Hello,
I am looking to find a clinic, or a doctor who can treat Hashimoto and Hypothyroidism, using holistic approach, doing an extended lab work to find missing nutrients or vitamins and prescribing natural thyroid hormone if necessary. Anybody here can recommend such a clinic/doctor? Thank you for your time and help. Can be anywhere in Switzerland.
Simona

My brother had Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. He is into 'alternative' medicine and after trying many different alternatives... he went to an endocrinologist, who discovered that the soya milk and 'supplements' he had been taking were extremely high in iodine (seaweed extract - read: bonsoy class action).

He controls it now by eating a low-iodine diet, which is very restrictive...

Incidentally, do you have a family history of coeliac, type 1 diabetes, vitiligo or alopecia ? These are all related to the same gene sector.

Personally, based on my brother's experience, going for 'alternative' treatment was ineffective, as he needed to understand his condition from a scientific point of view...in fact, he is part of the class action against the company that produced the soymilk 'fortified with seaweed extract' which led to him having 400x the recommended daily dose of iodine..

Thank you swisspea for your long explanation and help.
Genetic most likely, run in my family, discovered at different age for each of my relatives.
I am gluten and soy free for many years, and a limited diet, eliminating food that create inflammation, I don’t take supplements or eat high iodine food. Nobody in my family had type 1 diabetes, vitiligo or alopecia.

Hashimotos thyroiditis is actually very common.

So, I would still recommend that you speak to an endocrinologist...

are you vegetarian ?

Wrong end of the country for you, but just an FYI:

My endocrinologist checks for vitamin deficiencies as a matter of course when doing the annual control blood test. She is open to screening for additional issues, where appropriate.

'Where appropriate' is key, one needs to discuss why screening for X, Y, or Z is reasonable for an individual case.

I would guess that most endocrinologists in Switzerland work in a similar way. Simply see someone in your area, get the conversation going.

IIRC, there are a couple of old threads floating out there discussing difficulties with getting the natural supplement due to sourcing problems. Since I do not take it I have no idea whether or not the supply issue has since been resolved - but any endocrinologist here would be able to advise you.


ETA:

Be aware that it can take a while - sometimes 3-4 months - to get a first appointment with an endocrinologist. At least that is the case in my area. So don't delay making an appointment. If you are in danger of running out of your meds or in any sort of thyroid crisis and cannot get a timely appointment with an endo, go to your GP or a walk in clinic. While perhaps not the long term solution you are looking for, these folks can help get you in to see an endo soon-ish if your case is time critical.

Hi Simona,
I just saw your post and I have to say - exactly same story here! In Geneva with Hashimoto and no holistic doctor in sight, even after extensive search in French on various website. I am now waiting for an appointment here http://www.endokrinologie-bern.ch/ which is the closest I could find to Geneva (less than 2 hours by train and next to the train station). Not sure about their holistic approach though.
Please let me know if you found a good doctor around here in the meantime?
Best, Bettina

Here's a book about this:
https://www.tutti.ch/de/vi/neuenburg...ndeln/22656798
I'm not recommending or opposing it, haven't read it... it is just currently available, second-hand, on tutti.

Paramedics in Cham are quite good, we have used them a number of times when normal doctors were not getting the results we had hoped for.

Hello all. In case anyone else comes upon this sehr old post looking for information, there is a Swiss startup now endocrinological testing from saliva: www.persometrics.ch

I have found two holistic doctors (not alternative therapists) but they are both up this way, unfortunately. One was recommended via my gynie and the other by a colleague whose son had been diagonosed with ADHD and he refused to accept the Ritalin prescription. The son had been suffering from a multitude of difficulties and eventually it was diagnosed that he has severe intolerance to gluten, followed by milk. He is completely "normal" now.

- Dr. Ingrid Riedel, Sonnhaldenstrasse 17, 8032 Zürich

- Seegarten Klink, Seestrasse 155A, 8802 Kilchberg

Someone mentioned vitamins and blood tests, earlier, and I would support that too based, on advice I have received through the Thyroid UK support network website

https://healthunlocked.com/thyroiduk

Based on my blood tests, I now take a number of specific vitamins and my symptoms have started to improve. Not everything but some. It's been a tough year so far and the support I have received from the medical professionals (two house doctors and one endocrinologist) has been either incompetent, obstructive and/or lame. It would be much worse if I didn't take ownership of my health and increasing list of auto-immune diseases.

Any chance for an update on how things are going? I am asking for a family member. Many thanks.

I've had mixed results made worse by a lack of finding the right medical support here. I've got a new House Doctor who is great at writing prescriptions but I am still struggling to find someone to help co-ordinate (or guide me).

That might sound odd/infantile, but I found out recently that the calcium supplements cannot be taken at the same time as the Thyroxine or the iron tablets. Thyroxine should be taken on an empty stomach. I just cannot find anyone who seems to understand all these elements and I do not know why or whether I have simply been unlucky in my choices/location etc.

The vitamins/minerals have helped hugely and my alopecia areata has mostly diminished. I seem to get something called Hashimoto's flare-ups which lead to occasional patches.

Hope that helps answer your question. If not, please feel free to DM.

Also, wait at least half an hour after taking your tablet before you drink coffee/tea with milk.



I just take that tablet first thing in the morning, anything else - if necessary - much later.

Dear all,
After suffering a major relapse due to Hashimotos Thyroiditis 3 weeks ago, to the point I have been off work since then, as soon as I started feeling even marginally stronger (i.e. not bed-ridden anymore!), I started researching forums, Facebook groups, websites, books... in Switzerland and abroad, in English and German, to try and help me to get my health back on track.
Quick summary:
I was diagnosed Jan. 2011 after a severe bout of pneumonia in Dec. 2010 from which I just did not recover. Improving up to a point on ca. 2 years of Euthyrox (synthetic Levothyroxine T4 only) my health completely crashed.
Thyroid antibodies and RT3 through the roof, TSH suppressed (below 1) FT3 and FT4 also not where they should be ( I seem to recall very elevated T4 and T3 too low, as not being converted adequately into T3).
Next step: Armour Thyroid (Natural Dessicated Thyroid) which did wonders to get me back on track. Prescrition from DR. van Limburg at the Seegarten Klinik in Kilchberg.
BUT, just taking Armour NDT is/was not enough. Lots of lifestyle changes too:
Food detective/food sensitivity testing also undertaken at the Seegarten Clinic - testing IgE and IgA antibodies. My list of intolerances has continued to grow over the years, I now carry a list on my phone.
Biggies for Hashi patients are: Gluten, Dairy, Eggs, Soja (Corn)
Get your gut/digestive system back into balance - leaky gut, Candida, etc.
LOTS of supplements: biggie is min 200mcg Selenium daily, high magnesium, high Vit. D, Vit Bs, Vit C (I take slow release Vit C) amongst others.
Get your adrenals checked, as well as oestrogen and progesterone levels, and other hormones such as testosterone and DHEA, amongst others. Saliva and blood tests at the Seegarten Klinik. Also check your iodine levels.
Armour NDT must be taken on an empty stomach - at least 1 hour before and after food. Not with magnesium (only just found this out), calcium or iron, as affects absorption.

Cont. summary not so short, in that case, ran out of lines
...I split the dose 3x per day, every 4-5 hours ,as T3 has a short 'life'.
Am reading fantastic book at the moment by Izabella Wentz, herself a Hashis sufferer:
Root cause: Lifestyle Interventions for finding and treating Hashimotos Thyroiditis.
She also has an excellent website. https://thyroidpharmacist.com/

I can also recommend a whole lot of other books on the subject of Hashimotos, adrenals, bioidentical hormones, etc.

Please do get in touch if you want to have a discussion, more info... Am glad to talk/write to people who understand! Maybe we should start an English-speaking group for sufferers here in Switzerland, couldn't find anything online? There are some German-speaking groups around online and that meet.

PS. Not sure how much Dr. van Limburg really understands about Armour but at least he prescribes it and works WITH his patient as a partner to get them back to health.

Forgot to add. I get my Armour tablets with the prescription from Dr. van Limburg at the Victoria International Apothek. They will also send my post.
Here is a list of other places to get a prescription in Switzerland, amongst others. Read the notes next to each doctor, as there are some comments made by patients who albeit get the Armour from them, find the doctor not necessarily knowledgeable about Armour or Hashis.

Sorry - Hashis brain at the moment!
http://natuerliche-schilddruesenhorm...rzteliste-ndt/

what are your qualifications please.

It seems to me that einalem is describing their route as a patient, not as a professional with relevant medical qualifications. They're sharing the route they've taken, and what they've learnt along the way, just in case it could help anyone else, and would be interested in a self-help group.

Is that what you meant, please, einalem?

Well, yes- and yet. To me it reads as if someone is advertising the services of clinics, etc. and giving medical advice- and it concerns me. Armour has got a long list of side effects, and really should not be taken without close medical supervision, so not bought on line.


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Medical Editor: John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

What Is Armour Thyroid?

Armour Thyroid (thyroid tablets) is a natural product made from animal thyroid glands used to treat hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone), to treat or prevent goiter (enlarged thyroid gland), and is also given as part of a medical test for thyroid disorders. Armour Thyroid is available in generic form.
What Are Side Effects of Armour Thyroid?

Common side effects of Armour Thyroid include:

• hair loss during the first few months of treatment

This side effect is usually temporary as your body adjusts to Armour Thyroid.
Contact your doctor if you experience serious side effects of Armour Thyroid including

• allergic reactions
  • rash,
  • itching,
  • swelling [especially of the face/tongue/throat,]
• severe dizziness,
• trouble breathing),
• increased sweating,
• sensitivity to heat,
• mental/mood changes (nervousness, mood swings),
• tiredness,
• diarrhea,
• shaking (tremor),
• headache,
• shortness of breath,
• chest pain,
• fast/pounding/irregular heartbeat,
• swelling hands/ankles/feet, or
• seizures.

Oh, I see now. I hadn't seen it that way, at first, but now I think you might possibly be right. Thanks.

Thanks for the detailed post which is very helpful as a guidance for newbies navigating the complex world of thyroid.

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Am finally able to respond to your question. No medical qualifications at all- just having gone through and still going through serious health issues related to autoimmune thyroid illness and fortunate to have gained a wealth of knowledge through online, forum and book research.