This is Part
2 in a 3-part series on thyroid disorder by Erin.
In Part 1 of this series, we discussed the basics
of the most common thyroid disorder, hypothyroidism, and its most common cause,
Hashimoto’s disease. In today’s post,
I’d like to discuss how to identify if Hashimoto’s is the cause of your low thyroid
(or high thyroid) symptoms and what you can do about it.
If you are
currently being treated for low thyroid (hypothyroidism) it is very important
that you be tested for Hashimoto’s.
There
are TWO blood tests for this. Most
doctors will only run one. You must
specifically request both. The tests to
request are a TPO Ab (thyroid peroxidase antibodies) and a TgAb (thyroglobulin
antibodies). One or both of these may be
positive in Hashimoto’s. It is also
possible to have negative results on both but still have Hashimoto’s. Confused? Read this.
Even if
your doctor says your thyroid levels are “normal”, you should be tested for
Hashimoto’s if you are having symptoms of thyroid dysfunction.
The
only test your doctor will likely run to check your thyroid function is called
TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone). Thyroid
hormones can fluctuate widely with Hashimoto’s, so a one-time blood test of a
single hormone does not give an accurate picture of true thyroid or immune
system health.
It’s
also important to understand that “normal” lab range values are determined by
the lab results seen in medical patients.
With thyroid disorders being so widespread, you can see why the normal TSH
lab range may not be the optimal range.
The standard lab range for TSH is .45 to 4.5. Most likely, this is the range your doctor is
referring to when he says your results are “normal.” The functional range at which the thyroid
performs optimally, however, is 1.8 to 3.0.
If you do
not address the health of your immune system, you can continue to develop
autoimmunity to other parts of your body.
The
most common progression associated with Hashimoto’s is autoimmunity to the
small intestine (Celiac disease) and your stomach lining (pernicious anemia). I personally know several people with
Hashimoto’s who have developed other autoimmune conditions including vitiligo
and lichen planus.
It is
possible to experience hyperthyroid
symptoms as well as hypothyroid
symptoms when you have Hashimoto’s.
Hyperthyroid
symptoms include heart palpitations, increased pulse rate (even at rest),
insomnia, feeling nervous and emotional, night sweats, and difficulty gaining
weight.
When
thyroid tissue is destroyed by your immune system, the hormones stored in that
tissue are released into the blood stream, which speeds up the body’s
metabolism. This scenario causes the
hyperthyroid symptoms.
Going on
unwarranted thyroid replacement can cause more problems than it alleviates.
Your
pituitary gland will stop stimulating the thyroid to produce its own hormones,
weakening those pathways and possibly causing replacement hormone dependence.
If you have
Hashimoto’s, you need to find a health professional with experience treating
autoimmune disorders.
I
chose to go to a chiropractor recommended on Dr. Kharrazian’s website and was
not disappointed. General physicians do
not typically test for Hashimoto’s because it does not change their standard
treatment (thyroid replacement hormone).
The conventional treatment for autoimmune diseases is steroids to
suppress the immune system, but steroids are not recommended for Hashimoto’s.
Again, if you’d like to know more, I highly recommend the
book Why Do I Still Have Thyroid SymptomsWhen My Lab Tests Are Normal? by Datis Kharrazian. Dr. Kharrazian is known as one of the leading
experts in the non-pharmaceutical treatment of autoimmune disorders. You can find out more at www.thyroidbook.com.
Part 3 of this series will discuss specific lifestylechanges recommended to manage thyroid disorder. Click here to read part 1.-Erin
No comments:
Post a Comment