We will help you determine what the main sources of stress are in your life and help you avoid or mitigate the impact of the stressors. For stresses that cannot be avoided, management techniques such as meditation are often recommended. Counseling modalities can also be useful.
We will examine your diet to evaluate whether there are any deficiencies or excesses of certain foods that may be affecting your thyroid. We will also evaluate whether other foods may be causing or contributing to the problem because of allergies, sensitivities or enzymatic defects. It is also important to eat more organic food to reduce your exposure to environmental toxins that can negatively impact your thyroid.
Detoxification programs can help by removing some of the substances that damage the thyroid. Mercury and other heavy metals can be tested for and removed from the body by chelation. PCBs and other toxins can be eliminated through a comprehensive detox program.
Some people respond well to a number of different treatments from homeopathy to craniosacral therapy. Some respond to general hormone balancing techniques. Find the thyroid treatment that’s best for you. Schedule an appointment with us!
Many people will still need thyroid hormone replacement. If this is the case, we will determine which is the most appropriate thyroid hormone medicine for you. It can take some time to establish the correct dosage so we will follow your progress closely. Once the correct dosage is established, you will typically be maintained on it for 6-18 months before any attempt is made to wean you off the medication. Some patients will need to stay on thyroid medicine long term but other may be able to transition off if the underlying problems are effectively addressed.
How is hypothyroidism treated conventionally?
The conventional treatment for overt hypothyroidism is Synthroid, otherwise known as levoxyl or levothyroxine. It is a synthetic (albeit bioidentical) form of T4 used as thyroid hormone replacement. Please note that the conventional treatment for patients with symptoms but whose TSH is below 5 is to do nothing.
I’m already taking Synthroid for my thyroid but it’s not helping. What should I do?
Not everybody responds to Synthroid. There can be a variety of reasons why. Generally speaking, the side effects of this medication are due to one of three things – not enough medicine, too much medicine or inadequate conversion. If Synthroid is the right medicine for you but you are not getting enough, you will continue to have some or all of your hypothyroid symptoms. If you are taking too much, you will begin to develop symptoms of overactive thyroid that can feel like you drank too much coffee (heart racing, excessive sweating, anxiety, diarrhea and so on). Long-term treatment with excess Synthroid can lead to hair loss and osteoporosis.
If your body is not converting T4 to T3 in adequate amounts, you will not feel better. Your conventional doctor may run blood tests and tell you that everything is back to normal. This is because Synthroid will make the TSH number come down, even if there is not enough T4 to T3 conversion.
Occasionally, people are sensitive to the excipients (fillers, coloring agents, etc.) in the tablets.
Other thyroid medications are available.
Hypothyroidism can be difficult to evaluate and treat properly.
Getting a proper diagnosis and understanding other factors that may be complicating your situation is crucial. We are experts in the diagnosis and management of thyroid disorders. Call us and start feeling better very soon