About 6 months ago I was diagnosed with Grave's disease (hyperthyroidism) which is apparently a genetic issue that can be triggered by things such as hormone (i.e. pregnancy, menopause,etc).  I'm currently taking medication to control it but am facing a possible surgery to remove my thyroid or use radioactive iodine (which I'm told is "safe".... yeah right).  However, I'm hesitant to go through either of these procedures as it will make me HYPOthyroid permanently and will require medication (synthroid) for the rest of my life.  I am currently vegan, working on being a superhero.  Is there anyone else out there with a similar experience with alternatives or advice on specific vegan or superhero diet recommendations?  Thanks so much!

The thyroid gland is controlled by the pituitary. The thyroid gland uses iodine to make thyroid hormone. Iodine is a difficult molecule and for some people their immune system gets imbalanced and attacks the thyroid. This usually depresses thyroid function but for some it increases it. Many cases of hypo (under active) are identified and treated with medications in my opinion without merit. Hyper (over active) on the other hand can be much more serious. Hyperactive thyroid causes the heart to race and it can damage it. There are other consequences as well.
We link dairy consumption to both types of disorders and consider most of them auto immune in origin.
Superhero would be the advise I would give to a patient that presented with this condition.

I had Graves disease for several years.  I was facing a lifetime of Tapezole, so I elected to have a total thyroidectomy and take Synthroid for the rest of my life instead.  My endocrinologist said that it is safer to take Synthroid long term than Tapezole, which can contribute to osteoporosis.  Also, she said that being hypothyroid is easier on the body than hyperthroidism (even when you are on meds to control it), which can affect the heart.  Radioactive iodine was not an option for me due to a large nodule. I had the surgery 4 years ago, and it was pretty easy, as surgeries go.  I think I was only in the hospital one night, and once I left the hospital, I didn't even need pain meds.

Are you on medication for the Grave's disease?

I should have also mentioned that my TSH levels don't fluctuate at all on the Synthroid, while I always seemed to be up and down on the Tapezole.

Hello everyone. Today I became a vegan after years of "flirting", as Alicia puts it. I have been reading her book and am finally inspired to make the change. And I am glad to have found this website - and the forum - for support. Having said that, I too am struggling with this disease. Thank you, Justin for what you said - it was informative. Do any of you think that making the change will really help eliminate the need for medication? Is that possible? Also, I would like to know if others have had issues with feeling full. I have stuffed myself with whole grains and veggies all day, but I burn calories too fast. My stomach is still grumbling and I feel empty!Thank you to all who read my post and I am happy to be here!

Hi Leah.   I stopped my hyperthyroidism with an herb (popular in Germany for hyper thyroids) and a homeopathic thyroid detoxifier.   I went to see my bioenergetics practitioner and she helped me determine if these things would work for me and how much to take.  Within 6 weeks, my thyoid normalized.  That was 6 years ago.  I've never taken medication.    A good diet like the Kind Diet will definitely help.  If you can find a bioenegetics practitioner near you---see that person.     They should be able to help.

I was just diagnosed as well and am new to Macrobiotics--about a month.  I just bought a book that is interesting and informative and certainly gives many alternative and allopathic as well as conventional medicine ideas.  The book is called Graves' Disease; A Practical Guide, by Elaine A Moore and Lisa Moore.  Many stories are shared about putting the disease into remission,  I do think it is a good idea to get your levels checked, even though one feels good, when on alternative treatments.  Graves's disease is quite serious if ignored.

I think everyone has good points mentioned prior.  I have been in remission for over 3 years despite doctor after doctor belittling me for not going forward with conventional treatment.  Everyone responds differently to graves.  Continue to have your levels checked and institute life style changes that feel comfortable to YOU and make sense to YOU.  Your body will let you know when and if it is time to move forward with more drastic treatments.  Find a doctor that supports and understands what you are trying to accomplish.  Good luck!  And feel free to contact me if you need encouragement, support or have questions!

Hey everyone!  Thank you so much for talking about Grave's on here!  I was diagnosed with Grave's while pregnant with my son 6 years ago.  Took a year of anti-thyroid meds and went into remission for 4  years.  Now, it's back and I'm trying to figure out what to do nutritionally.  I was hoping it would fizzle out again...but it's been a year and a half of trying to deal with it and avoiding meds (and radioactive iodine too!  yikes!).  Last week, I finally went to the doctor and found out that it has caused a heart murmur (which explains why I've had some chest discomfort)!!  :(  So, I've sadly decided to take Methimazole for a while to get help get my levels back to normal.  But, I so desperately want to solve this health issue in a natural/holistic way.  It's a HUGE compromise for me to submit to taking medicine - something I generally don't "believe in."  I just know that medicine is not the answer - it's certainly not going to fix the underlying cause.  Killing off the thyroid doesn't seem right either!  It's frustrating that no one has been able to tell me what causes this, why it went away before, why it came back, and what I can do to correct the imbalance in my body to help it heal....  Any advice out there???  Thanks!!...........Julie

I have been taking the generic for synthroid since I went through menopause with no problems so far.

Blessings,
Deborah

The superhero plan is the best way I know to try to remove the potential triggers for auto-immune thyroid reactions like Graves'.
You still need the meds until it goes into remission.

Hi, everyone.

I was diagnosed with Graves about 9 years ago. The symptomes were severe in my case aswell fysical as emotional (paranoia moodswings) I did take medicine 1 year stopped and was ok for 2 years. Than it came back. Restarted the treatment: 1 year medicine, stopped and it was away again for 1 year. Than it came back... Because i was so tired of all the symptoms, also especially what it did to my relationships with everyone ( i was or so tired i could not do anything or i was emotional, aggresive, suicidital..) that i choose to do the radioactive treatment ( in the Netherlands they dont do operational removal as they say it is too dangerous...). In my case they gave a little radioactive pill that will kill a part of the thyriod so the part that is left will continue to work. This precedure i did about 4 years ago and ever since i am fine! I feel wonderful. I was eating already vegetarean (sometime fish) but now i am slowly flirting with becoming vegan. In my case untill now ( i am flirting for 1 months now) i dont feel great changes, but feel good about it.
Also regarding my treatment they told me that indeed later in live i probably will turn hypo so it is good to learn what i might to do prevend or delay that...
All I can say about it is that after years of "hell" the radioactive treatment (eventhough i was not happy about it and delayed the procedure after it came back the second time...) in my case "saved" me... I felt good and meself again ever since....

...dublicated...

Axa Axa,
Yours is an important perspective here. We sometimes over-react to the scary sounding medical interventions that are in some cases very valuable and even life saving.
Hypothyroidism is very common and in many cases, treatable with lifestyle means. Hyperthyroidism is a medical condition that must be addressed.
Very happy to hear of your recovery, preventing an eventual shift to hypo might be mitigated with the superhero plan.

Yes, thanks for sharing Axa Axa!  It's very comforting to hear positive stories of everything going well after the radioactive iodine!