Chances are, you may be one of the thousands of people walking around with undiagnosed hypothyroidism, and you don’t even know it. Why? Three major reasons:
- Since signs and symptoms may occur gradually over the years, the insidious progression may mistakenly be attributed to “normal” aging.
- The gradual progression and insidious nature of onset, as well as the myriad of possible symptoms, makes hypothyroidism difficult for doctors to diagnose.
- Standard laboratory tests used to diagnose hypothyroidism, as well as laboratory reference ranges, are inadequate and inaccurate.
Can any of you relate to the following story?
I thought I was doing myself a favor by having an annual physical. Oftentimes my thyroid would be “checked” – always “within normal limits.” (Look for more information on that fallacy in tomorrow’s article.)
I didn’t pay attention to which tests were done. I just saw the range and how my numbers fell within the range. Nevermind the symptoms I had been collecting over time, all just part of getting older, right?
It wasn’t until I had the complete hormone panel (www.canaryclub.org) and I took my results to Dr. Whitney Gabhart, N.D. (www.whitneygabhartnd.com) did I realize I had a problem…not only with my thyroid, but also my adrenals.
In a frenzy, I started reading everything I could get my hands on regarding the adrenals and the thyroid. I took a pen and pad of paper and started listing my insidious signs and symptoms of “normal” aging. Do you experience any of these?
- Elevated Cholesterol
- Dry eyes
- Insomnia
- Recent onset of sleep apnea
- Skin/arm rashes
- Constipation
- Dry hair
- Dry skin
- Nail deformities
- Fatigue
- Low libido
- Vaginal dryness
- Weight gain
- Inability to lose weight despite proper diet and exercise
- Hair loss/thinning – head and pubic
- Toenail fungus
- Sensitivity to alcohol/caffeine
- Sweet cravings/salt cravings
- Hypoglycemia
- Sensitivity to cold
- Inability to remember things
Additional symptoms listed in the literature include:
Lethargy, erectile dysfunction, low sperm count, low testosterone, candida (yeast infections), adult acne, eczema, premature aging, miscarriage, infertility, PMS, repeated infections, headaches/migraines, high blood pressure, birth defects, irregular menses, excessive menstrual bleeding, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, fibroid tumors, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, cancer, nervousness, anxiety, panic attacks, heart attack/stroke, intolerance to heat/cold, nutritional imbalances, muscle weakness, low immune function, arthritis/gout, arthralgia (pain in a joint), low blood pressure, depression, osteoporosis, heart palpitations, menstrual disturbances, cystic breasts, swelling of the eyes/face, hyperinsulinemia, and chronic fatigue syndrome.
See why it is so difficult to diagnose?
If you experience symptoms, I strongly encourage you to become your own health care advocate. Some excellent thyroid books on the market include:
1) Richard Shames, M.D. and Karilee Shames, Ph.D., R.N., Thyroid Power and Feeling Fat, Fuzzy, or Frazzled?
2) Mark Starr, M.D., Hypothyroidism Type 2
3) Janie A. Bowthorpe, M.Ed., Stop the Thyroid Madness, A Patient Revolution Against Decades of Inferior Thyroid Treatment
Based on Dr. Mercola’s recommendation, I bet I soon add to my list Mary Shomon’s newly released book: The Menopause Thyroid Solution: Overcome Menopause by Solving Your Hidden Thyroid Problems.
The following lab tests, along with my symptoms, confirmed hypothyroidism: TSH, Free T3, Free T4, and TPO (thyroid peroxidase antibodies – a test for autoimmune thyroiditis).
Join me tomorrow when I discuss laboratory testing and the reasons behind the inaccuracies associated with lab results.
