Discussion Board

I used to be really slim and sporty, but when I was 18 I got thyroid cancer and the doctors said I must hyave my thyroid out. They said that I'd be put on thyroxine and I'd feel fine and never know that anything was wrong with me. They lied. My life has been ruined. I am constantly exhausted, brain foggy and so just sit around eating and have gained about 5 stone. Now, ten years later, the thyroxine is causing heart problems too so now I'm on beta blockers. I think about suicide all the time. (I've already made one attempt but it failed.) I just feel like I'll never be well. I had to drop out of university and quit every job I've tried as I just wasn't well enough to continue. My endocrinologist is useless, he says he's tried everything, there's nothing he can do to improve my quality of life.

I thought going raw vegan might help but I can never stick to it, because its so unsatisfying and I'm always hungry. I could stick to McDougall's diet much easier but I wonder if it's even worth my while trying?

Of course it is worth trying.

You are worth it!

Eating this way allows you to get all of the supposed benefits of the raw food diet, with the added bonus of not feeling hungry and like a failure. Give it a shot, it certainly will not hurt and can only help.

Yes, yes yes, it is worth trying! You will be doing the best possible things you can for your body! The food is whole and wholesome, and tasty and satisfying and filling. There is no reason to have only raw food--we discovered fire a long time ago!

So try this--devote the next 3 to 4 weeks to learning this way of eating and living, and observe your body's reactions. I think you will have a very pleasant experience trying this out. Good luck!

The reason |I wonder if it's worth it is because I doubt that this diet will improve my health - I mean i can't fix my heart problems. Twice I've been taken to hospital with suspected heart attacks, all because of taking thyroxine. I don't think I'll ever be well. I really wish I was dead, if I could afford it I'd go to Switzerland for assisted suicide.

Go to Stop the thyroid madness and read, read, read why T4-only meds (like Synthroid) do not adequately address your symptoms.

You are going to have to do your own research and become an advocate for your own health. The depression is probably the result of your thyroid problem not being adequately managed.

While you most likely can't do anything about your present heart problems, you can make tremendous, lasting improvements in your overall health on the McDougall Program - and very likely reduce your need for thyroxine. You can overcome this! Don't give up!

Nettie

I was going to post almost exactly what Nettie did!!! I'd say right now almost all your issues are related to the medication!

I had half my thyroid out march of 2011 and I also took thyroxine and had almost instant depression, anger and extreme moodiness. I tried one other generic and then the brand name and got no relief. I now, after getting some very sound advice from another member here, I now take a compounded natural thyroid hormone. Seems like it took forever, and it's not perfect but I feel human and the depression that was caused my the thyroxine is gone.

Good luck. There are also yahoo groups you could join. And while diets not everything it will help too. Keep us informed how you're doing.

my doctor prescribed synthroid and my blood pressure started increasing. By the forth day, I had itching, headache, and my blood pressure was really spiking. I felt like I was having an allergic reaction. I had to take a second blood pressure med and then bp went up again and I took benadryl. I stopped taking it and the doctor wouldnt prescribe armor thyroid for me even though I am symptomatic. The doctor didnt think the Synthroid could have caused a reaction, but I felt like it was going to kill me.

Try to find a naturalpathic or holistic physician.

I agree. Go see a Natropathic Physician (ND)
I know one over in Canterbury, UK, Dr. Tom Greenfield.

Just in case anyone reading this wants to do a search, the word is naturopathic not "naturalpathic" or "natropathic." Nitpicky yeah, but . . . glad my screen is tomato-proof:-)

Cheers!

No tomatoes--THANKS! I am throwing roses at your screen! Spelling is very important to my mental health!

The power to improve quality of life is inside of you. I hope you will take the advice from the wise people that have been down this road. Life is a gift and challenges come along, but you just have to fight... research... ask for advice in wonderful places like this... and keep trying. Never give up.

The only way to know if it is worth it, for sure, is to do it, and do it for a long time. You have it within you, and you deserve the effort. You will not only improve your health to whatever degree is possible, but you will also gain confidence and faith in yourself.

I completely understand what you are going through. I too, had my thyroid (most of it) out and suffered a ton of problems because of it. (I had been a fitness instructor, personal trainer, etc...so I know what you are saying about being athletic in build, etc.) I had to go through an MD, and two Naturopaths until I found the doctor that works for me. And I have tried it all too...natural thyroid, Armour, Synthroid, Cytomel, etc. I now take Synthroid and a product called Thyroid Energy by the NOW line. It has helped me a ton! She also has me on adrenal support and some other vitamins....D and B....
You have to keep trying. Stop the Thyroid Madness is a good reference. Be your own doctor...your own scientist. Don't give up. Eating low-fat plant based will help, but it's not the cure. You need to couple this way of eating with the right meds. Together, the two are powerful.
I was honored to attend one of Dr. Esselstyn's lectures last year. I asked him about thyroid and medicine (because I really didn't want to be on anything) and he said I needed to take it as my body didn't produce the hormone correctly. I have listened to that advice. It seems solid. And so far, he's been right.
You need to keep searching. Keep on your quest. Listen to that still small voice inside. let it lead you in the right path.
Be encouraged! And start each day with an attitude of gratitude for what you've got. If you started a list of all the things that are good in life...it would be endless.
Hang in there!!! I'm gonna say a prayer for you today!!