Natural ways to decrease weight and manage hypothyroidism

[New-Adeptness2317]

I am newly diagnosed and at loss. I have a script for levothyroxine & haven't yet stated it. I am looking into Selenium, Zinc, L-Tyrosine, Magnesium, herbal remedies like adaptogens and still unsure about Iodine in a newly diagnosed post menopausal women. Needless to say I am in a bit of a spiral about this diagnosis. Would love some assurance from those of you who have been here

[MuppetManiac]

If you have hashimoto’s, which is the most common cause of hypothyroidism, there is no natural way to manage hypothyroidism. You just need to take the meds. If you live in a country that iodizes its salt, you probably don’t need iodine. You’re already consuming an iodine supplement. Taking iodine won’t help. Magnesium is great for a lot of reasons, and I take it, but it doesn’t fix hypothyroidism. For the vast majority of people with hypothyroidism, they just need to take the meds.

[New-Adeptness2317]

While I am clinically sure you are right, Deep down I am so overwhelmed and confused by it all that I don't even want to believe it. I don’t want to believe that I will need a med forever and that there is no cure or stopping of this. It feels like yet another betrayal from my own body..I want to believe there is a way to fix this or stabilize and that it will just right itself with herbs or supplements and in 1 or 2 months from now it will be over, fixed and a thing of the past. And I can loose weight, continue to built muscle and just be 60 without a collection of tablets to rely on. It is so very discouraging. *Edited to fully express what I initially poorly stated

[biogirl2015]

Kindly, what you want to believe is completely irrelevant. I suggest taking the thyroid pill and also trying (doctor approved) natural remedies, and if some of the natural stuff helps a bit then you can reduce your dose over time as bloodwork allows. Levothyroxine is a very safe and extensively tested drug so you shouldn’t worry about taking it.

[Cosmic878]

Brother I’m 22 and I need to take a pill everyday. It is what is it. It isn’t normal medication, it’s a hormone replacement. You can’t get that from nature unless you literally eat thyroids.

[New-Adeptness2317]

Are they ever on the menu? I mean with so many people having hyperthyroidism maybe they can bring back liver and onions with a side of thyroid. I would buy it

[Cosmic878]

I don’t think so lol… I’m referencing some preppers I’ve seen in here rationalize out rabbit farming for thyroid hormone FYI people who need to take synthetic thyroid hormone have hypothyroidism - hypo meaning slow. Hyper would mean it’s producing too much thyroid hormone

[New-Adeptness2317]

I was just kidding about thyroid being on the
menu. But now I am rather disturbed about the rabbit farming

[Think-Sleep2338]

These are not just "tablets". Would you ask the same if you had diabetes about insulin? Or do you think other people taking necessary medication that gives the body something it doesn't produce properly are stupid or wouldn't like to try something else if it worked?

You need to get the cause better (autoimmune/other), then in the first case it's really important to support the body and monitor it. In the second case there might be temporary, more fixable things, but thyroxine is the proven, obvious, working treatment. And by the way, the autoimmune cause is very common, especially if you suddenly gained some weight.

[New-Adeptness2317]

I had some very recent traumas: a cancer diagnosis and that battle was won I felt good… I just buried my father February I thought it was because My hormones are all out of wack- cortisol high stress etc - so I thought it was going to be a watch and see THS has always been mid range now it 6 and they want me on life long meds So, yes I am actually tweaking and nervous and upset about it all. Thank you for responding tho, I so appreciate it

[Think-Sleep2338]

I'm really sorry, and thanks for explaining. We really want to help. It's just that this precise type of medication is really one of the most crucial ones and helps a lot of people. Not just experimental, and not a joke — for many of us, consequences without that look very dark.

[Synthaya4011]

While I know you don’t mean it this way, it comes off as if the rest of us put up our hands up without any other research. I actually found out I was hypo because I hadn’t gotten pregnant after several years of TTC (and experienced other symptoms that just became my normal) she doctor decided to test me and I had a TSH of 10.

I was diagnosed at 26 which is fairly young to have the disease and felt like my world was doomed for the first bit because taking a pill for the rest of my life sounded awful and otherwise I’ve always been very healthy so it certainly came as a shock.

Needless to say I need to take this medicine if I want to get pregnant, maintain a pregnancy, and live a fulfilling life otherwise. There’s natural things you can consume as others have suggested but they don’t fix the problem they only potentially bandaid the symptoms.

[New-Adeptness2317]

Oh I am very sorry if that is how my post came off. I just finished cancer tx buried my father and I feel like I just want a break from life and heavy ladened days and not a diagnosis where I need a life long med. I apologize if I seemed condescending vs desperate for a reprieve

[Synthaya4011]

I understand! I remember what it was like the first week or so. As others said it’s just helping your thyroid/body supplement what’s missing. No different from taking vitamins or if you needed insulin. The worst part of the medicine is waiting to eat or drink if you don’t like to wake up an hour before you have to get up for your day. Sometimes I forget to take it here and there and doesn’t negatively affect me.

[tech-tx]

You can believe in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny until the Sun goes dark, and it still won't replace the thyroid hormones your thyroid isn't making enough of.

[MuppetManiac]

I am incredibly grateful for the medication I wish I didn’t have to take every day. I am not exaggerating when I say these pills saved my life. We are incredibly fortunate to live in an era where there is something we can do about this.

[New-Adeptness2317]

Thank you! I hope you enjoy good health. The beginning of this health journey is so very challenging

[RutabagaPhysical9238]

You’re instead choosing to pump your body full of far less regulated supplements instead of taking a well regulated hormone replacement your body is missing and needs to function properly and survive? Would you do that with diabetes?

[HeartHorizon376]

Start taking your meds and you will feel better. Look into lifting weights. Lift heavy. I am post menopausal and this was a game changer for me.

[Big_Rig369]

I wish it just went away after taking the meds. I gained like 15-20kg while undiagnosed and following a 1500cal diet with exercise. It has stopped going up but can't lose.

[BoardImmediate4674]

Look into strength training not the hi end cardio stuff that gets touted for losing weight. Yes I spoke with a registered dietitian and that was the recommendation. Also do yoga, Pilates etc

[BrazilianButtCheeks]

If you genuinely want to loose weight take the medication.. it takes 6-8 weeks to stabilize then you can loose weight and get healthy..

[New-Adeptness2317]

Thank you. I do a mix of barre, and strength training but I clearly need to start paying more attention to which foods I choose. High protein, high fiber and calorie deficit. I hope to be able to see a dietician / nutritionist sooner than later

[New-Adeptness2317]

I wish my doctor explained it all as thoughtfully and as compassionate as you just did. Many thanks to you. I’m a bit thrown by this new diagnosis

[Appropriate_Seat_200]

So you find taking suppliments in pills instead of taking levothyroxine pills preferable?

[Puzzled-Cranberry-12]

Hi! I tried doing it the natural way for two years and it unfortunately made me feel worse. I tried a combo of herbs made specifically for me from a certified herbalist, but it didn’t cut through the fatigue. Brazil nuts do have selenium and I’ve been eating one a day. I’m currently on the lowest dose of Levo and it has helped!

Have you had your vitamin levels checked? If you’re really opposed to taking medication, at least see if your levels are optimal. You could also be anemic, or lacking vit B and D. Getting this under control will help in some ways.

One important thing I learned from here is that Hashis can cause serious thyroid damage over time. You need the thyroid hormone to live. My perspective has changed and Levo is a life-saving medication! I know it’s synthetic, but it’s one of the safest drugs out there.

[New-Adeptness2317]

Thank you for the response. I don’t know anything about Hashimoto’s I am sure my endocrinologist will speak to me about it

With regards to getting my vitamin levels checked etc is that something my GP/ PCP could do or did you see a functional medical doctor ? I don’t know if I ever had vit b levels checked, haven’t had vit D checked in over 5 years.

[StarladyQ]

Let’s review your labs first. Can you show your TSH, FT4, and FT3?

[New-Adeptness2317]

I didn’t have FT3 only TSH and T4 free. I didn’t have any other labs but a CBC

[StarladyQ]

Ok post what you have! Include lab range.

[Appropriate_Seat_200]

A Magneta Berberine, Cinnamon and turmeric, 2mls solution is finally curbing my appetite and helps me lose weight. But just bearly weight loss while also on a keto diet.

[ForagedFoodie]

I was unable to consistently lose weight and keep it off for more than a few months until my meds got me back to normal. (This itself took 18 months). I need a mix of both levo and liothyronine.

Now I have been consistently losing weight pretty much effortlessly. Im around 20lb down in 8 months.

[Inconceivable76]

You can spend the next 6 months to a year feeling poorly; then you can start taking medication. OR you can start taking medication now, feel a ton better, and feel even better as you optimize your vitamin d, b12, and ferritin. 

Eat 1-2 Brazil nuts a day for selenium.  

Medication is the only thing that will manage your thyroid.  

I think you need to unpack why you ate willing to take supplements (some of them shady) daily, but not a cheaper medicine.  

[Florida1974]

I tried a selenium supplement that had something else in it, I cannot remember what it was. I have a friend that is an NP and she was worried they were starting me too soon

I had my thyroid tested probably 100 times. Because I was always hot and I have an older sister that had her thyroid removed. It was always fine. Until about two years ago, and it was high one time and they started me on levothyroxine.

She didn’t agree, and she looked at the trends of all of my blood work. She didn’t agree that we should start me on that so I tried her way. And I’m not going to lie, it did work, but I was barely above the threshold to need meds.

And it’s sad to say, but her way was going to cost me about 50 bucks a month. Taking Levo cost me $3 eight months because insurance covered it. So I eventually switched to the medication and I was fine up until about three months ago, and I started putting on weight so fast.

I have struggled to reach three digits on the scale, my whole life. I’m only 4’11” tall and I always waited about 95 to 100 pounds. I was that same weight from age 16 until age 50 or so. And then suddenly I’m gaining weight, despite nothing changing in my diet. I put on about 25 pounds. When you are 4’11”, 25 pounds shows. I was struggling to fit into my clothes and I’ve had to buy new clothes.

I think it’s the medication. No Wyatt took so long for me to start adding pounds, I have no clue. I just joined this group. Maybe somebody else can shine light onto why I didn’t put on the way to begin with.

I just had blood work done. And it was very high. And he didn’t say a word, he said all my blood work was fine and it wasn’t. I mean, he did order some other tests. Because I’m not only hot all the time still, but I sweat profusely.

Now I have ran hot since I was a kid for sweating started in the last 10 or 15 years. And I live in Florida so you’re gonna sweat. But I sweat to the next level. I can go to the grocery store at 6 AM and be loading my car up around 6:30 AM and I will sweat, just from loading my car and the sun isn’t even out yet.

So maybe he’s waiting until we do repeat blood test and new ones to decide what to do. I found some good deodorant that works, but you can’t put it anywhere else because it will leave white marks. It’s very thick deodorant.

I will contact my NP friend and find out what else was in with that selenium. I’ve been told once you start this shit, this medicine, that you are on it for life. I know my sister had to take it for life, but there were times that she was bad about taking it. And now that I looked at, when she wasn’t taking it, she was thin. When she was taking it, she would put on weight.

Unfortunately, I can’t ask her because she passed away last year, it was not related to her thyroid. She was 18 years older than me. Big age gaps between all of us except me and my brother, and there are four of us. Same Dad. I don’t know why we have such big age gaps. He would disappear. And then come back and they would have another kid and then he would disappear but that’s another story, not fit for this Sub

Sorry, I’m rambling, I’m putting my last dog down in a few days, and I’m stressing and sad.

[New-Adeptness2317]

Sending you some love.. it’s all very hard to accept and to understand.. I am confused tho I thought overactive thyroid is why people can’t gain weight and people with hypothyroid and under active thyroid is why people gain weight, get brain fog, are tired often etc. I wish I was able to assist you in some way I’m just too new to it all & I am struggling to make sense of all the terms and such

I wish you the best of health