Hashimoto's Self-Management Program
Adrenals
Symptoms
- I spent 10 days at 8000 feet running and mountain biking. I could only do about half of what I typically do, and I was totally fatigued and debilitated the entire time. I didn't lose a single pound. This is like nothing I have ever experienced before.
- My doctor upped my dose of Nature-Thyroid by a quarter grain. After the increased dosage I had blood sugar problems, depression, anxiety and fear. I backed down and I started to feel better. Do you think it could be my adrenals that made me feel so bad?
- How do I improve low energy, joint and muscle pain, and pressure headaches?
- I experience increased weakness and low blood sugar during moderate exercise, mainly walking. I eat strictly Paleo and very little sugar, so I don't think it is caused by the food I am eating. What else can cause reactive hypoglycemia?
- I’ve tried several thyroid medications and I’m still struggling with energy, brain fog etc. I am concerned that I could have Schmidt Syndrome or another endocrine issue. What is your view on the ACTH STIM testing to reveal the full adrenal response?
- I started taking T4 only medications and experienced hypoglycemia, weight gain, gastritis, felt faint, had bloating and kidney problems, and my urine had blood in it. I have the same side effects on all thyroid medications. What could be causing this?
Testing
- I have a suppressed TSH with past papillary thyroid cancer, weight loss resistance, and I tend to feel hot. Estradiol, FSH and LH are normal, SMBG is high, and progesterone is low. Would you investigate the pituitary or just overall hormone dysregulation?
- Can I do the adrenal test and be on LDN?
- My blood pressure always drops after I stand up, so I'm going to be monitoring this while supplementing for my adrenals. Does it matter how much it goes up when standing up?
- Five years ago I did DiagnosTechs free cortisol with 4 spit bottles; morning was depressed, noon, afternoon, and midnight were normal. Now, my cortisol saliva shows 8 am is low and 11:59 is 4.2. What do you think about these results?
- My TSH, T3 and T4 are all low. In the past, my TSH has always been high. What could be causing this? Could a pituitary issue develop many years after Hashimoto’s?
- Could phosphatidylserine, vitamin C, magnesium, and fish oil supplements be confounding factors in my adrenal lab results? I have a reversed sleep/wake cycle due to my shift work schedule.
Supplements
- What is lemon balm helpful for?
- How many licorice drops would you recommend?
- How long should I stay on the Rootcology Adrenal Support formula?
- My cortisol is low all day. When do I take licorice drops?
- Is it okay to take DHEA supplements with family history of breast cancer?
- Pregnenolone gives me acne. Why would it do that?
Anxiety & Stress
- I keep investigating what’s going on with my body as I feel there’s still this missing piece. Could it be my sleep and my stress?
- I am a worrier. For example, I get stressed out when I’m not up to speed in your course, and that keeps my brain too active before bed. So, I think a lot of my issues have to do with my sleep. Do you have any suggestions?
- Do you have any knowledge of Magnetic Brain Stimulating Therapy?
- What root causes of Hashimoto’s do you think are related to anxiety? I have seen mention of the use of probiotics to treat social anxiety. Do you have any good articles or references that discuss this?
- What about those of us who are happy in our personal lives? Why does Hashimoto's still affect us, even when we've made diet and supplement changes?
- I don't know how to fix issues with feeling loved and appreciated (as it seems my family doesn't care right now). Do you have any suggestions?
Hormones
- I've always had irregular menses. My progesterone was low, but nothing was ever done to treat it. In the last year, my periods became more erratic. I've not done adrenal testing. Are there other hormone markers, I should check? Would ZRT be sufficient
- Are greasy hair and back acne caused by hormonal imbalance?
- What roles does estrogen dominance play in Hashimoto's?
- I'm perimenopausal and my Naturopathic doctor would like me to start on replacement therapy, the Wiley protocol. My mom has breast cancer, so I'm a little wary. I know this is not your forte but I would love to know what you think?
- With perimenopause, I experience vaginal dryness and low estrogen. I found a product called Macadam; main ingredient Lepidium meyenii. The product claims to help balance hormones. Have you heard of it? Do you have any recommended lubricants?
- I’m 53 and in addition to having Hashimoto's I also have perimenopause. The symptoms are similar. My guess is there’s no way of knowing. What is your suggestion or recommendations for experiencing symptoms of low estrogen?
General Questions
- What can I do for pituitary issues?
- How do I lower my cortisol levels when my antibodies are coming down, but my cortisol and T3 levels are high?
- What’s likely putting the most stress on my adrenals?
- I have issues with sleep. My Functional Medicine doctor was thinking that I’m not utilizing my serotonin, because I have tried melatonin in the past but it kind of made me irritated. Do you have any recommendations?
- Does hypothyroid cause adrenal fatigue, or is it only that adrenal fatigue causes hypothyroid?
- You mentioned that having low cholesterol was not good. My cholesterol is 145 and I have Stage 3 adrenal fatigue. What can I do to raise it? I eat a low carb diet with lots of healthy fats.
Antibodies & Nodules
Testing
- Andrea Nakayama says you want TPO to be at two or less. Is that right?
- When I was diagnosed, over 20 years ago my antibody records state: "Antimicrosomal antibodies + 1 over 1600." Today, my labs are: Thyroglobulin antibodies "1" and Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies "169". How does this translate to today's measurements?
- Is it common for the antibody levels to change from test to test?
- I am negative for TPO and TG antibodies. Do I have Hashimoto’s or not?
- How often should one get an ultrasound of the thyroid?
- In the Dr. Brady Molecular Mimicry and Other Opportunities for Intervention interview, under the Bonus tab in HSMP, he recommends a "predictive antibodies" test. Can you speak to this, or tell me what to self-order?
Treatment
- How do you know which to take; Wobenzym or systemic enzymes?
- My antibodies were at 839, and they dropped to 589 with diet and lifestyle. Four months later, they were up a bit at 629; that’s when I went on Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN). If I go off of LDN, will my numbers stay down or will they go back up?
- Is there anything else I should do to get my antibodies down? I’m planning the Autoimmune Paleo, followed by Elimination diet.
- I’m on LDN. At first it increased my temperature and my chronic pain went away, but now it seems to have stopped working. Why would it work at first, and then stop? I started at 0.5 mg and I'm now on 1.5 mg. Suzy Cohen seems to prefer doses around 1.5 mg.
- During your interview on thyroid laser therapy, you mentioned that it’s best for laser treatment to be quick so the thyroid does not heat up. I’ve also heard about using near infrared bulbs over the thyroid to heal the thyroid. Have you heard about this?
- I am being followed for possible nodules or cysts. What else might I be able to do in the meantime, instead of just to watch and wait? Have you heard about near infrared saunas or anything else to reduce nodules or cysts?
General Questions
- Is postpartum Hashimoto's more likely to go into remission?
- Could having increased antibodies, with normal range for TSH and T4, cause weight gain and incredible fatigue?
- I tested low for iodine and my selenium was high; thyroid antibodies have gone from 138 to 154. I was taking kelp powder and I’m concerned that my antibodies increased after stopping the kelp.
- I’ve heard that Ther-Biotic probiotics in high doses are great at reducing antibodies. Have you experienced this?
- I’ve been gluten and dairy free for 4 months. Before changing my diet my TSH was great. I had no antibodies. Now, it’s at 1.8, TPO’s are at 16.8, and TG are 88. I feel horrible. What would cause this? What do the high thyroglobulin levels mean?
- My thyroglobulin antibodies are 203. My last TSH was 4.5, slowly rising from 3.4. I tested gluten sensitive on the high-moderate side, plus I’m showing sensitivities to 43 foods. I'm told I have mild Hashimoto’s. What does that mean? Is there a spectrum?
Dental
Treatment
- I have 1 big and 1 small amalgam filling. My naturopath, who has since moved away, said I should heal my gut before having my amalgams removed. How will I know when my gut is healed enough?
- I have a tooth that’s had two root canals. I do oil pulling regularly, but the tooth most likely needs to be extracted. They’re wanting to possibly put an implant. Do you recommend an implant over a bridge? I have osteoporosis too.
- Do you recommend the gum grafting surgery to repair receding gums?
- I had a dental DNA test, which tests for different bacteria in the gums and bone. They found many different kinds; two of which affect the gut in a bad way. What can I do for support, until I get this taken care of?
- I have an amalgam filling. The doctor said if they replace it, I will need a total root canal. What are your suggestions?
- I have 4 mercury amalgams, one of which is in a wisdom tooth. One dentist said it would be better to remove the wisdom teeth because the amalgam is big. The other one said just remove the amalgam. What do you think?
General Questions
- I have sensitive teeth, due to receding gum lines, and I’m having a hard time finding toothpaste that is fluoride-free and natural. Any suggestions?
- My dentist doesn’t have a thyroid shield. What should I do?
- What do you use to spray Xylitol powder on your teeth?
- Could a root canal in 2001 be causing me a toxicity now?
- What is the best toothpaste to use for Hashimoto's patients?
- Is the Reactivity Test performed by dentists a blood test?
Food & Gut Healing
Food Sensitivities
- Could one become sensitive to coconut? I do coconut flour, coconut flakes, coconut oil, coconut butter, and I love it, and I digest it really well. But could one get too much coconut?
- I am an active person. When I added beans to my diet, I immediately started craving carbs, felt fatigued, and gained weight, and my TPO antibodies increased from 200 to 900. I was recently diagnosed with SIBO and a parasite. Could beans be contributing?
- What's the most common side effect of a soy IgG food sensitivity?
- What can I do to make myself less sensitive to foods?
- Should the foods that you test highly sensitive to remain off the menu forever? Can you just try reintroducing them again, at some point?
- I'm sensitive to baker’s yeast and brewer’s yeast on two different IgG tests. Are there any types of foods I should avoid?
Food Sensitivity Testing
- Will Alletess only reveal foods I am eating?
- Have you considered Cyrex Lab for food sensitivities?
- I’ve had the Gluten Cross Reactive testing done and I’m wondering if there are any other Cyrex tests that you would highly recommend?
- I’ve had the Alletess test done via an arm blood draw and now I’m considering taking it through the kit, through Direct Labs, but they use a dried sample. Would it be just as accurate?
- Do you think metabolic testing to find out what diet suits you is a good test?
- I read somewhere that sensitivity to caffeine, green tea, grapes, and red wine indicates TH 2 dominance. Mushroom and licorice indicates TH1 dominance. Is there some sort of chart to determine this?
Blood Sugar
- As far as hemoglobin A1C, is there a functional range for that? Mine was at 5.8, but I got it down to 5.3 through changing diet and doing supplements.
- I’m using a product, Bio Gymnema, to reduce hemoglobin A1c. I have seen some reduction in hemoglobin A1C. At the same time, I also took Berberine, which is known to reduce A1C, so I'm not sure which of the products was the most helpful.
- Do you have any experience or knowledge of gymnema for blood sugar control? Has that been effective for any of your clients?
- I have low blood sugar issues, but can't tolerate much additional fat. I tried Digestion GB but had a negative reaction to it. Would you have any comments or suggestions on increasing fats to help with balancing blood sugar?
- Is it okay to eat fruit with Stage 2 adrenal dysfunction?
- I have insulin resistance. I tried the Paleo diet and lost 20lbs, a lot of muscle, and was exhausted and ready for bed at 7pm. Is there something about my approach that didn't work? Should I try it again? What else could I do for insulin resistance?
Diet
- I struggle with the Autoimmune Paleo Diet, because of constantly craving sweets and salty snacks like corn chips. Any suggestions?
- I want to do the rotation diet, but don’t want to cut out all of the foods on AIP.
- Shall I try the Low FODMAP Diet or the GAPs or SCD for SIBO?
- Is kefir a probiotic, and should we avoid it until we've cleared the gut?
- When should I be drinking the lemon juice, apple cider vinegar and the water?
- I’m on the Autoimmune Paleo diet per your book. How long can I stay on this diet once I finish the program modules?
Supplements
- You say six to nine months, roughly, for the betaine with pepsin. I've been on it at least a year and a half. I don’t take as much as I used to, because I started to get the warming feeling. Should I try and go without it?
- How do you heal the gut if you can't take glutamine?
- I take glutamine at night, because I have leaky gut. I think I took too much last night and then I heard that if you get agitated, it could be because you’ve taken too much of that. Is that true?
- I can't find Nystatin in the UK. Glutamine gives me diarrhea. Is there an alternative?
- Are there tests to know if you need Betaine with pepsin?
- I had taken betaine with pepsin for 10 months, and began to feel like I didn’t need it anymore. I was down to one pill before meals and would still feel burning. Will I still need it sometimes?
General Questions
- Can one overcome reactions to high histamine foods and does diamone oxidase help with symptoms?
- Should I be concerned about orthorexia?
- You note that oats are reactive for people with Hashimoto's. Would gluten free oats be any better?
- Does it matter whether cabbage juice is fresh or fermented?
- I was feeling great until we went camping. There must have been some cross contamination with flour or milk. My allergies have been through the roof. At times, I’m taking 3 different 24 hour allergy meds. Where do I start to clear my body?
- I think I have issues breaking down proteins. Would this show up on the GI Effects test?
Infections
Symptoms
- I don’t know if I had H. pylori, but I was on antacids and proton pump inhibitors for acid reflux, for seven months before realizing I had low stomach acid.
- What could cause anal itching? I tried fluconazole for candida, something for SIBO, and am currently doing a parasite protocol. Dairy seems to make it worse and I have many symptoms.
- I have interstitial cystitis, which just came about maybe in the last two years or so. When I do the lemon water or anything to increase my stomach acid, I get such a pain in my bladder that I have to take pyridium. So, I don’t know what to do about that.
- I have thick mucus in my stool. What kind of issues could be there? Would you recommend a certain test?
- My stomach felt much better when I started licorice, L-Glutamine, oil of oregano, and berberine. When I took Betaine my digestive issues came back. I stopped it, continued the other supplements and felt better. Does Betaine promote infection?
- I tested low for Pancreatic Elastase, so I take 3-4 Digestive Enzymes Ultra and 1-3 capsules of Betaine with Pepsin with my meals. I have bowel movements every day now and almost no flatulence. But, I have smelly burps a lot. What could be causing this?
Testing
- My gut test identified some yeast (few), however Candida Spp. stands as no growth and no other yeast identified. I was thinking I had Candida overgrowth and wanted to go on an anti-candida diet, but this result seems to suggest I do suggest I don’t.
- I have H. pylori. Should I be checking other family members for H. pylori?
- You recommend the GI Effects and the GI-MAP screen. Which test do you take? Are they for two different things?
- Do I stop Betaine HCL before the SIBO breath test?
- Can I do the GI-MAP test while I’m taking Betaine with Pepsin?
- Does one have to be off probiotics for SIBO testing?
Treatment
- Can you do the parasite protocol and the candida protocol at the same time?
- I’ve just started your SIBO protocol, and I'm taking one of each supplement. When will I feel if I'm getting better? When should I start taking two or more of the supplements, and for how long?
- Do you have experience with Desbio Epstein Barr Virus Series Therapy?
- We determined we have mold in our apartment. Is it possible that I'm not seeing an improvement in my bloodwork because of the exposure to mold?
- Can I treat SIBO and Blasto at the same time?
- What dose of Diflucan do I need to take for yeast and how long?
Supplements
- I did like Xifaxin for SIBO, and then I'm following it with your herbal protocol. I noticed when I was taking Xifaxan and then I took the Saccharomyces boulardii, it made me really constipated. Is that normal? I cut back a little bit and it seemed to help
- Can Saccharomyces boulardii cause constipation?
- It is okay to take VSL3 when I suspect I have SIBO?
- Do you recommend I.V. vitamin C for EBV? What dose and for how long?
- Can you tell me about the dose of vitamin C that you recommend for Epstein Barr virus treatment?
- If I do indulge in too many fruits, I will get a yeast infection. Do you recommend taking the good yeast you mention, saccharomyces boulardii?
General Questions
- I have mold exposure and need to eat low carbs, could this be problematic with adrenal dysfunction?
- Is H. pylori passed on by touch?
- Why is blasto so prevalent in people with Hashimoto’s? Where is it commonly found? Drinking water, soil, on vegetables, etc.?
- If a partner has H. pylori, can it be spread back and forth?
- Is lemon water an issue with blasto?
- Since I started the herbal protocol for blastocystis, I feel like I’m hungry all the time. I long for eating something like crackers, rice, or beans. I don’t know if it’s my body craving that or if I need to eat something more. I’m doing the AIP diet.
Liver
Symptoms
- What does it mean if I am reacting to many different supplements?
- Since starting on my supplements, I have developed darkness under my eyes. I’ve heard this can be linked to detoxing, but it’s been like this for 6 months now. What could be causing this and what can I do to rectify it?
- What can help with constipation while doing detox?
- Is upper abdominal pain a detox symptom (usually accompanied by bowel movement, but not always)?
- What are the symptoms of fat malabsorption?
- What are the liver support side effects?
Diet
- I have already lost 20 lbs, and I am worried about skipping two meals on the liver support. Will it affect my results if I don’t skip them? Should I try to skip the two meals?
- Can we do the week 1 liver support schedule for 2 weeks?
- Is quinoa okay to eat if we are only doing 1 week of liver support?
- I am going to begin the liver support. Is it okay to add additional vegetables from the "approved" vegetables list?
- I have a goiter and I see that many foods on the detoxification plan are goitrogenic. Can I eat them?
- Are hot spices like cayenne and chili pepper ok foods for a detox plan, or afterwards every now and then? Are they healthy or detrimental to the gut?
Supplements
- I've taken N-acetylcysteine from May to early July and experienced no improvement in symptoms, should I continue taking it?
- How long to take the supplement Rootcology N-acetylcysteine?
- Should N-acetyl cysteine be taken with meals or in between?
- After taking N-acetyl cysteine and systemic enzymes, I noticed my urine was a dark yellow, almost reddish-brown color. What causes the change in the color of urine?
- What do you think about castor oil packs for liver detox once a month?
- My nutritionist has suggested IV glutathione, but my doctor said he thought a teaspoon of liposomal glutathione would be just as good. What do you think?
General Questions
- I'm afraid to try gut or liver cleanse, I'm afraid they’ll deplete my levels and make me worse.
- I’ve heard from various sources that taking too many supplements may be taxing on the liver. I feel it’s important to give the body the additional aid if it’s needed, but don't want to cause problems by doing so. What’s your opinion on this?
- What are the functional levels for ALT?
- What do you recommend for fatty liver?
- How often can one do liver detoxing?
- Are you supposed to feel significantly better after the liver detox?
Medications
Thyroid
- My TSH is at 1.65. I have been feeling tired and I've put on 7 to 10 pounds. My free T4 was at 1.06, and my free T3 dropped down to 2.71. Should I consider a small dose of thyroid medication?
- My TSH is 1.99 and then my T4 is 7.9 and my reverse T3 is 15.6. With those numbers do you think I'm still at bay or should I get on medication?
- What can be done to optimize the conversion of T4 to T3?
- I'm looking for a good medication. I tried T3, then T4, then Nature-Throid; now I’m on one grain. I’m concerned that I’m reacting to the TPO and TG in Nature-Throid.
- Can you take apple cider vinegar with water to help absorption with NDT?
- On the thyroid gradient chart, my free T4 is a bit higher than free T3; does that mean I’m not converting well? Also, my TSH is under .05.
Other
- Do you have an opinion using LDN in pregnancy?
- Isn’t one of the side effects of Diflucan hair loss?
- Is Diflucan the same as Fluconazole?
- When I increase my LDN to 2 milligrams I get acne, do you have any idea why?
- Could LDN help with adrenal fatigue?
- I’ve been on LDN for 4 months and I’m not sure if it’s helping. I still have diarrhea and constipation. What do I do next?
Nutrients
MTHFR
- My MTHFR test was done in 2011 and it was negative. When I went to get tested again, they stated they wouldn’t run it because it was negative in the past. What is your opinion?
- Immediately after having my daughter, I had a blood clot that required blood thinners. I also had another blood clot that I had to take Warfarin for. I do have the MTHFR mutation. Do you have any recommendations to reduce the risk of another blood clot?
- Can I take Rootcology MTHFR Pathways long term, even if I do not know if I have the gene mutation?
- My MTHRF test showed that I was heterozygous for the A1298C variant, and the other one was not identified. Does that mean I don't have a methylation problem and don't need to be on a special type of folic acid?
- With the MTHFR gene, do I need to not eat certain foods due to concern regarding metals, such as almonds due to copper?
- What are the other genes, apart from HLA-DR3 and HLA-DR5, that are responsible for the development of Hashimoto's? Does it make sense to test for them at all?
Symptoms
- My ferritin is 33. I suffer from hair loss and do not tolerate iron supplements. I have been eating more red meat and liver for the last 6 months, but my ferritin does not seem to budge.
- Muscle weakness, tension and dizziness are my main symptoms. Do you have suggestions for these?
- On my last labs, my iron was 153, in range; ferritin low at 12. I am experiencing hair loss and would like to know what I can do to help bring ferritin levels up without being at risk of increasing iron. I’m taking LDN and it hasn’t helped with it.
- I'm taking selenium 200mcg for TPO and methyl B vitamins for MTHFR. At 10mg of B6 per day my results were elevated. I want to have more energy and less headache pressure on my left temple and behind eyes. Could these supplements cause my symptoms?
- Have you ever come across anyone who had experienced sharp pangs in their thyroid when taking calcium supplements?
- Is a low ferritin level of 12 a cause on its own for extreme debilitating fatigue and no energy? Or, if you’re having that amount of extreme fatigue, is it likely something else in addition?
Testing
- I will be taking a test to determine if I have the mutated genes that trigger deficiency, could this be healed with interventions?
- My Alkaline Phosphatase was at 50 before I started zinc. Is that too low?
- Do, you think a full iron panel would be necessary, or can I just test for ferritin?
- When would you recommend to do the Spectracell mineral testing and the mineral hair analysis? Do you do one or both? And do you have to be off supplements? If so, how long?
- Should I be doing vitamin E testing to check that I’m not overdosing?
- How often do you recommend getting tested for vitamin D levels when you are taking vitamin D supplements in order not to get too much?
Diet
- My iodine urine test came back high. Do I hack this by eating a low iodine diet? Could it be the iodine in my thyroid med that made the results high?
- My phosphorus tends to be low. My current level is 2.5 (normal considered 2.7-4.5). What can I do for this since it can cause anxiety issues?
- Will being gluten and dairy free cause any vitamin or nutrient deficiencies? If yes what should be done to overcome that deficiency?
- If I am not supplementing with iodine, do you think sardines are still giving my body too much?
- Are we supposed to eat more of iodine-rich foods or avoid them?
- Is the iodine in canned sardines, salmon, and oysters something a Hashimoto's patient should be concerned about? If yes, how do we get our good Omega 3 without overdosing on iodine?
Supplements
- Can magnesium be addicting?
- Is there a difference between iron and ferritin supplements?
- Do I take magnesium with or without food? On the directions it says, take with food, but your supplement schedule says to take it before bedtime, which I assume is then without food.
- Should I add 5mg of zinc to the Nutrient 950 to try to get 30mg of zinc?
- I take Pure Encapsulation multivitamins, which contains selenium, zinc, B-complex vitamins. Should I be taking additional?
- Does milk thistle lower iron/ferritin?
General Questions
- My iodine level is very low and won’t go up. I've taken many tests, made dietary changes, treated SIBO, and am taking supplements. I do have the Herpes virus, but I rarely ever have a break out. Any insight on low iodine or the Herpes virus?
- Why is my serum creatinine always low?
- I’m having trouble boosting my vitamin D above 30. The supplement I was using actually had sesame, which I was cross reactive to. Other brands are not working. Should I go back to that one?
- My ferritin level keeps dropping despite the things that I’m doing. What’s going on and how do I raise them?
- Will dysbiosis contribute to low iron?
- My folate is in the high range. Is there any caution?
Toxins
Testing
- What foods need to be avoided before completing the OAT test?
- I had a provoked DMSA test that came back with higher levels of some heavy metals including mercury and chromium. I was taking chromium picolinate at that time. Could that be why the chromium was high?
- Can you please explain the difference between provoked urine heavy metals and DMSA? I hesitate to do a chelation because it can make things worse, and I have ten amalgam fillings.
- I did a hair test which showed mercury poisoning. Do I need to do the Urine Genova Labs Test as well?
- In the Hair Test for Toxic and Essential Elements, my mercury result was 4.1 (with a reference interval of <0.80). Should I do the MELISA test for metal sensitivity as well? What additional information will that give me?
- Do you think 2.5 hours would be long enough to give me an accurate reading on the DMSA provoked test?
Treatment
- Do you have any special detox suggestions you would undertake during home renovation?
- I’m going to do the copper toxicity protocol, which says to take zinc. My zinc is already high. Should I still follow the protocol? I eat chia and flaxseed to keep my bowels moving. How important is this for eliminating toxins?
- I believe I have other root causes, dental and metal, that take more money than I have right now. Can you point me to something to help me for the time being?
- My heavy metal test came back high on arsenic. What can I do to lower this?
- Would chlorella be enough to bring down my mercury levels on it’s own? What dosage would you suggest and for how long?
- For saunas, what protocol do you suggest for someone who has had gut issues and will be doing a parasite treatment? How many times per week do you suggest that I get to the sauna? How long should I stay in the sauna?
Recommended Products
- Do you have an air purifier that you would recommend?
- Is there permanent hair coloring product that you recommend to cover gray hair?
- In Australia, reverse osmosis systems are quite expensive. I found a water filter that eliminates 90% of fluoride. Is it mainly just fluoride and chloride that you’re looking to eliminate?
- Do you have to get a prescription from your doctor in order to get a mattress without a flame retardant in them?
- Can a non-toxic mattress topper be helpful if I can't replace the whole thing right now? How many inches would you suggest?
- Do you have recommended shower filters for removing fluoride?
General Questions
- We have a steel framing for our house, and we have arsenic treated base plates in the walls. I have had high arsenic in the past, and my daughter is borderline. It seems like everyone in our house is sick. Could this be a root cause?
- What are the most prominent problematic toxins that prevent T4 to T3 conversion?
- When I was pregnant with my seventh child, I was getting up every morning and swimming in a public pool. I got a rash that spread to my entire body. I was diagnosed with eczema and given a steroid cream. Could the chemicals be a trigger?
- What causes back acne?
- Why is heavy metal detox one of the last steps?
- Can Gilbert's Syndrome, high bilirubin, affect Hashimoto’s? I have always been told it’s benign and common in Eastern Europeans but have recently read otherwise.
General Questions
Symptoms & Interventions
- My daughter and I both have Sjogren’s. She wears soft contact lenses without any trouble, but I couldn’t wear them when I was younger due to dry eyes. I would deposit proteins on the lenses so fast that I couldn’t see with them. Why might this be?
- One of my oxalate markers was high. Do you have any recommendations of what to do, to help reduce my oxalate, or if it's just the one organic acid that’s high, is that not as much of a concern?
- Could TSH suppression cause weight loss resistance and hormonal imbalance? My doctor suggested pulse HCG three days a week. Do you have experience with this?
- With the scope I had done, the endocrinologist indicated that my sphincter was open, not closing. I've heard that this is because of low acid, which I have. Have you heard of this? Any recommendations?
- My thyroid antibodies were at 71, now they're 112, and my LDL jumped. Why would my triglyceride be low?
- The diet and supplements are overwhelming right now. What can I expect in the future? What does a regular day look like for you now?
Testing
- How can you tell if you're not correctly converting T4 to T3?
- Is it worth spending the money on adrenal or gut testing now, since I probably won't be able to follow any treatments due to the pregnancy? Should I wait to do the tests?
- I live in New York and I’m having difficulty getting the tests that you recommend. However, I can get others. The stool is CBSA, and the saliva is Labrix. Will they give me the information that I need?
- What does it mean if my neutrophils are high?
- What does it mean if my lymphocytes are low?
- I asked my endocrinologist to order a CMP. He didn't know what it was. What is the CMP?
Supplements
- How long do we take the different supplements for liver, adrenals, gut cleansing and gut healing?
- I've seen you recommend using 5HTP and I've tried that, but I feel like it actually makes me not sleep very well. Does that sound odd or is that normal?
- Are there probiotics that don’t require refrigeration?
- Is there a good reference to figure the optimal timing to take all the supplements? I recently read somewhere that they should be taken 45 minutes before a meal rather than right before a meal.
- Is it important for digestive enzymes and probiotics to have enteric coating to make it past the stomach and into the intestinal tract?
- Is it best to take supplements with apple cider vinegar/lemon juice, or not?
Course & Resources
- Should I do the Gut Thrive in Five program during, before, or after the Hashimoto's Self-Management Program?
- Is it true that the Medication Conversation Chart is very conservative? Many patients mention that the conversion dosages from T4 meds to NDT meds are not accurate. I just switched and am concerned about my dosage being too low.
- Are there any recommended labs in the UK?
- In your Hashimoto’s Institute interview with Dr. Kharrazian, there was discussion about cross reactive foods and trying to get a paper published. Is that available yet?
- Can you add tags for SIBO-friendly recipes in the portal?
- Do you have any information on pregnancy and Hashimoto’s?