In my Institute of Thyroid in Los Angeles, I get hundreds of patients who are upset about how they feel. They think that poor health and poor diagnosis kept them. When I explain to them about functional medicine, they are very worried. One of the most common types of patients I work with is hypothyroidism. Many of these patients were diagnosed with Hashimoto hypothyroidism and were given medication to solve the problem, not knowing why they have it. It seems to me that it is disappointing that patients have such limited capabilities and so little information provided to them.
Using specific blood tests, such as the thyroid panel (which can include any or all of your individual needs), TSH, Free T3, Free T4, thyroid antibodies - TGB and TPO, reverse T3, total T4, free thyroxin index and resin T3 absorption ), complete metabolism panel, lipid panel, CBC (with automatic differential) and UA.
Another important test is to find out if you have an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease is when your immune system attacks a specific area of the body. I recommend testing specific thyroid antibodies to determine if you are suffering from an autoimmune thyroid gland.
The antibody is a marker of protein. The body's immune system produces antibodies in response to unwanted material, such as mold, virus, bacteria, and parasites. These substances are labeled antigens. Antibodies can be produced when the body reacts to food that is sensitive or in contact with a harmful chemical. Antibodies can be mistakenly obtained against the body, healthy tissue, when the immune system becomes entangled. The antibody marks tissue for removal and signals an immune response. This is the cause of autoimmune reactions. I like to check for gluten antibodies, myelin antibodies (fatty membranes around the nerves), the cerebellum (the back of brain control, coordinated movement and spinal muscles). Testing your adrenal glands with an adrenal stress index or ASI is crucial, since many people with thyroid also suffer from adrenal gland problems. Have you ever been tested for any of the above antibodies or had ASI? The common answers that patients give me are “no, I don't know.” Finally, I insist on testing the patient for infection in their system by testing the levels of homocysteine and protein C-reaction.
Think of these tests as one piece of the puzzle. If I gave you 10 pieces per 100 pieces, you will not be able to put them together. This is what happens when people only get the TSH and T4 test from the lab to detect symptoms of the thyroid gland. You can not put it all together without all the tests.
I often ask the question “Dr. Beckham, why do I still have symptoms when my tests are normal?” The quick answer is that the lab ranges are so general that they skip the real functional range. I use an example of a test that says that if you are between numbers 1 and 10, you are “normal.” What if you're on exam 9.5? The laboratory range would say that you are fine, but in fact you would be within the width of the hair from being sick. You would have symptoms at this level, although your test would be fine. That is why I use functional ranges that are more focused on patient health. I bring your blood into our Functional blood chemistry Analysis a computer database to determine where the patient sits functionally. Remember that there are no two patients with a thyroid gland, therefore not all patients with thyroids should be treated equally. Based on your personal blood chemistry, your doctor can determine which products will help you.
If someone recommends nutritional supplements, and the recommendations are not based on the patient's current blood work, they make the patient a huge disservice. You need to analyze the patient's condition with the help of their chemical composition of the blood to make recommendations on nutrition.
In healthy people, the thyroid gland makes only the right amount of two hormones - T4 and T3, which have important actions throughout the body. These hormones regulate many aspects of our metabolism that ever affect the amount of calories we burn, how we feel warmly and how much we believe. In short, the thyroid gland "controls" our metabolism. These hormones also have a direct effect on most organs, including the heart, which beats faster and harder under the influence of thyroid hormones. Essentially, all the cells in the body will respond to an increase in thyroid hormones with an increase in the speed with which they conduct their business. More technically, most cells in the body have thyroid receptor sites, which act as a key hole with the thyroid hormone acting as a key. Perhaps this key hole is blocked by other hormones that are in excess in the body.
Before we go any further, let's look at 3 main types of thyroid states: No. 1: Hypothyroidism, No. 2: Hyperthyroidism or Grave, and No. 3: Hashimoto Thyroid.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism # 1: Fatigue, fatigue, or lethargy # 2: Cold feet and / or hands # 3: Excessive sleep is required for work # 4: Easy to get weight # 5: Hard or infrequent bowel movements # 6: You are depressed # 7: Lack motivation number 8: Morning heads that wear out when the day progresses # 9: Sophisticated hair or excess hair falls out # 10: Dry skin and / or scalp # 11: Mental slowness Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the body lacks sufficient thyroid hormone glands. Since the main purpose of thyroid hormones is to “control the metabolism of the body,” it is clear that people with this condition will have symptoms associated with a slow metabolism. More than five million Americans have this common medical condition.
Symptoms of hyperthyroidism (like Graves disease) # 1: Heartbeat # 2: Flinching # 3: Increased heart rate even at rest # 4: Nervous and emotional # 5: Insomnia # 6: Night sweat # 7: Difficulty is gaining weight Hyperthyroidism is a medical term for describing signs and symptoms excessive production of thyroid hormone.
Thyroiditis Hashimoto Hashimoto thyroiditis is a condition in which the body's immune system attacks the thyroid gland, Hashimoto is classified as an autoimmune disorder. It is diagnosed by checking the patient for antibodies to the thyroid gland (TPO and TGB) and gluten. Patients suffering from Hashimoto thyroiditis will experience symptoms of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, which means they will experience some or all of the above symptoms. Generally speaking, this condition is not a problem of the thyroid gland, but a problem of autoimmune expression. The thyroid gland is a victim of the body and its overactive immune system.
Some forms of treatment for Hashimoto were to remove the thyroid gland together, radiation to kill the thyroid gland, or give the patient steroids. It would be great if the thyroid were a problem. You need to focus on why the immune system left the place in the first place. If the immune problems are not undiscovered, the system will simply go on to attack and destroy other body systems. Examples of this are multiple sclerosis, lupus, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, it is very important to remember what drives the auto-pulse cascade to prevent further damage.
Since the thyroid gland controls the body's metabolism, it can affect all body systems, such as the intestines, liver, gall bladder, hormones, cholesterol, brain through neurotransmitters, adrenal glands and the heart. This explains why there is such a wide range of symptoms in patients with a thyroid gland.
I hope this information will help clarify the mystery of the thyroid gland for some people and why they still have symptoms of the thyroid gland, even when they are under treatment and have routine laboratory tests. I am always ready to talk to people about what condition they think or what they were told.
