Thyroid Issues Are NOT Normal

Thyroid issues are NOT normal

Google can tell you a lot of things about your thyroid gland. Go ahead and search for it. “The thyroid is a small gland in your throat that produces hormones such as T3 and T4”. Phew, I feel better now knowing that information…said no one ever.

The reality is that the thyroid does SO MUCH MORE than we are ever taught unless you major in human physiology. The thyroid is crucial for:

  • Body temperature regulation
  • Regulating your metabolism
  • Energy production
  • Quality of sleep
  • Moisturizing of your skin and hair growth
  • Bathroom Regularity
  • Energy production

NEW PATIENTS

Thyroid issues are NOT normal

Now, hands up if you struggle with at least one of these. Have you felt so completely cold to the core with no explanation, when it is sunny and 75 but you are freezing? How about you eat healthy, exercise, and practice your meditation, but you still haven’t lost a pound? Your hair breaks easily or won’t grow past a certain point? Fatigue is your middle name? ( This was me for 20 years!)

You are NOT alone!

According to the American Thyroid Assoc., 20 million Americans will experience some sort of thyroid condition during their lifetime and no one seems to know why! Why your thyroid is having issues is complex and we have to really look not only at the actual pattern of dysfunction but the root issues that allow those dysfunctions to occur. This is why just taking thyroid hormones isn’t ever really enough. If no one has spoken to you about why your thyroid isn’t working optimally then you are missing the very thing your body is trying to communicate…

Common thyroid disorders include:

  • Hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone production)
  • Hyperthyroidism (elevated thyroid hormone production)
  • Thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid with normal hormone production)
  • Hashimotos (autoimmune antibody to TPO or Antithyroglobulin)
  • Underconversion pattern (normal T4 but low T3…usually a gut issue)
  • Goiter (enlarged thyroid because of low iodine)
  • Low function : low TSH and low T4 (low seratonin/Dopamine/brain based inflammation)
  • Sex hormones are also critical for good thyroid function and have multiple symptoms when hormones are fluctuating

It is so important to get a full thyroid panel run yearly to make sure that your thyroid is running optimally…that means more than just TSH! These panels should include: TSH, T3, FT3, reverse T3 and T4, FT4 as well as TPO antibodies and antithyroglobulin antibodies.

What if my test is abnormal?

First of all, you need to get yourself a good Functional Medicine Doctor to interpret your results. Secondly, you need a unique protocol for your body to support you through the process of healing your thyroid. Some people may need some sort of thyroid prescription, however, sometimes the thyroid hormone imbalances can be reversed. Here are the top 8 things you can be doing NOW to get your thyroid to respond properly. If you are taking thyroid replacement then you should have both T4 AND T3, this is how our body makes it naturally and makes a big difference in how you feel. I prefer bioidentical hormones but not everyone can take them…gets complicated fast doesn’t it?

A close-up of a test tube labeled “Thyroid Test,” with a background document displaying a checklist of various thyroid tests being conducted by a thyroid specialist in Denver.

  1. Get your antibodies to foods such as gluten and dairy tested. If you have an antibody to gluten, your body can attack the thyroid via a mechanism called molecular mimicry(they look similar). You can also just avoid them and see if you feel better, if you do then stop eating it…but realize a leaky gut is why you react in the first place…so you should fix that too. The best food antibody test we like is through Vibrant America.
  2. Fix Your Gut! If you haven’t heard this before. Your gut impacts a huge amount of what goes on in your body.  If your gut is leaky, you get sensitive to foods, can’t absorb nutrients properly, have chronic immune stress and dysfunction, impact on your estrobolome (think estrogen dominance) on and on and on…
  3. Support your thyroid with Vitamin D. Vitamin D is important for a healthy and strong immune system which will also help with a healthy and functioning thyroid. We check our patient’s vitamin D levels yearly if not more and you should too!
  4. Manage your Blood Sugar. A broken metabolism will cause your thyroid to suffer. Symptoms to look out for include:
    • Shaky/Jittery
    • Craving sugar
    • Irritable or moody when hungry
  5. Learn to manage your stress. Stress impacts our body more than ever realized. Stress is worse for our bodies than anything else. However, life does not stop “lifeing” us so we must learn how to manage our stress. Meditation, yoga, mindfulness training, and exercise are all helpful ways to reduce stress.
  6. Take the right supplements for you! We carry a variety of supplements because every person is unique and you should have a customized daily support.

If you are tired of experiencing thyroid symptoms, but have not gotten the help you deserve, come by The Healing Center. Our thyroid specialist in Denver can help you understand your condition and guide you toward a healthier, more vibrant life.