> Great followup on "Kurt" - except it doesn't address any of the relevant points I raised. The doc in question is a cardiologist, makes inaccurate statements about hormonal therapy, uses testimonials instead of hard evidence and promotes a form of home lab testing in which he apparently has a financial interest, and which sounds highly dubious as to accuracy of results ... You are welcome to look at a clinical experience backed up by lab results as mere 'testimonials' - I think that there is a demonstrated link between low T3/T4 and elevated cholesterol, and I think that in many people, correcting an iodine deficiency is enough to restore the T3 and TSH levels to normal.... which is why I posted a link to that. As to his financial interests in the products he advocates, I don't know and don't pretend to know. On the radio yesterday, there was a discussion about doctors who make hundreds of thousands of dollars referring their patients to imaging clinics they own ... that type of possible conflict of interest seems to be rather common, and the medical boards don't seem interested in taking any action to stop it. I would not be surprised if "Kurt" actually does believe that levels of hormones like T3 and vitamin D and testosterone can be important in the development of heart disease, and that the testing is an accurate, cost-effective way to identify whether or not there might be a problem with any of these. But you would have to ask him. >> It remains true that taking iodine supplements is not the way to treat Hashimoto's thyroiditis - and could even be harmful. We have already established that large amounts of iodine can have negative effects - there is no dispute there. Where we have not agreed is related to smaller doses - it is my position that iodine deficiency can make any form of hypothyroidism worse, and reasonable amounts of iodine may be useful for some with hypothyroidism. Nope, we don't know that coconut oil had any effect in this regard. Beyond the unreliability of testimonial evidence in general ... Look, Magoo, the literature review I linked to above is not 'testimonials' - it was put together from dozens of studies related to MCTs and coconut oil - it found these compounds can in fact increase metabolic rate ... the shorter chain compounds enter cells without need for transport, and they burn faster and hotter than other fats. That word 'testimonial' seems to hold magical import in your psyche - you apparently think that calling any argument you disagree with a 'testimonial' proves that it is untrue (even when it is not even a testimonial)! This has nothing to do with the unreliability of testimonies - it is about an individual patient adjusting their lifestyle to feel better - a big difference, but something you can't understand since it is all so abstract and by the book for you. You deny that the patient can be aware of their own condition, or do anything constructive about their...

Hi there...popping in to conversations this evening. I'm hypo, but my issue is different. TSH tells your body to make T4 T4 converts to T3 and Reverse T3 T3 is works at the molecular level in your body. In the US, most doctors will tell you that Reverse T3 has no impact. Others will tell you that R T3 will impart your body's ability to absorb and use T3. So back to me....I don't convert T4 to T3 well. When I Finally found someone who would treat me, my RT3 was through the roof and my T3 was really low. My TSH and T4 were borderline. I was exhausted and had gained a lot of weight - including a 20lb weight gain over less than three months. I actually went to an endocrinologist who told me he could see something was wrong, but couldn't treat me because my TSH and T4 were both borderline normal. It took 10 years to find someone who would look beyond the standard tests and help me. I am on a compounded T3 only. T3 has a short uptake, so many doctors who prescribe it will have you get a compounded sustained release formula. I've tried Armour and supplementing with T4 with no benefits. It is also not uncommon for hypo patients to also be low D and B. Here are some resources that helped me finally understand the condition. Mary Shomon is a thyroid advocate and has written many books on the subject. Google her for a link to her website. Her site lead me to Holtorf Medical Group in Torrance, CA. Their website is Holtorfmed.com. This is where I first started getting treated. My only caution is that while they were more aggressive with testing and research, he seems to be pushing for the money and I was less impressed with the other doctors in the practice. That being said, the website has very valuable information.

My 6 yr old dachshund began bleeding from her mouth so we took her to the vet who initially diagnosed her as gums bleeding as her teeth were due for cleaning along with an abscess. She continued to bleed some from her mouth thru the night and on the following day she was brought in for teeth cleaning. On the day following her teeth cleaning, we again noticed blood at her mouth and now in her urine. She was drinking some water and she ate a little but then vomited some blood so once again we brought her in to the Vet and was advised that she likely had been poisoned or had an autoimmune disease and that we ahould bring her immediately to LSU Veterinary Hospital. Got there, stabilized her and diagnosed her with ITP and kept her in ICU overnight. Less than 12 hrs later, received a call that she died as her bleeding could not be controlled. This occurred over a 4 day period.

I felt "almost" normal today. I started with Trader Joe's version of Cheerios with almond milk, after taking a Pepcid Complete. For lunch, I went to my neighborhood Thai restaurant, where I'm a regular. They made a vegetarian coconut soup with ginger for me. It really soothed my stomach. They also made a white meat chicken with veggies for me--only stomach-friendly veggies and a light sauce, no spice, low sodium -- with white rice. It felt great to eat a real meal! It sat well with me, but I didn't overeat. I was careful. I didn't snack all afternoon because I was able to eat lunch. I had some cranberry juice mid-afternoon and that's supposed to be good for gastritis. For dinner, I went back to the protein bar and shake to keep it nutritional, but light. I drank mostly water today and ginger tea. Only one small Gatorade after breakfast. Water is usually difficult for me early in the morning. Thanks for all the tips.