I initially found the BTD in the mid 90s after being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis.  I have had a long history of thyroid problems and had a thyroid cancer probably caused by radiation to my tonsils as a baby.  It was removed in Feb 1996 luckily while it was extremely small.  Although I had a near total thyroidectomy and partial parathyroidectomy (adenoma) I'm still struggling with it.  I just had bloodwork done yesterday that I haven't got the results on yet - appt. next week.  I've been feeling very very nervous so I'm guessing I need to have the meds reduced.  The whole thing has kind of gotten into my head and got me so worried that my blood pressure has been very high.  Yesterday when I thought I was pretty relaxed it was 138/96....not good.  Usually the bottom number is in the 70-80 range.  Even alternate nostril breathing doesn't seem to help.

Oh Jane, I hope you start feeling better soon.  Could the thyroid meds cause high BP?  Anyway try to relax & maybe listen to some classical music, how about getting an aquarium?  I'm guessing the meds are constantly needing adjustment?  That must be so hard to handle.  Take care & good luck @ your appnt, it makes a difference if you have a good doctor.

Do you take magnesium?

That's fabulous, way to go, Eric!

I wish I had known about this diet before they took half of my thyroid out. But I guess it couldn't have been avoided seeing how they said the tumor was on my parathyroid and as such malignant. Only after they took it out, they discovered it wasn't (malignant that is). The other half was severely inflamed and the doctor said I probably had some kind of autoimmune disease. Seeing how I was on thyrax anyway, he saw no point in investigating that any further and said that the half that stayed would be gone within a few years also. I sometimes wonder if there is some left of my thyroid or not. I know I can't do without the pills. Would be nice if I could decrease the amount though.

They took out one of my parathyroids (adenoma - benign) and near total thyroidectomy.  Test showed thyroid levels OK.  I think it was anxiety - got so bad the other day that I thought it was my heart so I went and had an EKG which was normal and today I had a echocardiogram.  According to the ultrasonographer, everything looked good.  My doctor wants me to have a stress test too so that's scheduled for next week.  I've never had anxiety like that.  I had tightness in the chest and a kind of heaviness in both arms.  I personally thought I just need some exercise to clear the cortisol but the doctor doesn't want me exercising until after I see her again on the 26th.  I can take walks.  She also gave me a very low dose of Atavan (generic one), .5 mg.  I can take that if I need it.  Took one that night and I did get some sleep but haven't taken any since.  Seeing endo next week and I'll discuss everything with him too.  Hopefully I'll have the results of at least the echocardiogram by then.
I've upped the Catechol.  I was only taking 2 a day, so I'm taking more until this gets under control.  Oddly enough the blood pressure was better, 138/80.  I'm pretty sure I need more not less exercise.
Jane

adapt the food lists in the cardio book for now, if not following swami

oooooh...ativan....ooooh.  I hate drugs and scripts but I must admit that Ativan is the one drug I could enjoy a little too much.  I just love the sleep I used to get from an Ativan.  ooooooh.

Sorry...got all caught up in the moment.  

Hope you are feeling better soon..thinking of you.

Great work, Eric!!!  I'm thrilled for your results.

My younger sister is having thyroid probs. I've tried to coax her into trying the BTD for years, I even sent her the hard-cover book (ER4YT) years ago, but I don't think she even cracked it open. They (sis and bro-in-law) thought my diet was flakey, just as they think I am flakey. My sister has suffered from IBS for years and that is why I sent her the book. Well, like I said, I don't think she ever read it, and she and my BIL have made many cracks about my diet (particularly my BIL). Well, fast forward to March and my BIL was in town for one night and took my mom and I out to dinner, and he was bowled over by my weight loss. Asked me a million questions. Didn't make one crack about the diet. Then my mom tells me about a week later that my sister called her, said my BIL said that Ed looks great, and asked my mom what is Ed doing?  God forbid she call me and ask directly bit let's not even get into my dysfunctional family dynamics. Anyway, my BIL told us at dinner that my sis has a thyroid prob, above and beyond that it doesn't function, which it hasn't for years now. He wasn't sure what the new prob is, but he said, now that they've diagnosed it, "we're hopeful they can help her". I wanted to scream:  why wouldn't she try the BTD if she is willing to go through all kinds of invasive medical tests and go on all kinds of drugs?!!!!  But I kept my mouth shut. I've learned not to shout into the wind.

I do NOT get people:  they think a natural diet is flakey and unproven, yet they just blindly and unquestioningly take whatever drugs a DOCTOR prescribes. It must be the white coat.

Well, Dr. D is a doctor and I'll take the diet he prescribes. The only side effects are positive.

Twist I had a talk with my younger sister last night. She has had cold symptoms for 7 weeks and has taken 4 courses of antibiotics including some pretty severe ones. The antibiotics have given her acid reflux. I sent her some lemon ginger spice drops from the health food store that don't have any severe avoids(not sure about the tapioca syrup). They worked and she is starting to listen. I started out with baby steps and told her to avoid corn, wheat and dairy for a while and to get her daughter to cook from scratch for her for a while. I can't use the words BTD or GTD because she tells our other sister the NURSE PRACTICIANER everything. We'll see. BTW she is a type O and probably a nonsecretor based on dental history and med problems.

Incredible Eric! That's a great thing to have happen.. I hope I see some good blood work results when I go back in May like you.

Quoted from gulfcoastguy

Twist I had a talk with my younger sister last night. She has had cold symptoms for 7 weeks and has taken 4 courses of antibiotics including some pretty severe ones. .

You should have sent her a bottle of Elderberry syrup or jelly.  Very tasty.  

Quoted from gulfcoastguy

Twist I had a talk with my younger sister last night. She has had cold symptoms for 7 weeks and has taken 4 courses of antibiotics including some pretty severe ones. The antibiotics have given her acid reflux. I sent her some lemon ginger spice drops from the health food store that don't have any severe avoids(not sure about the tapioca syrup). They worked and she is starting to listen. I started out with baby steps and told her to avoid corn, wheat and dairy for a while and to get her daughter to cook from scratch for her for a while. I can't use the words BTD or GTD because she tells our other sister the NURSE PRACTICIANER everything. We'll see. BTW she is a type O and probably a nonsecretor based on dental history and med problems.

I'm only now seeing this post, gcg, sorry. Great work helping your sister. Maybe mine will start asking questions when she visits this summer and sees for herself how much weight I've lost.  We shall see.

She now is adamant that she's a B (says she now remembers that they typed her when she was in the hospital to give birth to my younger nephew and she is sure the result was Type B) but I don't think so. She told me before that, that she thinks she's an A, which I think is far more likely. If she is really a B, though, that means our dad was a B, which kinda sorta blows me away, for some reason. He really fit the profile of an O non. I'm positive he was a non, whatever ABO type he was. I am all but certain my sister is a non, too.  Anyway...you can lead a horse to lemon-ginger spice drops...  

Great testimony Eric!!!!

It is so frustrating when you try to tell people you know who are suffering that they would benefit from the BTD and they just don’t listen.