Thyroid disorder? The problem Is NOT your thyroid
I am extremely passionate about thyroid health. Thyroid illness is very near and dear to my heart. I have struggled with thyroid issues for over five years. When it comes to diagnosing and treating thyroid illness, CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE FAILS MISERABLY!
Let me restate this. The prevalence of thyroid disease and the failure of modern-day health professionals to detect and treat thyroid illness correctly, in my opinion, is one of the most critical and devastating failures of conventional health care. The modern-day approach is to treat the symptom, the thyroid. I’m going to unravel just how FOOLISH that approach is.
The Importance of the Thyroid
The thyroid controls and regulates every metabolic process within our bodies. Our thyroid can make our hearts beat faster or slower, our body temperature rise or fall, and increase or decrease our ability to burn fat. The thyroid sends messages (hormones) between itself and other parts of the body so that each cell is regulated and functioning properly. The thyroid’s main job is to produce two very important hormones, T3 and T4. These hormones are released into the bloodstream and monitor whether or not each cell needs to be consuming more oxygen or nutrients. If so, these hormones go to work to increase metabolism on a cellular level. T3 and T4 stimulate the heart and nervous system, ensuring optimal energy levels, growth, and development.
Your thyroid is your own personal spark plug and if it’s not working properly, neither are you. Every single cell in the body depends upon thyroid hormones for regulation of their metabolism.
Symptoms of Under-active Thyroid
From Dr. Amy Meyers:
Fatigue after sleeping 8 to 10 hours a night OR needing to nap daily
Weight gain OR the inability to lose weight
Mood issues such as mood swings, anxiety, or depression
Hormone imbalances such as PMS, irregular periods, infertility, and low sex drive
Muscle pain, joint pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, or tendonitis
Cold hands and feet, feeling cold when others are not, or having a body temperature consistently below 98.5 degrees
Dry or cracking skin, brittle nails, and excessive hair loss
Constipation
Mind issues such as brain fog, poor concentration, or poor memory
Neck swelling, snoring, or hoarse voice
Symptoms of Over-active Thyroid
From Dr. Amy Meyers:
Hot flashes and sweating
Unintentional weight loss
Frequent stools, loose stool, or diarrhea
Difficulty sleeping OR insomnia
Anxiety, irritability, or constant fatigue
Elevated heart rate
Reduced libido
Bulging eyes
Thick, red skin on shins or feet
Increased appetite
Osteoporosis
Hand tremor
Muscle weakness
The conventional approach to thyroid testing is inaccurate: testing TSH is not enough
Misdiagnosis of thyroid illness is much too common. Proper treatment must begin with an accurate diagnosis. A standard thyroid test consists of a TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) and T4 (Thyroxine) panel. Because “current ideal” reference lab ranges are based on people with thyroid disorders (the sick people getting their thyroid tested), these ranges do not represent a healthy population. Put simply, conventional medicine’s ideal reference ranges represent an already sick population. The data used to form these reference rages is extremely skewed. Conventional doctors don’t run the full spectrum of tests, only testing TSH and T4, which is not an accurate representation of how the thyroid is functioning.
In order to really understand how the thyroid is working, you must also measure T3 (the active form of thyroid hormone). And, most importantly, thyroid antibodies must be tested 100% of the time. A healthy thyroid gland produces about 80% T4 and about 20% T3, however, T3 possesses about four times the hormone “strength” as T4.
Also, measuring TSH and T4 alone will not reveal an underlying autoimmune condition. By testing T3 and thyroid antibodies (TPO), you will have more information, indicating WHY the thyroid is not functioning properly. And keep in mind that at least 90 percent of thyroid illness stems from an underlying autoimmune disorder. Now you can see why the conventional approach fails miserably, to say the least.
The conventional approach for treatment of thyroid illness is ignorant, foolish and ineffective
The misinformation surrounding thyroid problems needs to stop. It is estimated that over 30 million people in the US and 200 million worldwide have some form of a thyroid disorder. Over half of these people are completely unaware of their condition.
The problem with conventional medicine’s approach to treating thyroid illness is that it doesn’t address the immune system which is the cause of the thyroid illness. The problem is NOT the thyroid; it’s often an issue with the immune system.
Thyroid medications do not stop the immune system’s attacks on the thyroid or any other body part.
The thyroid treatment madness must end!
Proper testing for thyroid illness
The key to determining the best treatment for thyroid illness must begin with an accurate diagnosis. So, if your TSH and T4 test results are found to be within “normal ranges”, you will be told you don’t have a thyroid problem.
And that’s NOT always true.
It is very common to have a normal TSH and T4, while T3 can be low. T3, free (reverse) T3, and thyroid antibodies (TPOAb and TgAb) must all be checked, as a very large percentage of thyroid illness stems from an underlying autoimmune disease (approximately 90 percent). T3 plays an extremely important role in overall thyroid health and can reveal a very common theme in thyroid disorders, which is our body’s inability to convert T4 to T3. You can quickly see why checking all the thyroid hormones is the key to proper treatment.
Proper treatment for thyroid illness
Once all of your thyroid numbers have been tested, your doctor will be able to individualize your thyroid treatment plan. Unlike the conventional approach, where each thyroid patient receives a similar (cover-up-the-symptom) plan, the holistic approach supports the body’s ability to heal, so that thyroid illness no longer exists.
If you’re dealing with an autoimmune condition (which causes most thyroid illnesses), treatment should be geared toward removing what is triggering the autoimmune condition (hint: food intolerance) and healing the gut (where 85 percent of our immune system lives).
Again, the thyroid is NOT the problem. Removing the thyroid should not be the “go to” solution. That approach is ignorant and unintelligent.
Identify what is causing your thyroid dysfunction and REMOVE THAT INSTEAD.
Conclusion
While your thyroid has been checked in the past and you’ve been told that your thyroid is “normal”, you should consider seeing a functional doctor and have all of your thyroid hormones tested. Then you can be sure that your thyroid is functioning correctly. Remember, if your thyroid isn’t happy, neither are you!