Plus, the three factors linked to the rise in thyroid Disease.
If you are here, you or someone you know is one of the rapidly growing numbers of individuals needing thyroid testing. Or you may be here because you have unfortunately experienced less than adequate medical care; you still suffer from symptoms and don’t know where to turn!
You are not alone!
Let me explain:
Right up front, I will tell you I am not a doctor, not a nurse, and I have no medical training. The following information I will share is my experiences dealing with my thyroid disease and the medical community.
The “Standard of Care”
With our current healthcare system, the “standard of care” for thyroid treatment is a one size fits all test (the TSH test), followed by a one size fits all medication (Levothyroxine, also goes by the brand name of Synthroid), available in various dosages.
In between the TSH test and the prescription for Levothyroxine, the treatment plan will be as follows: If your diagnosis is cancer, nodules, or graves’ disease, the treatment is usually total surgical removal of the thyroid gland or RAI (radioactive iodine) treatment that destroys the thyroid tissue. Then, you will be started on Levothyroxine, which you must take for life.
Doctors are taught that this “standard of care” for thyroid disease will adequately manage the disease. The first problem is that every doctor and clinic that tests TSH for thyroid function has a different reference range when reading those results. For example, one office may consider a TSH level of 3 too high, while another will think a TSH of 8 results in needing a recheck in 6 months, regardless of your (usually glaring) symptoms. If you are out of that range, you leave with a prescription for Levothyroxine, a synthetic T4 hormone. For many who get a prescription, once the dosage is correct, they feel much better.
However, research shows that as many as 50% of thyroid patients do not experience relief from their symptoms with this standard of care and need additional testing and medication options.
Their thyroid problems are more than an under-active thyroid; they are often connected to autoimmune disorders or toxin exposure. But unfortunately, these are the ones who often struggle to find a doctor willing to listen and run the appropriate tests to determine where and what the problem is.
My Journey With Graves’ disease
I was diagnosed with Graves’ disease in 2003 and have struggled to receive proper care through the years! I have talked to many who have had similar experiences trying to obtain the appropriate testing and treatment so they can function and live their lives! I will tell you that you should not feel guilty or stupid for wanting to feel better! And no, you are not crazy! Those symptoms are real!
When I first saw an endocrinologist for my thyroid disease, I had a preliminary exam and a thyroid scan at the hospital. My follow-up visit with the doctor went like this: he told me I had an autoimmune disease that causes the thyroid to produce too much thyroid hormone, Graves’ disease.
He informed me that radioactive iodine(RAI) was the only treatment available. RAI consists of you swallowing a pill of radioactive iodine. Since most iodine in the body is processed through your thyroid, your thyroid is destroyed by radioactive iodine. As a result, your thyroid now produces less, if any, thyroid hormone, requiring you to take thyroid hormone replacement (Levothyroxine) daily.
I had my last visit with him two weeks after the RAI treatment. He then informed me that the only thyroid hormone he would prescribe was Synthroid, so don’t even ask for anything else! He also told me he was done with my treatment, and I would now go to my primary doctor to monitor my thyroid hormones.
He then walked out of the exam room. No, how are you feeling? Are you having any problems? Can I answer any questions? It was nice to meet you! He just walked out.
For many of you, the results will likely be the same as mine. When you see a doctor, they will tell you what treatment they want to pursue, with little to no regard for how you feel about that treatment.
For instance, surgery or RAI will usually be recommended for any lumps or tumors on the thyroid. If it’s cancer, you will be told that thyroid cancer is the “best cancer to have because it’s so easily treated. We just remove your thyroid” and “you just take a little pill every day after that, and you will feel just fine!” if only that were true for more patients.
I will tell you that things with my health, for the most part, were fine for a few years, then my body slowly lost the ability to convert the T4 hormones to the T3 hormones my body could use, and my symptoms gradually increased!
So one problem with thyroid disease is the decline in hormones and the increase in symptoms, which is usually so gradual that you often don’t notice the changes until they are severe!
As my symptoms increased, I started reading online that adding T3 hormone helps ease symptoms for those who have had RAI or surgery to remove their thyroids; however, finding a doctor willing to prescribe a T3 hormone was excruciating!
I have been insulted, criticized, belittled, told I was crazy, offered depression medications, and given referrals to psychiatrists.
I even had one physician assistant tell me she wished “I felt better, but she wouldn’t change my medication. She told me my TSH at 3.4mU/L was in range, and my thyroid wasn’t the problem. But be sure to come back in 6 months so we can get you started on cholesterol medication. And possibly an anti-depressant too!”
I haven’t been back! My new doctor changed my medication to Armour Thyroid and increased the dose. So I no longer need cholesterol medication or an anti-depressant!
It’s amazing how sweet life is when you have the proper amount of thyroid hormone!
Now that you know my story, I want to share my knowledge with you. I know how frustrating getting the proper care is, so I compiled this guide to help you determine the testing options needed for a correct diagnosis.
I also explain the medication options available to manage your thyroid condition once you know what you are dealing with. I also share the types of doctors you may want to explore to be sure your health and lifestyle are the best they can be, even with thyroid disease!
I will tell you the three reasons many holistic doctors believe are behind the rise in all autoimmune diseases, not only thyroid disease.
THERE ARE FOUR BASIC TYPES OF THYROID DISEASE:
NON-AUTOIMMUNE HYPERTHYROIDISM
This condition occurs when the thyroid is overactive and produces too much thyroid hormone. Some causes of hyperthyroidism are thyroiditis, thyroid nodules, benign thyroid tumors, infections, and some medications. Other factors may include liver dysfunction, heavy metal toxicity, and nutritional deficiencies.
GRAVES’ DISEASE AUTOIMMUNE HYPERTHYROIDISM
This autoimmune disease causes your body to produce an antibody called TRAb, which binds to your thyroid receptors, causing your thyroid gland to release more T4 hormone than the body needs. Treating inflammation and any infections will often be part of the treatment plan for Graves’ and Hashimoto’s disease patients.
NON-AUTOIMMUNE HYPOTHYROIDISM
For those dealing with non-autoimmune hypothyroidism, there are more causes than you realize. Like hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism can also be caused by liver dysfunction, heavy metal poisoning, and nutritional deficiencies, to name a few triggers. Also associated with hypothyroidism are other ailments, including depression, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, chronic stress, and chronic pain.
HASHIMOTO’S DISEASE AUTOIMMUNE HYPOTHYROIDISM
This autoimmune disease uses your immune system to produce the antibodies thyroglobulin (TgAb) and thyroid peroxidase (TPOAb). These antibodies cause the thyroid to stop producing hormones and die. This disease can cause your thyroid to make too many hormones; then, your thyroid will produce too few hormones. Yes, Hashimoto’s likes to take you on a huge roller coaster ride.
THE TESTS NEEDED FOR A COMPLETE THYROID PANEL
These tests are completed from blood samples drawn at your doctor’s office.
TSH-(thyroid stimulating hormone)
Reference range- 0.5-5.0 mU/L Your results:______________
Total T3-(triiodothyronine)
Reference range-80-200ng/dl Your results:______________
Free T3-(free triiodothyronine)
Reference range-2.3-4.2pg/ml Your results:_____________
RT3-(reverse T3/reverse triiodothyronine
Reference range-10-24 ng/dl Your results:_____________
Total t4- (thyroxine)
Reference range-4.5-12.5ug/dl Your results:_____________
Free t4-(free thyroxine)
Reference range-0.8-1.8ng/dl Your results:_____________
TPOAb- (thyroid peroxidase antibodies) – Hashimoto’s
Reference ranges-0-35iu/ml Your results: _____________
TgAb (thyroglobulin antibodies)
Reference ranges-0-4.0iu/ml Your results:______________
TSI-(thyroid-simulating immunoglobulin antibodies)-Graves’ disease
Reference ranges-0-1.3 Your results:______________
Tg-(thyroglobulin)
No thyroid gland: 0-0.1 ng/ml
Still have a gland:0-33ng/ml Your results:______________
Sex hormone-binding globulin
Levels depend on age Your results______________
Free T3/reverse T3 ratio
Ratio of 2 or higher Your results:_____________
Vitamin D
Above 50 Your results:______________
Ferritin
Above 60(above 80 if experiencing hair loss) Your results:_____________
Thyroid Scans
Also, you may need a thyroid scan to help diagnose your thyroid issue. This scan reveals how well the thyroid is working.
THYROID DOCTOR CHOICES
As I mentioned earlier, traditional doctors have one test, one treatment approach to thyroid care. On the other hand, holistic and functional medicine doctors focus on treating the whole person; many will test for nutritional deficiencies, check for heavy metal toxicity, advise stress management, and give guidelines on food choices focused on healing the body.
These are the doctors that patients turn to when traditional treatment plans fail to control thyroid disease symptoms; most offer natural thyroid hormones like Armour Thyroid and NP Thyroid in addition to the steps mentioned above.
Some websites have information on thyroid disease; those include conventional and holistic sites and blogs run by those dealing with the disease. In addition, several blogs are run by doctors or pharmacists who themselves or their spouses suffer from autoimmune thyroiditis. Their insights are priceless since they have dealt with the symptoms themselves or have watched a loved one deal with them. For example, my functional medicine doctor’s wife has Graves’ disease, and her problems getting the care she needed led him to get a functional medicine certification.
Thyroid testing is available online, with the results read by a licensed doctor, many of who offer treatment plans based on those test results.
Improving Thyroid Function
I mentioned before that holistic doctors believe three factors in our lives today are causing the rise in autoimmune diseases; poor diet, stress, and environmental toxins are responsible for the increase in chronic diseases.
1. Poor diet
A healthy diet is vital for everyone, but it’s crucial if you have a thyroid condition. Certain foods can help to support your thyroid function and keep your hormone levels balanced.
Here are some beneficial foods to eat if you have a thyroid condition:
-Seafood: Seafood is an excellent iodine source, an essential nutrient for thyroid health. Iodine helps to produce thyroid hormones and keeps the thyroid gland functioning properly. Good sources of seafood include salmon, tuna, shrimp, and lobster.
FYI- If you are hyperthyroid(have too much thyroid hormone), be careful of foods with iodine. The thyroid uses iodine to make thyroid hormones; if you already have too many thyroid hormones, adding more iodine will cause the thyroid to produce more hormones, worsening the problem.
-Eggs: Eggs are a good source of selenium, a mineral that helps support the thyroid gland. Selenium is essential for thyroid hormone production and helps to protect the thyroid from damage.
-Seeds and Nuts: Nuts and seeds are an excellent source of zinc, another mineral essential for thyroid health. Zinc helps to produce thyroid hormones and supports the immune system. Good sources of nuts and seeds include pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and Brazil nuts.
-Legumes and Beans: Beans and legumes provide fiber, which can help to regulate thyroid hormone levels. Plus, they’re also a good source of selenium and zinc. Good sources of beans and legumes include black beans, kidney beans, and lentils.
-Leafy green vegetables: Leafy green vegetables are a good source of vitamins and minerals, including iodine, selenium, and zinc. They’re also a good source of fiber. Good sources of leafy green vegetables include spinach, kale, and Swiss chard.
-Berries: Berries are a good source of antioxidants, which can help to protect the thyroid gland from damage. They’re also a good source of fiber. Good sources of berries include blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries.
Many readers find a thyroid healing program beneficial when faced with thyroid dysfunction. This program helps heal the whole body and is very similar to the plan laid out for me by my functional medicine doctor.
Foods That Slow Thyroid Function
You should also avoid certain foods if you have a thyroid condition. These foods may interfere with thyroid hormone production and make your symptoms worse.
Foods to avoid if you have a thyroid condition:
-Gluten: Gluten is a wheat, rye, and barley protein. It can cause inflammation and damage the gut lining, interfering with thyroid hormone absorption.
-Soy: Soy contains goitrogens, which can interfere with thyroid hormone production. Soy is also a common allergen, which can make thyroid symptoms worse.
-Dairy: Dairy products can cause inflammation and digestive problems, worsening thyroid symptoms. Dairy is also a common allergen.
For those going through menopause, you may consider checking out The Thyroid Factor. This program is focused on balancing your thyroid, estrogen, and progesterone hormones and easing all the crazy symptoms using diet and lifestyle changes.
2. Constant Stress
Our lives are more stressful than ever, and it’s taking a toll on our health.
Not only is stress linked to autoimmune diseases but also to cancer, heart disease, and stroke.
In addition, stress can cause physical symptoms such as headaches, chest pain, and stomach problems. It can also lead to mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.
There are many ways to reduce stress in your life. For example, some people find that exercise helps to reduce stress. Others find that relaxation techniques such as yoga or meditation can be helpful. Also, talking to friends or family members about their stress can be beneficial.
There are many benefits to reducing stress in your life. Some people find that they have more energy and can focus better. Others find they can sleep better and are less likely to get sick.
Everyone talks about reducing stress and lists several ways to do that (like I did above), but a walk benefits your stress levels and mental health. So don’t think you must do this crazy workout routine or long class to reduce stress; take a walk.
One other note on exercise- if you have thyroid disease, especially uncontrolled thyroid disease, you most likely have some joint pain and muscle weakness, making strenuous exercise difficult, if not impossible.
A walk is a great place to start and easy to build on!
3. Environmental Toxins
Environmental toxins are all around us. They’re in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. They’re found in the products we use every day.
While some environmental toxins naturally occur, most toxins are by-products of manufacturing products or chemicals added to products to help stabilize them. Either way, they are harmful to our health.
You may be saying that the amounts of these toxins are minimal in these daily products, but that’s the problem, small amounts in everything in your environment add up.
For example, if you start when you get out of bed in the morning, your exposure begins with a shower; your body wash, shampoo, and conditioner all have chemicals. If you put on make-up, you put chemicals on your face, and this exposure continues throughout the day. Our food has chemicals; if processed, it has even more chemicals. Even if the food is fresh, you must be aware of pesticides and herbicides; both products have thyroid-disrupting chemicals.
I have written about the damage that toxins can cause to your health; you can read it here: https://knowyourthyroid.com/improving-your-thyroid-gland-function-17-toxins-to-avoid/
These toxins damage and disrupt the messenger system of hormones throughout the body, causing weight gain, fatigue, anxiety, depression, hair loss, and irregular periods.
All this information may sound overwhelming and the solution even worse, but I assure you it’s not a journey you want to avoid. Many will see a holistic doctor for guidance, or many will turn to a program like The Hypothyroidism Solution. This program helps you heal not only your thyroid but your whole body.
Whether you find a conventional doctor or a holistic doctor, choose to have lab tests done by an online lab, then read by an online doctor who sets up a treatment plan for you, or you try one of the hormone balancing programs I shared with you, your goal is to find resources that fit your beliefs, lifestyle choices, and health challenges. Just don’t give up; the care you deserve is out there!
Take care,
Corri
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