20 million Americans are affected by thyroid disorders…..that’s 1 in 13 people! And more than half of those people are unaware they have a thyroid problem because it frequently goes undiagnosed…until it gets severe.
According to the National Women’s Health Information Center, 1 in 8 women will experience a thyroid disorder during their lifetime. Unfortunately, most men and women who suffer from a thyroid disorder are unaware of what they are dealing with. In spite of being placed on thyroid hormone replacement, their symptoms remain and actually continue to worsen.
- Are you tired of running from doctor to doctor only to play “Russian Roulette” with different medications? “Here try this drug, that one didn’t work? Try this one!”
- Are you tired of taking drugs that don’t fix the problem?
- Do you continue to struggle with chronic thyroid symptoms day in and day out?
Today I want to spend some time sharing with you some of the key principles that every thyroid sufferer must identify to get real answers on how they can support this degenerative condition.
Following are lists of the most common symptoms associated with hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism...
Symptoms of Hypothyroidism
#1: Fatigue, tired, or sluggish?#2: Cold feet and/or hands?
#3: Do you require excessive amounts of sleep to function?
#4: Do you gain weight easily?
#5: Do you have difficult or infrequent bowel movements?
#6: Are you depressed? Do you suffer from depression?
#7: Lack of motivation?
#8: Do you suffer from morning headaches that wear off as the day progresses?
#9: Do you suffer from thinning hair or excessive hair falling out?
#10: Do you suffer from dryness of the skin and/or scalp?
#11: Do you suffer from mental sluggishness?
Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism#1: Do you suffer from heart palpitations?
#2: Do you suffer from inward trembling?
#3: Do you have an increased pulse even at rest?
#4: Are you nervous and emotional?
#5: Do you suffer from insomnia?
#6: Do you suffer from night sweats?
#7: Do you have difficulty gaining weight?
The most common cause of thyroid disorders in America is a condition called Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. Hashimoto's is an autoimmune disorder in which your immune system begins to attack your thyroid. Patient’s that suffer from Hashimoto’s may experience a combination of both hypo and hyper-thyroid symptoms.
Let’s talk about the thyroid gland a bit…..
The thyroid "runs" your metabolism—it is the “gas pedal” of your body.
Thyroid hormones have direct effects on most organs, including the heart, which beats faster and harder under the influence of increased thyroid hormones (this is why heart problems can often accompany chronic thyroid problems in women, and perhaps why heart problems are more common in women under the age of 50).
Most likely if you are a diagnosed thyroid patient you are familiar with TSH. TSH is the hormone that is released by the pituitary gland and tells the thyroid to produce thyroid hormones. If your TSH is elevated you are diagnosed hypothyroid which means you are producing too little thyroid hormone. If your TSH is very low you will be diagnosed hyperthyroid. This is not enough information to tell you where the problems with your thyroid really are stemming from.
T3 is the more biologically active hormone (it’s more important for cellular function) released by the thyroid, and in fact, most of T4 (80%) is converted into T3 in the body’s peripheral tissues. So T4 is just a precursor for the more active hormone, T3.
One of the problems in some thyroid disorders is that you may have trouble converting T4 to T3 in your tissues (have you been checked for this?). This can create a deficiency of T3, disrupting the body’s ability to properly regulate metabolism…leading to fatigue, weight gain, depression, and many other symptoms. This is just one example where a breakdown in the system completely unrelated to the actual thyroid gland could be causing hypothyroidism.
So what can I do differently for you in order to get you answers for why you have thyroid symptoms but your lab testing (TSH) has always been normal, or for why you are already on thyroid hormones but are still suffering from symptoms?
The Answer is that I Start with Comprehensive Laboratory Testing!
I: Sensitivity Testing: We must determine if you have a sensitivity to gluten (wheat, rye, oats, and barley), milk, eggs, yeast, and soy. If you are sensitive to ANY of these food groups, it could be making you’re your thyroid condition worse as it will increase inflammation in your brain (which is responsible for TSH release) and throughout your body!
Here are some of the symptoms of these sensitivities:
-Chronic pain or fatigue
-Frequent indigestion
-Bloated after eating-Frequent loose bowel movements
-Constipation
-Mouth ulcers or sores
-Vomit often
-Frequent indigestion
-Bloated after eating-Frequent loose bowel movements
-Constipation
-Mouth ulcers or sores
-Vomit often
The only way to find out of you are suffering from any of these sensitivities is the run the test.
II. Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
By using specific blood tests such as:
#1: A Comprehensive Thyroid Panel
#2: A Lipid Panel
#3: A CBC (complete blood chemistry with auto-differential)
#4: Inflammatory Markers
#4: Inflammatory Markers
Through the metabolic panel we can assess your adrenal glands, liver, kidneys, red/white blood cells and gut function. All of the above can be affected with chronic health conditions. By addressing any problems with your adrenal glands, blood chemistry, or gut function, we can help you to heal faster. The CMP also allows us to check your blood sugar stability and assess for any type of underlying anemia. This is vitally important since glucose (your blood sugar) and oxygen (anemia starves your body of this) are the two key nutrients for every cell in your body to function especially the brain.
Why is a comprehensive thyroid panel necessary? Why isn't your TSH level enough? Your TSH tells you if you are hypo or hyperthyroid but it gives us no insight into where your thyroid problem is coming from. Being hypothyroid does not necessarily mean your problem is starting in the thyroid gland. For example you could have a problem in the pituitary gland causing you to be hypothyroid. As I mentioned previously, you could have a problem in the liver or the gut that is blocking your ability to convert T4 to T3 and is causing your hypothyroid symptoms. When we run a comprehensive thyroid panel we will be able to better support you.
Here are a list of the thyroid markers I will want to see:
Here are a list of the thyroid markers I will want to see:
· Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH): the messenger sent from the pituitary gland in the brain to the thyroid calling for thyroid hormone (T4 and T3 production).
· Free T3: an important hormone produced by the thyroid gland, considered to be the more biologically active hormone of the thyroid.
· Free T4: another important hormone produced by the thyroid gland. This will eventually be converted into T3 in the liver and the GI tract.
· Thyroid Binding Globulin (TBG): This test measures the amount of proteins in the blood that transport thyroid hormones to the cells. Elevated testosterone can lower TBG levels and elevated estrogen can raise TBG levels. Both can produce hypothyroid symptoms.
· Thyroid Antibodies (TGB & TPO): checked in suspected cases of autoimmune thyroid disorders such as hashimoto's disease (see below).
· Total T4: this is a reflection of how much total T4 hormone there is in the blood.
· Free Thyroxine Index (FTI): this is an estimate of how much thyroxine is in the blood.
· Resin T3 Uptake: this test measures the unsaturated binding sites on the thyroid proteins.
III: Adrenal Stress Index (ASI) :
We test the adrenal glands with a test called an Adrenal Stress Index. This is a salivary test much like DNA testing. The adrenal glands sit right above the kidneys and they are your “stress” organs meaning that they react to stress. If you have been or are currently under stress, this test is a must! The adrenals have a direct relationship with the thyroid and the pituitary gland. These little organs can be the reason you suffer from weight gain, chronic fatigue, insomnia, hormonal imbalances and brain fog.
IV. Immune Panels—EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!:
You could be suffering from an auto immune condition. An autoimmune thyroid is called Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. Your immune system could be attacking your thyroid. This is why the immune panels are so important and NOT just the TPO and TGB thyroid antibodies.
There are three parts to the immune system, TH1, TH2 and the TH3 systems. The TH3 system is responsible for balancing the TH1 and TH2 system. But when your immune system becomes overworked your TH3 system can crash. When this occurs your TH1 or your TH2 system can go into overdrive. This imbalance that is formed between these two sides of your immune system will lead to your immune system attacking you!
IL- 2 and TNF-alpha = TH1
The TH1 system is T-cells. T-cells are the army that attacks and cleans up afterword. (Helper T-cells, Suppressor T-cells, NKC, regulatory T-cells, and macrophages.
IL-4 and IL-10 = TH2
The TH2 system is B-cells. B-cells make anti-bodies. They tell T-cells what to kill. If the testing comes back with a high B-cell count, the patient is TH2 dominant.
If you are Auto-immune we must determine if there is an active antigen or immune dysregulation.
Active antigens are parasites, bacteria, viruses, mold, yeast, fungi, protozoan, foods, chemicals, and heavy metals that are driving your immune system to attack.
The best indicator for an active antigen as the cause of the imbalance in your immune system is the “Helper/Suppresor” ratio on the T & B cell panel. (also called “CD4:CD8” ratio).
The closer to 2.5 the ratio is (or if above that), the more likely it is that you’re dealing with an antigen.
If the ratio is below 1.2, then you are most likely dealing with a dysregulation problem.
V. Intestinal Permeability: This is a very specialized blood test used to determine if you suffer from leaky gut syndrome (LGS). This test checks to see if there is damage to the tight junctions in your gut.
LGS or Leaky gut syndrome describes a condition of altered or damaged bowel lining, caused by antibiotics, toxins, poor diet, parasites or infection. These inflammatory reactions can lead to increased permeability of the gut wall to toxins, microbes, undigested food, waste or larger than normal macromolecules. Once your gut lining has become damaged it can lead to loss of immune tolerance. This makes your more susceptible to infections, food intolerances, and auto-immune attacks.
VI. Gut Ecology Profile: Your gut health is vitally important to your immune system and your thyroid. This test allows for us to evaluate the balance between the good bacteria that should be in your gut and the pathogenic (bad) bacteria that should not be in your gut. Imbalances in the levels of these bacteria can alter your body's ability to make T3, your active thyroid hormone. With this test we can also check to see if you have any parasites, yeast, or fungi in your digestive tract that could be wreaking havoc on your immune system.
VI. Gut Ecology Profile: Your gut health is vitally important to your immune system and your thyroid. This test allows for us to evaluate the balance between the good bacteria that should be in your gut and the pathogenic (bad) bacteria that should not be in your gut. Imbalances in the levels of these bacteria can alter your body's ability to make T3, your active thyroid hormone. With this test we can also check to see if you have any parasites, yeast, or fungi in your digestive tract that could be wreaking havoc on your immune system.
VII. Hormone Panels: We can check hormone panels to determine if the patient suffers from low testosterone in males or low estrogen/progesterone levels in females. Symptoms related to decreased hormone levels may include depression, fatigue, mental fogginess, mood swings, hot flashes, sweating attacks, weight gain, and decreased physical stamina. Understand that it is crucial to evaluate the adrenals prior to doing any type of hormone replacement.
VIII. Heavy Metal Testing: In some individuals it is necessary to determine if they have high levels of toxic metals in their tissues. Heavy metal exposure can throw a person into an auto-immune disease, and if so must be dealt with.
VIII. Heavy Metal Testing: In some individuals it is necessary to determine if they have high levels of toxic metals in their tissues. Heavy metal exposure can throw a person into an auto-immune disease, and if so must be dealt with.
In closing here is a testimonial from one of my patients:
"Prior to starting this program with Dr. Huffman, I had problems with chronic fatigue, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, headaches, brain fog, memory problems, sleep problems and general pain for quite a few years. Medical doctors had diagnosed me with hypo-thyroid condition about fourteen ago and was given a prescription for synthroid medication.
I had seen a few different medical doctors complaining that I still did not feel well and that something else was wrong, the usual laboratory test were done by these doctors. I had even gone through the Mayo Clinic in Rochester about ten years ago, seeing different doctors over a three day period, but all their tests did not find any other problem.
I felt the medical doctors labeled me as a hypochondriac because of my chronic fatigue problem, so I stopped complaining to the medical community and decided to read books and try to diagnose and treat myself.
I tried different supplements and diets over the years but my problems persisted and gradually seemed to be getting worse.
Fortunately, I saw Dr. Huffman’s advertisement in the newspaper for people diagnosed with thyroid disorder that are still experiencing fatigue.
I called and attended one of Dr. Huffman’s seminars on thyroid disorders and it didn’t take long to realize I had possibly found help for my chronic fatigue problem along with the other symptoms I was experiencing.
I’ve been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease and I’ve been on a nutritional and dietary program prescribed by Dr. Huffman for me based on my needs. I’ve also been receiving neurological treatment with Dr. Huffman and have had a GREAT improvement in how I feel and think. I’m finally getting my life back.
I am so grateful to Dr. Huffman and staff for all the wonderful help and support they have all given." - Mary H.
It is my hope that the information shared with you above may help give you a better understanding of some of the additional factors that should be looked into if you are suffering from thyroid symptoms. If you have questions please feel free to email me at drhuffman@moundsviewchiro.com or call my office (763-398-7770) to set up a FREE 5 minute phone consultation with me.
God Bless,
Dr. Joshua Huffman
Board Certified in Chiropractic Neurology and Integrative Medicine
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