Chat Archive

Welcome everyone to our first Q & A session.
Ironicus! Is that Roman for Ironic?

Hey Marc, yep, pretty much:-0 By the way, htis is Ross:-)

Incognito!

Yessir!

Hello!

Hi Jane! Welcome.

Hi there:-)
Jane, did you experience any difficulties getting into this chat room?

nope 🙂

Ok, thanks!

just gotta know what to do 😉

hello

Hi Pauletta! Welcome.

thanx

Hi Rana and Dee! Welcome.

hi
What is the topic tonight?

Tonight, I’d like to look at the 6 most common mistakes doctors make when treating Hashimoto’s.
Hi Minta, Welcome!
Well, its 6:04, so I think we’ll get started. Welcome everyone to tonight’s Q & A session!
If it’s ok with everyone I’d like to start out by briefly telling my story so you can see where I’m coming from and so that you can understand why I’m so passionate about this.

I’m all ears, lol 🙂

I like Jane

Lol! I’m a graduate of Cornell University and a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist. I’ve been in practice over 10 years and after the first few years I discovered a lot of what I learned in school just didn’t work in clinical practice.
So I searched and studied and searched and studied some more and finally discovered functional medicine. Functional medicine is kind of a hybrid of ancient Eastern wisdom combined with modern diagnostic techniques.
What it emphasizes is having an understanding of how the body works and uses diet, herbs and supplements to help balance and heal. And we also use diagnostic testing, like lab tests, etc. so that we can see if what we are doing is working.
What does this have to do with Hashimoto’s, you’re probably wondering.
Well, as fate and/or God would have it, my practice developed into one where I kept having more and more Hashimoto’s patients. And once I learned what to look for I started testing more and more people and finding that they also had Hashimoto’s. If my experience is any indication, I think that if everyone who presented with symptoms was tested properly, we would find a lot more people have Hashimoto’s than people realize. Over the years this has become my specialty.
And to make things even more interesting, I also have a history of autoimmune disease myself. 3 months ago, I discovered some nodules on my thyroid. I went to see an MD friend of mine and he sent me to have a thyroid ultrasound. It was scary because nodules in men could be cancer. We also ordered blood tests and because I have worked with so many patients over the years I knew what to order and ordered the tests myself ;).
Thank God, the nodules were not cancerous, but my antibodies were pretty high and I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s. So now, not only is it my speciality, its personal.
I’ve been joking with people lately saying its a blessing and a curse. A blessing because I really get it, and a curse because I really got it! 🙂 I am telling you all this because I want you to know that I am walking the path with you and I’m doing this because I really believe that my higher power has a plan for me and that is to be of service to you all.

🙂

Ok., let’s get started. We have a lot to cover and I thought what would be helpful for this Q & A would be some structure so it doesn’t descend into chaos. And I want you to know this is only the beginning of a long dialog, so whatever we don’t get to we will have an opportunity to explore in future meetings. Does that sound ok to everyone?

🙂

sounds great!

Awesome!
So, the topic for today is the 6 most common mistakes that doctors make in treating Hashimoto’s.
Mistake #1: Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune disease of the thyroid and most doctors, alternative care practitioners and other healthcare providers completely ignore the autoimmune part.

There are some people that are not able to get in.

I am helping them as we speak

<like>

<blush>

Hi Kilee! Welcome and thanks. And I just want to let everyone know that this whole thing will be archived and transcribed and will be available for the gropu.
Group. 😉

oh good!

And this is probably a good thing. Because messing around and stimulating or affecting the immune system can be a really bad thing with Hashimoto’s. This is an area that I’m obsessed with and, while I know something about it, I confess that there is a ton more to learn. Here’s a great link ( https://www.hashimotoshealing.com/hashimotos-is-an-autoimmune-disease-so-what-is-going-on-with-my-immune-system/) to a blog post I wrote that gives you a sense of what’s happening with the immune system and Hashimoto’s. Has anyone had a chance to read this?

Thank you

not yet but am bookmarking it !

me too.

i have read most of it, but i must admit it’s very technical for me
i have it bookmarked, too

It is a bit technical, I know. But it gives you a sense of what’s going on. And we will revisit this topic again. How many people have had their doctor or healthcare provider address their immune system when dealing with your Hashimoto’s?

nope

not sure….

Nope

My primary doc did nothing. I started seeing a naturalpathic that diagnosed hashimotos and is addressing my immune issues.

The doctor took test then he said you have graves disease & hashimotos then offer me to do RAI & I refused then he gave me medicine then send me off without any explaination I studied for 3 years in different books regarding that. I have came to know a lot of things now.

mine just said “here’s some synthroid” I said “I want armour” thats pretty much it.

Sad pretty much “The doctor doesn’t tell you what they doesn’t want you to know!!!!”

Great! It’s really important to address this because Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune condition and a thyroid condition. Most doctors are only trained to work on the thyroid.

I have had RAI and take synthroid

They just wanted easy way out & more money do RAI, or suregry then send you off. You stick with sickness for the rest of your life without any guidance.

My Dr refuses to order anything other than a TSH lab, so she is of no help. I had to order my own labs & found my vitamin D was low (5) & my immune system was a mess.

Make sense

mine says he’s a hashimoto’s specialist. i haven’t seen it. he won’t even talk to me about adrenal issues.
he does t3 & t4 but not reverse t3

Rana, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard something stories like yours.

I have no idea about my vitamins level only in emergency room when they told me that I’m low on potassium – I am not sure where to get test for vitamins, & immune system I guess?

It’s sad.

Wow – I’m sorry that you have to experience it, Rana. Marc – really?
I’m so glad you came to help us know the truth, Marc.

i had a hair analysis that showed nutients in my body weren’t being utilized properly. he wouldn’t talk to me about that either.

This is a topic that is close to my heart and I’ll be writing about it more in future posts. I want to cover some other stuff and Jane just offered a great segue!

i have been lucky to have a functional medicine doctor and he gets it. He treats my autoimmunity with LDN…and it has brought my antibodies from the high 300’s now down to under 100. within 3 months i had to reduce my thryoid meds to half! I must say its been a year now and i am pretty leveled out now. My only issue is low ferritin levels.

Mistake #2: Most doctors only order TSH or TSH and T4. Many labs now do what is called a “TSH cascade”, meaning that if the TSH is in the normal range, they won’t test for anything else.

I’m curious if anyone in this group diagnosis with Graves Disease too? (Hyperthyroid)

my issues are mainly having both hypo and hyper issues!! my muscles ache bad sometimes, dunno what to do.

Why is iodine bad for the thyroid? My functional medicine doctor gave me an at home iodine test

hashimoto’s swings back and forth between hyper and hypo, right?

Minta- it means you are probably potassium deficient
Coconut water is what help me with muscle cramping & ache – I’m glad to know that someone here have hyper like I do. Magensium & calicum is what help me with cramping muscles/aching.

and there is my problem. no matter how much potssium i get, my body isn’t using it.

My TSH has never been over 4.8, hence why it took me so long to get treated. I think the range is ridiculous. I mean surely there is a difference in being on the high or low end, it shouldn’t ALL be ” normal.”

it flushes it

i have tryed that…also hair falling out bad!!

There are very few people that have Graves disease additional to hashimotos most of time people just have one either hyper or hypo.

I am hyper now but I was hypo. just had a baby 4 months ago and on 100 of levothyroxine and .5 of livothyrone
I had to push my Dr to do anything

Lots of great comments! I don’t know which question to answer. 😉

Have you found out why your body doesn’t use potassium? Have you tried the coconut water along 400mg drop of magensium? thats what helped me.

start at the top 😛 😉

I have positive TPO, TRAB, ANA, RNP, and Parietal Cell Antibodies…and not one doc has addressed any of these besides RAI and subsequent Levoxyl script!…You still with us Marc…LOL

But no pressure or anything Marc

Maybe we should save questions for the end?? just a suggestion

I agree with Ironicus
True

i use coconut oil regularly , my body stores magnesium without using it. it’s just sitting there!

I think that’s an excellent idea Dee!

Do you think you’ll have time at the end to answer a few off topic questions Marc?

Absolutely!

Wonderful!

I got in on my PC. 🙂

Here’s my next point. Mistake #3: Doctors fail to treat other systems of the body.
Well, the body is an ecosystem. It’s not a machine with lots of parts. Its a living breathing thing, full of many interacting ecosystems. When you are talking about the immune system and the endocrine system, which is what Hashimoto’s is all about, you have so many different things happening all the time.
You have all touched on this. Ferritin levels, potassium, adrenals, etc.
Its really important to have a multi-pronged approach, isn’t it?

i would say so!

yes
yes

Yes, my Dr. just has me on Synthroid and I feel wired on it, yet my thyroid is still low.

You know, most doctors are specialists. They focus on one thing and, unfortunately, they block out everything else.

Do you have any idea why, Marc?
How come you are not one of them? You are awesome! 😉

Thanks! The next on is: Mistake #4: Doctors fail to realize thyroid symptoms.
This is not so surprising when you realize how extensive the thyroid’s influence on the body is. Its like the hands on general who is involved with every aspect of his troops. Here’s a great list of everything the thyroid is involved in that I got from Hypothyroid Mom’s site (http://hypothyroidmom.com/300-hypothyroidism-symptoms-yes-really/). Its a list of 300 hypothyroid symptoms.

oh my! 🙁

Does everyone know who she is? She’s an amazing resource and is really devoted to helping this community too. Make sure you check her out.
Mistake #5: Doctors and health practitioners fail to realize the importance of diet in treating Hashimoto’s. I would say this is, without question, the single most important thing.

300..wow..no wonder i never feel good..lol..sad but true!

That explains a LOT!!!!

That is a lot of symptoms! No wonder I feel lousy!

It really does!
Back to diet. There are some estimates that 70 to 80% of the immune system is located in the digestive tract. I’m not sure who came up with number or how they calculate it, but its definitely a very important place for immune function. And what we expose the immune system to has a big effect. It causes flare ups and some theorize may even initiate autoimmune disease.
How many of you are on a special diet for your Hashimoto’s?

nope

How many people notice that what they eat sometimes makes them feel worse?

me

yep

i was raw food before had my baby and I felt amazing!
need to go back on it

not sure i have eliminated the right things though

I have been on Prevacid for 5 years and my digestive system is a wreck. I have GERD and have a hard time knowing what to eat. I use probiotics to help the gut.

use probiotics here

Gluten Free and dairy free is a must.

Sugar makes me feel much worse…

Just took a food intolerance test of 96 items. I am know avoiding the foods that were flagged as moderate to severe reactive for me. No wheat (gluten was ok), eggs or pecans.

Thank you Dee! That was exactly what I was about to say.

Candies made it worst, gluten foods

i have eliminated those
trying to get off sugar completely now

The WORST part is ALCOHOL drinker!
it made me feel SICK!

I was tested for gluten and have even eaten gluten free, but it did not make a difference for me.

i want my dark chocolate 🙁

Since eliminating the wheat and eggs i am no longer having the frequent muscle aches.

Anything that cause inflamation in the body really all grains should be elimitated.

We really get attached to foods don’t we?

Gluten free I can do. Can’t do the dairy free.

I don’t know what kind of diet we are suppose to be on, Marc – I decided to do paleo diet, but its so hard because I have to come up with recipes, etc.

Grains too? 🙁

Eggs, Gluten, diaries, sugary foods what made me sick.

whats wrong with eggs? i usually feel great after eating them

what to eliminate first? for how long before eliminating the next?

i need my coffee!! LOL

I didn’t – I am not sure why, and some others seem to have same issue as I do.

With dairy, I break out on my chin…every time!

Minta – eat apple – they are way better effect than coffee – try it!!!!

You know, this really brings out an important point. No one’s Hashimoto’s is the same. What works for one may not work for another. You really need to create your own unique plan.

I have heard that gluten is bad for Hashi’s but I don’t know why. If you are not gluten intolerant, would you still need to cut it out?

@Minta, try Yerba Mate vs coffee!

BTW I have learned the body reacts to coffee just like it reacts to Gluten…

what about decaf coffee? coffe is loaded with magnesium.

Here’s the issue with gluten. It is very similar in structure to our own tissue so it can stimulate an autoimmune attack. Coffee is what is known as a cross reactor because the proteins in coffee can do the same thing.

That makes sense, maybe journal what you eat and how you feel. Cut out the food that makes you feel bad, then add it back in later. If it still makes you feel bad don’t eat.

I am very sensitive to coffee, but I agree that we shouldn’t all be avoiding or eating the same diets as our needs are different.

Kim its hard to know we have a LOT of foods if you eat one of them A day to figure out which one is not good for you – we need foods more than just one food a day.

Which brings me to my last point. Mistake #6: Doctors fail to be a partner in healing. This is something that is not talked about very often, but its super important with Hashimoto’s.
No one is at the same stage of their development. No one has other systems influencing them the same way. Not everyone is on the same meds. You need to have someone who is going to partner with you to help you develop a plan that is tailor made for you.

That is true Kilee

i disagree gluten/wheat is not good for anyone..especially if you have an autoimmune disease.

thats what i need Marc. exactly what i need.

What kind of partner do I need? I agree with Jane – just what I need too. 🙂

Agreed…searching for one in southern california area

I wish I could find someone who would partner with me…it is so overwhelming to do it alone…

Sense. You make a lot of it! 🙂 I wish more Docs operated this way.

I second, Rana.

yes it is kimberleigh 🙁

That’s what I do. I partner with my patients to help create a master plan and strategy and I work with them to help them execute it.

😉 @Jane

🙂

Our spouses, Families definitely don’t understand. I have a mother in law that said I’m just being “drama” about my illness, and I am one that acting out when its not that bad.

how, Marc? you’re a bazillion miles away!

where are you located Marc?

I hear ya Kilee, not sympathy…

I have uncle that have graves disease, but he didn’t have disease that act out, but because they weren’t with him since he lives in california so he can’t just comparing me.

I work with people all over the country. I want to let you guys know I’m offering a free 30 minute consult if you want to discuss your unique challenges.

That would be great! 🙂

🙂

Marc can you order testing and prescribe meds?

does insurance cover your services?

Insurance doesn’t cover my services, I can order lab tests, but I don’t prescibe medication.
Let’s open it up for some questions.

Marc = what will you do after lab comes in?

https://www.timetrade.com/book/94K1K This link will take you to an online scheduling tool where you can book a free 30 minute consultation with Marc:-)

What would you suggest us to do?

are you in southern california?

I have heard that if you take Synthroid, your reverse T3 will go up. What is reverse T3 and what can that do to you?

how can i get my adrenals working properly?

One at a time please!;)

He will send this link out to all of you after the chat session, so no need to jump on it now. ok?

adrenal vitamins that have been helpful.
from spinal formula vitamins

Ok, let’s talk a little about the adrenals.

Thats what I’ve been taking.

Do you consider any antibodies present as Hashi’s (especially if a swollen thyroid is noted)? Or should one have an elevated # over the range?

Why do some of us get worse when we start NDT and what to do?

Why are the adrenals so exhausted?

Stress

because my body is wrecked!

They try to make up for low thyroid?

it doesn’t work properly with the autoimmune trying to kill my thyroid.

Stress, and blood sugar imbalances are 2 big ones.

Blood sugar?

my blood sugar is all over the place
i can feel it 🙁

Yes, the adrenals release cortisol when insulin goes up in order to counterbalance it.

Wow I didn’t know that blood sugar is part of it.

So, 2 things that are hugely important for your adrenals are relieving stress and balancing blood sugars.
Have you heard of adaptogenic herbs?

how do you balance the blood sugars?

How do you do that?

through eating right?

what kimerleigh said

Yes, I was on some of those herbs for awhile.

Like ashwaganda?

Protein in the morning, frequent small meals throughout the day, stay away from refined suagr.

Ashwaganda and something elts.

adaptogenic herbs?
i eat a LOT of protein to try and balance it

I don’t know WHAT to eat anymore so I find myself just not eating.

thats me sometimes, too

Exactly, ashwaganda, siberian ginseng, holy basil, rhodiola, and ginseng are all adaptogenic herbs. Very beneficial for the adrenals.

I agree with theresa flynn.

in supplements or tea? i already take a lot of supplements
do supplements really work?

Patty Struchynski 🙂

i take raw whole food ones, as pure as i can find

Its really important not to skip meals. I can tell the 2 things that will keep you from making progress are blood sugar issues and low iron.

I have been low in iron and they don’t know why.

can you be low in iron with high Hgb and high Hemocrit?

With Hashimoto’s, we have difficulty sometimes with iron absorption.

why’s that?

How do we get our iron up?

I’ve been trying so hard to not eat calcium near my iron pills and to take vitamin c and something acidic and don’t eat gluten. Plus I’m exhausted and feel like I have the flu all the time so there’s no energy to make healthy foods.

it seems there’s not enough hours in the day to take supplements correctly

I’m weak and have had an alarming loss of muscle mass. I was diagnosed with an endocrine myopathy. It’s all I can do to get a couple of things done in a day and keep track of what to take when. I’m ready to give up.

Vitamin C is helpful for iron absorption. I recently had a patient and we couldn’t get her iron up no matter what we tried. Finally I discovered that she was eating too much spinach. Spincah prevents iron absorption. She stpped eating spinach and we were abe to get her levels back to norma!

I don’t eat much spinach.

Well everyone the hour is almost up:-( Marc, do you want to take a few specific questions before closing for the night?

thats interesting.

I noticed that thyroid patients have low stomach acid & thus do not absorb vitamins & such properly. I found that adding apple cider vinegar has helped when I take it with my sups. me

Theresa – you heard of spoon theory?? that’s what you are dealing with, and just most of thyroid disease have to live life like spoon theory.

Another reason why we have problems with iron absorption is because of problems with intestinal permeability or leaky gut. This can impair absorption of all kinds of stuff.
Rana, great point!

Kilee Ashton yes I’ve heard of it. I’ve been rationing my spoons for over 20 years.

Does Candida have a role in that?

my endo won’t talk about leaky gut either

Yes, low stomach acid will prevent iron and B12 absorption.

Well when you are on acid blockers like me that makes it tough

I bet you are sick of it, Theresa. I feel the same way!

A lot of doctors won’t recognize leaky gut, but it is very real!

Is it the oxalates in Spinach that are the problem?

Yes, Rana.

is there a blood test for low stomach acid?

Marc – are you recommending us not to eat Spinach due to Iron deficiency?
Interesting.

best sources for iron?

Yes, there is. You test for hypochloridria. Just telling you to be aware of spinach.
Best sources of iron. Liver, green leafy vegetables, sometimes you may need to supplement a well. Also, you must work on cleaning up and streghening our gut.

working on that……… slowly 🙂

Do you believe in Candida overgrowth causing leaky gut?

how to clean up & strength our gut?

why are nightshades a problem?

@kim low stomach acid can cause acid reflux/heartburn.

Ok, we’re coming to the end of our time. How have people liked this format? We’d like to do it again and we’re thinking about maybe doing a teleconference or streaming video, any thoughts?

Rana – I always have that problems!

lol, that’s ironic

I love it!

teleconference!!

If you do the video – I might have an issue
I’m deaf

Thanks so much for joining us!

Thanks!

thak you Marc!

Thankyou Marc.. looking forward to more info

<Applause>

Thank you! You are awesome!

Thanks for doing this!

We’ll probably do another one in a couple of weeks. So please look for it. And if anyone would like to have a one on one chat with me to talk about their specific circumstances please schedule one. I’d be happy to chat with you!

Here is that link to the free consultation https://www.timetrade.com/book/94K1K 🙂

Have a great night everyone! I’m off to eat a gluten dairy and soy free dinner!

Thanks Marc, Good night