.  I changed Endos about a year and a half ago because my "world famous" Dr. wouldn't even discuss some of my questions with me.  I wanted to try a mix of T4 and T3 and he just said no.
I'm currently taking a compounded T3 and levothroid.  I switched from synthroid because there are fillers in synthroid (dyes, lactose, etc.) that I thought might be bothering me.  The 50 mcg dose of levothroid is dye free...so I take 3 some days, 2 others.  I thought I was doing pretty well, only complaints had to do with some sleep problems, being tired, etc.  A few weeks ago I discovered a lump.  I had an ultrasound which shows that there is something there and now I'm seeing a thyroid cancer specialist at Mass General as soon as I can get in for a biopsy.  As of now, that's not until the 23rd.  
Jane

I meant to add that I have been taking Deflect for several years.  I ususally take a couple in the morning and sometimes another one at night.  I hope it's not affecting my tests!
Jane

No, I don't mind talking about it, I had it needle biopsied very early on, it was
found after the birth of my last child, which was in '90.  I guess early on I was
on a small amount of thyroid meds to try and suppress the nodule.  But then my
md thought I was going hyper.  She sent me to the endo, who did a rai scan, saw
nodule(s) and wanted to treat me with radioactive iodine.  I guess we could have
opted surgery, but for a hot nodule, not cancerous, I didn't want surgery.  I really
don't remember what year they finally did the RAI, but it was several years after
finding the nodule and trying to suppress it.   For some reason with what I had read,
I thought that this treatment would not necessarily make me hypo, but I think it
probably did.  I didn't take my meds for almost 2 weeks recently (long story why)
and I felt awful, couldn't think straight, no energy, depressed.  So I guess that's
it.  I do believe that wheat probably was part of why I had problems, also adrenal
stress of having 5 kids in 7 years.   Also, my liver is not 100%, so that could also
be part of the picture.  But again the btd addresses all these organs if I would
just follow it.  I am doing pretty well now, have stopped the coffee, most wheat,
and now I need to up the exercise.  But it's been a long, slow road of trying to
become stronger again.....

Jane, let us know the diagnosis after your trip to Mass General.  I had my surgery and RAI at Dartmouth-Hitchcock in Lebanon, NH, last year and am very pleased with the doctors there.  Synthroid is the only med I take and am making sure I take enough so I don't feel fatigued.  I had a long talk with my physician here at home base and said I wanted good quality of life.  I asked about Armour and since it is unstable compared with Synthroid I shall stick to Synthroid.  I'm keeping him posted as to how I feel and whether or not I'm happy with my dosage.  We're on good terms that way and I feel I can say what I really feel and he will give me the straight scoop.

And, Paulam, don't be afraid to take your thyroid meds.  There are some things in life that are really necessary.  And, I'm one who questions everything!!  Thanks for telling us about your experiences.

Thanks, NH Girl.  I will let you know what happens.  According to Mary Shoman's thyroid site, Armour isn't less stable, that's a falacy.  I'm sure this Endo will feel the same say though.  I had been taking synthroid since 1974, and took cytomel (T3) for about 12 years before that.  I've had just about every color they make synthroid in over the years.  The amount of Armour that I take is very very small, just enought to give me a little added T3 and T2, etc.  If you've never seen Ken Blanchard's book, "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You about Hypothyroidism:  A Simple Plan for Extraordinary Results,"  you might want to take a look at it.
If you are feeling good though, you must be doing something right.  
All my docs are telling me not to be too concerned but there's clearly something there.  Whatever it is, I'll have to deal with it.  
Jane

My interpretation of what my MD said about Armour is that you get more of a good thing some days than on other days but in the long run it's probably okay.  It is the overall score anybody keeps tabs on anyway.  

I have not the experience you have with hypothyroidism and have taken Synthroid only since one year ago when the thyroid was removed because of papillary cancer.  I shall have a followup body scan, as I said, in August and this time they inject a little RAI to see if thyroid cells have indeed been killed.  The RAI treatment last September was the swallowing of 3 radioactive iodine pills and I was in a restricted room at the hospital for 3 days.  After that, I could come home but still had to sleep in a separate bedroom and stay away from family members for two more days as the amount of radiation lessened each day.  One week later I had what they called a body scan to see if the thyroid cells had been killed off.  The one this August will be a followup.  It was quite an experience last year, but painless as cancer goes.  I am hoping the scan in August proves to be benign.

Altogether, I find this discussion quite enlightening and I'm glad the subject was brought up.  

Quoted from pkarmeier

Cheryl, good info on the fucus. I am wondering, however, how one would know if the thyroid is really gone or if you just have poor function? Does the TSH  test answer this question?

If you've had drug treatment or radiation to kill an overactive thyroid you could be pretty sure that fucus wouldn't help bring that back.  However an abnormal TSH could mean your thyroid just isn't functioning properly.  I've had TSH normalize just using fucus. Sometimes abnormal TSH does mean the thryoid is lost through an autoimmunity problem, aging, etc.  I was lucky to catch mine at a borderline problem.  I wasn't on synthroid yet, so could give the fucus a try.  I think you'd have to work with your doctor if you're already taking thyroid replacement, synthetic or otherwise.

Sea salt and dietary seaweed are other sources of iodine, if fucus supplements are contraindicated.

Thanks Cheryl, I am going to see my dr on the 23rd and am going to talk to him about this. Will stay on Levoxyl in the meantime. I have had no radiation or drug therapy for an overactive thyroid, mine is underactive.  I have, however, been on med for it for many years. Will see what the dr has to say.     I always think all dr's are going to poo-poo anything natural and most do. This dr is one of my favs, so maybe he'll do me good.  

I concluded that I was simply deficient in iodine.  I'd avoided table salt for many years even though I have no blood pressure problems, if anything it's low.  Iodized salt is probably the main iodine source in the American diet.  I thought it would really have been a shame if I'd gone on hormones when I just had a nutritional deficiency.

My TSH went from about 5 to 1.9 after a few months on kelp, then bladderwrack tablets.  I switched to Deflect with a lower amount of fucus and my TSH was 3.1 last month, so mine really seems to respond to the dose of bladderwrack or fucus.  I've also been pretty irregular in taking the Deflect.  I'm sure at some point my thyroid will poop out, but I don't want to start on hormones until it's really necessary.

Quoted from cherylhcmba

I don't want to start on hormones until it's really necessary.

If I'd only known way back then what I know now...........

Hi everyone,
I have read with great interest all your information and different experiences with regard to your thyroid to what you have faced and are facing.  I think you are all totally awesome!
Tomorrow I am off to see a specialist for a sore throat/lump that I've had there for what seems like months.  When I first realised my sore throat was hanging around too long, I went to the docs who told me it was probably a virus because everything was find.  So I went away thinking it was just me being a bit run-down and I needed to take care.  Then I went back again, doc took blood tests and were all normal - apart from my Gilberts Syndrome.  So I went back after getting earaches and got them to a do a throat swab incase it was something they couldn't see!  Still normal.  So now I'm off to see the specialist.  I've been reading up on the internet and have a LOT of symptons of underactive thyroid - hypo.  Including waking up at night with pins & needles in my hand/numb hand etc.  Also thinking I was going insane because I'd forget whether I'd actually done something or not and just couldn't remember.  However, you do start naturally worrying that because nothing was picked up in my blood test that it could be a tumour.  What symptons etc did you guys have before you were diagnosed?  And for a novice like me starting out what do you suggest I ask them to check, check, double-check!   I've been doing the BTD for about a month - took a couple of weeks to get into it though.  Have been adding kelp seasoning to my food.  Also taking supplementals to help - one called Nutritonic with Bladderwrack, Carrogeen and kelp and the other called Thyronurse with deep ocean kelp, irish moss and bay laurel.  
Any help appreciated from you all.  

Quoted from kruise

I've been doing the BTD for about a month - took a couple of weeks to get into it though.  Have been adding kelp seasoning to my food.  Also taking supplementals to help - one called Nutritonic with Bladderwrack, Carrogeen and kelp and the other called Thyronurse with deep ocean kelp, irish moss and bay laurel.  
Any help appreciated from you all.  

kruise, is this "ingredient"  carrogeen or carrageenan? If it's the latter, it is an avoid for all food groups.
Being tired and run down is definitely a symptom of an underactive thyroid. Good for you for not stopping at the initial doctor's   "you're okay"  line.  With them, if it doesnt show up in blood work, xray, MRI or CT Scan,  you're okay or it's just your imagination. They either don't know it could be connected to what you're eating or they don't want YOU to know it. Either way, it's a lose/lose situation.
I have a sister-in-law who has had a sinus infection for 2-1/2 yrs. I'm trying to get her on the BTD. I think eventually she'll try it. At least the seed has been planted. She has been to every dr under the sun. Her husband keeps threatening to take her to Mayo Clinic. As she doesnt eat a lot of dairy, I suspect her problem may be from wheat, as she does eat alot of that. THAT seed has also been planted.  She doesnt know her BT, so it's a bit hard to help her.

dont forget the spit test as those are symptoms of candida too.

debs, do you mean sinus infection is a sign of candida? I will mention it to her either way. Thanks

Kruise,
My first symptoms of thyroid probs were found at a 6 week check up after my last
child was born,  that was 14 years ago.  Anyway, I was tired as usual, but the
doctor felt a small lump on one side of my neck, said it was probably my thyroid,
told me to go see my gp.  It took them a while to decide what was going on.  First
they put me on small amount of thyroid to try to suppress the lump, I had a biopsy,
which was negative for cancer.  The rest of my story is up above.  I forgot to mention that in the years since then, I did visit a naturopathic md who did a hair
analysis on me.  He found I had high mercury levels.  I had some old fillings removed, did a year of chelation.  My levels were still a bit high last time I was checked, but I didn't continue the chelation, it was long and expensive.  But the reason I mention this is that sometimes dental mercury is said to affect our thyroids,  but it could also be the great wheat consumption I indulged in pre btd.
Who really knows definitively what's going on?   Interesting to ponder though.....