Expert: Glen Aukerman, M.D. - 6/22/2008

Question
Diagnoised with graves disease 14 yrs ago, I under went the radioactive iodine treatment and have been supplementing with synthroid since then. I continue to have most of the hypothyroid symptoms including depression, fatigue and inability to loos weight. I am wondering how successful it may be to use a more natural approach, such as raw thyroid? I am also wondering how a natural supplement such as raw thyroid works when you don't have a functioning thyroid gland anymore. I appricate your time and knowledge.

Answer
Treatment works either way but it sounds like you actually may have hashimoto's thyroiditis which requires treatment to a different baseline of TSH to 0.50 for the fatigue to go and a gluten free diet. May want to get the genetic test for celiac disease HLA DQ 2,8 celiac specific typing so you know how gluten free you need to be.

see www.medicalcenter.osu.edu/go/integrative for more information about the effects of nutrigenomics on illness and health