The Importance of Thyroid Hormone
During this time of year of colder temperatures and shorter days many people with chronic fatigue syndrome and/or fibromyalgia experience an overall worsening of their symptoms along with an increased inability to tolerate the cold. For several of these individuals their thyroid gland may not be functioning properly; however, blood work completed by a primary care provider would show results as normal. The reason for this is that not all lab tests are correctly checked and numerous tests need to be performed since many times even if the hormone levels are normal there are other “inhibitors” of thyroid hormone that are not usually checked. In those cases individuals would experience symptoms of low thyroid; however they would not be treated by their doctor since the baseline blood work was normal.
Thyroid hormone is a key regulatory hormone for temperature control, metabolism, and neurological function. Symptoms of low thyroid are several, some of which include cold intolerance, worsening pain in colder weather, increased cholesterol levels, diminished energy levels, depression, poor hair growth, menstrual abnormalities including infertility, diminished metabolism with weight gain, and swelling in the ankles/feet. In fact, proper thyroid hormone management is probably the safest and most beneficial cholesterol reducing agent yet is hardly ever used for this purpose, and if properly treated, most patients with poor cholesterol and depression can discontinue their prescription drugs for these conditions.
Even when a low thyroid condition is established it is essential for the correct hormone to be given. For many people hormones obtained commercially through their doctor hardly help their symptoms even though their repeat blood work is normal. Utilizing the correct all natural bio-identical thyroid medication is key to overcoming this thyroid hormone resistance and helps patients clinically feel better and should be addressed with your doctor.
January 1st, 2008 at 11:29 am
I believe that the bio-identical hormones might not be standarized. Is that correct?
March 9th, 2008 at 3:37 am
So what additional tests need to be done to determine if there are “inhibitors” of thyroid hormone that are not usually checked?
April 6th, 2008 at 5:31 am
Over several years i have been testing my thyroid even my rhumatologist has tested it as well as the endrocronologist always comes out normal they do T3 and T4 test. Is it posible for a thyroid to work intermittent and to shut off for a period of time ?
i have certain time each month where i feel i binge on charbohydrats and crave them other times o dont really want to eat and frequently will skip meals. Is this a sign that my thyroid is not working properly?
My mother has insisted for years my thyroid has been not right. What can i do to check this futher?
thanks
robin
April 13th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
i’ve also had nomal readings on thyroid test and been told nothings wrong so many times, i started thinking it was in my head…….
May 1st, 2008 at 11:54 pm
Every doctor I have ever seen during the last 32 years has said my symptoms are indicative of low thyroid and are surprised when the test results come back “normal”. I was diagnosed with FMS 12 years ago, and never realized that the two might be connected. Where do I get these tests?????