Today you’re going to learn about a patient who was able to resolve his autoimmune hyperthyroidism—also known as Graves’ disease—and ultimately no longer needed medication.
My name is Dr. Tom Rofrano from the Natural Medicine Clinic in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and I’m the author of the FreeDiet®. Over the last 38 years, I’ve seen more than 100,000 patient visits, many involving gut and thyroid issues. This patient was no exception.
Case Study: A 47-Year-Old Man With Graves’ Disease
A 47-year-old man came in with:
- Fatigue
- Brain fog
- Insomnia
- Decreased stamina
- Reduced muscle strength
- Overweight
- High blood pressure
- Hyperthyroidism (Graves’ disease), treated with medication for over 5 years
To understand what was driving his condition, we began with comprehensive lab testing.
Comprehensive Thyroid Testing: What You Really Need
Most doctors only run the basics: CBC, metabolic panel, lipids, and TSH. But for a complete thyroid evaluation, I recommend these in addition:
Essential Thyroid & Metabolic Markers
- Ferritin with full iron panel
- CRP (inflammation)
- LDH
- GGT
- Insulin
- A1C
- Uric acid
- Free T3
- Free T4
- Thyroid antibodies
- Reverse T3
- ANA
- Adrenal hormones
Additional Helpful Markers
- Testosterone
- Estradiol
- IGF-1
- B12
- Folate
- Vitamin D
- Homocysteine
- Urinalysis
Beyond standard labs, I also run functional testing to uncover root causes in five key areas:
- Deficiencies
- Toxins
- Infections
- Hormonal imbalance
- Food reactions (especially gluten)
Root Causes Identified
His results revealed multiple underlying issues:
- Nutrient Deficiencies
- Low selenium (critical for thyroid health)
- Below-optimal iodine
- Toxins
- Elevated mercury levels
- Infections
- Candida yeast overgrowth
- Bacterial imbalance in the gut
- Hormonal Imbalances
- Very low testosterone
- Adrenal dysfunction
- Food Reactions
- Celiac genetics
- Gluten sensitivity
- Leaky gut
- Additional food sensitivities
These findings are common in autoimmune thyroid conditions.
The First Month: Rapid Improvements
After one month on a personalized diet and supplement plan, he returned with significant improvements:
- More energy
- Less brain fog
- Better sleep
- Increased strength and stamina
- Digestive symptoms resolved
- 16 pounds lost in the first month
But the most remarkable changes were in his thyroid markers.
Gradually Reducing Thyroid Medication
As his labs improved, he was able to slowly taper his medication:
- From daily use
- To 5x/week
- To 3x/week
- To 2x/week
- To once a week
After one year, he was able to stop his medication completely, and his thyroid numbers remained normal.
A year and a half later, he returned for follow-up testing:
- TSH, T4, and T3 were all optimal
- Thyroid ultrasound showed no signs of Graves’ disease
- Only one small, stable thyroid nodule remained
Additional Lab Improvements
Along the way, he experienced major improvements in other key markers:
- Cholesterol dropped over 100 points
- Ferritin decreased 50% to optimal levels
- Insulin normalized
- Liver enzymes decreased over 50%
- Testosterone increased over 500 points—without taking testosterone
- CRP (inflammation) dropped 72%
- Total weight loss: 28 pounds
He felt better than he had in years.
The FreeDiet®: The Foundation of His Healing
The diet I put him on is called the FreeDiet®, which I developed years ago while healing my own autoimmune thyroid condition (Hashimoto’s), rheumatoid arthritis, IBS, fatigue, and skin issues.
The FreeDiet® is free of:
- Gluten
- Grains
- Sugar
- Yeast
- Dairy
- Eggs
- Soy
- Legumes
- Nightshades
- Processed foods
These foods are the most common triggers for inflammation, gut issues, thyroid dysfunction, and autoimmune conditions.
Targeted Supplements for Thyroid & Immune Support
Along with the diet, I put him on the Functional Five, which includes:
- Multivitamin
- Fish oil
- Vitamin D with K
- Magnesium
- Probiotic
Additional Supplements Based on Testing
- Curcumin Protect™ (inflammation support)
- CardioMetaboliX™ (berberine, alpha-lipoic acid)
- Gut support nutrients
- Liver support
- Zinc
- Vitamin C
- Adrenal Support
- Testosterone support
This combination helped normalize his thyroid, heal his gut, and restore his vitality.
The Bottom Line
By identifying and addressing the root causes—rather than just treating symptoms—he was able to:
- Resolve Graves’ disease
- Discontinue medication
- Normalize thyroid labs
- Heal his gut
- Restore energy and strength
- Reach his optimal weight
If you have an autoimmune or chronic health condition, I believe that if you uncover the root causes and are provided the right solutions, almost anyone can get better.
Go here if you would like a free copy of the FreeDiet® phase 1 food chart.
