Hashimoto’s

What is a Thyroid

The thyroid is a small gland, shaped like a butterfly, located in the lower part of your neck. The function of a gland is to secrete hormones. The main hormones released by the thyroid are triiodothyronine, abbreviated as T3, and thyroxine, abbreviated as T4. These thyroid hormones deliver energy to cells of the body.

What Diseases and Conditions Affect the Thyroid?

The most common problems that develop in the thyroid include:

• Hypothyroidism — An underactive thyroid.
• Hyperthyroidism — An overactive thyroid.
• Goiter — An enlarged thyroid.
• Thyroid Nodules — Lumps in the thyroid gland.
• Thyroid Cancer — Malignant thyroid nodules or tissue.
• Thyroiditis — Inflammation of the thyroid.

As of Sept. 2015 it is estimated that as many as 59 million Americans have a thyroid problem, but the majority don’t know it yet. The thyroid is the master gland of metabolism. When your thyroid doesn’t function, it can affect every aspect of your health, and in particular, weight, depression and energy levels.

Undiagnosed thyroid problems can dramatically increase your risk of obesity, heart disease, depression, anxiety, hair loss, sexual dysfunction, infertility and a host of other symptoms and health problems.

So, the importance of recognizing the signs and symptoms, and getting a proper diagnosis and treatment, is clear.

• Pain is a common but often overlooked symptom of thyroid issues.  There is also a tendency to develop carpal tunnel in the arms/hands, tarsal tunnel in the legs, and plantars fasciitis in the feet. People who are hyperthyroidism may have pain or weakness in upper arms, and calves.
• People with hypothyroidism may experience aches and pains in muscles and joints, especially the arms and legs. Fibromyalgia like pain is also common for people with an underactive thyroid.
• A feeling of swelling in the neck, a visibly enlarged neck, discomfort with turtlenecks or neckties, difficulty swallowing, or a hoarse, raspy voice can all be signs of thyroid disease. Specifically, when the thyroid becomes enlarged, this is known as “goiter,” and can be a sign of both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.
• Hair and skin are particularly vulnerable to thyroid conditions, and in particular, hair loss. With hypothyroidism, hair frequently becomes brittle, coarse and dry, and can break easily, and falling out more easily. Skin can become coarse, thick, dry, and scaly. In hypothyroidism, there is also a unique and very specific symptom: The loss of hair in the outer edge of the eyebrow.
• Severe or long-term constipation, and constipation that does not respond to treatments and remedies, can be associated with hypothyroidism. Diarrhea, loose stools, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are frequently associated with hyperthyroidism.
• Menstrual changes are common in thyroid patients.  Heavier, more frequent and more painful periods are frequently associated with hypothyroidism. Women with hyperthyroidism often experience shorter, lighter or infrequent menstruation — or even the cessation of menstrual periods entirely. Women with undiagnosed or improperly treated hypothyroidism in particular can also experience infertility and recurrent miscarriage.
• If you have a family history of thyroid problems, or a family history of autoimmune disease, you are at a higher risk of having a thyroid condition yourself. You may not always be aware of thyroid problems in your family, though, because especially among older people, it is often referred to as “glandular trouble” or “goiter.” So pay attention to any discussions of glandular conditions or goiter or weight gain due to “a glandular problem,” as these may be indirect ways of referring to thyroid conditions.
• You should also be aware of all autoimmune conditions – such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis – in your family history. Autoimmune disease in first degree relatives – parents, siblings, and children — increase your risk of having an autoimmune condition, and autoimmune thyroid diseases Hashimoto’s and Graves’ disease are among the most common.
• High cholesterol levels, especially when they are not responsive to diet, exercise or cholesterol-lowering medications, can be a sign of undiagnosed hypothyroidism. Unusually low cholesterol levels may be a sign of hyperthyroidism.
• Depression or anxiety – including the sudden onset of a panic disorder – can be symptoms of thyroid disease. Hypothyroidism is most typically associated with depression, while hyperthyroidism is more commonly associated with anxiety, panic attacks, and bipolar disease. Depression that does not respond to antidepressants may also be a sign of an undiagnosed thyroid disorder.
• Unexplained weight changes and issues can be signs of both hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. You may be on a low-fat, low-calorie diet with a rigorous exercise program, but are failing to lose weight. Or maybe you’re even gaining? Or you may have joined a diet program or support group, such as Weight Watchers, and you are the only one who isn’t losing any weight. Difficulty losing weight — or unusual weight gain – can be signs of hypothyroidism.  On the opposite end, you may be losing weight while eating the same amount of food as usual – or even losing while eating more than normal — can be symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Note, however, that a subset of patients have opposite responses — hypothyroid patients who lose weight or are underweight and can’t gain weight, and hyperthyroid patients who gain weight or can’t lose with diet/exercise.
• Feeling exhausted when you wake up, feeling as if 8 or 10 hours of sleep a night is insufficient or being unable to function all day without a nap can all be signs of thyroid problems, especially hypothyroidism. With hyperthyroidism, you may also have nighttime insomnia that leaves you exhausted during the day.

WHERE DO I START WITH HASHIMOTO’S?

Most patients with Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism will have acid reflux, nutrient deficiencies, anemia, leaky gut, food allergies and adrenal insufficiency. Symptoms of impaired digestion/absorption, anxiety, chronic fatigue and chemical/environmental allergies may be seen as well.

Hashimoto’s is a complicated condition with many layers that need to be unraveled. While conventional medicine only looks at each body system as a separate category, and is only concerned with the thyroid’s ability to produce thyroid hormone, Hashimoto’s is more than just hypothyroidism.

HOW DO YOU FIND THE ROOT CAUSE OF YOUR CONDITION?

You start with the simplest modifications, by removing triggers, followed by repairing the other broken systems to restore equilibrium, allowing the body to rebuild itself. You will dig down to why the immune system is imbalanced in the first place and this will tell you how you begin to finally feel better, reduce your thyroid antibodies and even take your condition into remission.

You will have to create your own health timeline. Look back at your overall history as far back as you can remember. Look for infections, periods of severe stress, the use of medications (especially antibiotics, antacids, and oral contraceptives), accidents, and exposure to toxins. These are events that may have contributed to Hashimoto’s. Once you do, you will know what types of changes you need to implement to make yourself feel better.

 SIX STEPS TO BREAKING THE VICIOUS CYCLE IN HASHIMOTO’S

Step 1: Correct Diagnosis

Getting the right diagnosis is the first step to getting your life back. Our aim is to help you understand your diagnosis and the implications associated with autoimmune thyroiditis so that you can be empowered to fight back effectively.

Step 2: Medication Management

Thyroid hormones affect every organ, tissue and cell in the body. Appropriate medication management will allow you to recover from the effects of hypothyroidism, giving you the energy, vitality and support to continue working on optimizing your health.

Step 3: Food Pharmacology

Optimizing your health starts with food. Figuring out which foods nourish you, and which ones cause you harm is the single most important thing you can learn in your health journey.

Step 4: Balancing your Adrenals

The adrenals are the glands that secrete our stress hormones. Excessive stress turns off the body’s ability to heal and wreaks havoc on our hormones. When you support your adrenals, your body will reward you.

Step 5: Healing Your Gut

Your gut is home to your immune system. When you heal and balance your gut function, you immune system recovers as well. Hippocrates said: “All disease begins in the gut”.

Step 6: Removing Toxins

Toxins can trigger autoimmune disease. Reducing your toxic burden allows the body to heal itself

Check back to see how I got started.