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Last week, we talked about some red flags of thyroid problems—sudden weight gain or inability to lose fat, fatigue or insomnia, chronic sinusitis or lingering infections, for example. Perhaps you decided it was time to get an expert’s opinion, and if so, your doctor will probably want to perform thyroid testing.

            The thyroid works when the pituitary gland releases thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), which tells the thyroid to make thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Too much or too little of one thing can throw the hormonal system—and your body—off balance. To measure if your hormones are balanced, your doctor may prescribe a TSH test, a T4 test, and a T3 test.

            Many medications can affect your thyroid test results: amiodarone, often used for an irregular heartbeat; prednisone, often used for arthritis or severe allergies; estrogen, some birth control pills, and even aspirin. Your best bet is to talk to your doctor about how to properly prepare for your tests, because he or she will be able to give you personalized advice, depending on other conditions you may have or medications you are taking.

            Typically, if the results of a TSH test are low, but your T4 and T3 tests are high, it could indicate hyperthyroidism, an overactive thyroid, or other medical conditions that require further evaluation. On the other hand, a high TSH test result, with low T4 and T3 test results, could mean hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid, or other medical conditions that should be investigated further.

            Of course, results aren’t always crystal-clear. For some patients, results may fall within the “normal” ranges, but they clearly show outward signs and symptoms that require a more thorough evaluation. Many will require supplementation and optimization of their hormone levels to safely improve their quality of life. If you’re in one of these scenarios, your doctor will probably want to monitor your condition closely, and may retest you in the future.

            As always, make sure to talk to your doctor about your specific results, and what they mean for you. If your doctor does diagnose you with either hypo- or hyperthyroidism, the good news is that there are different treatment options.

            Check back with us next week for thyroid treatment information!

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CLICK for thyroid testing information from the American Association for Clinical Chemistry.

CLICK for a patient brochure from the American Thyroid Association.

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          Happy 2010! We hope the first month of this new year has started off on the right foot for you—and did you know that January is National Thyroid Awareness Month? Here, FFC’s Kelly Boulden, MD, gives a heads-up on when it may be time for a checkup on your thyroid.               

What’s the thyroid? The thyroid is a small gland located in the middle of the lower neck. It’s part of the endocrine system, which “produces and sends hormones to all areas of our body to regulate essential functions such as temperature, reproduction, growth, immunity, and aging,” Dr. Boulden explains. It even helps determine whether you lose or gain weight. 

What can go wrong with the thyroid? Unfortunately, like other parts of the body, the thyroid may not be working properly. Two of the more common thyroid problems are an underactive and overactive thyroid. An underactive thyroid is known as “hypothyroidism” (“hypo” means “under”). Hypothyroidism can slow down metabolism and make it difficult to lose weight. “For some, it doesn’t matter how much they exercise or what foods they eat, their own body will thwart their efforts to lose weight,” Dr. Boulden says.                         

          On the other hand, the thyroid may be overactive, which is known as “hyperthyroidism” (“hyper” means “over”). Hyperthyroidism can speed up metabolism, which may cause sudden weight loss.  

What are the red flags of thyroid problems? Of course, not everyone who experiences weight gain or loss has thyroid problems, so how do you know when to seek medical intervention? Dr. Boulden advises to watch for:

• sudden weight gain or increase in body fat;
• inability to lose weight despite proper diet and exercise;
• fatigue, insomnia or restless sleep, anxiety or panic attacks;
• gas, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation;
• chronic sinusitis or lingering infections.

Now, what? If you find that you experience some of the red flags above, you may want to consider a physician who specializes in the endocrine system, as thyroid conditions can be tricky to diagnose and treat. The doctors at the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers, for example, are experts in the endocrine system, and routinely perform a series of blood tests that are more advanced than those many primary care physicians use.                         

          “Although we are not a weight loss clinic, we can determine if someone is suffering from the effects of a low thyroid as well as a multitude of underlying issues that might be a contributing factor to weight gain,” Dr. Boulden says.                            

          Check back with us next week for a guide on thyroid testing!

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CLICK for information from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.

CLICK for thyroid patient-advocate Mary Shomon’s Web site.

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Check out what FFC’s Werner Vosloo, ND, MHom, has to say about biofilm communities for CFS and fibro patients!

          Biofilm communities are a bug survival strategy in FMS and CFIDS patients. These communities are well-structured colonies of highly interactive microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, yeast, and mycoplasma. Biofilm structures make it very easy for these microorganisms to survive in our bodies because they provide a layer that protects infections from the immune system and antibiotics, but still allow nutrients to get through, which feeds the microorganisms.

          Biofilm structures are commonly found on the body’s surfaces and membranes: the digestive tract, blood vessels, teeth, inner lining of the ventricles in the brain, urinary bladder, gallbladder and collecting ducts. They can also be found in between tissue planes, and especially in between fascia or connective planes. The polysaccharide biofilm matrix has a negative charge, and positively charged ions of calcium, magnesium, iron, and toxic heavy metals help hold the structure together.

          Teasing the biofilm apart is an important component of a successful treatment program, especially in chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, Lyme disease complex infections, autism, and other chronic conditions. If you are a patient and experience fevers, chills, or other chronic immune system activation symptoms, or treatment-resistant intestinal symptoms like bloating, gas, IBS, constipation alternating with diarrhea, or malabsorption, I would highly recommend you speak with your local Fibro and Fatigue Center physician or integrated medicine doctor to address these issues—they are not likely to go away without focused treatment.

Several different ways are available to address the biofilm structure, and I would encourage you to take the initiative to find out more about this fascinating survival technique that ensures microorganism success in spite of the conventional gold standard.

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CLICK for Dr. Teitelbaum’s thoughts on biofilms.

CLICK for biofilm info from the Center for Biofilm Engineering at Montana State University.

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If you missed the recent “Dr. Oz Show,” where Dr. Mehmet Oz and Dr. Donnica Moore discussed chronic fatigue syndrome, and a retrovirus that has been linked to the condition, don’t worry—we’ve got a recap here for you.

A U.S. research team recently found a retrovirus called XMRV in the blood of 68 of 101 CFS patients, but in only eight of 218 healthy people—that’s 67% versus 3.7%. Dr. Oz, a physician at Columbia University and host of his own health talk show, invited women’s health expert Dr. Donnica to explain a little more about CFS, XMRV, and the relationship between the two.

             “This is a real game-changer in our understanding of chronic fatigue syndrome,” said Dr. Donnica, regarding the recent XMRV finding. “For the first time, we can look at the millions of women and men with chronic fatigue syndrome and say with confidence, ‘We know this is not all in your head, we know this is not depression, and we know you don’t have a midlife energy crisis.’ What we do know is this is a serious, potentially debilitating neuroimmune disease that has an infectious component.”

            Dr. Donnica stressed XMRV is not transmitted via the air, like flu. Because XMRV was detected in the white blood cells of patients with CFS, the concern is that blood-borne transmission is possible. To help explain this point, Dr. Oz described how retroviruses work: When a retrovirus hits the outer part of the cell, it releases viral particles, which travel though this outer part and into the cell. These particles turn into a chain of DNA, which is a “blueprint of the virus,” said Dr. Oz, which then joins a person’s DNA. So, it’s not that a retrovirus is something the body has to fight off—it’s something that actually becomes part of your body!

            But how do you know if you have CFS? Well, if you can go away on vacation and come back refreshed, you most likely do not have CFS, said Dr. Donnica. “Chronic fatigue syndrome is a very specific clinical diagnosis.” There are three symptoms that may act as red flags:

                        à Extreme fatigue after sleep or exercise.

                        à Pain in the muscles, joints, and head.

                        à Significant memory loss.

            The good news is a test is out there for XMRV, said Dr. Donnica. Patients need a prescription from the doctor, can order the test online, take it at home, and send it off to a lab for results. The bad news is that the test is approximately $400, and it’s unclear if insurance would pay for it. What’s really needed, Dr. Donnica added, is for researchers from government agencies and pharmaceutical companies to develop new medications that can help CFS patients.

            In the meantime, CFS patients can do what’s in their power to help themselves, said Drs. Oz and Donnica, by focusing on nutrition, sleep, and exercise.

à Eat a healthy, balanced diet, and take supplements when advisable. Omega-3 DHA may help memory glitches, and probiotics may ease gastrointestinal problems. (We’ll be doing a blog post on supplements soon!)

à Facilitate sleep by making sure it’s dark before going to bed.

à Even if it is just walking to the mailbox, every step helps.

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CLICK for more info on CFS, XMRV, and Dr. Donnica’s Decisionnaire for CFS.

CLICK for Dr. Teitelbaum’s take on the recent Dr. Oz show.

CLICK to give us feedback, ask us questions, and join other CFS sufferers.