Hypothyroid dark circles and eyebags

Hi WhimsyLizzie, I also don't take meds. I have sever advanced thyroid disease and became horribly ill from the meds. I got off them using essential amino acids. I sent you a pm if you'd like to read more about my experience.

Honestly, once I got my head together to research thyroid function, the amino acid deficiency is so obvious and simple to treat thyroid disease, I'm not sure why it isn't posted everywhere. But I have yet to see a post on this. I guess it's because there isn't any money to be made. 

Give it a try. I tried everything and nothing else worked. The amino acids worked for me better than anything else.

 

I’ve been hypothyroid for many years — am also a lifelong vegetarian as well as gluten-free for the past 10 years, but I’d love to hear more about what you’ve done re: amino acids to help with your thyroid function.  Just this weekend, I’ve ended up with some ‘lovely’ eye bags that won’t leave me alone...so, wondering how to treat this but now have a few ideas.  Thanks!  

Hi Brenda, well, you won’t like it. But I can tell you I’ve tried eating vegan and it doesn’t work for my body. Our bodies are designed to eat animal protein for most efficient energy and metabolism. We need the nutrients found only in meat and we need the protein. 

I’ve had subclinical hypothyroidism most of my life, having a bit of a chunky figure despite my athletic lifestyle. However, my thyroid disease went into remission for a blissful ten years while I was eating a high protein diet. Later, my thyroid disease returned (I believe triggered by environmental factors) and I’ve gone.very strict gluten free. 

I find I do best with meat and vegetables. Root vegetables such as carrots and beets for starches. I can’t eat grains and lentils unless my system can handle them, which isn’t often. 

When i have a flair up, I go back tomstrict meat and vegetables. I do a lot of crock pot meat soups. I’m having a bit of a difficult time sticking to this strict paleo style diet at the moment, and have found essential amino acid supplements to be extremely helpful, as they provide the building blocks the body needs for its metabolism, protein oroduction, and most importantly, amino acids are the base for thyroxin and are required for syntheis of thyroxin.

My feeling is that thyroid patients should never be vegan, as it contributes to thyroid disease by depriving the body of basic nutrients. There’s just no way to get the same amount and quality from peas as from meat. It’s something I’ve really struggled with, so I didn’t come to this conclusion lightly.

 

The amino acid concept is really interesting to me, as I do daily collagen supplements that are made up of amino acids, for years now.  Maybe that's why I feel so good on Levothyroixine?  Not sure, but I will continue to take them..

Thanks for your input regarding collagen supplements made up of amino acids.  I find this interesting and have truly never felt bad on Levothyroxine; however, I found this site accidentally when I read something about hypothyroid can contribute to bags under eyes...which I struggle with especially during allergy season (mine seems to be more of the seasonal variety).  So, was looking for support & found this information.  I will look into these as they sound helpful.  

The amino acids supply the raw materials for all the reactions and enzymes in your body. In fact, the amino acid phenylalanine is extremely crucial, as it’s  a precursor for other amino acids that you body can make. And in fact, phenylalanine is the starting molecule for thyroxin. So without these amino acids that your body does not make, your body can’t function properly.

I appreciate your thoughtful words regarding vegetarianism and thyroid issues.  Every time I’ve tried to eat anything with meat & yes, only a very few times, I’ve gotten very sick.  I realize my body has gone so many years without it, it may not have what it takes anymore to metabolize this—sees it as a foreign body so to speak.  I’m not vegan although some days it ends up that way—and did try briefly, as one of our sons was trying as he thought it may a good fit for him.  However, as I’ve not felt bad with Levothyroxine, I will continue to take it but was seeking help with eye bags and read your comments about amino acids—perhaps a supplement will compliment my eating.  Philosophically as well as health-wise, I plan to continue my vegetarian eating but appreciate your candor re: what works best for you and the angst to get there.  Take good care—be well.  

Hi Brenda, if you’re vomiting from meat, this could indicate liver problems, I thought I posted this earlier, but I don’t see my response here, so maybe it crashed before it posted. 

Anyway, I can relate about not wanting to consume animal products. Do take good care of your liver health though, as difficulty digesting meats can indicate a toxic liver or other digestive problems.

Thanks for your suggestions...my body response to meat was not vomiting but more digestive with diarrhea.  I’ve talked with various people in nutrition & alternative health fields, and their frequent response is more about digestability due to not eating meat for my entire life except on those very few occasions—losing the bacteria, hence, the ability to digest it well.  I’ve never wanted to nor seen reason enough to pursue it to go through the rebuild, if possible, after a lifetime of vegetarianism.  

Hi MtViewCatherine,  

I had Graves disease and hyper thyroid in my 20's.  I have taken levothyroxine of 30 years at 150 mcg,  the past 6 years I have had problems and thought it was perimenopause.  I was having panic attacks, anxiety etc and they gave me xanax.   I didn't use it often and recently they lowered my dose,  panic attacks and anxiety gone but I get very tired after taking the meds,  have headaches, fall asleep during classes or church and am feeling miserable.   The past 2 days I stopped taking my meds to get work done.   I am sleeping a lot but can't focus and get motivated.  My new test show TSH at .81 taking Levo 125MCG,  previously levy 150MCG  TSH at .8.   Do you have insight?

I am new to this forum and need some help with a few things of health.  I have been on a compound of T4/T3 for quite a long time.  They are saying my thyroid levels are still low.  I was vegan, and plant based many years as well.  My digestive system became just completely unable to digest normally.  I also have ulcerative colitis in remission and on humira.  Now, you would think that I am a sedentary person with an unhealthy lifestyle.  That is not the case.  I am a health/fitness specialist who has had a very active healthy lifestyle. Anyway, the bags under my eyes are becoming worse and worse!  Dark and puffy.  I dont know who I am anymore!  I need some help.  I have recently, about 4 wks ago, converted to a ketogenic diet to get my gut in order and it has helped quite a bit.  I had my blood work done last week however and omg my glucose is 102!!  I have never ever had this!  I had it done about 4 months ago and it was 87!  My reading says that I might be shutting down insulin production!  not good.  everything else in panel was excellent.  weird.  I mention this because the puffy dark bags under my eyes have increased.  I read a response you gave to the group earlier (I cant find it cuz of joining group while reading) about getting off my thyroid med with a mineral supplement(s).  I am needing to get this all cleaned up and want to get off these meds!  Please please can you respond with some advice and supplement help??