| Learning to cope with thyroid disease is much more | | | | weight loss. |
| than taking a pill every day. You may continue to | | | | Coping with hypothyroidism takes patience and |
| suffer with symptoms of hypothyroidism even while | | | | perseverance. Some of the symptoms can be |
| under a doctor's care, especially at times when you | | | | unpleasant such as constipation, weight gain, |
| have changes in your body such as during pregnancy | | | | depression, and physical changes like puffiness and |
| or menopause. With persistence and proper treatment | | | | hair thinning. In addition to medication, there are natural |
| though, you can manage your disease and lessen its | | | | methods you can try that may help stimulate your |
| impact on your daily life. | | | | thyroid and help you cope with symptoms like |
| A vital step in managing your thyroid disease is to find | | | | constipation and weight gain. |
| a competent and skilled doctor. Even though you may | | | | Avoid refined foods as much as possible. Rely upon |
| have a close relationship with your GP, you should | | | | fish and beans for protein and limit your intake of red |
| consider seeking out a doctor that specializes in | | | | meat. Eliminate trans fats and use healthy oil like olive |
| diseases of the thyroid and hormonal issues. Unless | | | | oil in your cooking. You may also want to eliminate soy |
| you receive treatment that is tailored to your particular | | | | products as these are thought to interfere with thyroid |
| circumstances, you may have to suffer needlessly | | | | medications. Some foods may interfere with the |
| with bothersome symptoms. Above all else, don't give | | | | normal functioning of your thyroid, talk to your doctor |
| up until you find a doctor that listens to your symptoms | | | | about limiting these foods: peanuts, pine nuts, broccoli, |
| and doesn't brush them off as being psychological or | | | | cauliflower, spinach, kale, cabbage, and mustard |
| unimportant. Unless you are properly diagnosed, you | | | | greens. Avoid any foods that you suspect you are |
| can't receive the treatment you need to get your | | | | allergic or sensitive to. Eat foods that have a lot of iron |
| thyroid hormones back in balance. | | | | and B vitamins like whole grains, sea vegetables, and |
| Treatment for hypothyroidism usually involves taking | | | | other fresh vegetables. |
| replacement thyroid hormones. These drugs must be | | | | Supplements such as a daily multivitamin and |
| tailored to your individual needs. Your doctor will start | | | | multimineral may help as well as fish oil, alpha-lipoic acid, |
| you on a low level and increase it as needed until most | | | | L-tyrosine, and probiotics. Herbal preparations that may |
| of your symptoms go away. This leaves a lot of room | | | | be useful for thyroid support include green tea, guggul, |
| for uncertainty and error and that is one reason why | | | | and coleus. Since most cases of hypothyroidism are |
| treatment from an experienced doctor is | | | | not caused by an iodine deficiency in modern times, it |
| recommended. | | | | is not recommended that you take iodine or bladder |
| Levothyroxine is the drug most commonly prescribed | | | | wrack without discussing it first with your doctor. In |
| to treat hypothyroidism. It replaces the thyroid | | | | fact, any time you begin natural treatments to treat |
| hormones in your body that are decreased due to | | | | your hypothyroidism, you should let your doctor know |
| your under functioning thyroid gland. The goal is to | | | | because you might need to readjust your thyroid |
| achieve normal blood values of TSH or thyroid | | | | medications. |
| stimulating hormone. Your blood levels need to be | | | | Hypothyroidism is usually a chronic drawn out process |
| monitored at least yearly to make sure you are still | | | | that doesn't start overnight and takes a while to bring |
| receiving an adequate dose of the medication. | | | | back into balance. When your symptoms are relieved |
| One problem with taking thyroid hormone | | | | and you are feeling much better, it is a sign that your |
| replacements is that you can take too high of a dose | | | | treatment is working and not an indication you should |
| and then your thyroid hormone levels become too high | | | | stop your medication. Depending upon the cause of |
| and you begin to experience symptoms associated | | | | your hypothyroidism, you may need to take medication |
| with an over active thyroid. Some of these symptoms | | | | on an ongoing basis to help you overcome the |
| include sweating, extreme restlessness, and sudden | | | | symptoms of this thyroid disease. |