The Functional Medicine Approach To Hypothyroidism And Hashimoto’s Disease

I was on thyroid medication for 10 years, varying degrees of dosage and mostly Armour thyroid. I had periods of time when I felt great. I had no antibodies. However, I developed atrial fibrillation and over many years had 8 cardioversions and 3 heart ablations. Every doctor said that thyroid medication could contribute to that so six years ago I changed my diet and weaned myself off thyroid medication. I cut out grains, sugar and white flour, ate a Brazil nut per day (for selenium), sprinkled dulse and kelp in my recipes (for natural iodine), ate a lot of vegetables and quality protein. I eliminated fluoride and all soy products (they squelch thyroid function) I have functioned without medication all this time. My TSH is around 3.5 which is liveable. Lower than that and my heart overreacts. The only problem I have is low Vit D and I am unable to take it as a supplement. It triggered A-fib many times. Even when trying to balance it with electrolytes, magnesium, etc. So I eat herring and other fish, get sun. I also added coconut oil, butter and olive oil as my only fats. Hormones don't work without saturated fat in the diet. I avoided all commercial industrial seed oils such as soybean oil (read labels, it's in everything especially store bought dressings). It's a never ending challenge to stay balanced and feel good. But I'm now 73 and on no medication at all. Thank you for your great videos, Dr P and Dr H. Education is key. I had to educate myself in order to get to this place by reading books and watching videos over the years.

In 2021 I had the intuitive feeling that the reason why I was so tired and gaining weight was my thyroid. And I wasn't wrong. After being questioned ridiculously by the endocrinologist I went to see, (ridiculous why? well after describing my symptoms she asked me why did I want all those tests). I had 400 TPO 400! and very high THS, D deficiency, and a 2 cms node in my thyroid What did she do? NOTHING. She told me that because my THS was high there was nothing she could do and that in cases like mine, your thyroid eventually stops working. For a very active 54 years old like me who grew up with a doctor dad? that was NOT acceptable. So I switch doctors. This time was a thyroid department chief doctor at Mount Sinai Union Square in NYC. The same story even worse! but in the meantime, I did a lot of research and start taking desiccated raw bovine thyroid. OMG! it was like waking up from a long dream.I went from power walking 5 miles to do 10, and I started in high doses of D. in 2022 I went to see this "chief" again and asked her for a COMPLETE hormonal and metabolic panel. She only checked T4, T3, THS, and D because I really insisted on D. No checking ANYTHING ELSE! not even my TPO! Well, I am proud to say that I went from 38ml D (deficient) to 87 ml (optimal ) and all on my own. I also started taking Selenium, Zinc, plus all the vitamins I take since 1996 but now in higher doses. Right now I am doing a liver detox to eliminate toxic estrogens by taking DIM, SULFORAPHANE, AND CALCIUM D-GLUCARATE, plus using my bio-identical progesterone cream (5ml) and estriol cream 2.5ml) I think the weight loss will come soon but my hair stopped falling and is now as thick as it used to be years ago and I have tons of baby hairs, I sleep much better, I don't get tired AT ALL and I can exercise more and better. BTW: now I am making my own desiccated bovine thyroid pills,I purchased grass-feed Argentinian bovine desiccated thyroid and that is also great because not only I am saving tons of money but also, I am getting the pure thing with the 4 hormones: T1, T2, T3, and T4. AND NO FILLERS! just pure thyroid We need more doctors like these BUT patients with Hashimoto's need to be VERY proactive and don't give up! the Mount Sinai chief dr got a lesson from me when I told her "you didn't order those tests (that as a patient with insurance that covers them, I am 100% entitled to have) just because you want to play some kind of "power game" and guess what? it's my body, my health and the power is mine, you wanna see how? YOU ARE FIRED. aND I just left. Girls: DO NOT GIVE UP!

I have hashimotos and, in general, doctors(in my experience) don’t address root cause and don’t understand how diet and lifestyle impact people who suffer from it. For 20 years I felt awful...fatigue, uterine fibroids, chronic migraines, inflammation, depression/anxiety, GI issues.....I only started feeling better the last two or three years doing my own research and changing diet and lifestyle, including intermittent fasting and removing myself from toxic people, self care., etc....

I got hashimoto 7 years ago , in that time my TSH higher than normal , cold hand & feet, hair loss , tired , muscle cramp & difficult go to sleep .After a lot reserves, every day I eat 1 brazil nut , use zinc gluconate , magnesium citrate . Up to now I feel very well no any problems like before , blood test result TSH, T4 ,T3 in normal range .I just share my experience

Dear Dr. Mark Hyman, All thanks to you and functional medicine, I am completely in remission in RA and Hashimotos. I am not on any medication anymore. I am now 27, and I was diagnosed with RA at the age of 22. My rheumatologist told me that I would end up in wheelchair, however that will never happen , all thanks to you and the functional medicine community. Thank you so much for saving my life. ❤

This is a really good overview of Hashimotos. However, in this and other episodes in Dr. Hymen’s series, I have noticed that sometimes Dr. Hymen doesn’t let the expert talk. Would be really great not to interrupt the various experts’ thoughts.

Glyphosate also inreases zonulin production. Glyphosate is ubiquitous in bread because it's used as a dessicant on the wheat crops to synchronize seed production. Maybe it's Glyphosate and not gluten

I recently came across my original labs from the 1990's while sorting and packing for a move and there is my routine TSH at my annual (I was 23 years old and it was normal, 2.3) followed by a second TSH three months later when I was having severe memory issues, hair falling out, extremely tired. One day at work I was talking to my mom (an RN) on the phone and she was telling me something and when I didn't respond she asked if I was still there and I said, "Who is this?" She then asked me a few diagnostic questions and told me to hang up and call my MD immediately. On the way home from work (a 30 minute drive I'd made hundreds of times) I was half way home when I realized I didn't know how I'd gotten there or where I was going. The next test, and again, this was only three months after a normal TSH, was 172. One hundred and seventy-two! Diagnosis Hashimoto's. My MD told me, "If you're going to get something, this is one of the better ones to get." Ha! Over the past 30 years, I've done and seen it all. FM doctors, internists, endocrinonlogists (have not met one yet that could get me to an asymptomatic place), doctors regarded as "quacks" by MSM, detoxing, AIP diet, thyroid nodules, chronic migraine, papilary cancer and a hemi-thyroidectomy. In my 30's, suddenly I was severely symptomatic again with a normal TSH and was told by my MD nothing was wrong with me, sent to a psychiatrist, put on anti-depressants that did nothing to help, and only when my hair was falling out in handfuls and I went to a woman dermatologist, she told me it was most definitely not in my head and I needed to see a specialist for more labs. Diagnosis: not converting T4 to T3. Started taking Armour. Then I rode the wild wave when Armour was reformulated and everything when to hell. Learned I don't do well with methylcrystaline cellulose as a filler. Found a dream of an integrative MD in 2001 who was IN NETWORK with my insurance and that was a wonderful 14 yrs until he retired. He suggested eliminating gluten, processed foods, taking supplements (Vit D3, selenium, magnesium glycinate, B-Complex, Curcumin, chelated iron for low ferritin). He also recommended acupuncture, tai chi, mindfulness, and Reiki. I have felt the best on natural dessicated porcine thyroid compounded with acidophilus. There have been ups and downs since, depending on stress and what's going on in life. And now menopause is adding a whole new level of crazy to a once stable system. Curious to hear from others who have some tips for menopause. Did not respond well to bio-identical hormone therapy. I am so thankful to have come across this video because I have children 15 and 19 and after reading Cynthia Li's book, I hope to support them with making some life changes so hopefully they don't get this as well as it runs in our family. So much great information in the book and I highly encourage anyone wanting to know more about all Dr. Li has learned to pick up a copy. The back of the book is loaded with resources and a well developed blueprint for how to undertake a similar healing path. All the best to everyone who manages to get through each day while managing their health!

All this is great information but all these functional medicine visits and tests sooooo expensive, I sometimes feel that functional medicine has niche for wealthy only. None of it is covered by insurance and yes, taking all the wide array of tests is amazing but wow, how can a simple person can afford all of it? We need a solution where it would available to all.

Ever since I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism my GP has been absolutely hopeless . During lockdown I have been forced to research this whole subject myself and , by watching videos like this one and acting upon it , I have twice had my levels of Levothyroxine medication reduced and feel so very much better .

27 years Hashimoto's after the birth of my 3rd child- I was 36 years old. Pretty overwhelming learning at the age of 64, that what used to be a one pill solution is now a very large and multifaceted approach that will take much calculation and lots of changes in dietary behaviors. Thankful for the advances in knowledge and treatments. Most challenging for me will be all of the foods I will need to eliminate from my diet. Seriously, what is actually left to eat when it's all said and done?

Wow. Been struggling to find a Dr to listen to me for years. They almost had me thinking I was just crazy and if I just lost 20#s I would magically get better. The last GP Dr wrote me an RX for a drug she said would help balance my hormones. I researched it and it was a powerful antidepressant. I was so angry. I finally found a functional dr who spent an hour with me on my first visit. I felt heard for the first time and felt believed, validated. She said, “I can look at your labs and tell you don’t feel well, but I can help you.” I cried when I left. did a bunch of additional bloodwork. It’s exactly what he describes, high antibodies, high testosterone, high DHEA, low progesterone....all these years I’ve suffered and was treated like I was just exaggerating. I’m so grateful for functional medicine and videos like this that provide access to a wider view of health.

One of the best presentations I've come across, & even the comments are gems. Thanks tobyou all.

Been struggling for over 20 years too with hashimotos never feel well and rescue animals praying for the day can feel well from this thyroid challenge 🙏

One factor that contribute to thyroid issues is insulin resistance, I noticed they didn’t mention that

Finally real doctors, what a relief ❤. Finally doctors who are interested in curing health issues.

I am one of those people who have been on medication and am in normal range but still do not feel well.

I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. I prayed and God sent articles about the dark side of wheat my way. I had to figure this out myself because the doctor wanted to take my thyroid out.

Dr Hyman and Dr George your cups will never run dry.. God bless you guys for this great message. Much love

What do you think about the connection between hormonal birth control and thyroid function? I wonder if it’s so common in women and increasing because so many women are taking hormones.