At least 15 years ago, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism. I tried all the conventional approaches to treating this autoimmune problem. I tried at least three different kinds of meds before I finally switched to a more natural animal glandular, (GTA Forte 11) because my symptoms were persisting. Finally with the glandular, the heart palpitations, fatigue, hair loss, cold body temperatures, weight gain, etc. improved when I kept my TSH at that sweet spot of between 1-2. (Praise the Lord, after three  miscarriages, I was able to keep from miscarrying my two youngest daughters by checking my levels and adjusting the dosage every month!)

The problem, however, was that my thyroid now became even more “lazy” since it didn’t have to work at producing what the medicine or natural supplements were providing.

Think about it like this. When you’re sick and tired, will you try to stop your husband or friend who’s insisting you take a break and rest while they do the dishes or clean the house for you? Of course not! You’ll gladly get any help you’re offered. Your thyroid responds similarly. If it doesn’t have to work as hard, it simply won’t.

After years of depending on medicine or glandulars, I still struggled with severe fatigue and other new symptoms began showing up. Suddenly, I started having a hard time keeping things balanced and my numbers would swing back and forth from hypothyroid to hyperthyroid. I was frustrated and became determined to HEAL my thyroid. Nurturing and HEALING it. Supporting the thyroid so it can produce what it should produce. I don’t mind “feeding” my thyroid the nutrition it needs in order to function properly, but I don’t want it to always depend on getting T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine) from medicine or animal glandular, because it’s too sick to produce it on it’s own. My previous approach wasn’t getting to the root of the problem. Thus my search began…

I completely stopped the animal glandular I had been using for years to control my hypothyroidism, (I’m NOT recommending you do this!) and my TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) immediately skyrocketed to 57. (Remember the normal range is between 1 and 2. The higher the TSH, the worse your thyroid function. Your thyroid is trying hard to produce, but it simply isn’t able to.)  I would begin feeling the common hypothyroid symptoms if my TSH increased to around 6, and if it climbed to 20, I felt terrible. At 57, I felt like a walking “dead person.” I could hardly function! Then I started with my plan…

First, I totally eliminating every bite of dairy, soy, gluten, and, of course, sugar. These things are your enemy if you have thyroid issues. Your body will be struggling with inflammation if you have Hashimoto’s disease and these foods will increase inflammation within your body. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of eliminating these foods when trying to heal your thyroid. And I began taking some natural supplements that feed and support the thyroid.

Every month I checked my levels, and my excitement arose as the thyroid numbers slowly began balancing out. Within 3 months, my TSH was all the way down to 18! Without any medication or thyroid replacement, my thyroid was actually beginning to function again. I finally had hope that I wouldn’t have to be on medication for the rest of my life! And since I didn’t have a doctor who knew about these supplements and would help me on this journey, I checked my levels every month through Direct Labs.

It made a world of difference in how I feel and my body seems to simply crave the iodine. It has felt like a life line thrown out to me, and it gives me the energy I need in order to function again. But again, these are things to build the thyroid, not replace what the thyroid is supposed to be producing. Now, a TSH of 18 is not within normal numbers yet, but I will be continuing these supplements, and am excited about this drastic improvement. I will soon decrease my dosage of iodine, but I’m still taking the same amount of selenium.

I’m well aware that taking iodine for Hashimoto’s is a controversial subject. An iodine rich diet prevents thyroid issues, and most of us are deficient in iodine. But for some people, iodine can increase inflammation of the thyroid gland. It is of utmost importance to take selenium to help combat this inflammation. Hashimoto’s can also be caused by various things and every person is different. (Since I have high mercury levels from dental fillings (I’m in the process of getting them removed), and was diagnosed with H. Pylori and Lyme’s disease years ago, I’m not sure what caused mine.) It is of utmost importance to use selenium since it counteracts oxidative stress and inflammation. 200 mcg of selenium is usually a good amount for most people to take on a daily basis. Raw brazil nuts are also a great source of selenium. 200 mcg of selenium significantly reduces the thyroid antibodies that cause Hashimoto’s disease.

Another discovery I made while on this journey is that if you have Hashimoto’s, you likely have tired adrenal glands. To treat one without treating the other is usually a futile attempt. Below I will list the protocol that I used that helped my thyroid function drastically, but I will be giving a more detailed description of adrenal fatigue and my treatment plan in a future post. Apart from my Hashimoto’s thyroidism, I was also in the advanced stage of adrenal fatigue. The Doctor/Coaching team who’s been helping to dig me out of this pit has confirmed that I’m using the right treatment for my thyroid. They’ve kept me on the same products, but are also helping to give guidance in treating my Chronic Adrenal Fatigue. And my adrenals are healing now as well.

Below you will find the thyroid protocol I use, but I also wanted to share a bit of my journey of how I got to the place I was at…

A big reason I’m at this stage of Chronic Fatigue and Hypothyroidism is because I’ve faced many years of ongoing and severe stress. Although God’s grace has been totally amazing and has carried me many times, I’ve still been greatly affected. Two of our five children have had three heart transplants, two kinds of very aggressive cancers, and severe food and chemical sensitivities. We’ve spent countless months in the hospital. I’ve also had three miscarriages. But our worst “blow” was when our son unexpectedly passed away six years ago. After that, it seemed like my body crashed even more.

However, I’ve been learning so much about the adrenal glands and how to take care of them, and I’m thankful for the progress I’m beginning to see in this area. I’ve told God many times that if He helps me to find answers, I will certainly use this knowledge to help others who are struggling.

Please keep in mind that I am not a doctor and am not giving medical advice to you. I am simply sharing what has worked for me. And I know without a shadow of a doubt that my thyroid and adrenal glands are truly healing. I’m no longer covering up symptoms with a bandaid while the damage continues to wreak havoc in my body. The medical community doesn’t acknowledged that you can heal and reverse Hashimoto’s disease, but I believe you certainly can.

These are the products I’m taking to nourish and heal my thyroid. These were the dosages I used during the few months when my TSH went from 57 to 18.

~The recommended dosage of Leaky Gut Support (from Dr. Josh Axe)

~10 drops *Detoxadine- morning and noon (Nascent brand of iodine from Global Healing Center-This brand is important!)

~100 mcg. selenium-morning and noon (any brand)

~2 capsules Ashwaghanda, daily (Gaia brand)

~2 capsules Rhodiola Roscea, daily (Gaia brand)

Global Healing Center, in my opinion, has the best source of nascent iodine on the market. (And, no, I don’t receive any benefits from them by mentioning this.) It was a world changer for me! It truly feels like my body craves this iodine and it has been my life line. As I previously mentioned, it’s very important to take selenium with the iodine to help your body absorb it. Taking licorice capsules and sea salt dissolved in warm water (or in capsules) are also very beneficial for adrenal fatigue. When you are in advanced stages of adrenal fatigue, your blood pressure is usually unstable and these products will help.

The Ashwaghanda and Rhodiola Roscea are both adaptogen herbs that are very good for tired adrenal glands. Since I’ve also struggled with some hormonal imbalances, I cannot tell you how much the Female Fusion from Global Healing Center has also helped me. It is also an amazing product! I encourage you to read the product reviews on both the Female Fuzion and the Detoxadine.

After I experience more healing from my Chronic Adrenal Fatigue, I will be glad to post what I have been doing to recover from it as well. I’m so grateful for the healing I’m receiving. God is faithful!

I truly believe that a healthy lifestyle and balanced diet of protein, fats and healthy carbs are crucial in healing your thyroid and adrenals.

*Do your own research as to the amount you wish to take. This amount will probably cause unpleasant die off symptoms. I was desperate and needed my TSH to come down quickly, but this dose is significantly higher than the recommended dosage.  I was told it’s not toxic in higher doses, but I recommend following the recommended dosage on the bottle. You should be able to continue taking your thyroid medicine while adding iodine and these supplements. Since I’m not  a doctor, I’m not giving medical advice. I’m simply sharing what worked for my body. And I’m fairly certain your body is not deficient in thyroid medicine, but it likely IS deficient in iodine and selenium.

I was so excited when I looked at my test results and saw 18!

God bless you with much joy in your journey.

Cindy Mullett