Are you feeling "off"?
Have you had your thyroid checked…? Keep reading….
First of all, what is the thyroid?
Quick terms: Butterfly shaped gland in control of body’s metabolism (in partnership with cortisol) + makes hormones that influence the speed of everything metabolic in the body + makes hormones that influence the action of other hormones in the body + affects your cellular energy utilization (weight, body temperature, skin, cholesterol, GI function, immune function, heart function, PMS, sex drive, fertility, and mood)
Thyroid dysfunction is on the uprise…. and I highly recommend looking into it if you are experiencing a combination of these symptoms:
Things are running too slowly
Often feel cold
Brain fog
Gain weight (or difficult to lose)
Increased LDL cholesterol
Fatigue, Malaise
Thinning eyebrows (esp. the outer third)
Low energy
Ongoing constipation, poor GI motility
Dry skin
Rough PMS or menopause symptoms
Infertility
Low blood pressure and/or pulse
Hair loss on head
Depression/Anxiety
When I ask if your thyroid has been tested I am asking about a COMPLETE PANEL, which with some doctors may not actually understand why… so let me tell you WHAT it is and WHY you need it.
WHAT: (TSH) test, Free T4, Free T3, Reverse T3, and if you are concerned with an autoimmune dynamic I recommend Anti-TPO and Anti-Tg antibodies
Why: The TSH is what most doctors are testing. However, in simple terms, the TSH is what the brain is telling they thyroid to do… not what the thyroid is ACTUALLY doing. That is why it is important to see the other numbers…
Note: Reference ranges for lab work include 95% of the population… so you could even get these tested, fall in reference range, and then your doctor tells you “everything is fine.” But if you feel sluggish in any way with metabolism, energy, mood, digestion, etc… LISTEN TO YOUR BODY…. symptoms are a gift trying to tell you something.
Currently, the medical field is overworked + doctors are extremely busy with many patients so they do not have time to continue to learn what is going on in the field of medicine in the last 5, 10, and even 15 years... So you have to take control of your own health and wellness. You know your body and how it should be feeling. And because doctors are unable to have the time to further their research… thyroid disorders are becoming extremely under diagnosed, which can be causing a downstream of dysfunction in your body.
Bottom line: Find a doctor who treats you as a PERSON, not just your lab values
This is a subject I am clearly very passionate about… My intention is not to bash the medical field, but to educate you on how to live a life you love. I have had to “fight” for my own health and thyroid dysfunction. Through functional medicine I have been getting it back on track. My energy, mood, digestion, and more has been improved through the functional medicine principles. If you are anyone you know is experiencing these types of symptoms, please feel free to reach out because I can educate and empower you on your own unique body and the possibilities of feeling optimal - like “you” again.