How I got off Levothyroxine!
How taking strides in diet, supplements, and movement allowed me to leave levothyroxine behind.
When I was diagnosed, I was told that I would be on medication for the rest of my life - I had no idea that I could heal my thyroid, and leave my medication in the dust!
It started with me changing my diet, click for Part 1 and Part 2 - I did not stop my medication without these alterations, I made sure my thyroid had all the nutrients it needed before stopping medication.
This is the part that all my friends in the health professions roll their eyes. I know, I know.
Why I got off medication:
Personally, it did not sit well with me having to take medication for the rest of my life. Upon doing research, I came across a multitude of articles with patients taking medication for hypothyroidism. They were fine initially, but the medication somehow backfired and suddenly they were dealing with hyperthyroidism instead. Their thyroid hormones would go on rollercoaster, and the endocrinologist would put them on trial and error dosages. I was not okay, with being a trial-and-error thyroid dosage case. I also wasn't okay with taking medication for my symptoms either - Oh, you have fatigue? Medication will fix it. Oh, your hair is falling out? Medication will fix it. Why not get to the bottom of why the thyroid gland is being under active? Is it lacking something? Why is it lacking a certain hormone? Is there a blockage in that certain hormone production? With the miracles of modern medicine, there is a downside - a lot of times, symptom management becomes the center of attention instead of root cause of the problem.
“With the miracles of modern medicine, there is a downside - a lot of times, symptom management becomes the center of attention instead of root cause of the problem.”
Let me be clear, do not go off medication by only reading this blog. I was only on 25 mcg of levothyroxine per day when I started to get myself off medication. Always talk to a healthcare professional before taking the risk. There is no guarantee what worked for me, will work for you.
Let’s get down to it
Upon research, I found out that gradual reduction (weaning off) of medication is key. After I have implemented the diet for 6 months, and being on supplements for 6 months- no cheat days, because it became a lifestyle. After the 6 month mark, I did this:
2 weeks - taking medication every other day. One day on, one day off.
2 weeks - taking medication once every 3 days.
2 weeks - taking medication once a week.
Always, always, always take your supplements!
Stay hydrated to flush out the medication.
Monitor any body changes.
After the last week, I waited 3 months, and monitored symptoms - things to ask yourself:
How are my energy levels? (usually the giveaway symptom).
How are you feeling? mellow? happy?
Do you have early symptoms of depression or anxiety?
How many hours am I sleeping? Less? More?
Do you have nausea?
Do you have diarrhea?
Any hair changes?
Heat/cold intolerance?
My symptoms were stable after 3 months, and after another 3 months, I went back to the doctor to get my blood tested.
I remember that day so well. I waltzed in on cloud nine, and told the doctor "I fixed my thyroid". He looked at me like I was an idiot, and replied, "You can't fix hypothyroidism, that's not a thing". I told him, "Well, I did, it's completely gone, I can feel that it's gone". He smirked at me, and sarcastically said "Okay". I got my blood drawn, and the results came back in 3 days. All my levels were completely normal, TSH, T3, and T4. There was nothing to offset the results as I haven't taken medication for 6 months at that point. I still get my thyroid levels checked every year in my wellness check-up, as a proactive precaution.
6 months after ditching medication, my sleep was restful, and I woke up energized - that was the biggest affirmation that my thyroid was working optimally.
An interesting observation is that when I had hypothyroidism my blood pressure was always low 90/60 - and sometimes even lower. I was always reaching for chocolate, for candy to get some kind of energy high. After all my efforts, my blood pressure is consistently 115/65. I no longer reach for chocolate the way I did before.
Change your diet, and you can change your world!
