Low Thyroid Function - (Hypothyroidism)

This is my first blog and one I am compelled to write in the hope that I can promote awareness about the signs of low thyroid function (hypothyroidism). I am seeing people in my clinic who present to me complaining of feeling tired. They complain of putting on weight and having great difficulty losing weight despite reduced food intake and adequate exercise. These people are often suffering from depression, sensitive to the cold, with cold hands and feet (wear bed socks to bed) have dry and scaly skin and muscle or joint pain and a number of other symptoms, including often yellow or even bright orange palms. Some people have sought help from their GP and had a thyroid blood test for Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) only to be told by their GP that their thyroid is normal. What I find is that this testing is not complete or accurate and it fails to diagnose people who are in fact suffering from low thyroid or hypothyroidism. I find that when I get people checked with full thyroid blood tests of T4 free, T3 free, TSH and RT3 including antibodies, a different picture emerges. Further testing reveals that these people all present with low levels of thyroid antibodies such as Antithyroglobulin Antibody and Antimicrosomal Antibodies or Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies. The levels of these antibodies fall under the threshold that is recognized medically but my concern is that any level of antibodies is detrimental to the health of the thyroid because this is an autoimmune situation where self is attacking thyroid tissue. I recommend that clients do a basal metabolic temperature test which measures their resting temperature as this is a more accurate measure of thyroid function. An analysis of these temperature readings reveals much about the health of the thyroid and adrenal glands and information gained from blood tests and antibody readings allows effective natural treatments which promote optimal thyroid and adrenal function, thereby promoting weight loss and increased health and wellbeing.

New Blog

Hello everyone,

My name is Lynne Flood, and I am a registered naturopath, based in Waitakere City in Auckland, New Zealand.

I will be writing regularly on this blog, about news and other topics that may be helpful for you to read.

Please feel free to leave comments or ask questions.

Thank you,

Lynne.