Hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid, occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce adequate thyroid hormone for the body. Worldwide, insufficient iodine in the diet is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. The addition of iodine to salt is why we do not see more cases of hypothyroidism in the industrialized world. And this is why it is absolutely critical to store iodized salt for our families. You can read more on that here.
The signs or symptoms of hypothyroidism most commonly observed include:
- fatigue,
- intolerance to cold,
- dry skin,
- constipation,
- weight gain, and
- hair loss.
- hoarseness,
- depression,
- menstrual irregularity,
- forgetfulness,
- fluid retention, and
- poor growth (in children).
(Extremely brief and rudimentary biology lesson for understanding hypothyroidism: thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is produced by the pituitary gland. This is what is measured in a blood test to assess thyroid hormone--thyroxine--levels. TSH tells the thyroid to produce something called T4. T4 must be converted into T3 to be used by the body.)
The missing or insufficiently produced hormone is called thyroxine. When the thyroid doesn't produce enough T4, physicians routinely prescribe a synthetic. The vast majority of hypothyroidism is treated with a synthetic replacement like levothyroxine (Synthroid), which ranks in the top five for most commonly prescribed drugs in the US. It comes in wide variety of dosages and it is absolutely critical to have the exact right dosage for each patient.
Simple enough. Except when it isn't. And this is because the body has to convert T4 into T3, and unfortunately, this critical process can be affected by a whole host of factors, like:
- low-calorie diets,
- antacids,
- prescription medications (sucralfate, simethicone, antidepressants),
- mineral deficiency (zinc, copper, selenium, calcium),
- iron tablets,
- chronic stress (TEOTWAWKI, anyone?),
- herbal medicine (ashwagandha, lemon balm, rosemary),
- soybeans,
- cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower),
- pine nuts,
- walnuts,
- fiber, and
- a whole lot more.
That's a whole lot of stuff that can affect the T3 and T4 levels. What's a person to do? The best advice is to take thyroid medications on an empty stomach, and at least 1-2 hours before or 1 hour after any medications or mineral supplements to avoid or reduce interactions.
Then there are the effects that Synthroid and its generic equivalents have on other medications. Like insulin and type-2 diabetes medications. Synthroid can diminish the efficacy of diabetes medications. (Type-1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, and hypothyroidism can be as well. The two often go hand-in-hand.) On the other hand, Synthroid potentiates warfarin, so that if the warfarin dose is not reduced, serious bleeding may occur.
Getting the right dose of Synthroid is essential; unfortunately, that is going to be very difficult to do post-collapse. It will require careful monitoring of signs from a physician. Getting the right dose is not something that occurs overnight, or even within a week or a month. While there is not so much risk if the dose is too low, there is significant risk if the dose is too high. Hyperthyroidism is no good, either.
As many of us often contemplate a time when DIY everything is going to be the norm, we wonder what was done before synthetic drugs were available. In the case of hypothyroidism, before synthetics were available, desiccated and powdered extracts from pig and cow thyroids were used. Armour Thyroid, derived from cows and pigs, is still on the market today. There are nutraceuticals--plants compounded into tablets and used as medicine--for treating hypothyroidism, but most physicians shy away from them. And there are natural supplements like Thyromine. How well any of these options will work on any given patient depends on too many variables to be able to make any general statements.
If you have hypothyroidism, according to Dr. Koelker, author of Armageddon Medicine, discuss with your doctor whether treatment is mandatory for you. For a significant number, treatment is not actually required. If it is required, stock up on your medications. Synthroid is very cheap from All Day Chemist. If you get the tablets that are double your required dosage, you can then use a pill splitter to halve your cost.
The best recommendations for dealing with hypothyroidism post-collapse are to get not only Dr. Koelker's book Armageddon Medicine, but also her hypothyroid self-study and preparation course. I have several grid-down medicine books and have attended courses. No one covers hypothyroidism anywhere near as well as she does.
UPDATE 21 February 2022: Some patients cannot take the generic equivalent of Synthroid. An article at the following address covers this issue and suggests a few options for patients in this situation. https://www.restartmed.com/synthroid-vs-levothyroxine/
Caution: Untreated hypothyroidism in a pregnant woman may result in birth defects in the baby.
Disclaimer: I receive no benefit or any compensation whatsoever from Dr. Koelker or any company or product mentioned in this post.
Links to related posts:
Salt
Armageddon Medicine review
For more information:
Armageddon Medicine, Dr. Cynthia Koelker, pp 388-401.
Hypothyroid self-study and preparation course
https://www.motherearthliving.com/health-and-wellness/herb-drug-mix-hypothyroidism-herbs-and-drugs
https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2017/02/13/food-and-drug-interactions-are-important-levothyroxine-and-fiber/
https://www.sharecare.com/health/thyroid-supplement/synthroid-interact-medications-foods
https://www.livestrong.com/article/423936-synthroid-interactions-with-vitamins/
"FDA Acts to Ensure Thyroid Drugs Don't Lose Potency Before Expiration Date," US Food and Drug Administration, 3 October 2007, https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/fda-acts-ensure-thyroid-drugs-dont-lose-potency-expiration-date (accessed 10 November 2020).
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29 january 2023
