This doctor has struggled with thyroid disease herself.
You can only truly understand what we go through with thyroid disease if you’ve lived it yourself.
Written by Amy Myers MD
It’s estimated that as many as 25 million Americans have a thyroid problem, and half of them have no idea that they do. Hypothyroidism, or an under-active thyroid, accounts for 90% of all thyroid imbalances.
The thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland in the center of your neck, is the master gland of metabolism. How well your thyroid is functioning is inter-related with every system in your body. If your thyroid is not running optimally, then neither are you.
10 signs of an under-active thyroid:
1. Fatigue after sleeping 8 to 10 hours a night or needing to take a nap daily.
2. Weight gain or the inability to lose weight.
3. Mood issues such as mood swings, anxiety or depression.
4. Hormone imbalances such as PMS, irregular periods, infertility and low sex drive.
5. Muscle pain, joint pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, or tendonitis.
6. Cold hands and feet, feeling cold when others are not, or having a body temperature consistently below 98.5.
7. Dry or cracking skin, brittle nails and excessive hair loss.
8. Constipation.
9. Mind issues such as brain fog, poor concentration or poor memory.
10. Neck swelling, snoring or hoarse voice.
How does your thyroid gland work?
Thyroid hormone production is regulated by a feedback loop between the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and the thyroid gland. Hypothalamic thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulates pituitary thyrotropin (TSH) synthesis and secretion.
In turn, TSH stimulates production and release of T4 and T3 from the thyroid gland. When enough T4 is produced, it signals to TRH and TSH that there is enough thyroid hormone in circulation and not to produce more.
About 85% of the hormone produced by our thyroid gland is T4, which is an inactive form of the hormone. After T4 is made, a small amount of it is converted into T3, which is the active form of thyroid hormone.
To complicate matters, T3 also gets converted into either Free T3 (FT3) or Reverse T3 (RT3). It’s the Free T3 that really matters in all of this, since it’s the only hormone that can attach to a receptor and cause your metabolism to rise, keep you warm, keep your bowels moving, mind working, and other hormones in check. The role of Reverse T3 is not well known, however, I do see it elevated in persons under extreme stress and those who have mercury toxicity.
And finally, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease, is the most common form of hypothyroidism and its numbers are rising annually. An autoimmune disease is one in which your body turns on itself and begins to attack a certain organ or tissue believing its foreign.
I routinely screen all of my patients for autoimmune thyroid disease by ordering Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOAb) and Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TgAb).
Why is hypothyroidism so under diagnosed in the USA?
Many symptoms of thyroid imbalance are vague and most doctors spend only a few minutes talking with patients to sort out the cause of their complaint.
Most conventional doctors use only one or two tests (TSH and T4) to screen for problems. They are not checking FT3, RT3 or thyroid antibodies.
Most conventional doctors use the ‘normal’ lab reference range as their guide only. Rather than listening to their patients’ symptoms, they use ‘optimal’ lab values and temperature as their guide.
Which lab tests are best to determine if you have a thyroid problem?
I check the below panel on each of my patients. Make sure your doctor does the same for you.
TSH
Free T4
Free T3
Reverse T3
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOAb)
Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TgAb)
What are the ‘optimal’ lab values for thyroid tests?
In my practice, I have found that the below are the ranges in which my patients (and myself) thrive. I listen to my patients as well and take how they are feeling into account.
TSH 1-2 UIU/ML or lower (Armour or compounded T3 can artificially suppress TSH)
FT4 >1.1 NG/DL
FT3 > 3.2 PG/ML
RT3 less than a 10:1 ratio RT3:FT3
TPO – TgAb – < 4 IU/ML or negative
What is a leaky gut and why it matters?
The two most common types of thyroid dysfunction, Hashimoto’s and Graves’ disease, are autoimmune in nature. This means that your immune system is mistakenly attacking your own thyroid, causing it to affect your levels of thyroid hormones. People with Graves’ disease have hyperthyroidism with too much thyroid hormone. Those with Hashimoto’s disease have hypothyroidism, with an under-active thyroid gland. Thanks to the pioneering research of Dr. Alessio Fasano, we know that leaky gut is one of the primary triggers for all autoimmune disorders, including autoimmune thyroid disease.
So, what is leaky gut? Leaky gut is when the tight junctions that hold your intestinal wall together become loose.
Think of your gut as a drawbridge. Your gut is naturally semi-permeable to let teeny-tiny boats (micronutrients) pass through your intestinal wall and into your bloodstream. External factors, including certain foods, infections, toxins, and stress, can break apart the tight junctions in your intestinal wall, leaving the drawbridge open. Once this happens, you have a leaky gut.
When your gut is leaky, much larger boats that were never meant to get through (toxins, microbes, and undigested food particles) can escape into your bloodstream. Your immune system marks these foreign invaders as pathogens and attacks them.
Symptoms can include gas, bloating, IBS, brain fog, reduced concentration, mood imbalances, skin issues, hormonal imbalances, seasonal allergies, asthma, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and autoimmune diseases.
10 things you can do to improve your thyroid function
1. Eat a nutrient-dense diet and take a high quality multivitamin. It’s absolutely critical to get the full spectrum of nutrients that your body needs. Here are the six nutrient deficiencies that I most commonly see in my autoimmune thyroid patients – Vitamin D, Omega 3s, B Vitamins, Selenium, Zinc, and Magnesium.
2. Go gluten-free! Gluten is one of the main causes of leaky gut in people I see in my clinic, even among people who don’t have celiac disease. When you eat gluten-containing food, the gluten proteins make their way through your stomach to the small intestine. There, your body can respond by producing zonulin, a chemical that signals the tight junctions of the intestinal walls to open up and stay open in a condition called leaky gut. Now that your small intestines are open and permeable this allows toxins, microbes, and partially digested food to leak into your bloodstream. Left untreated, your immune system goes on high alert to neutralize all of these threats. Your body enters a state of chronic inflammation. Your immune system becomes so stressed and confused it begins attacking your own tissue by mistake.
3. Deal with your stress and support your adrenal glands. Chronic stress puts your adrenals on overdrive for extended periods of time leaving you in a state of adrenal fatigue. The flooding and eventual plummeting of stress hormones has many negative impacts on the thyroid. It slows thyroid production and inhibits your ability to convert thyroid hormones to their active form causing hypothyroid symptoms. It also increases thyroid hormone resistance. Inflammatory immune cells called cytokines are released in the stress response, which make thyroid receptors less sensitive to thyroid hormones. This means that even if you’re taking thyroid medication and your thyroid hormone levels are normal, you can still be suffering from under-active thyroid symptoms. I recommend restorative yoga and adaptogenic herbs.
4. Get 8 to 10 hours of sleep every night. Sleep is a crucial part of healing. It’s when we are asleep that our bodies can repair damaged tissue and quell inflammation.
5. Ditch toxins. Clean your air with a HEPA filter for your home and office. Clean your water by installing water filters on your sinks and shower taps or install a full-house filtration system. Eat organic whenever possible. It can be expensive, so when you can only buy some things organic, buy organic meats. Buy toxin-free personal care products.
6. Have a biological dentist safely remove any amalgam fillings you may have. Amalgam fillings are made with a mixture of copper, silver, and mercury, and the mercury vapor they emit can leach into your bloodstream. Unfortunately for your thyroid, mercury and iodine are chemically very similar to each other, so your thyroid is quick to absorb and store the mercury in your thyroid. If your thyroid is storing mercury in place of iodine, it won’t have enough iodine to produce adequate levels of the thyroid hormones T4 and T3.
7. Get the most from your food by taking digestive enzymes. I often clarify the famous phrase, “You are what you eat,” by saying “You are what you digest and absorb!” Without proper digestion of your food, which relies on digestive enzymes, you can eat all the nutrient-rich foods in the world, and your body just won’t reap the full rewards.
8. I recommend probiotics to everyone. We have more bacteria in and on our bodies than we have actual human cells in our body. We live symbiotically with them. I recommend 100 billion CFUs (colony forming units) while dealing with symptoms, especially in cases of Candida overgrowth or antibiotic use. Transition to 30 billion CFUs as a maintenance dose. Are you dealing with SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth)? Then consider the Primal Earth Probiotic which is formulated with soil based organisms so as not to aggravate small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.
9. Heal your gut lining with Leaky Gut Revive. It contains a high concentration of L-glutamine, an amino acid that helps seal the tight junctions in your intestinal walls, along with aloe vera to replace the lost mucus in your gut. I also recommend collagen to help heal and rebuild damaged gut cells.
10. Include these top 4 autoimmune supplements. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Graves’ disease, and all other forms of thyroid dysfunction are near and dear to my heart for a very important reason. I struggled with my own autoimmune thyroid condition and it nearly caused me to drop out of medical school. No matter the autoimmune condition, these four autoimmune supplements all work together to support your immune system and enhance one another’s effects – glutathione, curcumin, l-glutamine, and resveratrol.
About Amy Myers MD
After serving 2.5 years in the Peace Corps in rural Paraguay, I decided to become a doctor. During my second year of medical school, I was having panic attacks, tremors, and insomnia. I was diagnosed with Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disease in which my thyroid was attacking itself and causing it to become overactive.
I first did nothing. I then tried Chinese Medicine and was eating lots of fermented foods, whole grains, and terrible tasting powdered herbs. That did not help at all.
I finally decided to do the conventional medicine called PTU, which inhibits my thyroid from making so much hormone. After a few weeks, I felt terrible. I returned to my doctor for lab testing and found that my liver was being damaged by the medication and I had something called toxic hepatitis. I was ordered to stop the medication and to strict bed rest. Fearing for my health, my life, and the possibility of having to drop out of medical school, I opted to have my thyroid ablated.
I never want anyone to go through what I had to go through, so it is my mission to educate as many as I can that there are other healthier ways to recover from thyroid disease. I’ve seen incredible health changes with my patients in my clinic Austin UltraHealth.
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H9ave had my thyroid operation for overactive thyroid, then became hypo thyroid so was given medicine for normal thyroid function – I am not on thyroid medicine now,but just had thyroid function by endocrinolist and it was very elevated so was but on medicine to bring it down 3 days ago – I am starting to feel better. Do strange things happen with my condition? such as hearing music when none is happening – I am 96 years old. Hope you can put my mind at ease-been on new med for 4 days and feel better – still hear music but faintly.
Hi June, It is good to have you here at Hypothyroid Mom. I have many visitors here on my website and hear many stories of symptoms. I cannot say that I’ve heard anyone mention that they hear music, however we’re all different with what symptoms we develop. I do hear about whistling and ringing of the ears as mentioned in this article here often times on my Facebook page. https://hypothyroidmom.com/thyroid-and-the-ear/
Can hypothyroidism cause interstitial lung disease, PH and chronic kidney disease?
Extreme tiredness. Weight gain hard to lose My T4 as at lower end yet T3 is fine.
I went to Mexico for the holidays and I noticed after a week being back my feces had some corn I had during Mexico, it scared me because it was green or like aqua, I know corn doesn’t digest but shouldn’t it have came out the day I had ate it? Not only was it one of those colors but it also seemed like it was molding, I have had huge stomach cramping, nausea, an irregular period, cold hands and feet, and constipation, diarrhea.
My Doctor says my white blood cells are low and my platlets are act5ing up. Is this a symptom of my thyroid function?
my thyroid is 13.6 and my puritory gland is 6.30 its high
I have many signs of hypothyroid.fatigue,foggy memory,low body temp 95.6 F,feeling cold when most others are comfortable,anxiety,quickly irritated.my THS level was 0.07,which is way below normal.everything I read though says I have hyperthyroid,according to this TSH level.i have ulcerative coilitis,which may be affecting these signs and symptoms.UC is possibly autoimmune.Im confused by all of this,i have not had the T3 and T4 levels checked yet.any suggestions will help…………..thanks I am a 70 y/o male
Do you think there is a link to recurring bladder infections (cystitis) and Hypothyroidism please?
Is there anything to the idea that the thyroid is to blame in the loss of curly hair??
Hi Diane, It’s interesting that you mention curly hair. I too have curly hair, spiral like when I was young that has definitely straightened and thinned and frizzed with thyroid disease. Thankfully I’ve dramatically stopped the major hair loss and my hair is softer and curlier although still not quite as curly. Major changes to our hair would explain the popularity of this article at Hypothyroid Mom where I share what has worked for me.
https://hypothyroidmom.com/10-things-that-stopped-my-thyroid-hair-loss/
Hi all
I had some blood tests and they could not find anything wrong with my thyroid. I had fatigue and symptoms as a result from our very harsh winter. I tried a couple of different things to deal with fatigue I thought about sharing. One is called the QRS machine FDA approved. All you need to do is set it at the desired level, for me I set it for balance and after 16-20 minutes I found a lot of relief and it definitely is worth buying.
Another thing I do is use New Zealand whey powder. I always had a fast metabolism and when I use this, it helps all major rebuilding systems.
I also eat organic walnuts which support the major hormones and do help with anxiety. A ND recommended “English walnuts” for anxiety and also mold allergies. I hope everyone finds the right doctor for their issues because that’s the best thing to do. Check out your doctors ratings and reviews.
In hopes of health…HJ
I’m really depressed, have developed anxiety as well, have chronic sinus issues whether it’s infection or just a cold or hoarseness, have my period sometimes twice in a month (recently 1 came only two days after the first), and the periods are heavy, involving blood clots, and they last and last (sometimes 7 days). However, my period cycles are somewhat (usually) spaced consistently with my cycles being about 32-35 days… so. I was put on the birth control pill (various brands etc) at the age of 13 because of consistent Mennhoragia as soon as my first period hit, it did not cease for 45 days until I lost so many clots that I had to be given an emergency estrogen pill in the ER. Then I was trying to fix it all with a prescription of biodentical plant hormones (I was around 13-15 years old, I have a terrible memory and have been diagnosed with ADHD with the inattentive kind aka what was formerly called ADD). Anyways, I’m 28 now, and I have a 4 year old son… I’m angry because my energy levels are so low that I need to nap but can’t because I have to work. I’m on 15mg of XR Adderal, Zoloft 150mg for depression and anxiety (the anxiety really got to be a nightmare for me after my son was born), AND I’m also on Wellbutrin 300mg to counteract the tiredness from the Zoloft…. I drink coffee and I know it’s bad but the only thing that helps is if I drink espresso around 2-3 shots of it and even after all of that, I am STILL SO TIRED. I am feeling awful… I feel and look like crap and I want my life to be at least a little more than this… I don’t know where to go from here. Any advice is welcome, can it be that I have hypothyroidism if I don’t have all of the symptoms? I actually feel like I won’t be able to do anything and I’ll be so sad if I have to not have any caffeine and I don’t know how I’ll take care of my son with no energy. Thank you for your help
I’m tired all the time, including the minute I eat something, a fatigue takes over and for the last year or more, my lower abdomen is swelling, and upper stomach. I went to my VA and private doctors and was diagnosed with high blood pressure. I’m on one water pill and blood pressure pill. I gained additional pounds and can’t lose it, even with me changing to healthy eating, light workout to avoid injury or heart attack and liquid intake of water. I never drank, smoke or consumed any drugs. My entire life has been very active and I’m 64 and most people think I’m in my forties (no wrinkles in my face and I have all my hair). I’ve had many blood tests with nothing negative showing. I’m confused and really need help. John
Hi I need help for my mother.she is coughing lot side at least 15 years.we do lot of test but they couldn find anything.last year we went to my cushion house USA.she work in laboratory for blood test.she took blood sample and yet nlodd.they goons my mother has thyroid problem.the blood test shows thyroid way high then normal.then we come back and did blood test with our doctor.doctor told us thyroid is normal.we need helt.is there any other way to treat thyroid.please help.
Mohan
I have been having some crazy symptoms for over a year and Dr thinks I have hypothyroidism and being tested for hashimoto auto immune disease also Dr’s says I have a heart murmur which is another symptom of thyroid issues but I don’t have every symptom of hypothyroidism does this mean the diagnosis could be wrong still waiting on blood work to confirm it, I’m so scared and overwhelmed by this all hard believe I can have all these health issues but my dad,sister and niece have problems with thyroid and my sister has hashimoto as well so maybe it runs in the family
I’ve had the strangest symptoms lately with the main one being dizziness and an off balance feeling. I’m only 19 and am having a ton of issues. I’m gonna go get tested for multiple things to see how I can heal myself. Remember that the big picture should be looked at as a whole. There is often an underlying problem that causes all of these issues. Definitely research ways to heal your gut, mind, adrenal glands, and nervous system because they often are the root of issues such as thyroid dysfunction. When you think about it everything these days is poisonous to our bodies. Just be careful and think about everything that is going into/on your body. I wish peace and healing to you all and that you get to feel yourselves again someday.
How do I seek the healing of my creator? Pls help me.
All of you sound like you should get tested for lyme disease and other coinfections just to be sure.
Please suggest how to cure from thyriod…
Acupuncture is witchcraft, while it can seem to produce results it will lead to other complications. Seek the healing of your Creator- he made you. Would you take your car to your local mechanic for repair or service if he was a known carjacker or Thief? There are many good natural remedies designed to be used for of our needs also supplied by our creator- the Creator of the universe. The medical field seeks to hidIe this information and discourage it. Steer clear of acupuncture, reflexology, sacral cranial therapy, yoga etc. Also high fructose corn syrup, monosodium glutamate (MSG) highly processed foods, sugar, artificial sweeteners, food coloring Etc. I learned a lot through my family having Lyme’s and winding up contaminated with extreme amounts of heavy metal. There’s very few doctors in the country that can be trusted not to load you with drugs, same with hospitals. Thankfully I know the best Healer, also a good medical doctor & many old home remedies. Any questions contact me- thanks!
Please explain more I have never heard of these practices being bad Glenn. Which practices are okay and why are others bad
Holy cryptorchids, Glenn, you stupidly invite questions but wisely answer none.
Hi Glen,
Am I able to ask you some questions?
I was diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism yesterday after having crazy high heart rates for about a month. I am completely freaking out! I am 35 . I don’t know what to do. I had more blood work this morning and I have made an appointment with a naturopathic doctor as well as i am going to see a n endocrinologist I am petrified about the treatment most of the reading suggest the medication in pill form fails which only leaves an option for Radioactive Iodine which ultimately leads to hypothyrodism which lead to having to take a pill for the rest of my life. My Primary care provider has let me know that the encrinologist wants to start med asap. Tx doesn sound like a solution,abatement is not the solution and neither is surgery. what to do? I feel completly lost.
Hello. I am currently seeing my second endocrinologist. No one can dx me with anything. I’ve had symptoms of Grave’s, Hashimotos and probably 25 symptoms of things that is wrong with me. I think I’m getting narcolepsy now. I had to have a memory test for short and long term memory loss. Needless to say I did poorly. I sometimes contemplate suicide because I feel so very bad. I don’t go anywhere. I suffer severe migraines and other types of headaches. I need to be a guinea pig for science. My mother and sister both had hypothyroidism and autoimmune disorders. Why can’t anyone dx me with something? I feel like maybe I have that disease where you sound like a hypochondriac. Just think I went to my dr and said I think I have a vitamin difficency and hormone problems and that started the ball rolling. The only thing I don’t understand is I am never cold. I am so hot I can’t stand it. I sweat in the shower after and all day long. I have to have a fan blowing on me at all times. This all started in April 2013 I have the worse case of burning mouth syndrome. Today it is a tad bit better, but then it gets fired up again. It never goes away. Can you help me? What should I do? I have so many specialist’s it’s not funny. I’m so doctored out. There has to be someone out there that can help me. Like I said I’ll be a guinea pig.
Sincerely,
Kelly Coley
May I suggest you have them test your gallbladder. I have a very low reading of hypothyroidism and was just dx with it when I came down with IBS, and GURD. I was also placed on Prilosec. I had night sweats so bad it was completely disturbing my sleep as well as my husband’s. I had a complete hysterectomy 12 years ago, should not be having night sweats. Also I was still feeling bloated, getting heavier, tired all the time, and I had an uncomfortable feeling under ribs just below my right breast and a stabbing pain in my back between my shoulder blades. All of these can be related to your gallbladder. I am feeling so much better since I had my gallbladder removed. IBS, gas, bloating…..gone. I have lost 60 lbs by watching what I eat and work out….but it works now that my thyroid treatment started (Levothyroxin 75mcg) AND gallbladder removed. My thyroid tests since surgery indicates my thyroid numbers are even lower, so medication was reduced slightly. No SWEATING at night or ever really unless I am working out or it is warm weather. This has been a miracle for me and I can only hope it helps you. Please ask your GI doctor to give your gallbladder an ultrasound to see if you have stones…..get it removed if you do….it will only get worse. Don’t let them run you around on it, your gallbladder can make you so sick and yet overlooked. I hope you try this, best if so, good luck!!
Kelly, I have been experiencing all the same things you describe right down to the burning mouth, including unfortunately, the doctors attitudes! I’m not sure how it works- but I found a really good acupuncturists who uses Traditional Chinese Medicine. It’s made a huge difference in how I feel- It’s been pretty amazing. If you can try that- just make sure you go to someone who has in depth knowledge of acupuncture & traditional Chinese medicine.
Acupuncture is witchcraft, while it can seem to produce results it will lead to other complications. Seek the healing of your Creator- he made you. Would you take your car to your local mechanic for repair or service if he was a known carjacker or Thief? There are many good natural remedies designed to be used for of our needs also supplied by our creator- the Creator of the universe. The medical field seeks to hide this information and discourage it. Steer clear of acupuncture, reflexology, sacral cranial therapy, yoga etc. Also high fructose corn syrup, monosodium glutamate (MSG) highly processed foods, sugar, artificial sweeteners, food coloring Etc. I learned a lot through my family having Lyme’s and winding up contaminated with extreme amounts of heavy metal. There’s very few doctors in the country that can be trusted not to load you with drugs, same with hospitals. Thankfully I know the best Healer, also a good medical doctor & many old home remedies. Any questions contact me- thanks!
where is this healer you speak of?
His name is Jesus. He is the Creator of all things and able to heal all things. He is Truth. Jesus is the only true and pure source of Life. This is not a religious answer. Rather, I’m talking about the Person of Jesus Himself. Talk to Him, you’ll find Him.
All truth Glenn.
“Thankfully I know the best Healer, also a good medical doctor” 😂 …. Priceless!