Kidney issues

nimbledriver81 said:I mean, iodine isn't actually a hormone, if anyone actually bothered to look that up.

Right, because you're clearly such a genius, as if anyone ever claimed that... 😁

😂 😂 😂

🙄 We are talking about hormones here—if anyone hasn't caught onto that yet! These are specific compounds that you simply CANNOT find just lying around in your food. It’s a bit like trying to fix a car by pouring gasoline on the tires; if someone is taking iodine supplements but doesn't actually have a functioning thyroid gland, well, it's hard to see how that iodine is going to do much good at all.

nimbledriver81 said:🙄 We’re talking about hormones here, which isn't exactly rocket science if you've been paying attention. These are compounds you won't just find lying around in your groceries. If someone is popping iodine supplements but doesn't actually have a functioning thyroid, I don't see how that's going to do much for them.

I honestly had no idea you were referring to someone who doesn't even have a thyroid left. 😕

The original question was framed like this:

mon said:I was wondering if there are any natural, home remedies that could help support thyroid function?

Since the topic is specifically about thyroid function, we're assuming the thyroid is actually present, right? 😉

John Adams4 said:If my body can make it on its own, why bother taking a supplement?
How are you supposed to know if your system is actually capable of producing those hormones if you never give it the chance to try in the first place?

And that’s exactly what I’m getting at... 👍

mistybear4 said:See, this is exactly what I’m talking about... 👍

Look, Poglec, you and McGregor—and all you other folks who just don't seem to get how this works. The girl had a "tumor" removed. Now, listen, there are different kinds of tumors, benign and malignant. If I had to bet my life on it—and I'd say there's a 90% chance I'm right—it was a benign one, like a thyroid adenoma. Why? Because they only took out a piece of the thyroid, just the "sick spot." (When you're dealing with something malignant, you're usually looking at a total thyroidectomy, where the whole thing gets ripped out.)

Most adenomas are euthyroid, which is just a fancy way of saying hormone levels stay within the normal range. Doctors usually only step in when things start looking "suspicious" or when the growth starts pressing against the rest of the tissue, which can lead to hypothyroidism. (That sounds like what's happening here.) Usually, the first move is starting thyroxine because it suppresses TSH—that's the thyroid-stimulating hormone—which in turn keeps the adenoma from growing further. It basically shrinks it down so it stops causing problems.

Hopefully, I'm making sense so far.😁

On the flip side, TSH—again, that hormone from the pituitary gland—doesn't just trigger the release of T4 and T3; it's also tied to how those adenomas grow (like I mentioned earlier). So, even if you cut the adenoma out and everything seems fine and hormones are steady, there's always that nagging possibility that the tissue might start acting up again on its own. By taking thyroxine, you're suppressing that TSH, which lowers the odds of a new growth popping up later. It's all connected.

Is that clear enough for you?

👋

Thanks for clearing that up, mistyhound2... I had a few gaps in my understanding, and there’s always something new to pick up if you're paying attention..

I'm genuinely curious about all this, mostly because I've seen people manage to fix their hormonal imbalances just by getting their cellular nutrition on track, which led me down a bit of a logical rabbit hole trying to figure out why it actually works.. 🙂

The body is essentially in a constant state of rebuilding itself—replacing blood cells, repairing organs, renewing bone tissue—and that entire process is entirely dependent on the raw materials we feed it. I think you see where I'm going with this? 😉

ps: If we can keep our micronutrients and antioxidants at optimal levels, we might even be able to stall the growth of tumor cells altogether.. 🙂

John Adams4 said:I dealt with some thyroid issues myself.
My doctor basically flooded me with meds, and I ended up putting on 20 pounds by my sixth month... just total chaos.

.........

Anyway, I've been off the pills for almost a year now and my labs are looking totally normal.

If you don't mind me asking, what exactly was going on with your thyroid? Was it an adenoma or more of an autoimmune thing? Just trying to wrap my head around it.

mistybear4 said:ps: look, you can actually slow down tumor cell growth if the body actually has enough micronutrients and antioxidants in the system... 🙂

🤣

Whatever, fine. Have it your way. 😁 (since apparently some people just don't get it and never will)

mistybear4 said:The body is constantly regenerating itself—blood cells, organs, bone tissue... but all of that depends on the "raw materials" we provide through our diet. I hope you’re finally starting to see my point? 😉

PS: We can even slow down tumor growth if the body has a sufficient supply of essential micronutrients and antioxidants. 🙂

Brain matter doesn't regenerate, and frankly, I'm worried yours has already atrophied. All that Herbalife won't help you now.

mistyhound2 said:If you don't mind sharing—could you be more specific about your thyroid issues? I wonder if it was an adenoma or perhaps something else, like an autoimmune condition?

I am essentially quoting my own previous posts from this thread:

And one more link here:

"I personally suffer from Graves' disease; I actually discovered it while vacationing in Florida. After ending up in the ER—my heart rate was hitting 120-140 bpm—they sent me straight for blood work and a scintigraphy scan.
These were my initial results:
T3 7.63 nmol/l (ref: 1.29-2.60 nmol/l)
T4 201.1 nmol/l (ref: 71.2-161.0 nmol/l)
TSH 0.016 mIU/l (ref: 0.465-4.68 mIU/l)
For a year, I was on Thiamazol—which blocks hormone production—and levothyroxine sodium, which provides the hormone the body needs to function properly.

The first scan didn't show much beyond an enlarged right lobe. On the second, they noted two benign nodules, measuring 2 and 4 mm.
I have been off medication for four months now. I feel much better, and my hormone levels are within the normal range. I still get blood work done every three months; the eye issues have subsided, though they haven't entirely disappeared."

Over the course of a year, I ended up adjusting my own dosages slightly—though, prior to that, it is vital to recognize all the symptoms of hypo/hyperthyroidism.
By monitoring those signs (in my case, fluctuating vision, weight changes, fatigue, lethargy, hair loss, or nervousness/palpitations), I could tell exactly which phase I was in and adjust my meds accordingly. Of course, everything was done under medical supervision with regular blood tests.

P.S.: It was an autoimmune issue. In the meantime, the nodules have grown slightly, but my doctor insists surgery isn't necessary—I had an ultrasound just a few weeks ago—and the antibodies are no longer showing up in my labs.

A couple more links for you:

Look, when are people going to finally accept that you can't cure things like autoimmune diseases, cancer, or AIDS just by eating "right"? I won't even get into what constitutes a healthy diet, because most people here don't have the slightest clue 😈 .

If medicine were as simple as 2 plus 2 always equaling 4, nobody would be dying, everyone would live for hundreds of years, and maybe even mistybear4 could actually be a doctor by now... 🤮

Wow, okay, this is actually pretty wild—I didn't realize so many people would jump on this. And honestly, I’m not even going to waste my breath replying to the trolls who clearly just crawled out of the gutter to turn this thread into a profanity contest. Look, I’m no saint, but does everything really have to be laid bare on a screen for everyone to see?

I did find some actual helpful advice in here, though, so thanks for the support.
As for the rest of you... maybe work on your reading comprehension skills? Because if you can't grasp the fact that I still have half a thyroid left and it’s doing its job perfectly fine, then what are we even doing here? My labs are 100% normal, and I feel 100% great. It took me exactly one day to bounce back after surgery, and I've been fine ever since. I’m basically the picture of health, so why is one doctor suggesting I start popping hormones—which my remaining half is already producing anyway—just to deal with a mountain of side effects?! I think I'll go find a second opinion.
My surgeon told me straight up before the procedure that I'd only need hormone replacement if my thyroid couldn't keep up, so I was pretty crushed when the endocrinologist insisted I take them. She actually had the nerve to tell me the surgeon wasn't even qualified to give that kind of advice.

And regarding "alternatives," I wasn't looking for some crazy way to get rid of an adenoma; I’m just looking for ways to boost my thyroid function in case my remaining half decides to slack off a bit.
One more thing: is it just me, or does it seem like almost everyone responding to my post is dealing with thyroid issues themselves?!
That's all.

I haven't dealt with it myself yet, but my mom did... so I definitely know a bit more about thyroid issues than your average person.

Jose Gray5 said:I can't help but wonder—is it just me, or does it seem like almost everyone who replied to my thread here is dealing with thyroid issues?
That’s really all.

Personally, I haven't hit that stage yet—though, looking at the cards I've been dealt, it might be right around the corner. There are five cases in my extended family, all women, and my mom actually had her thyroid removed about two years ago. She takes her medication daily and hasn't run into any hiccups since.

Well, my surgeon told me before the procedure that I would only need hormone replacement if the gland wasn't producing enough on its own—so I was absolutely crushed when my endocrinologist insisted I start taking them. She basically told the surgeon that he wasn't the one qualified to give advice on that specific matter.

Well, an endocrinologist isn't exactly going to tell a surgeon how to perform an operation either... Everyone has their own lane to stay in!

Jose Gray5 said:Regarding alternatives—I wasn't even thinking about getting rid of an adenoma that way... I’m just looking for something to kickstart my remaining thyroid half if it decides to slack off on me.
One more thing though... is it just me, or does it seem like almost everyone replying to my post here is dealing with thyroid issues too?!
That's about it.

Trying to "stimulate the remaining half of your thyroid with natural remedies" basically just means running that side into the ground even faster. I'm not so sure that's a smart move—if it's even doable—especially since you've dealt with an adenoma before.

How can you be so sure hormone replacements come with a "mountain of side effects"? Like, what side effects are we actually talking about?

And how do you know "natural" remedies don't just contain some nasty chemical compounds that mess with everything else you're taking...?

Yeah, I have Hashimoto, but per my endocrinologist, I don't need extra meds just yet.

Most of the people chiming in here—besides those who are actually struggling with their own thyroid stuff—are doctors or work in healthcare. Some are pros, some are... less so, I guess... 😉

Either way, you really need to start collaborating more with your doctors—or get them to actually collaborate with you. You have a right to info and explanations, but you aren't gonna get anything if you don't ask. And honestly, even if you *do* ask, it doesn't automatically mean "natural" stuff is better.

So how exactly do you know hormone replacements come with a "mountain of side effects"? What kind of side effects are we actually talking about here?

And how can you be so sure that "natural" remedies don't just contain some nasty chemical compounds that cause damage or mess with everything else you're taking...?
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When it comes to taking Levothyroxine, you’re looking at things like temporary hair loss, osteoporosis, or even heart palpitations.
Plus, like a few people have already pointed out on this forum, there are issues with vision and weight fluctuations too.

Obviously, natural stuff can be harmful as well, but I'm hoping that's less likely to happen. Besides, if I go that route, I'd be doing it entirely at my own risk.

Jose Gray5 said:And just like some folks mentioned here earlier—all those issues with vision and weight fluctuations.

Honestly, this is the first time I've ever heard about eye problems being a side effect of taking Levothyroxine... sounds like someone might have gotten their facts mixed up!

It’s totally possible to deal with hyperthyroid symptoms while you're still trying to dial in your dosage, but that’s usually a dead giveaway that the dose isn't quite right yet and needs an adjustment...

New Yorker said:Honestly, I don't know when people will finally wrap their heads around the fact that you can't just eat your way out of things like autoimmune disorders, cancer, or AIDS; no amount of clean eating is ever going to cure those.
If medicine actually functioned like basic arithmetic where two plus two always equaled four, nobody would be dying, we’d all be coasting toward our second or third centuries, and maybe even mistybear4 would have managed to become a doctor by now.🤮

Nobody is actually claiming that... Just enough. You can fix just about anything with a clean diet, but honestly, we're back at square one again.

The link Denys shared mentions a few things, among other stuff:

Hyperthyroidism—it’s one of those metabolic disruptions that just turns your whole system into a runaway engine, leaving you feeling wired and completely exhausted all at once.

The underlying causes, how often they actually crop up, and what makes someone a target—it’s all just part of the same messy equation.
The exact cause behind hyperthyroidism remains a total mystery. There’s a mountain of evidence pointing toward the same conclusion... blah blah blah...
Autoimmune conditions tend to hit women about seven times more often than men, and this particular illness follows that same pattern. It can surface at pretty much any age, though there’s usually some kind of family history involved if you look closely enough. You see it in a small percentage of the population, typically showing up most frequently in women between their 40s and 60s.

If the medical community is still scratching its head over the cause, I don't know where you get the nerve, New Yorker, to act so certain that diet isn't playing a role in the equation.
The medical establishment keeps insisting there’s no cure for things like asthma, allergies, or diabetes, yet I see people around me managing to shake those issues off every single day just by switching to a whole-food, plant-based diet. Seeing that firsthand gives me all the permission I need to be a little arrogant and think out loud about where this is all heading.
I mentioned before that I know a few women who managed to sort out their hormonal issues—and fixed their thyroid function along with it—just by following this approach without relying on medication. If you're open to it, I could introduce you to them; one of them is actually a doctor, so she might be able to walk you through the specifics. 😉

I won't drag this out any further, but it’s pretty much an established fact that soy protein plays a direct role in hormone regulation—something almost any decent OB-GYN in the country will tell you if you ask. To me, it feels like one of those natural solutions for the exact issues people are venting about here, and frankly, I'd go as far as to say it's essential for women. 😉

I’ve picked up a bit of insight lately from diving into cellular nutrition, and honestly, hearing people's stories about it has really lit a fire under me to study health more deeply—especially how much damage an unbalanced diet can do to the body. I might just end up with everyone here calling me "doctor" in four or five years, assuming I actually survive the grind of med school. 😁

I stumbled upon some accounts online regarding menopause—I assume the parallels and connections here are pretty obvious to everyone. 😉 ) ..
Take a good look at this—there are actually several testimonials here regarding other health issues too.

http://groups.msn.com/TheHealthyPlan/menopause.msnw

mistybear4 said:Side effects from taking Levothyroxine include temporary hair loss, osteoporosis, and heart palpitations.
And just like some people have pointed out here on the forum, there are also issues with vision and weight fluctuations.

Of course, even natural remedies can be harmful, though I'd like to think they carry less risk. Regardless, I’d be taking them at my own discretion.

mistybear4, what I’ve been repeating like a broken record is the idea of "cellular nutrition." It’s about giving the body the tools to find its own equilibrium because our system is essentially a finely tuned machine; if you provide the right inputs, it maximizes its output, which shows up as improved health. This concept of "cellular nutrition" is fundamentally about FOOD, which means it isn't actually related to medications, whether they're natural or synthetic. 🙂

"It represents an entirely new, distinct approach to nutrition and wellness. This isn't just a product or a single ingredient; it's a technology designed to deliver nutrients directly to the cells.

It’s been common knowledge for ages that wholesome, natural food is necessary to maintain vitality and health. We know the body requires proteins, carbohydrates, fats, essential acids, vitamins, and minerals. What’s groundbreaking is the realization that food is only one side of the equation. There is a massive gap between simply eating and achieving true cellular nutrition. Food is what goes into your mouth; cellular nutrition is what actually reaches your cells.

What trips most people up is the uncertainty of whether the food they consume actually reaches their cells to nourish them. If your system is under constant stress—dealing with illness, exhaustion, chemical exposure, medication, or even just regular coffee, alcohol, or nicotine—your cells are likely starving. It’s a strange reality where you can eat plenty, even gain weight, while your cells remain famished. It’s wild that despite having more food than ever before, we face more diseases than any other era in history. The reason is simple: there's a huge difference between feeding your stomach and nourishing your cells.

Until your cells are healthy, you won't be either. The real secret to wellness lies in ensuring that every cell in your body—whether it's muscle, brain, or heart tissue—is properly and fully fueled.

It isn't just about what you eat; it’s about whether your body can digest, absorb, and most importantly, assimilate that food at a cellular level. The trick to this 'miracle' is that the food is specifically engineered and formulated to FEED YOUR CELLS. Once those cells get what they need, you start feeling those incredible shifts in your overall health."

ps: shoot me a private message and I'll send you the full text... 🙂