Dear Kim,
Your mother cut the wires to the doorbell by having the thyroid treatment 7 years ago. Now the neigbor who was ringing the doorbell back then, to tell her that her house was on fire, is banging on the door. If she doesn't listen this time, it is likely that her house will burn down.
Her treatment did NOTHING about why she had what she had.
If you think she is willing to learn something new, consider having her read about all the thyroid conditions in the
Graves' Disease: Alternatives to RAI
ALL thyroid conditions have the same basic causes. How it shows up in the individual is due to that person's genetic makeup NOT due to any different cause. The approaches & explanations are the same with every one of them.
THEN, if she is ready to learn enoough to "put out the fire" have her write with any more questions. YOU cannot do this for HER!
Walt
Dear Dr. Stoll,
I have fibromyalgia and was diagnosed with euthyroid Grave's eye disease 18 months ago. For the last 15 months I have followed your recommendation of the perfect whole food diet, meditation for 20 minutes 3 times daily, and aerobic exercise for 20 minutes 3 times weekly. There has been significant improvement in the crossing of my eyes and double vision, but the other problems of bulging, swelling, redness and watering remain. After a recent MRI, my opthamologist has now changed the diagnosis to Cavernous Sinus Fistula. Are you familiar with this rather rare condition? It has been suggested that I have an angiogram to determine the exact severity and treatibility of the fistula. Is this risky? The various treatments for the fistula sound frightening. The antibody test which was ppositive for Graves is a puzzle to the doctor. He says it is unlikely but possible that I have both Graves and the fistula. What do you think? Do you have any ideas for holistic/natural treatment for the fistula? I plan to continue with a slightly liberalized whole food diet, the relaxations and exercise. Thank You.
In Reply to: Eye Problems posted by Mary on June 04, 1998 at 13:28:00:
Dr, I have hypothyroidism and recently I can't read a book or anything for that matter.It appears to be getting worse.I am over 40 but have had very good eyesite over the years.I was very good at looking and drawing with close details.Know it is very frustrating for me.Is there some connection with the thyroid and eyesite or am I barking up the wrong tree?
Thanks for the help.
In Reply to: Re: Eye Problems posted by ETaylor on June 23, 1998 at 01:54:57:
Dear E.,
Endocrinopathy is one of the known accelerators of aging. ANY glandular problem is basically a form of endocrinopathy. Diabetes is a pancreatic (glandular) problem and thus an endocrinopathy. The aging connection has been known with THIS one for many years. The thyroid is a gland & thus would have the same problems.
Your vision changes are the very ones that nearly every human in this culture gets in their 40s. You are getting it in your early 40s because of the thyroid problem.
The solution to this is to learn about wellness & reverse the causes of your thyroid condition. If you need help finding the discussions about this on this BB, write again. It has been discussed MANY times over the past years and many of those discussions have been archived.
I have seen MANY people reverse these ocular changes for an average of 10-15 years by dealing with their basic condition.
Walt
In Reply to: Eye Problems posted by Mary on June 04, 1998 at 13:28:00:
Dear Mary,
The fistula is a bad disease & you need to prove that it is not there by progressing with the examination.
It is unlikely that your Graves results and the fistula are related other than the genetic susceptibility for problems in the area. Since you cannot do anything about your genetic susceptibility you still need to focus on what you are already doing. That wellness approach will not resolve the fistula but will greatly improve your chances of having a positive outcome from the surgery.
Get busy being as compulsive as you can about your program until at least a month after your surgery (should your diagnosis be confirmed). THEN, you could let up a LITTLE till the Graves has been gone for at least 6 months.
You made no mention of your fibromyalgia. I am assuming that is because you no longer have it. It should have been gone within 6-12 months of your doing the program you listed. Although it could have been linked to the same process as your Graves, it would have nothing to do with your fistula (which we both hope is not there). If there is no fistula, we are going to have to try to figure out why you still have any symptoms.
Walt
Hi Dr Stoll
In my search for improving my energy levels I have been reading about under active thyroid glands. I have a basal temperature which averages at 96.1 degrees - I have read that the expected range is 97.? - 98.?
Does this mean that my thyroid is under performing?
Any comments would be gratefully received.
annie
Georgie
In Reply to: Basal Temperature posted by annie on June 09, 1998 at 08:04:14:
Dear Annie,
It well may mean that. I would have to know how you check your temperature. Also, remember that basal temperature has a Bell Curve just like everything else.
About 10% of all "normal" people would have the temp you are describing.
Even if this DOES mean that you are operating with a stressed thyroid, where is that coming from? The only thing that causes that is an overactive hypothalamic fight or flight storage.
You could, even if your thyroid were stressed enough that it could no longer keep up perfectly, take some synthroid for a while to feel better. However, without dealing with the hypothalamic overload, you will just further suppress the function your thyroid has left. For a short time that wouldn't be bad. If you deal with the hypothalamus, it wouldn't TAKE very long. There are several chapters in my book that deal with that.
Walt
I have Hypothyroidism and am currently taking Synthroid .175 mg daily. I was wondering if there is a natural supplement that could be taken in place of this medicine. And if so, what amount?
Thank you for your comments.
In Reply to: Re: Natural Cures posted by Tracy Allen on June 09, 1998 at 11:51:12:
Tracy,
Since you jumped onto the board from a post on April 5th, you are probably new to the site. While you are waiting for an answer, click on the FAQ above or below on this window. Explore the whole site to get a feel of what it is about. By all means go to the archives and read what is saved under "Graves" *(thyroid).
Jim
In Reply to: Re: Natural Cures posted by Tracy Allen on June 09, 1998 at 11:51:12:
Dear Tracy,
The only solution I know of is to become a student of a serious "wellness" program. It is not as easy as popping a pill but it works infinitely better.
Walt
Have you gone to a Graves eye specialist? You should be able to find one in a large eye surgeons office. I am not a doctor but until you get to one you might want to try keeping your eyes well lubricated - my eye doctor recommended Celluvix and Replense (Alcore product). These are non irritating and very soothing. Never use Visine (get the red out products)- that will increase the eye dryness. (I have Graves eyes too)
Good Luck.
In Reply to: Re: Graves Opthalmopathy posted by Vivian Williams on June 21, 1998 at 12:03:25:
Dear Vivian,
Why not just get rid of this problem?
You have not been told of all of your options or you would no longer have any of it.
When you get interested in learning what I am talking about, use the link: Graves archives.
Then read everything you can find about all thyroiid conditions (since they are all caused by the same mechanisms). Read the resources referenced too.
THEN, if you still have questions, write again. Knowledge will set you free!
Walt
I am supposed to have Grave's disease but I don't fit any
of the bulging eye or muscle symptoms. One endocrinolgist
says that I have high levels of ANAS and this is the reason
she suspects Grave's disease. My problem is that I have
gained 66 lbs in less than 6 months and it doesn't seem to
be leveling off. Am going to Johns Hopkins for an evaluation but does anyone else have this as a symptom?
In Reply to: Re: Grave's Disease info posted by Piaf on June 21, 1998 at 20:28:40:
Dear Piaf,
You desperately need to know more about what is known about the causes of this condition before you throw yourself on the tender mercies of Johns Hopkins. Knowledge can never hurt you!
Most people with Graves do not have the eye changes!
First, use the link: Graves archives. Then read everything you can find about any thyroid condition since they are all caused by the same mechanisms. Your genetic susceptibility will determine which kind of thyroid condition you will get from those causes.
Then, yoiu would find that Dr Pelletier's classic was writtren about you and you should read it about a dozen times: "Mind as Healer, Mind as Slayer". THEN, when you are ready to do something about it, read a copy of MY book (link on this page).
If you still have questions then, write again. As you get well, please share your experiences with the bb participants. Just think how many others you can save from going through what you are presently experiencing?
Walt
My husband John has been diagnosed with hypothroidism. The doctors keep increasing the level of ihs medication but the thyroid level(?) does not come down. He was first given the medication in October of 1997. Since then the medicine level has been increased every three months. His thyroid level at his last test was 12. something. I am not sure of the exact level. His medicine is synthyroid(sp?). The medicine level is .250 milligrams. My question is why would his thyroid be going up so high? Is there something that we can do to keep the thyroid condition from getting worse? We ahve been following all of the instructions that his doctor has given us. We would like to know if there is anything else that we can do. His weight has increased a great deal due in part to the thyroid problem. We are concerned about how all of this could affect his heart. He is having a hard time breathing. The heat in our community is not helping. Please share any information that you may have. This condition really has us worried.
Thank you,
Susan Treuil
In Reply to: hypothyroidism posted by susan treuil on June 22, 1998 at 20:21:30:
Dear Susan,
Both you and your husband need a lot more information!
Use the link: Graves archives and read everything you can find about ANY thyroid condition (since they are ALL caused by the same causes--
it is the genetic propensity of the individual that determines what kind of thyroid diagnosis will come up NOT the causes). Be sure to read the 2 references listed there as well if you really need to understand it at a greater depth (very desirable).
THEN, if you still have questions, write again.
Walt
please help me if you have the answers,over the last 2 weeks i have been having massave panic attack like symtoms . 5 yaers ago i i was treated for graves disease i had 2 iodine treatments and lately i have been having these attacks? it makes me very nervous,i feel like im dieing,has any body had this happen to the w/ graves? my doctor has taking me off synthroid for 1 month then i have to go in for a scan to see if my graves is starting up again?if anybody can help please e.mail ..thanks nino
In Reply to: thyriod posted by nino on June 25, 1998 at 21:57:52:
Deara Nino,
This is a perfect example of why cutting off the tip of the icegerg by killing the thyroid will never resolve WHY you have it. Your panic attacks are directly caused by the same thing that caused your Graves.
Go to the link: Graves archives and read everything you can find about ANY thyroid condition (since they are ALL caused by the same mechanisms). Be sure to read the references listed. THEN, if you still have questions, write again.
You really only have 2 options here: LEARN about this so the iceberg will be dealt with OR, continue to deal with each tip as it shows up for the rest of your life.
Walt