Holistic Health Solutions for Thyroid Imbalances - How to Check Thyroid Function at Home

Hi, because I'm trying to be to pregnant, and I'm almost 39. 1.) In early April, my blood test was normal, T4 is perfect; 2.) 2 weeks later I felt my heart beating very fast on and off, so I asked for blood test again. T4 is fine, but TSH <0.10; 3.) Then I repeated my blood test and the T4 is 22.5, and TSH <0.01 is 206; 4.) Then I was sent to have a thyroid scan, and waiting for the report, it's been a week now, so I'm scared now. I know a thyroid patient shouldn't be pregnant. My doctor hasn't seen the scan report yet, but he said it's virus that is common for Asian women. He asked me to have blood test in a month. What shall i do? It can be treated forever? Shall I wait for treatment then get pregnant? Are these pills not good for me? I'm so scared to tell my husband about all of this. I haven't told him yet. Thanks very much.

Dear Chanel, I understand your concern about thyroid medication and pregnancy. From reading your thyroid numbers above, it is difficult for me to understand them. Usually, there is only one result for each parameter tested and from your letter, you listed two results. Make sure that you are not reading the normal range for each test, which usually appears after the patient result and is listed on the right hand side of the lab requisition. Also, each lab may have a different normal range for each test. For instance, TSH cannot be both <0.10 and 3. Please ask your doctor to explain the results to you so that you can understand them. Also tell him/her that you are trying to get pregnant and he/she will advise you if there are any adverse affects or reasons why you should not get pregnant at this time. More than not, thyroid problems will keep or prevent you from getting pregnant in the first place. So, after the doctor has diagnosed your case, whether you have low thyroid hormones or high thyroid problems, by correcting them with the proper medication, then you may find it easier to get pregnant. Taking thyroid medication during pregnancy is perfectly safe for both you and the baby if you are diagnosed with a hypothyroid condition. So stay calm, tell your doctor your plans for pregnancy and have him/her explain your situation to you in a manner which you can understand it. Good luck in your endeavors.

My wife has thyroid from last two year and on level of 154 but we know about before two days. Please tell me if there is any effective medicine in homeopathy treatment. Thanks, Umesh Kumar

Hi, I'm 26 yrs old. I've been diagnosed to be having hypothyroidism. I got a blood test for T3,T4,TSH done a couple of days back. My T3,T4 results are within the normal range, but TSH reads 5.73, which is above the normal range. I am taking Eltroxin tablets 1 per day from the time I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Now, I am trying to get pregnant. Is it possible for me to get pregnant? Is the dosage of tablets that I am taking sufficient? Will my hypothyroidism affect my baby? Are there any home remedies to bring hypothyroidism under control? Please advise.

Dear Mrs. Rao, Eltroxin is the Canadian version of Synthroid in the United States, and is also called Levothyroxin or T4, which is the most active hormone produced by the thyroid gland. It is perfectly safe to take during pregnancy as long as you are taking it under your doctor's supervision and strictly according to his directions, and with proper follow-up testing. You should not attempt to self medicate with thyroid hormones. When the TSH is elevated it means that the pituitary gland, the master gland of the body, is working overtime so as to whip the thyroid into shape and to produce more thyroid hormones. By giving you Eltroxin, your doctor is attempting to supplement the body directly with T4 hormone, so that the pituitary gland does not have to work so hard to do it's job. It is important that the pituitary gland not overwork itself. You may now find that it will be easier for you to become pregnant when the thyroid hormones are properly balanced and regulated, and the pituitary gland is back in the normal range. Only your doctor can tell you if you are taking the correct dosage of thyroid medication by continual monitoring of the thyroid through blood testing. Corrected hypothyroidism should not affect your baby. I do not recommend any home remedies to bring your hypothyroidism under control. Mary Shomon has written a lot about thyroid disease where you can learn more about the thyroid gland and its hormones. You will find lots of advice there and offer questions to ask your doctor so that you can get the best help available for your condition. Good luck in your search for knowledge.

Dear Umesh Kumar, I don't know what your wife's thyroid level of 154 means. As far as homeopathic remedies available for thyroid balancing, there are several over-the-counter combination remedies available in the United States. These remedies are combined according to whether the person is hypothyroid(low thyroid) or hyperthyroid (high thyroid). The effectiveness of these remedies will depend upon the symptoms of the person, and also upon the sensitivity of the person to homeopathics. It is always important to continue to monitor the thyroid hormones by blood testing if you decide to try natural herbs or a homeopathic remedy. Also, if your wife is on thyroid medication, it is especially important not to take her completely off the medication and place her on the natural treatments without her doctor's permission first. The dose should be tapered off gradually and not abruptly. You might like to visit a homeopathic specialist or a naturopathic doctor for more help.

I take BarleyLife for low thyroid, or, I eat a ton of fish and seaweed together with a lot of raw fruits and vegetables. To boost a low thyroid, you need two things: 1) An adequate acid/alkaline reserve (pH level). The atomic weight of iodine is so high that it won't absorb properly if the pH balance is not nearly perfect. Source: http://biomedx.com/microscopes/rrintro/rr4.html BarleyLife boosts the pH level. 2) Iodine. The kelp in BarleyLife (get the version with kelp in it), provides iodine. 3) The other nutrition that the thyroid needs (selenium, and some other vitamins and minerals, which I am not sure at this moment what they all are). Get that in your diet, hopefully. If not, find a nutritional powder from a health food store that has a wide variety of vitamins and minerals. Diet-wise if you want to be getting iodine without taking a supplement, you would want to be eating seafood, fish, and seaweed. If you wanted to raise your pH level, you would want to have a lot of raw fruits and vegetables.

I am 27 yrs old male. My doctor told me that I have slight hyperthyroid. When I had my blood test again for T3 and T4, it showed normal. But I still feel I'm suffering from hyperthyroid. I get lot of acne on my face and half of my hair are grey. I have constipation, too. Is there a specific test I can do to check hyperthyroidism. Thank you.

When tendon reflexes have become non-existent (tapping the knee) from Hypothyroid condition, can this ever be reversed?

When I was 24, I had A total Thyroidectomy, I was Diagnosed with cancer. So the Dr. says that I have to keep my levels high. My blood tests all say that I should be hyper not hypo. But I have all the symptoms of hypo. chronic fatigue and weakness, I can hardly get out of bed any more. The weight gain since Jan. this year I have gained 20 pounds. The dry hair and I can pull it out by the hand full everyday. Abnormal menstrual cycles and the decreased sex drive, now that A joke I have been seeing my O.B. for 2 1/2 years because of my cycle being messed up and sex drive I have tried every cream and pill known to man and nothing has helped yet. my husband has talked about leaving me because it has gotten so bad. memory loss, I cannot remember anything I feel like I should be about 80, I can be in the middle of a conversation and forget what I was talking about. I deliver mail I have been on this route for 3 years i cannot remember names or addresses. I have done this job for 10 years and before this I could rattle off addresses of people that I delivered to once or twice I could tell you what they got every day. It has gotten worst every time that I have had to go in for my cancer screening and they take me off of all my thyroid medication for 6 weeks and by the end of those 6 weeks I want to die. I shake all the time. I am just A mess and I can't do this any more. I get very irritable, My kids probably hate me because I am fine one minute and then I just get so mad. One little thing and half the time it is nothing it sets me off. What can I do. I was never like this before. And the sad thing is that it is just getting worst.

I feel that I`m suffering from hyperthyroidism. I had my blood tested twice for TSH and was told my GP is normal. Does TSH detect overactive thyroid or not? I have been infertile for two years now, I am also underweight,cannot put weight on, feeling tired and cold mostly. I do get slight palpitations. My GP is referring me to a gynecologist, but I do believe that the cause of my infertility is thyroid problems. Please could you suggest something for me? Is there any private home test I can buy and perform?

Dear Candan, Sometimes it is difficult to obtain accurate testing for thyroid problems and equally frustrating to find that your GP will not listen to your concerns. TSH, or thyroid stimulating hormone, is a hormone which is produced by the pituitary gland, or master gland of the body. The pituitary gland regulates the thyroid gland along with the other endocrine glands in the body. Many doctors use the TSH test as the gold standard to screen for thyroid problems, and if it comes back normal then no further testing will be performed. The problem with the TSH test is that it has a ridiculous range from almost zero as the lower limit of the normal range. This low range doesn't leave much room for accurate testing. If the TSH result is low, this means that the pituitary gland is being suppressed because of the increased amount of thyroid hormone being produced by the thyroid gland. Now if this sounds a little complicated or strange to you, it is. There exists a negative feedback loop between the production of pituitary hormone and thyroid hormone, and doctors rely upon this reverse information to determine thyroid status. So, I feel that the TSH test cannot accurately predict an overactive thyroid, and further testing of the other thyroid parameters should be done. Here is a link to a list of laboratories which will allow you, as the patient, to take a more active part in your testing and health care > Thyroid Self-Tests / Ordering Your Own Tests. Also, you might like to obtain a second opinion from another doctor or else have your GP refer you to an endocrinologist specialist who can do further in depth testing for your problem. I think that the symptoms which you mentioned require further investigation of your thyroid. I sincerely hope that this information helps you in your quest for health. Good luck.

Dear Angie, Sometimes, hyperthyroid or high thyroid will give the same symptoms as low thyroid or hypothyroid. Since yours is a surgically induced thyroidectomy, you need to continue to be closely monitored by your doctors. It is especially important that you tell your doctor what symptoms you are experiencing, and to make sure that he understands how you are feeling. If he doesn't listen to you and your problems, then it might be wise to get a second or third opinion from another doctor. Yours is a complicated case because of your history, so it may take a thyroid specialist to know how to treat you properly. Here is a link to a great award winning thyroid site by Mary Shoman > Hyperthyroidism/Information. She herself, is a thyroid patient and she has put together a great site for patients and referrals to doctors in various parts of the country. Please check her site and see if there is a thyroid specialist located in your area. Part of monitoring your condition is knowing which tests to check for and to make sure that the doctor checks all of the parameters including the T3 levels, T4 levels, along with the screening TSH level which is sometimes the only parameter which doctors use to monitor the thyroid gland. Also, there are many other tests which should be run to check you for autoimmune disorders etc. Make sure that your doctor listens to you. And definitely get another opinion. You might like to consider visiting a Naturopathic or Holistic doctor or health care practitioner, and especially an Acupuncturist. Sometimes, acupuncture will balance your body energy and make you feel better, then you will be better able to make decisions and plans which will assist you to obtain the information and help which you seek. I hope that this information assists you in your healing.

Hi, I was recently diagnosed with hypothyroidism. My hands and feet would swell up in the morning or after any tiring activity. My blood pressure is normal but my usual pulse rate is 95, reaching up to 130 when I am tired. On testing, the T3, T4 values were found to be normal but TSH was 8.89. I have been taking Thyroxine, 75mg., for the last 4 months. My problem is that I am trying to get pregnant. I am 30 yrs old and have a family history of very early menopause. Is this value of TSH high enough to hinder pregnancy? I've been trying for 2 yrs now. Is there any way I can treat this condition faster? Could hypothyroidism be the symptom of some other illness? Secondly, is it advisable to try to conceive with high TSH? How would it affect the fetus? Considering the symptoms, I think I have had hypothyroidism for 2-3 yrs now. My periods are regular with normal flow, although the number of days have reduced from 6 to 3 in the last 2 yrs. Could hypothyroidism be responsible for frequent urinary infections? Please help.

Dear Jamie, The tendon reflex test was first described in medical literature in the 1880's. It was called the "tendon-jerk" test to check for thyroid dysfunction. Doctors at that time noticed a delayed relaxation response of the tendons in patients with myxoedema or low thyroid, and an increased or a rapid tendon reflex response in thryrotoxicosis or high thyroid hormone production. In both cases, it does return to normal after the patient has been treated for hypothyroid disease. Currently, doctors monitor their treatment with laboratory blood testing of thyroid hormones, and using this reflex test to determine if the patient is responding to therapy.

Dear Sunshine, Thyroid changes do occur during pregnancy due to the complex interaction of HCG or human chorionic gonatotrophin hormone and estrogen with thyroid hormone production. Elevated TSH or thyroid stimulating hormone produced by the pituitary gland or master gland of the body could indeed hinder the body's ability to conceive. Since an elevated TSH means that the body is producing lower amounts of thyroid hormone, it would be best to have your doctor attempt to get the TSH down into the normal range before conceiving. When the TSH is stabilized to normal, it may be easier for you to conceive. However, once you become pregnant, then the TSH levels may wildly fluctuate, with the need for higher dosing during the first ten weeks or first trimester and then lower dosing during other parts of the pregnancy. The baby needs the adequate maternal thyroid hormone in the beginning of pregnancy, but around the 10-12th week, the baby's thyroid will begin to kick in and produce its own hormones. In addition, adequate iodine is needed for fetal thyroid production to occur, so the woman should take a pre-natal supplement with adequate iodine. Because it is a delicate balancing act to keep the thyroid hormones balanced during pregnancy, it is important that your doctor do continuous monitoring with testing before, during, and after pregnancy. These tests need to be interpreted with caution during pregnancy due to the complexity of hormonal interactions. Unfortunately, there is no fast way to treat thyroid conditions since each individual is unique in her body chemistry. In addition, you should request that your doctor check all thyroid parameters, including autoimmune thyroid disorders and anti-thyroid immunoglobulins, even though the thyroid hormones test within the normal range. You might want to enlist the aid of a thyroid doctor expert or endocrinologist in addition to your regular GP. Complications from having elevated TSH levels do exist for the mother and the child, including both short and long term health problems due to borderline, inadequate, or sub clinical thyroid disorders. The thyroid gland plays an important role in regulating the metabolism of the body, which also affects your immune system's ability to fight off infections. You might want to go here to read more in-depth information about the role of thyroid hormones in pregnancy > Pregnancy/Thyroid Information. Good luck in your endeavors.

Why can't you eat seafood before having a thyroid uptake scan done?

Dear Jen, A thyroid uptake scan is a nuclear medicine examination which uses a small amount of radioactive iodine which is injected into the vein or given orally by mouth. A low iodine diet is recommended before the scan is performed. If you eat seafood, it contains iodine, so it will interfere with the test. Other foods which contain iodine include: seaweeds, such as kelp, dulse, multivitamins, sinus and cold medications, cough syrups, heart medications, and thyroid medications. All of these substances should be avoided before the scan is performed because this procedure measures the amount of iodine taken up by the thyroid gland.

It all started when my right eyelid began to droop . I went to an eye specialist first, and he concluded that it was not a vision problem and that I needed to see a neurologist. The neurologist said I needed to do a thyroid test, which was positive. He then asked for t3 and t4 testing, which was also positive. I then consulted a thyroid specialist doctor, who is treating my mother, he asked me for a thyroid scan and gave me some Thyrocare, 50mg. I am having problems with digestion, lack of concentration, hair, and stamina problems. I want to know if there is a permanent cure, using a homeopathic, ayurvedic, or any other type of method. Are there any doctors in Mumbai who can treat this this another way? Please reply.

Dear Mani, Hyperthyroidism can be defined as having elevated or high thyroid hormone levels and usually shows the following symptoms: weight loss, shaky or racy feeling inside, fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, inability to relax, inability to concentrate, diarrhea, sweating or feeling hot all of the time, muscle weakness, hair loss, heart palpitations, rapid heart rate, and vision changes. A slight case of hyperthyroidism may be difficult for your doctor to detect unless he performs an in-depth panel of tests, including testing for autoimmune disorder, pituitary hormones, free T4 and free T3 tests, and TSH or thyroid stimulating hormone. Also, if the doctor or laboratory uses the old normal range for interpreting the test results, then he/she may miss both the elevated or the depressed results, thus proclaiming that all is "normal". In this case, it may be wise to get several different professional opinions regarding the interpretation of the test results and recommend that your doctor review the website listed below, regarding the normal ranges and values of these tests. If your doctor refuses to listen to you, you might want to visit an alternative doctor such as a naturopathic doctor who has lots of experience working with thyroid patients and their individual differences. It is important to distinguish between hyperthyroid(high) and hypothyroid (low)conditions. Hypothyroid means that one may have too low thyroid hormones which can manifest in the following symptoms: fatigue, lethargy, dry scaly skin and scalp, trouble concentrating, weight gain, constipation, and depression. and vision changes. Sometimes, it is difficult to differentiate between these two types of thyroid problems because the symptoms can overlap or they can mimic or be similar to each other. To complicate matters worse, there are several other problems which can affect the thyroid gland, including autoimmune disease, goiters or thyroid nodules, thyroid cancer, and thyroiditis. Go here: http://thyroid.about.com/library/links/blthyroid.htm to learn more about your thyroid gland at Mary Shoman's award winning site on thyroid problems. Since you mentioned that you thought that you might be suffering from hyperthyroidism, go here to learn about the various symptoms of hyperthyroidism and the various tests which you can ask your doctor to perform regarding this concern: http://thyroid.about.com/library/howto/hthyperthyroidism.htm I hope that this points you in the right direction to find the answers to your health problems. Good luck.

Dear A, It is important to use caution when self supplementing with iodine for thyroid problems. If indeed, the problem is true hypothyroidism or simply low thyroid, then iodine in the forms of seaweed, bladderwrack, fish, and iodine supplementations will be of assistance. However, if the person has an autoimmune thyroid problem( which is by far the most common cause of thyroid problems in the U.S.), then the iodine will only add fuel to the fire and can cause more harm than good. Your doctors, both naturopathic and allopathic, can test for autoimmune thyroid disease via blood tests, and your naturopathic doctor in addition, can test for the level of iodine in your body via an urine test. Also, most fish today contain excessive amounts of methyl mercury and so it is unwise to eat "lots of fish" without first finding out the level of mercury which you are ingesting. You can go to this website to check for the levels of mercury in different fish: > Mercury/Information to see if you are getting the maximum recommended amount of mercury in your diet. Caution: it is very important that pregnant women stay away from excessive consumption of fish in the diet because of the impact of mercury toxicity upon the unborn fetus. In addition, please visit Mary Shomon's award winning site (link in one of my earlier comments above) to obtain valuable information about thyroid problems. She employs experts in the field to assist us to understand and separate the facts from fiction.

I realized after having a borderline hyperthyroid test result that I have been taking a multivitamin with 150mcg regularly for the past year. I took the vitamin twelve hours before the test. If I quit taking this vitamin, would my levels possibly go back to normal?

Dear Renee, You didn't mention which element contains 150mcg. in your multivitamin. One mcg. refers to one micro gram, which is equivalent to 1000 times less than one milligram or mg. So you can see that it is an extremely small dose of any substance. It is highly unlikely that a multivitamin could interfere with your thyroid testing unless it contains excessive amounts of iodine or if you are allergic to iodine. If you have any questions about your test results, you might want to stop taking the vitamin for two weeks to one month, then have the test repeated. Otherwise, you might want to have your doctor do more in depth testing for your thyroid.

Hi I have many hypothyroidism symptoms like dry hair and skin, and it's very hard for me to lose wight. I had a radiology test that showed my thyroid was normal. My blood test showed my T3 was 1.3, my T4 was 117, and my TSH was .74. The doctor told me that as long as my T4 was normal than there is nothing wrong with me, and I don't need any medication. Is that right? How about if I used some thyroid supplements, like Thyroid Assist will it affect my T4 level?

Dear Abdullah, Your value for T4 does not make sense. You might mean it to read 11.7 instead of 117, in order for it to be within the normal range for T4. It is still possible for someone to have a sub clinical problem with low thyroid and still have the values within the normal range. I am not personally familiar with this product and have had no experience prescribing it to my patients. However, I see that it contains herbs which are useful only for low thyroid function and should not be taken for high thyroid conditions. I also note that this product states that it can increase the thyroid hormone levels in the body. Other precautions for not taking this product include low blood pressure and peptic ulcers in addition to overactive thyroid. Make sure that you do not have any of these conditions before taking this product. Also, if you are taking any other medications, make sure to ask your doctor before adding these herbs to your regimen. Dry skin and hair could also be due to a lack of essential fatty acids and omega 3 oils in your diet. Adding a good quality fish oil supplement and flax oil or coconut oil into your diet might help with your dry skin. If you live in a dry climate this could also account for this problem. Losing weight is not an indication for taking thyroid supplements so make sure that this is not your goal. Firstly, you also might like to delete foods from your diet which affect the thyroid from functioning properly. These foods are goitrogenic foods and include: polyunsaturated fats especially soy and corn oil, tomatoes, eggplant, all soy products, cruciferous vegetables such as turnips, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, rutabagas, kale, kohlrabi, strawberries, radishes, spinach, peaches, millet, walnuts, and pine nuts. By eliminating or restricting these foods from your diet, your thyroid gland will function more effectively and you will not suppress your thyroid hormone production. It is probably best to use foods to optimize your thyroid gland before starting on an herbal supplement. Also, you might like to eat more seaweed or add iodine to your diet because the thyroid gland needs iodine to function optimally.

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism about four years ago, after my 4th child was born. The Dr. prescribed a small dose of Synthroid which made my numbers all come back normal, however I still feel symptomatic of hypothyroidism. I have brittle hair and nails, lack of energy, very hard time losing weight even while on a 1600 calorie diet, strength training, and aerobics, and hard time falling asleep. Also, since being on Synthroid, my calcium levels are low on my blood tests, and I'm already taking a calcium supplement that has vitamin D, magnesium, and boron in it. A natural health care provider said that Synthroid will suppress my thyroid from working on its own and will cause low calcium. So, I stopped taking it, and am just using bladderwrack to help my thyroid. I am sleeping better at night, but I'm gaining weight instead of losing weight, and my hair and nails still are brittle and dry, and my period has gone from being every 32 days to being every 40. Does Synthroid suppress the thyroid? Will taking thyroid supplements like bladderwrack while taking Synthroid work to help relieve symptoms of hypothyroidism or is the thyroid not going to use any supplements due to lack of function caused by Synthroid? Does Synthroid cause low calcium? Should I get back on the Synthroid? What is the best diet to be on for someone with hypothyroidism? Is it true that exercise will promote thyroid function?

Dear NC, You have a lot of questions and concerns regarding your thyroid. Synthroid is a synthetic form of thyroid hormone which is prescribed for hypothyroidism or low thyroid function. If Synthroid is taken for many years, or a long period of time, it is true that the thyroid gland becomes dependent upon this supplementation in order to function properly. Usually, there is a reason why the thyroid stops producing thyroid hormones in the first place. It could be due to many causes, including toxic drugs or toxic heavy metals which interfere with the production, adrenal or stress situations where the adrenal hormones are not functioning properly, an autoimmune problem, normal aging, entering menopause with wild fluctuations of female hormones or hormone depletion, and exposure to radioactive substances. These are just a few of the causes. All of the hormones of the body need to be in balance and all of the hormones affect and interact with each other. Taking bladderwrack, which is a natural plant seaweed contains high amounts of iodine which is one of the elements necessary for the production of thyroid hormone. In itself, it may not be able to bring the levels of thyroid hormone back to normal, and in some cases, such as autoimmune causes, it may actually be harmful. It is important that you continue to be monitored by your doctor when you are taking a thyroid supplement such as Synthroid. Your doctor should also check for autoimmune problems and auto antibodies. Synthroid contains only T4 hormone, and not T3 hormone. Both of these hormones should be balanced in order for you to feel good. After asking for your doctor to check both hormones, if you are low in T3, then you do have the choice to take Armour thyroid, which is a natural hormone prescription which contains both T4 and T3. I don't know if Synthroid lowers your calcium, but I do know that taking calcium supplementation at the same time as thyroid medication will affect the thyroid absorption. So be careful not to take calcium with your thyroid medicine. Please see my answer to Mrs. Rao above, for the link to an award-winning site with Mary Shoman for more in-depth information about thyroid. Also, there are certain foods which you should avoid if you have low thyroid. Please see my my answer to Abdullah above, to learn which foods these are. And finally, exercise is extremely important for all of us to keep the metabolism balanced. If your doctor won't listen to you, please visit another doctor listed on www.about.com web site or find a Naturopathic doctor in your city who knows about regulating thyroid function. Good luck.

Hi there, I am 8 weeks pregnant and my TSH levels read low but with a normal T4. Can these results harm my unborn baby at all? My Gynecologist said that sometimes TSH lowers in early pregnancy and that I should repeat the test when I get to be four months along. Is that not leaving it too late? I don't want to harm the baby in any way.

Dear Styliani, I can understand your concern, however, you should listen to your doctor and heed his/her advice. If you are not confident with your doctor you may want to seek a second opinion. Rest assured that the baby will not be harmed if you follow your doctor's advice instead of listening to the well-intentioned advice from friends and family. Your doctor does have years of medical schooling and training coupled with his/her years in practice. I realize that there are many questions and answers on this page, but please find my answer to Sunshine above and it will explain the complex interactions and fluctuations of the hormones during pregnancy. I sincerely hope that this information above will make you feel more at ease. Best wishes.

I'm concerned because I am tired all the time, and I typically fall asleep by 9pm. I am always cold and wear sweatshirts even when it is 80 degrees. I have been very unsuccessful controlling my weight. I've put on about 30 pounds in less than a year. I went from a size 8 to a 12. I consume less than 1600 calories per day, eat salads, fish, veggies, and chicken, and go to the gym three times a week for strength training and cardiovascular exercise, with a trainer. In June last year my TSH came up .60 and most recently came up as .38. I've scheduled an appointment with my GP, but am not even sure if all these symptoms point to a thyroid problem. They don't run in my family. However, diabetes and heart problems do run in the family. But my FBS was fine, also. Are there questions I should be asking? Is there something I should eat instead? Thanks in advance.

Dear Theresa, It is important that you keep your scheduled appointment with your doctor to tell him or her about your health concerns. The symptoms which you mentioned, fatigue, cold hands and feet, low body metabolism, weight gain, and elevated TSH, are all symptoms which could point to low thyroid or hypothyroid problems. However, these symptoms should be evaluated in tandem with a complete history and physical examination by your doctor. The most important thing when visiting your doctor is to tell him or her all of your symptoms and try not to evaluate or diagnose the problem by yourself. Please mention all of the symptoms which you described above, your activity and exercise level, your diet, and also your family history. Good luck in your search for optimal health.

After reviewing my thyroid tests, My doctor prescribed .05 mg Synthriod, and I have heard that it can eventually suppress the thyroid so that it doesn't function. I haven't taken it yet. My trips to the naturopath were too expensive for me. I wonder if taking Synthroid, until I can afford to go back to a naturopath, would be beneficial or would it be damaging to my thyroid and eventually lead to it's not producing on it's own.

Dear Tricia, It is usually more difficult to wean someone off from Synthroid after one has been on it for a long time. You could always ask your doctor to prescribe you a natural form of thyroid instead of a synthetic form. Armour thyroid is still readily available and can be substituted for the Synthroid. Please see my answer to Mrs. Rao above and follow the link to Mary Shoman's award winning web site to learn more about the different forms of thyroid supplements available. Then take a copy of this information to your doctor so that he or she will know that you have been doing your homework and realize that each patient responds differently to different forms of thyroid medications. Good luck.

I am late for my period, and I am going in tomorrow to get blood work done regarding my thyroid. My husband had a vasectomy two years ago. I don't cheat. I have had one child. I took a home pregnancy test and it came back positive. Can this be true? Can a thyroid problem cause the body to think it is pregnant?

Dear Toney, Home pregnancy tests using urine for testing are very sensitive and specific for HCG or human chorionic gonadotrophin hormone. Thyroid hormone is not similar to HCG. This makes the home urine pregnancy test extremely accurate. It may be possible to misread the test or misunderstand the directions when you are performing it at home. In this case, it may be wise to repeat the test at your local laboratory and have the medical technologists perform and read the test. It is also possible, but rare, that your husband's vasectomy could be faulty or reversed. If this is the case, you might want to have your husband's ejaculate checked for spermatozoa.

Hi, my initial TSH by my regular doctor was 1.53, range is .4-4.0, T4 was 1.4, range is .7-2.0, and T3 was 362, range is 240- 420. I also have 4 nodules and one is 1.9cm. the others are smaller. I am going to the endocrinologist next week, but I am scared he will just say nothing is wrong because my blood looks normal. I am losing hair and in the past year I lost weight, but I thought it was just because of dieting and exercise but it came off very fast. It seemed to level off, but then it was precipitated by hot flashes and periods that skipped for months at a time, suddenly. The Gyno. said levels of estrogen and testosterone and progesterone are in normal ranges so I am not menopausal. I am 41. The hair thinning is killing me, and I was wondering if my blood can be normal on paper, and I could still have some thyroid abnormalities that are making this happen? I eat normally but do not gain or lose weight. Before the hot flashes I was unable to lose the weight even with vigorous exercise. I had more energy and now with the hair loss and nodules I am wondering if it is all related. I am depressed and so sad with my hair falling out. I do not know what to do. It is all so sudden. Can blood levels be wrong?

Dear Sheila, It is impossible to diagnose over the internet, so instead of commenting on your thyroid and hormone lab test values, I will refer you to this award winning site where you can print out the information and take it with you when you visit your endocrinologist. Here is the link> Thyroid Lab Values. This link will allow you to download and print important information about the thyroid lab values and the changes which have recently been made in interpreting this information. Good luck with your visit. Please peruse the site and stay informed about your condition.

Starting 3 1/2 years ago, I started getting terrible acne, gaining weight,and having PMS that seemed to last all month.My doctor ,at that time, sent me to a dermatologist and put me on antidepressants.My face gradually healed up, but the weight gain continued,steadily.Of course, antidepressants can also make you can weight.So, I've been on the treadmill now for about a year and a half.I'm stll gaining weight and I'm walking 12-15 miles per week.I'm sick of hearing it's my age(39).My thyroid has just recently been checked and they say the levels are still normal. My new doctor suggested a fitness trainer-which frustrates me to no end.I know how to eat right-I've been in good shape my whole life and this is really bringing me down. I feel like I'm not being taken seriously.I've also went off my antidepressants to see if that will enable me to loose some weight.Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Hello, I am aware there is little advice you can give me over the internet, but I was hoping you may be able to advise me whether or not it would be wise for me to see my doctor and be tested for a thyroid condition. I was diagnosed with coeliac disease in February this year and have since gone on a gluten free diet. For a couple of weeks, I did improve but although there is still no gluten in my diet I am now suffering fatigue/sleepiness, forgetfulness, anxiety/panic attacks, some sleeping problems, joint pains, rapid weight changes without any major shift in diet or exercise and a shift in appetite amongst other things. Thyroid conditions are very prominent in my family and as I read that auto-immune thyroid disease can be related. I wondered if maybe I should be tested. Many thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.

Dear Lori, You might want to visit Mary Shoman's award winning Thyroid site and copy important information and take with you when you visit your doctor next time. See my answer to Mrs. Rao's question above. There are new "normal" guidelines, and your doctor may not be aware of them yet. Lab tests in the normal range sometimes do not always reflect a sub clinical problem. Doing a basal body temperature test every morning for a few weeks is another way to evaluate your thyroid problems. In addition, you might want to have your doctor check you for other hormonal problems, such as testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone levels, along with the adrenal hormone DHEA. Good luck in your search for optimum health.

Dear Candi, Yes, I would highly recommend that you get further testing, including for thyroid. Make sure to tell your doctor all of the symptoms which you mentioned in your letter. Oft times we forget to tell the doctor the major symptoms, so please take a piece of paper or a notebook and record all of the symptoms on paper, the time they occur, and if they are related to any foods you eat or time of day, or activity level, or stress in your life. Then take this notebook with you when you visit your doctor. In addition, you may want to make sure that you are getting adequate nutrition since you have eliminated many foods from your diet. You might want to consider supplementing important vitamins and minerals, and even visiting a naturopathic doctor who can advise you of your nutrient deficiencies. Good luck to you.

I work out 1.5 hrs daily and 3 hrs on Sundays and only take one day off in between. Ive done this for years and have alternated my workouts so that plateauing doesn't occur. I haven't lost any weight. Thyroid problems have been in my family and I have had them tested time and again by many doctors, all coming back as normal levels. Can trained doctors be wrong? Should I try the thermometer test at home and if its reading are 97.5 and below bring these findings back to my doctor. I cannot understand why I cannot lose weight. Yes, I have all but one characteristic of hypothyroidism.

About a month now my throat has been hurting me. I went to the Dr., and they told me that they want to do an ultrasound of my neck. If I have a problem with my thyroid, will it show up on it? I have gained 20 pounds, and I don't feel good anymore.

Dear Natasha, It is not that medical doctors are wrong, but that they have a certain mindset and protocols which they have been using for years. Sometimes it is difficult to find a doctor who really listens to you and your problems. Please see my answer to Mrs. Rao above and click on the link to Mary Shomon's award winning site about thyroid and thyroid disease and problems. Print out whatever articles you can find about your particular situation and present them to your doctor the next time you visit him/her. You may want to see other doctors to get their opinions about your problem and find one who will listen to you and be open-minded about Mary Shomon's site. Good luck to you, and please keep us informed about your progress. There is also a physician referral page on her website. You may be able to find a recommended thyroid doctor in your area.

Dear Mila, The ultrasound test is a non-invasive test used to visualize the thyroid gland and other soft tissues of the body. It sounds as if your doctor is wise, and wants to see if there are any abnormalities in the shape and size of your thyroid gland. Rest assured that the ultrasound test, which uses sound waves, will be harmless to you and may be able to assist in diagnosis of your problem along with the needed blood tests to check for thyroid hormones and auto antibody status. Good luck in your diagnosis.

I noticed in one of the comments above you said bladderwrack is beneficial to hypothyroid conditions but could be harmful to autoimmune conditions. Could you elaborate on why this is harmful? Does this go for all foods or herbs that are good for or stimulate your thyroid in cases of autoimmune disease? I have only been to see one endocrinologist, and I cannot afford to go to another. When I went the first time around he said that my levels were normal, and I had no antibodies. There were however two nodules and some inflammation which looked to him like the beginning of Hashimotos. I do have a lot of the symptoms, and I try to avoid goitrogenic foods but I also try to eat foods that are good for your thyroid. For instance I've been eating a lot of avocados because they're pretty healthy and also because they supposedly stimulate the thyroid. Could this be detrimental to my condition? I know nothing about this autoimmune condition other than what it is, how it might occur, etc. because everyone who discusses it and everything that I have read has been vague. I'm not even sure where to go from here, because I can't afford to see a doctor. Any suggestions?

How is it that when I not pregnant my test results for my thyroid are normal but as soon as I get pregnant they come back abnormal. My doctor wants to do a recheck next month but this is the second pregnancy that I have had that my tests results have done this. When I am not pregnant no matter how hard I try I can not lose weight, but as soon as I am pregnant, I am so sick to my stomach and the sight of food makes me sick, and I can not eat. I have high blood pressure and am boarder line diabetic as well. I am always tired. The nurse at work is worried about my heart rate reaching up to 110 but some days it will be in the 60's. In the last two weeks, I have lost about 10 lbs. What I would like to know how this is possible and why it shows up while I am pregnant.

I have almost every symptom there is for hypothyroidism, except I am always extremely hot, and I had an hysterectomy, so no menstrual cramps. I have had two abnormal thyroid test in the past 5 years. My last test was in the low normal range, and the abnormal ones were 9.5 and 6.9. My last test was 2.3 or close to that. My doctor says that I am fine, but I don't feel good ever. Does it sound like I have a problem with my thyroid?

Dear Mike, It is good to see that you are doing your homework in regards to your thyroid problem. Thyroid problems can be complex and difficult to understand, however, I shall do my best to address your concerns. Bladder wrack is one of many herbs, along with other seaweeds such as dulse, nori, wakame, etc., which contain iodine. Iodine is an important mineral for proper functioning of the thyroid gland and is needed for the proper production of the thyroid hormones. When one has an autoimmune thyroid condition, iodine supplementation can sometimes make the condition worse instead of helping it. The reason this is so is that during the early stages of the autoimmune progression, the thyroid gland can fluctuate wildly from low thyroid to high thyroid conditions. Hashimoto's disease, also called Autoimmune Thyroiditis and Chronic Lymphocytic Thyroiditis, is a form of autoimmune disease where by the body attacks its own cells, and in this particular case, the thyroid gland cells, eventually render the thyroid unable to produce any hormones. Eating foods that stimulate the thyroid hormone production during the destructive stages of the disease could be making matters worse instead of better, as can eating goitrogenic foods which suppress the thyroid hormone production. So, what is a person to do? Here is a link to an award winning thyroid site hosted by Mary Shoman. She explains in simple detail the difference between Hashimoto's disease and hypothyroidism and has a myriad of information available to anyone who is interested in learning more about all aspects of the thyroid > The Difference Between Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's. This is a good jumping off point for you to explore in more depth all of the information which you are seeking to learn about the thyroid. I encourage you to continue to visit your endocrinologist on a regular basis to do follow-up testing on your thyroid. It is imperative that you work with your doctor and that he/she monitor your progress. You might want to copy information from Mary Shoman's website to take with you for your next visit. Because of the nature of your problems, it is important to continue to be monitored regularly. A product which you might want to read more about is called Orenda Immune. Good luck in your search for knowledge and healing. I sincerely hope that this information will be valuable to you.

Dear Amanda, The hormones are constantly in an intricate play of balance and imbalance in the body. All hormones, even though they come from different organs are interconnected and affect each other. These hormones are called the endocrine hormones which are produced by the endocrine glands, and include the thyroid gland, which produces the thyroid hormones, and the ovaries, which produce estrogen and progesterone or the female hormones. When you are pregnant, the female hormones begin to change and are in constant flux, preparing for the new baby. This fluctuation in turn affects the thyroid hormones, which rule the metabolic activity of the body, either speeding up or slowing down the different metabolic activities of the body. Therefore, you have an interplay going on between the thyroid gland and the ovaries during pregnancy, and now you can see why you feel the way you feel. I hope this helps you understand this natural process better. It is very important to be under the constant care and guidance of your doctor during this crucial time because of the problems which are occurring in regulating your endocrine system at this time.

Dear Heidi B, I can hear your frustration with knowing that you don't feel well, but having the doctor say that you are "normal" and that all of the tests are normal. You might want to visit Mary Shoman's award winning thyroid site, as I mentioned to several others above and read information pertaining to your situation, then take and print out with this information with you when you next visit your doctor's office. Hopefully, your doctor will be able to find out what is causing the symptoms which you mention and be able to assist you in your diagnosis process. Thank you for considering natural medicine and good luck getting a diagnosis and treatment program.