What Your Doctor May Not Know About Your Thyroid

This Is The First In Our Thyroid Series

Many of our patients who are hoping to lose weight have thyroid problems that have gone undiagnosed or somewhat ineffectively treated. The medical approach to treating hypothyroid patients is oftentimes very simple. They prescribe a synthetic or less commonly, a natural hormone to make-up for poor thyroid function. My patient population though, commonly complains of symptoms even though they’re taking thyroid medication. If this sounds like you, please know that there is hope.

If you suffer from hypothyroidism you know how much it affects the way you live and feel. Common symptoms include weight gain, depression, lack of motivation, fatigue, hair loss, dry skin, brittle nails, constipation, intolerance to cold, muscle aches, poor memory and decreased libido.

Clinical Tidbit: A high TSH score on your blood test is a sign of primary hypothyroidsim.

Now the good news. Fortunately, there are blood tests and treatments, although not routinely run, that are available to determine the more subtle nature of thyroid problems. I practice metabolic medicine and love treating thyroid patients who I really believe are under-served by conventional measures. Because I don’t prescribe thyroid medication, I look at the problem from a more holistic vantage point. The is quite important because everything from cortisol (stress) levels to the immune function to hormones like estrogen (birth control, hormone replacement) can significantly impact thyroid function.

The thyroid gland makes thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). These hormones determine how quickly your body burns energy.

Stay tuned for more information on your thyroid and your quality of life. We’ll teach you how to read your blood tests, what to ask your doctor and tell you about natural, alternative strategies to help improve thyroid function.