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Post by nana2callie on Jul 16, 2015 13:53:22 GMT
Anyone take these? Your experience?
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Post by mellowyellow on Jul 16, 2015 15:00:26 GMT
My MIL swears by them but I don't think much of them. I used them for quite some time several years ago but never saw any difference. It was just very expensive because my Rx plan would not cover them. I was paying about $300 a month to have these.
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keithurbanlovinpea
Pearl Clutcher
Flowing with the go...
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Jun 29, 2014 3:29:30 GMT
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Post by keithurbanlovinpea on Jul 16, 2015 15:22:35 GMT
I am a HUGE believer in BIH. I started in 2007, and gained almost immediate relief from the issues I was having with my hypothyroidism and PMS. I stopped in 2013 due to $$ issues (yes, it can be very expensive), but recently went back on them when my issues not only resurfaced, but were almost worse than in 2007. I feel so, so much better, and am happy that I went back despite the cost. I am happy to answer any questions you may have, or tell my story.
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Post by nana2callie on Jul 16, 2015 17:08:53 GMT
I am a HUGE believer in BIH. I started in 2007, and gained almost immediate relief from the issues I was having with my hypothyroidism and PMS. I stopped in 2013 due to $$ issues (yes, it can be very expensive), but recently went back on them when my issues not only resurfaced, but were almost worse than in 2007. I feel so, so much better, and am happy that I went back despite the cost. I am happy to answer any questions you may have, or tell my story. I would love to hear more - I'm at my wits end. I feel like a stranger in my own body and not sure where to turn!
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keithurbanlovinpea
Pearl Clutcher
Flowing with the go...
Posts: 4,273
Jun 29, 2014 3:29:30 GMT
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Post by keithurbanlovinpea on Jul 16, 2015 20:06:56 GMT
Well, my story is long and not very exciting. I will give the highlights here, and then you can let me know what additional information you need. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in 1989 (I was in college) after a miserable summer of sleeping too much, gaining weight, and struggling with the weirdest infections known to man. I had the usual hypo symptoms as well... weight gain, hair loss, sensitive to cold, sleeping all the time. I was placed on Synthroid, and I suppose that it did it's job as I at least felt better than I had in some time. In the spring of 1990 I cratered again... almost immediately gaining 10 pounds, severe hypo symptoms, etc. I was diagnosed further as having Hashimoto's thyroiditis, which is a more severe form of hypo involving your body making antibodies against your thyroid. That effectively placed me in the category of having an auto-immune disease. From 1990 until 2005, I remained on Synthroid for treatment of the Hashi's. From 1987 until 2002, I was also on some form of birth control pill (other than the conception and birth of my two DDs). I relied on BCP For the control of PMS in addition to birth control, but in 2002 after my 2nd DD was born, I had my tubes tied thinking I could dump the BCP but the PMS got the better of me. I was a raging manic... so many awful things I said and did. One doctor had me try Prozac (it's called something else for PMS) but I hated it so back to BCP I went. During this period, while I felt I struggled with my weight, rising and falling from near normal weight (although never as thin as I was in high school) to 35 pounds overweight, I never had huge issues losing the weight if I tried. But I never felt the way I did before my thyroid problems, and that was frustrating because in high school I had felt amazing. I had many doctors tell me age, kids, lack of sleep, lack of exercise, yada yada would all affect the way I felt (one even suggested I was depressed!) I certainly understood that it would all make a difference, but by 2005/2006, I felt terrible. I felt like my metabolism was not where it needed to be, and I hated having to take synthetic hormones for PMS. I did some initial research through sites like Stop the Thyroid Madness and decided to find a doctor who would switch me to Armour (dessicated thyroid). I did that in 2006, and for a bit I did see improvement. But I still was not happy. Then in 2007, it all fell apart and now I knew what miserable really felt like. My thyroid symptoms went haywire, my PMS was out of control and then I started to show some really weird symptoms... shakiness, crying at the drop of a hat, feelings of helplessness and severe depression. I literally thought I was going crazy, and if I didn't already have underlying physical health problems, I probably would have driven myself straight to the nearest psychiatric facility. I called my sister instead, who insisted that I go to the Hotze Health and Wellness Center. I had considered it in the past, but it was so expensive so I discarded that idea. She offered to pay for it, so I went in the fall of 2007 and had a battery of tests run and a long consult with my now BIH doctor, Dr. Sheridan. It is possible that I was lured in by the possibility of doing anything necessary to feel better, including buying into the "witch doctor" mentality as I call it, but I will never, ever forget that first appointment. It lasted almost two hours, and Dr. Sheridan listened to my every concern and complaint, and was the first doctor to make me feel as if I had legitimate health issues, not a litany of complaints that could be solved by Prozac or exercise. I went on an enormous therapy that consisted of progesterone for PMS, natural dessicated thyroid (it was initially Armour), testosterone for libido and cortisol for adrenal fatigue. I then went straight home and read every piece of literature he recommended, along with a laundry list of others both pro and con for BIH. To say I did my research is a huge understatement. I also began his recommendation for supplements and vitamins, figuring it couldn't hurt. Within 90 days, I felt 200% better. 90 days after that I had lost 10 pounds and felt so good I took up running. I was like a walking, talking testimonial for the regiment, just like on the website. It felt cliche to watch and read those testimonials and nod my head in agreement and no doubt that people thought I had been brainwashed, but I knew in my heart I had found the right treatment. Fast forward to 2013 when I was laid off from my job. Ack! BIH is expensive and I was feeling the pinch. At first, I severely modified my supplement intake so I could still remain on the BIHs I was on (cortisol, thyroid, and progesterone), but I had to make the tough decision. I went back to my regular doctor and switched back to Armour (by then Hotze had started compounding their own natural thyroid) and I stopped the BIH altogether. In the spring of 2014, my PMS went out of control again, so I went back on BCP. Took it 3 months and then quit... hated (hated!) the way it made me feel. By late summer of 2014, my PMS was really out of control so I went back to my gyno. Now I had an ovarian cyst! Guess what the treatment was? Yup, BCP. So I took it again. PMS improves, but everything else is not doing well at all. In January 2015, I decide I need to do something different, so I call my sister and she convinces me to go see her new integrative medicine gyno. My sister says that if she can't help me, then I should go back to Dr. Sheridan at Hotze. So I try the IM doctor. I really, really like her as a gyno, but she doesn't treat thyroid issues, so while my PMS improves, I know my other issues are still at the heart of how I feel. In late April/early May 2015, I have the ultimate and to date, worst health crash I have ever had. I basically feel like I did in the fall of 2007 but worse. I can barely function. It's hell getting out of bed, I am a total bitch to anyone and everyone, and I start having heart palpitations, sweats, anxiety and horrible headaches. I am in such an awful state that I consider canceling my early June vacation to the Dominican Republic. There is no way I can enjoy it. So I hightail it back to Dr. Sheridan in the middle of May and go back on the BIH regimen. Within 2 weeks I feel a little better and I go to the DR (and actually enjoy it!) I have now been back on the therapy almost 60 days, and once again I am convinced it is right for me. I am currently taking dessicated thyroid, progesterone, testosterone and cortisol, along with an extensive supplement list. Some of the supplements are things I am just trying. Since I have overlapping health issues with the Hashi's, I am trying supplements related to some reading I had done specifically about this auto-immune condition. I don't know if what you are faced with is thyroid related or more female hormones, but I would suggest that you look into some various resources. The FDA has some information on BHRT: FDA's Website on BIHDr. John Lee is considered by some to be the "father" of the BHRT movement: Dr. John Lee's Website (noted for his work on BIHT)Hotze's website. Lots of good information once you peel back some of the "rah-rah" stuff: Hotze Health and WellnessSuzanne Somers has been touting BHRT for years. While she is a bit gung-ho for my tastes, I did find that reading about her experiences helped to validate mine: SS "I'm Too Young for This" bookIf you are also having issues with your thyroid, or suspect that you are, I cannot recommend this website enough: Stop the Thyroid Madness Website There is an overwhelming amount of info about thyroid disease, treatment, and even some good stuff about adrenal fatigue. Another excellent resource if you have Hashi's is Isabella Wentz' book: www.amazon.com/Hashimotos-Thyroiditis-Lifestyle-Interventions-Treating/dp/0615825796/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1437077050&sr=1-1&keywords=hashimoto%27s+thyroiditis+lifestyle+interventions+for+finding+and+treating+the+root+causeThis is probably more than you ever wanted to know about me, my hormones, my past and/or BIH, but hopefully it helps. Feel free to question me further!
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Post by dreamer on Jul 16, 2015 20:45:54 GMT
Thank you for sharing your story. It helped me.
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keithurbanlovinpea
Pearl Clutcher
Flowing with the go...
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Jun 29, 2014 3:29:30 GMT
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Post by keithurbanlovinpea on Jul 16, 2015 20:59:56 GMT
I will add a quick note to say that I truly believe that so much of what we experience as women under the heading of "female hormones" goes way beyond that. I believe that every hormone is interlaced and that treating an imbalance in one place can knock another one off kilter. So for example in my experience, taking BCP to tame PMS made a lot of other hormones go awry.
I also think that what you eat makes a difference. But that is a whole 'nother story about eliminating processed foods from my diet.
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Post by nana2callie on Jul 16, 2015 21:36:53 GMT
Thank you so much for coming back and sharing so much. I do have thyroid issues and seemingly have done well with Synthroid for about 7 years, about two years ago I was at optimal health. Feeling great, great weight and mindset. Then, slowly things began to spiral - weight gain, tired, sensitivity, irritability and so on and forth. I've never had the patience of Job, but I did have much more tolerance and compassion. Now, I find myself, lots of times just acting ugly and feeling worse. I've been to the regular doctors and they just don't seem to get it "normal range". Well.. what is exactly normal and who determines that??? This isn't normal for me. I found a doctor who specializes a couple of hours away - about $600 - $1000 for the initial testing and diagnosis. Just concerned about the "witch doctor" mentality or being roped into something. But, seriously, I need some relief and so do the people who live with me. Specifically what questions should I ask... I believe they will do a blood panel and urine/saliva testing prior to the initial appointment. Consultation is scheduled to be one hour.
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keithurbanlovinpea
Pearl Clutcher
Flowing with the go...
Posts: 4,273
Jun 29, 2014 3:29:30 GMT
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Post by keithurbanlovinpea on Jul 16, 2015 22:18:04 GMT
Thank you so much for coming back and sharing so much. I do have thyroid issues and seemingly have done well with Synthroid for about 7 years, about two years ago I was at optimal health. Feeling great, great weight and mindset. Then, slowly things began to spiral - weight gain, tired, sensitivity, irritability and so on and forth. I've never had the patience of Job, but I did have much more tolerance and compassion. Now, I find myself, lots of times just acting ugly and feeling worse. I've been to the regular doctors and they just don't seem to get it "normal range". Well.. what is exactly normal and who determines that??? This isn't normal for me. I found a doctor who specializes a couple of hours away - about $600 - $1000 for the initial testing and diagnosis. Just concerned about the "witch doctor" mentality or being roped into something. But, seriously, I need some relief and so do the people who live with me. Specifically what questions should I ask... I believe they will do a blood panel and urine/saliva testing prior to the initial appointment. Consultation is scheduled to be one hour. Can I ask where you live and/or which doctor? Feel free to tell me to MMOB! LOL Just curious. I am always interested in doctors who practice this way. I will say that I totally get what you are saying with the spiral downward, and that your family needs relief as much as you do. Has the doctor provided a questionnaire for you to fill out? Like an initial assessment? Hotze provided one to me in 2007 and I still have it. I will go find it and see what I can glean from it. As far as the visit goes, let me think some more (and dig through my files) to see what questions I would ask. But going into it here is my advice: 1) Make a list of your complaints/symptoms and list them in order from most annoying/concerning ones to the least. If you are going to get treatment then you should address the top ones for sure. But don't let the doctor dismiss any of your concerns. He/she should be able to address and talk to ALL of your concerns, even if he recommends that you wait and see on certain ones. For example, at my May visit I knew my adrenals needed support. That was my primary concern. But I also knew my thyroid was not optimal. He did not dismiss my thyroid concerns, but we both agreed after discussion that waiting to change any thyroid dosage would be optimal after we let my adrenals heal some. 2) It should be a dialog between you and the doctor. He should not be rattling off what he thinks is wrong, treatments, opinions whatever without asking you questions and giving you an opportunity to ask questions and provide input. If it is not a two way dialog, then I would be suspicious. He should take your concerns seriously. For example, my doctor reviews my test results but he listens to what I have to say about my symptoms. He gives me some leeway in changing up dosages based on parameters and how I feel. He treats symptoms, not just lab numbers. 3) If he tries to sell you a bunch of supplements (particularly anything that is branded by him or his office), then do your research before you buy. Hotze has his own pharmacy and his own vitamin business, but they are separate from the doctors' practice and they are the first to tell you that you don't have to buy anything from either place. Of course, it is convenient to get my prescriptions from his pharmacy (even if it is a little more expensive than other compounding pharmacy), but you should have a choice. Be very suspicious of anyplace that tries to push you into buying something that is their brand, and especially if they are super pushy and "used care salesmen-y" and insist you have to get it all, now. Whatever regimen you choose to follow, it should feel like you came to that conclusion in partnership with your doctor and you should know exactly why he has recommended that hormone or supplement. You have made it this far without the treatment, and even though you may be desperate you should never feel pressured to partake of something until you are ready.
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keithurbanlovinpea
Pearl Clutcher
Flowing with the go...
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Jun 29, 2014 3:29:30 GMT
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Post by keithurbanlovinpea on Jul 16, 2015 22:32:06 GMT
Related to my prior post about hormones being related, I am a strong believer in adrenals being closely connected to thyroid. I can have perfectly acceptable amounts of TSH, T3, and T4 in my blood stream but if my adrenals are stressed out and not functioning well, then my body cannot utilize the hormones running rampant. This is a good explanation of it: Adrenal Fatigue and Thyroid
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melissa
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 25, 2014 20:45:00 GMT
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Post by melissa on Jul 17, 2015 12:27:03 GMT
Please do not be fooled into thinking these are any safer than "non-bioidentical" hormones. They carry the same risks. That FDA page linked above is important to read.
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keithurbanlovinpea
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Flowing with the go...
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Post by keithurbanlovinpea on Jul 17, 2015 13:08:51 GMT
Please do not be fooled into thinking these are any safer than "non-bioidentical" hormones. They carry the same risks. That FDA page linked above is important to read. Please, please do your research. Just because I have had amazing results doesn't mean it is the right treatment is for you. This is true for any drugs for supplements.
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Post by nana2callie on Jul 17, 2015 13:33:49 GMT
Dr. Constance Crisp in Little Rock AR is who I found and part of the BodylogicMD group - my research results for AR were few. I understand lots of research is necessary and that the results and treatments are not the same for anyone. However, I so want to find a doctor that looks at the whole person and recognizes the fact that when I say "I'm not myself" that I really know what I'm talking about. And one that will look beyond the normal ranges to optimal for me as an individual.
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keithurbanlovinpea
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Flowing with the go...
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Post by keithurbanlovinpea on Jul 17, 2015 15:42:14 GMT
I know that I have heard of Dr. Phyllis Okereke here in Houston, and she has the same affiliation with BodyLogic. My personal feeling is that my health is worth it. Even if it is expensive and doesn't work for me, I feel like I have explored all the options.
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Post by kristi521 on Jul 17, 2015 15:57:08 GMT
I need to really do some more research into all of this. I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism in 2005, took a few months, maybe even a year, to get my levels where they needed to be, but my symptoms were getting better with each change in medication. Fast forward to April 2014 and I was hyper, although showing few, if any symptoms. As my dosage of Synthroyid has decreased I have felt worse and worse. My dr. took me off Synthroyid a couple days ago. I am just hoping this helps.
Thanks for the information, I am hoping to glean something that will help me.
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Post by marg on Jul 17, 2015 19:05:26 GMT
My son is on Natural Dessicated Thyroid (NDT) - he was just diagnosed in May with hypothyroidism after almost 2 years of being ill. In the past year he has been bedridden. He has had severe (and I mean severe, Tylenol 3 couldn't even begin to touch it) pelvic pain, major weight gain, fatigue, untreatable anxiety, etc.
In the 2 months he's been on the NDT he has improved significantly - no more pain, anxiety is getting better, he's more active, etc. He missed his entire grade 10 year due to his illness but will be back at school in September.
His doctor will start him on testosterone therapy if the thyroid meds don't naturally increase his testosterone. Often fixing one hormone can help fix the others as well.
He also had to take adrenal supplements to help his low cortisol. There is a protocol for doing this yourself that involves rubbing hydrocortisone into your skin if your doctor refuses to help you - you can google it to find out.
Kristi521, going hyper after being hypo can also be a sign of Hashimoto's - your thyroid can have bursts of overactivity if its being attacked (flaring up) by your antibodies. This has happened with my son - alternating periods of hyper and hypo. If going off the Synthroid doesn't help, NDT might really help. The advantage of NDT is that it has all of the thyroid hormones - T4, T3, T2, T1, and calcitonin, not just T4 like Synthroid. Taking NDT when you're hyper if you have Hashimoto's can help your body stop attacking your thyroid and preserve what little function it has left. I really suggest seeing a thyroid specialist and not just an endocrinologist. It took us 7 doctors to find one that knew what was going on with my son and how to treat him. The other 6 just wanted to prescribe anti-depressants and benzodiazepines and didn't seem particularly concerned that he was non-functioning and bedridden at 14/15 years old.
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keithurbanlovinpea
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by keithurbanlovinpea on Jul 17, 2015 20:33:58 GMT
I will say that earlier this year, I was presenting blood work levels that indicated hyper, but I did not have a single hyper symptom and in fact was starting to present hypo symptoms. I agree with Marg's comments 100%
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Post by miss_lizzie on Jul 17, 2015 20:38:43 GMT
Please do not be fooled into thinking these are any safer than "non-bioidentical" hormones. They carry the same risks. That FDA page linked above is important to read. I strongly agree. I'm on Coumadin and can't take hormones, even bioidentical ones. Please be careful!
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Post by nana2callie on Sept 25, 2015 15:59:54 GMT
I wanted to come back and update after my initial visit with the doctor - my issues are not with my female hormones. But, with the thyroid, pancreas and adrenals. I'm still skeptic about some of this, but it is certainly more information than I've had in a long time. I'm off to find some information and I appreciate all the above information and references.
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keithurbanlovinpea
Pearl Clutcher
Flowing with the go...
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Post by keithurbanlovinpea on Sept 25, 2015 16:05:27 GMT
There are a couple of great groups on Facebook regarding thyroid and adrenals. I can give you my experience with that too. Check out this website for some really good info on thyroid disease: www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/It can get overwhelming, but feel free to PM me if you need additional information.
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Post by nana2callie on Sept 25, 2015 16:15:51 GMT
There are a couple of great groups on Facebook regarding thyroid and adrenals. I can give you my experience with that too. Check out this website for some really good info on thyroid disease: www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/It can get overwhelming, but feel free to PM me if you need additional information. I am completely overwhelmed - thanks for your kindness. I will PM you.
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melissa
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 25, 2014 20:45:00 GMT
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Post by melissa on Sept 25, 2015 18:41:18 GMT
Nana2callie, I also recommend you do a few things.
1. Familiarize yourself with the basic physiology of these organs from a reliable source- ie, one without anything to sell. A textbook preferably.
2. Read some medical information on these organs as well.
3. Then, go ahead and read the alternative medicine on these topics. I do not recommend reading the alternative medicine on things like "adrenal fatigue" until you have learned enough about how the adrenal glands function from reliable sources.
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scrapaddie
Drama Llama
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Jul 8, 2014 20:17:31 GMT
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Post by scrapaddie on Sept 28, 2015 14:35:35 GMT
I will add a quick note to say that I truly believe that so much of what we experience as women under the heading of "female hormones" goes way beyond that. I believe that every hormone is interlaced and that treating an imbalance in one place can knock another one off kilter. So for example in my experience, taking BCP to tame PMS made a lot of other hormones go awry. I also think that what you eat makes a difference. But that is a whole 'nother story about eliminating processed foods from my diet. There are so many biofeedback systems, where one hormone stimulates or depresses another. And they are difficult to understand. So it's not hard to imagine that they have not discovered all of these biofeedbacks
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