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Thyroid Dysfunction With Medication or Vaccine Induced Demyelinating Diseases

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thyroid demyelination

It is always amazing to me when seemingly disparate research articles come across my desk and within an instant there is a shift in understanding. That is what happened over the last two weeks, community members from different disease groups shared research articles. From the Gardasil community: CNS Demyelination and Quadrivalent HPV Vaccination .  From our friends at Thyroid Change: Triiodothyronine Administration Ameliorates the Demyelination/Remyelination Ratio in a Non-Human Primate Model of Multiple Sclerosis by Correcting Tissue Hypothyroidism. And I connected some dots.

Thyroid and Neuromuscular Reactions to Gardasil and Lupron

Among the more common side-effects reported by Gardasil injured and a group we are just beginning to study, Lupron injured women, include decreased thyroid function, sometimes associated with Hashimoto’s, thyrotoxicosis or even thyroid cancer. Simultaneously, but frequently viewed as separate or unrelated disease processes, both groups of women report a constellation of neurological and neuromuscular symptoms, many consistent with demyelinating disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Indeed, case reports of central nervous system (CNS) demyelination or MS and Gardasil have been reported (cited above). There may be a connection between the demyelination process and the thyroid injury that develops as an adverse immune response to a drug or vaccine. More importantly, there may be a treatment opportunity.

Thyroid Hormones Affect Myelination

Almost a decade of research conducted solely in animals, rodents and monkeys, shows a connection between decreased thyroid function and demyelination disorders. Specifically, researchers found that administration of the thyroid hormone triiodothyronine (T3) not only improves the clinical course of the MS – like symptoms but effectively switches the disease process from a primarily demyelinating progression to remyelination. That is, the T3 induces cell level responses that regrow the protective myelin sheaths around CNS axons and corrects the medication-induced, tissue level, hypothyroidism. For the young women experiencing the host of neurological and neuromuscular symptoms post HPV vaccine, Gardasil or Cervarix, and/or post Lupron, this research may point to both an etiology and a treatment opportunity – disrupted thyroid metabolism mediated by an inflammatory reaction and T3 supplementation, respectively.

Dysregulated Thyroid in Critical and Chronic Illness

Vast amounts of research show a connection between thyroid function and critical and chronic illness. Hypothyroidism is common in what are otherwise considered ‘euthryoid’ or ‘normal’ thyroid individuals, but whose physiology is so severely stressed by disease or injury, thyroid function is affected. The presentation of diminished thyroid function during severe or chronic illness of unrelated etiology is often difficult to determine and its treatment is controversial. In these cases, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is within the normal range in all but about 10% of patients and thyroxine (T4) may or may not be reduced. If and when further analysis is completed, T3, however, is often shown to be significantly diminished, the T4/T3 ratio is larger, reverse T3 (rT3), the T3 deactivating hormone is increased, while the enzymes responsible for converting T4 to T3 are reduced; clear evidence of disrupted thyroid metabolism that can be missed with traditional testing.

With the mixed laboratory presentation and evidence that supplementing with levothyroxine (synthetic T4) does little to improve patient outcomes, treating illness induced thyroid dysfunction is controversial, many physicians and medical organizations argue against treatment. Indeed, even in primary hypothyroidism, treatment with anything other than levothyroxine – T4 is controversial. Perhaps it shouldn’t be. The evidence reported in these animal studies, clearly indicates, T3 dysfunction and consequent supplementation controls the demyelination and remyelination process at the cell level and may improve clinical outcomes.  In this research, T3 supplementation also improved T4 levels without a concomitant onset of hyperthyroidism, the reason often cited for not utilizing T3.

What This Means

If you or your child are suffering with the constellation of symptoms associated with an inflammatory nerve disease such as multiple sclerosis and/or if you have known hypothyroid symptoms in combination with undiagnosed neuromuscular symptoms, it’s time to connect the dots. The two may be related and may require T3 supplementation. Whether these symptoms were initiated with an adverse reaction to a medication such as Lupron, a vaccine such as Gardasil or Cervarix, or by some other process entirely, the research presented here clearly suggests a role for T3 in the array of symptoms associated hypothyroid disease and CNS demyelinating diseases.

Some of the symptoms associated with MS include:

  • Vision problems (optic neuritis)
  • Numbness or tingling of the face, arms, legs
  • Chronic, unexplained pain
  • Muscle spasms – painful muscle contractions
  • Uncontrollable, often painful jerking of the arms or legs
  • Extreme fatigue and weakness
  • Dizziness
  • Vertigo (spinning)
  • Balance or gait (walking) problems
  • Hearing problems or loss
  • Seizures
  • Uncontrollable shaking
  • Breathing problems
  • Slurred speech
  • Trouble swallowing
  • Dysfunctional bladder urinating frequently, strong urges to urinate, or inability to hold in urine
  • Bowel problems – constipation, diarrhea, or loss of bowel control
  • Memory problems
  • Concentration problems
  • Language/speaking
  • Depression
  • Rapidly switching moods
  • Uncontrollable moods
  • Inappropriate moods

These symptoms have been noted in post Gardasil or Cervarix reactions, and as we are learning, in post Lupron reactions as well.  Even though these are two entirely different medications with entirely different mechanisms of action, the core reaction illness that ensues is inflammatory and often attacks the thyroid. When the thyroid is compromised, a range of other pathophysiological processes emerge, including demyelination. Certainly, additional research is warranted, but in the absence of time, and in the face of great suffering, T3 testing and supplementation may be indicated.

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Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash.

This article was published previously on Hormones Matter in August 2013.

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Thyroid Hormones and Cardiovascular Function: New Research, New Neurons

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Thyroid dysfunction affects approximately 12% of the US population and up to 30% of the world population, especially in iodine deficient regions.  According to the American Thyroid Association, women are eight times more likely to have thyroid disease than men and up to 60% of those with thyroid disease may be undiagnosed. The thyroid gland, located in base of the neck, produces two primary hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) that travel throughout the body and bind to thyroid receptors that then control a myriad of physiological processes including temperature regulation, skeletal muscle, fat metabolism and cardiovascular function. Thyroid hormones also impact brain function and are linked to a range of neuropsychological functions including cognition, depression, anxiety and even psychosis.

Hypothalamic Pituitary Thyroid Axis

The thyroid hormones are controlled from a region in the brain about the size of an almond called the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is the master regulator for all hormone systems and hormone related activity including feeding, sleeping, reproduction, fight, flight, energy usage – basically every aspect of human and animal survival. It sits at the interface between the central nervous system functioning and the endocrine system functioning.

To regulate thyroid function, the hypothalamus releases a hormone called thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), which signals the pituitary gland to release thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). TSH then activates the thyroid gland to produce and release thyroxine or T4.  If all is well, T4 is converted to T3, which then binds to thyroid receptors located throughout the body and thyroid modulated functions are regulated appropriately. Too much or not enough circulating thyroid hormones, because of their broad reaching effects can, and often do, destabilize homeostatic balance throughout the body.

Thyroid Hormones and Cardiovascular Function

Thyroid hormones have a profound effect on cardiovascular function. Hyperthyroidism evokes heart palpitations, tachycardia, and high blood pressure. While hypothyroidism, elicits bradycardia and low blood pressure consistent with its slowing of metabolism in general. These effects were believed to be mediated solely through the thyroid hormone – thyroid receptor complex on the heart itself. New research shows that there may be an additional, more direct route for thyroid control of cardiovascular function – the brain’s autonomic system.

Researchers have identified a new set neurons in the anterior hypothalamus that suggest a site for central nervous system – autonomic control of thyroid mediated cardiovascular function. That is, these neurons directly control heart rate and blood pressure.

Anterior Hypothalamic Neurons Contain Thyroid Receptors

For over 50 years, researchers have known that lesions to this region of the hypothalamus cause heart rate and blood pressure to skyrocket. Conversely, stimulation causes heart rate and blood pressure to drop. What they didn’t know is how neurons in the anterior hypothalamus controlled cardiovascular function. It turns out, there are thyroid receptors in a set of nuclei called the parvalbuminergic neurons that directly control cardiovascular function. Mutations that specifically affect those thyroid receptors in the parvalbumiergic neurons have drastic affects on heart rate, blood pressure and thermosensation – the ability to sense temperature change and regulate the body’s response accordingly.

In the present study, mutations to the thyroid receptors located on the parvalbumiergic neurons in the anterior hypothalamus directly altered cardiovascular function, suggesting direct and specific autonomic control of cardiovascular function. The mutation to these thyroid receptors evoked high blood pressure and elevated heart rate in conjunction with thermosensation and in states of hypothyroidism. That is, temperature change evoked the cardiovascular effects. When animals with the defunct thyroid receptor in the anterior hypothalamus were exposed to cold, heart rate and blood pressure skyrocketed. In conditions where the ambient temperature was normal, only minimal tachycardia was observed. Since hypothyroid patients have difficulty maintaining core body heat, finding an association between cold exposure and impaired cardiovascular functioning, was particularly interesting.

Hypothyroidism, is not normally normally considered a risk for high blood pressure and high heart rate, at least initially. As other systems, affected by low thyroid hormones become damaged, however, high blood pressure can emerge.  The data from this study suggest a direct mechanism for high blood pressure in some hypothyroid patients. The mutation affecting the thyroid receptors in the hypothalamic neurons can elicit increased heart rate and blood pressure relative to cold exposure, irrespective of circulating thyroid hormone concentrations, adding yet another layer of complexity to thyroid disease management.

 

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A Call for Improved Thyroid Treatment Options

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ThyroidChange

Did you know that there is a controversy regarding the treatment of thyroid disease? Harvard Health estimates that more than 12 million Americans have thyroid disease, many of whom don’t even realize it. Thyroid patients insist that current treatment standards leave too many patients suffering from a lack of diagnosis or ineffective treatment. Both patient populations are left with a diminished quality of life, yet there are few doctors willing to step outside of the current guidelines. In an effort to change this situation a team of patients created ThyroidChange, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the treatment of thyroid disease.

What is Thyroid Dysfunction?

The thyroid is a gland in your body which is located at the base of your neck. Go ahead, touch it! Just above your collar bone and just below your “Adam’s apple.” This gland is shaped like a butterfly with two lobes which stretch around your trachea – hence its nickname the butterfly gland. This gland is key to your body’s metabolism. The hormones it secretes kick-start the energy in every cell of your body like a spark plug in your engine or flint to a match. Without appropriate amounts of thyroid hormones, whether too high or too low, the function of your body is greatly impacted. There are over 300 symptoms of insufficient thyroid hormone and they represent dysfunction in every major organ. Thyroid dysfunction is so common that you or someone you know is probably impacted or will be in the future.

Thyroid hormone is a broad term. The thyroid secretes many hormones, but the two most important for this conversation are thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). The pituitary gland located in your brain senses the level of hormones in that area of your brain, and sends out thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) which excites your thyroid and causes it to release hormones. T3 is used immediately by various cells and T4 is called the storage hormone because it cannot be used by the cells. It is stored to later be converted to the useable and valuable T3. When a patient does not have sufficient levels of T3 in their blood stream, physicians expect a patient’s TSH level to increase, demonstrating the demand for more hormone by the pituitary gland. If a patient’s thyroid is producing too many hormones, the TSH lab value should decrease to tell it to “decelerate” its production.

An individual whose thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone is hyperthyroid. Some patients are rendered hyperthyroid due to an autoimmune disease called Graves’. One can also have cancer of the thyroid gland. Treatments for these can vary, but inevitably it leads to a lifetime of hypothyroidism.

One who has insufficient T3 available to their cells is called hypothyroid. The leading cause of insufficient thyroid hormone is the autoimmune disease, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. This disease causes one’s own body attacks their thyroid gland making it inefficient.

What is the Current Treatment standard? Why is it Flawed?

The flawed TSH test is used to diagnose and treat individuals. A physician will run the TSH and if the value is above a particular threshold, the physician will declare a patient hypothyroid. The physician will usually prescribe levothyroxine which is synthetic T4. The dosage will be determined by the TSH lab value. Once it hits a number determined by the physician, the patient will be determined as “euthyroid” or “good as new.”

How many disorders are you aware of that have one lab test and one prescribed treatment? Even though there is research demonstrating that the TSH lab test is flawed and that there are alternative treatments to effectively treat thyroid disease, thyroid patients have difficulty accessing these research-proven methods. We have not even begun to discuss that a majority of hypothyroidism is caused by an autoimmune disease that is seen as insignificant and is not necessarily tested for when a patient is being treated for the resulting hormone imbalance.

What is the Change Being Sought by Thyroid Patients?

One can plainly see that current treatments are solely based on T4 substitution and the ability of an individual’s body to convert the prescribed hormone to the active hormone T3. Patient experience shows that if a patient continues to complain about lingering symptoms, physicians focus on current guidelines which promote the flawed TSH lab value instead of drawing additional labs. This further testing may well demonstrate that a patient is lacking the necessary T3 to function properly, but as so few physicians are willing to perform this, many patients continue to suffer.

In a person with low Free T3, raising T4 doses will not alleviate symptoms. These patients are often prescribed drugs such as antidepressants and cholesterol-lowering drugs to mask the symptoms of insufficient T3. (If you are on one of these medications, have you had your thyroid tested? If you are on thyroid medication, have you had your Free T3 tested?). Adding medications increases side effects and does not restore balance to the patient’s hormones. Simple blood tests can demonstrate to a physician why symptoms persist after the employment of current treatment guidelines. Tests such as Free T4 and Free T3 can indicate how much Free and useable T4 and T3 are in a person’s bloodstream. These tests in combination with antibody testing can help to shed light on a patient’s persistent symptoms.

As per the current guidelines in the treatment of hypothyroidism, based on TSH testing most patients are sufficiently relieved of their symptoms by T4-only treatment. Those who are not in the majority are left to struggle for a doctor willing to listen and run extended lab tests. Complicating this further, many doctors and patients are not only unaware of additional lab work, but also of the many treatment options that one can use to treat thyroid disease.

Levothyroxine or synthetic T4 will restore health in some patients. There are also various T3-containing treatment options such as natural thyroid extract and synthetic T3 which can be used to supplement or substitute T4 treatment. Each patient is unique. We need to make sure that each patient has access to the treatment approach to best restore his or her health. ThyroidChange is about patients advocating for other patients.

Who is ThyroidChange?

ThyroidChange is a nonprofit organization advocating for the use of extended lab testing (Free T4, Free T3, TSH, Reverse T3 and thyroid antibodies) and access to various treatment options to suit the individual patient. We host a petition to appeal for such changes and this has garnered more than 16,000 signatures worldwide, demonstrating that there is indeed a genuine need for change in thyroid treatment. Our community unites patient advocacy groups in an effort to gain better care for thyroid patients and to raise awareness of this widespread problem. ThyroidChange also aims to work with medical oversight agencies in order to create a unified standard of care for thyroid patients to increase patient access to effective, modern treatment.

Please help this effort by visiting www.ThyroidChange.org to sign the petition and unite for better thyroid care, or contact ThyroidChange to discuss how you can support this initiative.

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From Chrysalis to Butterfly: My Thyroid Journey

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Change is something that we fear
And yet we’re happy when it’s here
It may rob you of all that’s dear
But is often more positive than it may appear

Progress is another game
That’s just change by another name
If we open up our heart and mind
We’ll know treasures of a different kind

The word change is often something that people tend to shy away from, partly because it carries an air of uncertainty, but also because it is associated with a great deal of hard work! Sometimes we know that change has to come and that we have to proactively change something and in such cases we may feel as if we hold the reins, but there are also times when change is thrust upon us and it is up to us what we make of it.

We may struggle to accept the fact that we are capable of adapting to many different situations because, as I wrote above, change scares us. But sometimes it can help us to reap unexpected rewards. In the case of many of the people reading this (myself included), change was thrust upon us in the form of a chronic illness: thyroid disease. Many of us were uncertain what we were dealing with upon our diagnosis and once we were finally diagnosed we were angry and resisted this change – Why me? This isn’t fair! What now?

But when we get sick we have to go through a period of acceptance and realize that we have been presented with a challenge to overcome, whether we like it or not. While faced with these uncertainties and fears, it is okay to mourn the passing of our good health and it is also alright to be emotional and angry – in fact, letting out our emotions and possibly talking to others in the same situation can help us to move on and proactively tackle the life cards we have been dealt. Chronic illness is definitely about acceptance and it’s all about redefining what “getting better” means to you because sometimes it is about the acceptance of realizing that when you are better you may still be changed and different, but learning to live with this and love yourself regardless.

As you will know, the thyroid resembles the shape of a butterfly and, like a chrysalis chronic illness, forces us to go through a transformation. Make no mistake: There will be roadblocks along the way. There will be times when you stumble and fall and feel like you are never going to get up again, but you will and you will probably be wiser and stronger for it, as well as better able to deal with the next roadblock that comes along, even if at times those roadblocks start to look awfully familiar!

In my poem above, I doubt that any of us would agree with the second line – nobody is going to welcome chronic illness with open arms. We’d prefer to tell it to “piss off!”, but down the line some of us will look back and be happy that we have come this far. Many have commented that their diagnosis has improved their life by making them more aware of their health, making them more empathic towards others and allowing them to make a whole host of wonderful friends. Indeed, these points resonate with me, particularly the last one. We moved back to the US in December of 2011 and since that time we’ve been taking the opportunity to meet up with many of my online thyroid friends – it’s been a blast and has meant that we’ve felt a lot less alone than we would have otherwise. Pre thyroid diagnosis I knew little to nothing about health and medicine and now I feel much more in control of my own body, even if it doesn’t always cooperate!

Change is a very emotive word that can come about in a variety of ways. Many people argue that without change there would be no progress and yet others are afraid of the word and avoid it as much as possible. Some people however don’t have this choice and find that change is thrust upon them – through a change in lifestyle due to a necessary move; by splitting up with or losing a loved one; by losing a job and being forced to change careers; by falling ill and having to take time out to recuperate and ultimately re-evalute our life and what we want from it; by discovering an unexpected gift and feeling the need to develop this; by welcoming a new member to our family …

I personally have experienced all these situations and more and the one lesson I have learned time and again is this: it is not about the change itself; it is about one’s attitude to said change and how you deal with it. Positivity and optimism (even when it might seem difficult) can go a long way to turning even the most negative of changes into something positive, albeit at first glance these changes might make us feel as if we are doomed.

Moving, as scary and trepidating as it might seem, particularly if the move is not a voluntary one, can be seen as an opportunity to explore a new place and broaden our horizons. My husband and I lived in Germany for many years, a country where we rarely felt at home, but looking back I believe that the majority of expats (us included) would say that they don’t regret living abroad because it truly broadens your horizons and your intercultural skills.

I can remember splitting up with past partners as I recall the deep pain I experienced by severing that bond, but I personally believe that if a relationship is meant to be both parties will either mutually make the effort to work it out, e.g. through marital counseling, taking a time out and then resuming the relationship or, alternatively, if it is not meant to be, you will move on to a new and more harmonious beginning. When I broke up with one of my exes M, it was an extremely painful time, but looking back it was also liberating because I was forced to come to the painful realization that we were not right together and I was finally liberated to be myself rather than someone he thought he could mold me into. I was ultimately free to go ahead and live my life and eventually meet my husband Corey who truly accepts me for who I am.

When it comes to jobs, about 10 years ago I did an internship in PR and marketing and was unfairly bullied and consequently ended up prematurely quitting my position. I was in a panic as to what would come next and how on earth I was going to drum up enough money to pay my rent in a foreign country. But within just a short time, what seemed a curse had turned into a blessing. During my internship, I had realized that I was a talented translator and so after I left that company that is the career I ended up pursuing and was soon earning many times more than I had been at the poorly paid, exploitative internship and felt much more appreciated and fulfilled.

A few years after that, thyroid disease forced me to slow down and smell the daisies. Since I was a little girl, I’ve had a passion for writing, but in recent years have had trouble coming up with inspiration for things to write about. I realized a long time ago that I like helping others, but how to go about it? When I fell ill, I was given the answer. I was given the opportunity to turn a negative experience into a positive one by sharing my experiences with others in my situation and putting pen to paper was a cathartic and therapeutic experience that taught me about how I was feeling and also enabled me to mentally heal and get past certain blocks that had previously hindered my path.

These are just a few examples of how something that is initially perceived as a negative change can in fact be turned into a positive change and how we have the power in our own hands to do this! It requires us to believe in ourselves and realize that sometimes we have to expect the unexpected. As human beings, we are very skilled at adaptation and transformation – like Andersen’s ugly ducking (who was modeled on himself, by the way), we do have the power to become a shining swan; like Hank Morgan, Mark Twain’s Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, we can adapt to the craziest of situations and as a chrysalis we can turn into a butterfly – a thyroid butterfly in all its gorgeous colors! ThyroidChange itself is a prime example of how a few people have the power to inspire others by taking a dream and making it happen. As weak as each of us may feel at times, together we are a powerful resource and support for each other. There is no need for us to accept the status quo because, as others before us have proven, we have the power to change it if we only try.

About the author: A long-time writer and blogger, Sarah was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in August 2009. This inspired her to use her writing skills to help and encourage others in similar situations. She writes regularly for ThyroidChange. 

This article was posted previously on ThyroidChange and re-posted with permission.

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Iodine Deficiency and Thyroid Disease

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Iodine is an essential dietary element needed for proper thyroid function. In the US and many industrialized nations, dietary iodine is found in table salt – iodized salt. Without dietary iodine, hypothyroidism, goiter, weight gain, depression, fatigue ensue. Hypothyroidism, a result of iodine deficiency during pregnancy, is the leading cause of preventable mental retardation and neurological deficits in children.

In the US, approximately 10% of the population is iodine deficient while 50% of Europe is iodine deficient (Zimmerman 2009). Iodine deficiency has been increasing in the US, in women of reproductive age, 14.9% percent are potentially deficient (Hollowell et al. 1998). Similarly, the incidence of congenital hypothyroidism in newborns has also increased in the US over the last two decades (Parkes et al. 2010).

Iodine deficiency in women can lead to overt hypothyroidism and consequent annovulation, infertility, gestational hypertension, spontaneous first-trimester abortion, and stillbirth. Iodine deficiency is also associated with increased risk for thyroid carcinoma in animals and humans.

This deficiency is preventable through supplementation, but it must be identified first. Simple urine tests exist, but are not common in medical practice.

In the coming weeks, Lucine, in partnership with ThyroidChange and others, will be exploring thyroid disease in women. If you have been diagnosed with thyroid disease, tell us your story. We’d like to hear from you.

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The Thyroid-Fluoride Connection

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The Thyroid Pandemic

Are you one of the 27 million Americans suffering from a thyroid condition? Have you been told that you will have to be on medication for the rest of your life or get treated with a radioactive therapy to destroy your thyroid gland?

There is an increasing amount of disturbing evidence that one of the factors that could be causing the thyroid pandemic is the presence of fluoride in our drinking water. It’s not the only one but it certainly is one of them.

This should not be surprising. According to a 2006 report by the National Research Council of the National Academies, fluoride is “an endocrine disruptor in the broad sense of altering normal endocrine function.” You might have guessed it; the thyroid is part of the endocrine system.
What The Thyroid Does

The thyroid gland produces thyroid hormones, which are needed by every cell in our body. A shortage or excess of thyroid hormones throw us out of whack causing symptoms like interrupted metabolism (weight issues, fatigue), memory loss, depression, anxiety, hair loss, infertility, high blood pressure, constant joint pains and many more.

The thyroid gland binds with iodine to produce one of the thyroid hormones, called T4, also known as an inactive hormones (as it does not do much for us). T4 is then transported to the intestine and the liver where it gets converted to T3, the active hormone that our body is actually using to function properly.

Fluoride’s Interference With Iodine

We are now finding out that fluoride inhibits iodine’s ability to bind with the thyroid gland. This means if we drink water with high amounts of fluoride, our thyroid is interrupted and cannot produce enough T4. Insufficient T4 means insufficient T3. It is also believed that fluoride slows down the conversion of T4 to T3 hormone which could explain why in spite of being on medication like Synthroid many people feel far from well. Again, this could be just one reason amongst many others (such as toxic load of the person, poor diet, chronic stress, etc).

In the case of people with hyperthyroidism (excessive thyroid hormone production) you might think this is a desired outcome to see your thyroid function reduced. Well, not really. People with hyperthyroid are known to have a high level of toxicity from water, food, stress, heavy metals, as well as nutritional deficiency and imbalances. Ingestion of fluoride will make the toxicity and imbalances even worse, it’s therefore key to address the quality of drinking water too.

Even the Government Is Backing Off Fluoride Now

The fact that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has announced plans to lower the recommended level of fluoride in drinking water is showing us that the government is finally making the connection between our health, our thyroid and the water we are drinking.
Would I Get Tooth Decay?

Think of it this way: most countries in the world do not add fluoride to their drinking water and they don’t have tooth decay any more larger than we do. In fact, most of the European countries declared addition of fluoride to any food and liquid substances outright illegal. The United States is one of 8 countries in the world that still adds fluoride to its drinking water.
So, What Can I Do?

The truth is: removing fluoride from water is very difficult and expensive as the only commercially available filtration system is reverse osmosis. My recommendation therefore is: do what you can and get a water filter that reduces the amount of fluoride in your drinking water.

This article was contributed by: Magdalena Wszelaki, a Thyroid Diet Coach. Magdalena is a former Hashimoto’s patient, in remission now for a few years. She attributes much of her own, and her clients’ healing to detoxification of the body. She’s currently offering a series of free information about detox and thyroid health on www.ThyroidDetox.com.

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Blind Faith, No Longer Blinded: Tales of Thyroid Illness

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At 11-years-old, you hardly understand the complexities of life and the implication of any diagnosis. My doctor told me I had Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, and that it was insignificant… a pill, every day, and blood tests, every 6 months. Simple. My mother, a pediatric nurse, brought me to the best pediatric endocrinologist in the NYC area. With blind faith, I went about life veiled by ignorance about thyroid disease.

I professed my Hashimoto’s at every medical visit. Yet, it was never considered in any treatments. I was told I was depressed and prescribed anti-depressants. I had irregular periods and was prescribed birth control pills. I had dry hair and told it was from processing and products. My skin was like that of a crocodile. Must be genetics, as I shared so many similar behavioral, mood and medical similarities to my father. I accepted my genetic fate, but never once made the connection to our shared diagnosis of Hashimoto’s. That is, until the Hashimoto’s emerged and demanded recognition.

My doctors called it postpartum depression. I could not seem to manage my moods and anxiety, but I was not depressed. This was my third child and the baby weight was not coming off. Something was wrong, I could feel it in my soul. I was driven to research my disease. Soon, I realized all of my idiosyncrasies were symptoms of my “insignificant” disease and my hormone imbalance was distorting my reality.

In the 24 years since my diagnosis, the field of Endocrinology has improved the treatments of Hashimoto’s and other thyroid conditions, yet my treatment remained the same. I encountered countless others who also had their lives forever shifted due to these “insignificant” disorders, but I also discovered treatment options that alleviated those symptoms. My blind faith that my physician knew best dissolved. My doctor transformed into a human with flawed knowledge of a rapidly changing field, and from the once naive patient emerged a woman who refused to accept this was acceptable.

This shared experience with innumerable thyroid dysfunction patients also suffering from symptoms of a disease, yet labeled with minimizing terms such as depressed, mentally unstable and hypochondriacs. This motivated me to action. If we demonstrate and express our experience, if we grab the ear of our physicians who dedicate their lives to healing us – then I have faith we can change our future and heal the next generation. This new found faith inspired me to write, “Endocrinologists: Patients with Thyroid Dysfunction Demand Better Treatment.”

This international petition amassed over 3600 signatures from over 65 countries. It inspired, Denise Rodriguez, an amazing woman with a different, yet similar, thyroid journey, to shape and mold my raw petition into the amazing movement it is today (a little less than 3 months later). We just launched ThyroidChange™, a web-based initiative, to unite the voice of thyroid patients worldwide.

Hormones matter! I have faith that our voices, when strengthened with worldwide support, can change the future of thyroid care. Please join us on our journey.

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