Archive September 2007

Latest News 29th September

Endocrine Disruptors What are they?

The endocrine system consists of glands and hormones responsible for regulating many of the body's functions including metabolism, growth, body temperature, reproduction amongst other important organ functions. The endocrine glands consist of pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, thymus, pancreas, ovaries and testes in men. It is like a messaging system as one of these glands like the pituitary will release a hormone that then instructs another gland to produce another hormone in response. Hormones are released into the bloodstream and that is how the messages are carried. Many important life functions are controlled in this way.

However, should anything interfere with this process, havoc can result. There is much research and proof due to experiments carried out on animals, that chemicals disrupt this finely tuned messaging system to quite an extent and an endocrine disruptor is a synthetic chemical that mimics or blocks hormones therefore disrupting the entire process. This can be through altering hormone levels, stopping or overstimulating the production of hormones or changing the process of the way they travel in the body.

An extreme example would be the Chernobyl disaster. Many people affected now have thyroid conditions even if they were not in the imediate vicinity. I actually spoke to a mother at the school whose entire family have thyroid conditions as a result of this as she lived within a 100 mile radius of the disaster before she came to this country. Even low level exposure to chemicals over a period of time will result in endocrine disruption.

Radiation is an obvious one but there are many other synthetic chemicals that enter our bodies via our skin or respiratory system and over a period of time, produce a complete change within our bodies. Chemicals such as parabens, pesticdes, synthetic hormones, dioxins,PCBs and DDT are known endocrine disruptors but are only one part of a much bigger picture.

In understanding the process, you have to realise that our body can't cope with anything synthetic entering it. It was not designed to cope with chemicals. It does not know how to eliminate them and many of them remain within the body and cause unwanted effects.

We are constantly exposed to chemicals. We can't get away from them in this day and age. Insecticides, fumigants, fungicides, detergents, resins, plasticides. Also our air is polluted by them from manufacturing prcoesses and the burning of plastics and other toxic substances. Another worry is the plastics used to make intravenous bags for hospitals. Endocrine disruptors are stored in fat, so eating fatty meat and fish from contaminated water is another contributary factor.

How do we really know that problems are caused by chemicals? We know because plants fish and animals exposed to such environmental toxins are showing signs of endocrine disruption such as abnormal thyroid gland swelling, and reproductive problems. Also, as part of the food chain, animals bids and fish that feed on the very species with the endocrine problems are showing the same signs. Many species are dying out as a result due to reproductive problems.

Should we be worried?

Absolutely. Developing embyos, whether from an animal, fish or human are being affected at an important stage. Ineded, in the 50's and 60's, women were prescribed a drug known as Diethylstilbestrol (DES) to prevent miscarriage. This is a synthetic oestrogen. Ironically it did not prevent miscarriage at all and only served to cause health problems in these women's offspring. Research found unusual cancers, immune system suppression and other strange health problems in these offspring.

As many as 2000 chemicals that come onto the market each year have not been tested for toxicity. Some of the tests carried out do not determine safety around humans. Scientists know of an entire databse of chemicals suspected of causing endocrine disruption, but have not yet been proved to do so. Why are they all taking so long to find out? Industry, money, power.

What can I do to help myself and my family?

Buy organic food, avoid pesticides including on or around your pet, avoid fatty food, know the source of your fish, avoid plastics like containers, plastic wrap, and storing food within them, think about everything you use including cookware. Aluminium is dangerous too. Think regarding microwaves and reduce down your use of them. Think about your childs toys and plastics, especially teething rings that are soft and can release endocrine disrupting chemicals. Think about 200 plus different chemicals in airfreshners and plug in scented devices used to "freshen" your home. You are inhaling them all the time. Think about chlorine in bleach. There are alternatives.

Educate yourself on this topic. You may need to make major changes but it will be well worth the effort. Please read my other pages about chemicals in the home, beauty products including hair colourants, and food additives. It will help you realise the scale we are talking about. We just can't get away from them.

We need to return to a simpler lifestyle and "go back to basics". Simpler healthier food and natural products. Before you use anything, THINK...WHAT is it made from? WHERE does it come from? HOW was it made? If it has been "made" from synthetic substances, question this. You are entitle to, if your body and your life.

Take a look at this List of suspected endocrine disrupters although the list is not exhaustive.

Making your own skincare and personal products - why do we need preservatives?

Parabens: why they are used and what are the alternatives?

I am looking into making your own cosmetics and skincare products from natural ingredients and can see why parabens are used. (although there is still no excuse for them and their toxic effects) When using water (aqua)or milk in a skin care product such as a face cream, preservative needs to be used to avoid dangerous micro-organisms from multiplying within the product. These micro organisms are themselves a health hazard and can cause blindness and even death and can also endanger mucous membranes.

So while parabens are dangerous, it is fair to say that they are a cheap way to avoid micro organism growth and extend shelf life beyond 3-4 days. (like food)

Are there alternative preservatives?

Essential oils are the most natural preservatives that can be used. However, as a large amount is required to preserve a product, this itself often exceeds recommendations for safe amounts of essential oils in skincare products.

Grapefruit seed extract or citricidals are also antimicrobial and considered a more natural alternative to parabens. However, some citricidals themselves contain preservatives.

Antioxidants can be used as preservatives and T-50 vitamin E oil is one such antioxidant and is a component of vitamin E containing a higher content of gamma tocopherols.

Rosemary Oil extract is another natural antioxidant that can be used as a preservative.

What I have learned is that the life of the product is reduced substantially to only 3-4 days if no preservatives are used at all and for safety, some sort of preservative is needed such as grapefruit seed extract, vitamin E or a component, or rosemary oil extract - period. Your health is at risk if you do not add some sort of antimicrobial to protect against fungus yeasts and the multiplication of dangerous microbes. It's a vicious circle.

What if I don't want to use any preservatives at all?

The opinion here is: make up tiny amounts and keep it in the fridge remembering to dispose of any remaining product after 3-4 days. There are no other alternatives to those mentioned above.

So, to summarise, it's parabens, antioxidants, essential oils such as Rosemary oil extract or grapefruit seed extract or none at all but keep in the fridge and dispose of after 3-4 days.

The Coconut Diet

I have been reading about coconut oil as being beneficial to thyroid health. I believed that coconut oil was bad for you but this site says different. Also Mary Shomon in her book "Living Well with Hypothyroidism" discusses the benfits. It has a normalising effect on the thyroid and production of hormone. The site also states the benefits of Coconut oil for Candida, weight loss, digestive health, CFS, Diabetes, skin, viruses and amazingly enough, on Cholesterol.

Since this site is all about finding solutions, this may be well worth it and something I intend trying myself soon. It really does sound promising.

To read more http://www.coconutdiet.com/index.htm

Latest News 26th September

If you have hypothyroidism, one thing that the GP's don't accept is the possibility that your thyroxine requirements may change depending on the season and it is one thing that many experts agree on. My GP thinks this is ridiculous, but considering that the thyroid is also responsible for maintaining body temperature, it seems logical that your needs for thyroxine will be less in the summer months and more in the winter when the weather is cold.

I even find that walking around a supermarket by the fridges and freezers makes me feel unwell and weak and lethargic. This is something to be considered, especially if you tend to feel better in the summer and may be worth mentioning to your GP. Thyroxine needs could then be increased for the colder months and help you to feel as good in the winter as the summer.

Latest News 25 September

As you know, this site is all about providing solutions and information. I have today discovered this downloadable e book called Miracle Superfoods. It tells you all about how food alone can improve your health and your looks better than any other medicine. E books are great because you can download and read them straight away without having to wait for them to be delivered. This ebook costs $27.99 (around £14) and contains a wealth of information. She is also including 5 free Ebooks for the money including Natural aphrodisiacs, Practical Lessons in Yoga, 504 Natural Recipies for body and bath, As a Man Thinketh which is a self help book for self improvement and Success Quotes a book of inspirational quotes.

Worth buying, especially for the Superfoods, natural aphrodisiacs and natural recipies. Loads of information for your money....naturally!!

Miracle Superfoods

Latest News 22 September

Can I just remind you all that if you have been to your doctor because you have been experiencing symptoms over a long period of time as discussed on the thyroid, autoimmune, CFS or Fibromyalgia pages, that of extreme tiredness, muscle weakness, sensitivity to cold (feeling very cold when everyone else in the house is hot) and some of the symptoms on the thyroid page, and your blood tests come back "normal", don't accept from the doctor that you don't have a problem. If you do accept it you could be ill for years. However, in the UK, endocrinology is not taught in depth to GP's and sadly, their view of normal is not always right. (it does not seem to be taught to some endocrinologists either) You should make an appointment to see a private doctor who will run all the correct tests, including tests for adrenal insufficiency, hormone and vitamin deficiency levels and tests that the NHS are not prepared to do (something to do with funding of course). Yes, you will have to pay a consultation fee of around £120 and also a fee for the tests. However, I think if you can possibly do this (not everyone can or is prepared to) it will be money worth spending since the private doctor will send his report and recommendation to your GP so that hopefully you can then be treated. Alternatively, the private doctor will treat you. It will be worth it's weight in gold to just find out what is wrong and the right way to go about being treated.

Remember even borderline hypothyroidism will make you ill. Many GP's will not recognise that fact. You then run the risk of not being treated. TSH should be around 1-2 for most of us to feel our best. In the UK, the opinion is different and hence the Thyroid petition fouther down this page. It is widely known that thyroid conditions are not being recognised and properly treated in this country. Many doctors don't believe in Adrenal insufficiency, Fibromyalgia, CFS and other conditions and some people are even being told that raised thyroid antibodies are normal

We really must think of ourselves and stop being bullied and patronised by the medical profession. We are accepting what they say simply becuase they are a doctor. Read down further about things my own GP has said to me. Take a look at my submission form below and tell me what ridiculous things your doctor has said to you (anonymously)

Because the research and trouble is not being carried out, thousand of women are being hailed as mad or depressed or hysterical and fed with tranquillisers and antidepressants unnecessarily simply because no one is taking the trouble to help them and this is a well known fact. It has even been in magazines, internet articles, television and radio chat shows.

ACT NOW. STOP SUFFERING.

Latest News 21 September

Swallowing difficulties:

I have had enquiries regarding the swallowing problem that we thyroid and Hashimoto sufferers experience and as many women are frightened by these (understandably) I thought it might be an idea to mention a few things. It is the swelling of the thyroid gland that causes this and even to this day, mine still swells up causing pressure in the neck. My cousin also experienced this until hers was partially removed.

The way I deal with it is to have a warm drink and put a hot face towel on the area. You also need to try to conciously relax your throat. It is an uncomfortable and frightening experience and sometimes you feel like you are being strangled. My cousin thinks it feels like everything has got into a knot and you can't unravel it.

De stressing and relaxing will help. I find mine does it as a reaction to stress and more so in the evenings or when I am very tired.

As if there isn't enough to deal with with all the other symptoms. I have learned to live with them all and most are relieved by medication.

I am researching Armour Thyroid and T3 and T4/T3 combinations at the moment so we can have some light shed on the matter of what options we have. In the UK, Levothyroxine is prescribed as a matter of course and most women don't even know there are other options.

I am trying to establish whether we can obtain treatment for those options on the NHS. The opinion coming back is only if our doctor feels happy with it. Most go down the Levothyroxine route because they have agreements with the Pharmaceutical companies (NHS) Armour thyroid is a natural glandular treatment made from dessicated pigs thyroid gland and while this sounds gross, it is compatible with our own body. This makes the natural version more appealing and as with Natural progesterone, will probably make a big difference.

Basically if your body is not converting the synthetic T4 from Levothyroxine to the important T3 hormone, you might as well no be on T4 anyway??

More research needed, I feel. Watch this space.

Ever wondered "what on earth does that mean" when your doctor hands you a blood test form? What is ESR, U&E etc?

This site is great for solving the riddle and also tells you why your doctor might be doing this test. (Lets face it, they won't sit and explain why they are doing the tests and mine didn't even tell me to fast for a fasting glucose test or fasting lipid when I attended the practice yesterday. You can adjust the tests for your country by clicking on the relevant flag. Go to "tests" and select relevant one.

Find out

I sat there in amazement. I went to him because my symptoms had flared up after a long period of remission due to a lot of stress recently, self neglect due to late nights, childrens parties. I am very cold again, muscle weakness, feeling exhausted and can't shake myself out of it at all.

He said : "you seem to have done well taking all the supplements, just carry on"

I explained that getting up at night to use the toilet had caused me to pass out and that I staggered around the room and was unsteady.

His answer: "Buy a commode for about £30"

I said: I am unsteady during the day more than normal.

His answer:"Get a zimmer frame"

He has referred me for physiotherapy. Why? How will it help? If I feel weak, then how will physiotherapy help as I won't be able to participate?

He told me there is nothing wrong with my thyroid "any more" The thyroxine has made it better!!!! He then went through my medical history including the postive ANC antibodies and dismissed everything.

As usual, I will have to make myself better, after all I am like this from my own self neglect and too much experimentation for the website.

He has given me a blood test form to be completed. He has ticked: U&E, fasting glucose (but neglected to tell me to fast) Fasting lipid profile, Liver prfile, Thyroid function, Blood count, and asked for thyroid antibodies and ESR additionally.

He tried to tell me that my scoliosis was to blame. How?

We shall see. You all know my feelings. Off to a private doctor I think.

Tip

For a natural eyebag treatment, try an Eyebright herbal tea bag on your eyes for around 10-15 minutes. Does not cure the problem forever, but certainly helps reduce swelling.

Latest News 16th September

Oily skin solution?....at last

If you have oily shiny skin all the time (as I used to) and hate the way you have open pores, whiteheads and blackheads made worse and more obvious by the way the shine accentuates it, try using Lily of the Dessert organic Aloe vera Gel on your face, morning and night as your moisturiser and nothing else. Keep it in the fridge. The cooling gel goes on and keeps your face almost completely oil free all day and night, so you don't wake up in the morning like a frying pan!!!!

You know how hard it is with oily skin. No matter what you use on it, mattifiers, matt foundation, powder, preparations for oily skin, they all make it worse and brands promise everything and deliver nothing.

Through pure experimentation, and a love of Aloe Vera Gel in general as a great solution for rashes after bikini line shaving, I decided to try it on my face. The result was amazing. I also mix the gel with my foundation before spreading on my face. Result? Matt skin all day, more refined pores and smoother complexion. The dramatic reduction in oil means fewer whiteheads and blackheads so using it over your first week, you should see results.

I will continue with this and hope it is my long term solution to my problem hormonal oily skin which has only responded to this and the natural progesterone cream up until now.

I have also been taking Rosa Mosqueta capsules (3 a day) and using a tiny amount of Rosa Mosqueta oil (mixed with Aloe Vera Gel) on my face too. I wash my face with Pure and Natural SLS and Paraben free Antibacterial Foaming Face Wash with lemon and tea tree by Handmade Naturals My skin looks miles better and results have been quick, which is what we all want. Try it and see for yourself. Don't forget to detox and drink lots of water too. A B2 deficiency can cause oily skin so make sure you supplement with a good B complex or take brewers yeast. MSM is a good skin purifier and is known as the "Beauty supplement"

For your information, here is a link to a list of low hazard sunscreens. You need to scroll down the page a bit to see them.

You can also access the database of hazardous cosmetics, skincare, etc by clicking on the top toolbar in blue.

Red is extremely hazardous, with green being of minimal hazard. They also have a rating between 1 and 10. The results are quite surprising with even some of the so called "chemical free" natural products being listed quite high for hazards. Makes you want to weep.

Some of the well known brands that are on the shop shelves are rated very high for hazards and some surprisingly not. The good thing about this site is that it also lists fragrances, so you can see what perfumes are especially hazardous too due to their amazing cocktail of chemicals.

Also, here is a link to some helpful information about household chemicals.

Please check out this valuable site about chemicals in the environment called EWG

Pro Collagen transdermal marine collagen anti wrinkle gel by Pro-Vera certainly looks to be worth a try and I will be sampling it soon. It costs around £29.95 for 30ml and contains no artificial ingredients like preservatives, colours or fragrance. Gets the thumbs up already!! To try, please click here

Latest News 14th September

If you suffer from Thyroid disease, CFS, Fibromyalgia or other debilitating autoimmune disease and you live in the UK, you may not be able to work at all, depending on the severity. In this case you will definately be eligible for Incapacity benefit. However you may also be able to apply for disability living allowance too. (DLA)

Thyroid UK have provided an excellent website called the Barton Hill Advice Service in Bristol. (you don't need to live in Bristol to obtain advice from the site)

There is lots of valuable information on DLA, Incapacity benefit and attendance allowance. The webite provides information on how to complete forms for these benefits to you advantage. Often the wording is baffling and with our kind of illnesses, it is hard to answer questions acurately as one day varies from another.