More Metabolism Makeover-Thyroid

A bit more about the class I attended on Saturday. She (Janice Novak) spent some time talking about our thyroid and how it can affect our metabolism.

Symptoms of Hypothyroidism (low thyroid function)

• chronic fatigue
• cold hands and feet
• thinning hair
• rising cholesterol levels
• memory problems
• brittle fingernails
• inability to focus
• prone to acne or eczema
• missing 1/3 of eyebrows
• insomnia
• fibromyalgia
• joint aches and pains
• anxiety/panic
• unexplained weight gain
• heart palpitations
• mentally sluggish
• reduced sex drive

She talked about how most doctors only test for TSH levels but that only testing the TSH is not enough to properly diagnose a thyroid problem. You also need to make sure your doctor tests your Free T4 and Free T3 levels. If those are abnormal you also need to be tested for antimicrosomal antibodies and anti-TPO antibodies.

Perimenopausal women can have what is called a "conversion problem" in which their body cannot easily convert T4 inot T3 and the only way to diagnose this problem is to test T4 and T3.

If someone has the conversion problem, the common Thryoid replacement medication Synthroid will not work. If you have a conversion problem you need to be prescribed Thyrolarm Armour Thyroid, or Cytomel in combination with Synthroid.

So, the bottom line is to talk to your doctor about what testing you want done, don't assume that he or she will automatically run the correct tests.

Personally I have 7 of the 17 symptoms listed above. My doctor always seems to dismiss my symptoms as "part of getting older" or "the unfortunate side effect of being a women." I'm taking my list with me the next time I go to the doctor and I'm not leaving until all these tests have been ordered!