What affects thyroid health?
Are you ready to drink water out of a fire hose? That’s what it can feel like when you are learning about thyroid health.
Is it possible to have a thyroid problem and have nothing wrong with your thyroid at the same time?
It’s a concept that I see more often than not. I have no shortage of patients who come to me with all the signs and symptoms of a thyroid problem, but “My doctor says my thyroid is fine.” This is why there has been such a monumental movement of patients leaving their endocrinologists and primary care doctors to find answers elsewhere.
The hope is that patients can find credible, actionable information that leads to solving problems. Many of these people get lost online trying to piece together the information on their own. I hope this post helps to contribute to a greater understanding.
I have also previously written a post on the Hypothyroid Mom website, one of the biggest websites in the world helping people find answers for their thyroid-related health challenges. It outlines some of the most common reasons blood work can be deceiving and make you think your thyroid function is fine when it is not.
Whether or not you are taking thyroid medication, not sure if you need to take medication, had thyroid cancer, had your thyroid removed, or have the symptoms of a thyroid problem but are told you’re normal, it is very important for you to know that there are options for you to feel and function better.
This post is the first of a four-part series on the mysteries of the thyroid.
Why is your thyroid hormone so important?
When the human body’s major systems work together for the common purpose of living life to the fullest, the miracle of life is most evident. When those systems are not working together, we know it. It results in life not being so enjoyable, and it can even be a burden.
The systems of the body are made up of organs, the organs are made up of tissues, and the tissues are made up of cells. All together, we are each made up of roughly 100 trillion cells. Those cells have certain requirements that must be met so they can express health. Their ability to do so affects every cell around them because the body has multiple amazing communication systems. Sick cells result in sick tissues, which result in sick organs, then sick systems, and thus, sick people.
Think of a cell as a busy office with workers, machines, computers, and printers all working together to create a product. That office requires an energy supply (lights, Internet, cellphone service, etc.) and a means to turn that energy into production. Our cells each have energy factories called mitochondria. Think of the mitochondria as an energy source for all the machines in the office to plug into, providing all these services. Without that energy source, nothing can work in the office. If nothing works in the cell, there is no life. It’s that important. Free T3 hormone is what turns on the energy engine of the cell, the mitochondria.
Why would your doctor say your thyroid is fine?
The reason your doctor says your thyroid is fine is most likely due to the fact that your TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) value is normal and perhaps that your T4 (thyroxine ) is normal.
TSH is produced by your pituitary gland (just under your brain), the master gland that regulates the function of all of your hormone producing glands. When this value is too high, you are diagnosed with hypothyroid, and if it’s too low, you are diagnosed with hyperthyroid.
If TSH is normal, most doctors stop there because they see no reason to provide medical treatment. Medical treatment for hypothyroidism is thyroid hormone replacement therapy (Synthroid, Armour, etc.), and there is little else in a doctor’s toolbox to address this problem.
T4 is the main hormone produced by the thyroid gland itself, under the direction of TSH from the pituitary gland. When these numbers are acceptable, you, according to the medical definition, have normal thyroid (euthyroid) function.
In my next post, we will look beyond the medical definition of the condition hypothyroid and discuss how things can still go wrong and cause hypothyroid symptoms.
To Be Continued…
Thanks for reading!
Click Here for part II
Click Here for part III
Click Here for part IV
Please share your experiences and thoughts about the complexity of thyroid health!
HI Dr. G, Very informative post but I didn’t understand why too much TSH can cause hypothyroidism. Can you explain that further?
Sure Rebecca i’d be happy to explain. It can be confusing for most of us. TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) is not the hormone produced by Thyroid gland. It is the hormone (produced by another gland called the pituitary gland) that tells the thyroid to “get to work” and produce thyroid hormone also known as T4 (thyroxine). If the thyroid, because of a problem with its function, cannot produce T4, then the pituitary tries harder to get the thyroid to “get to work” and make T4 by releasing more TSH. So the term hypothyroid means the thyroid gland is making too little T4, this results in excessive TSH production in an effort to get the thyroid to make T4. If you are given T4 in a pill form, or if the thyroid is somehow turned back on and is able to make T4, the pituitary gland will sense that the T4 is present and thus turn down the “volume” on the TSH and it will go back down. This is called primary hypothyroidism.
Is it common for patients with Thyroid conditions to have high liver enzymes?
Thank you for your questions. Liver function plays a pivotal role in the conversion from T4 to T3. Elevated liver enzymes will certainly alter thyroid hormone physiology. At the same time, liver function itself, along with every other organ in the body, is dependent on healthy thyroid activity. To answer your question, thyroid function can be caused by an unhealthy liver, and an unhealthy thyroid can cause the liver to function poorly. Problems can occur in both directions. Its up to the doctor to figure out the mechanism and see if health can be restored.
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Thanks for finally talking about >Your Place for Answers – The Thyroid: Beyond the Immune System, part I <Liked it!
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i started taking synthroid years ago after my first child was born. all I’ve ever done up to this point is get my blood checked for t3 and t4. i am on anti-depressants (for several years) still struggle with depression and anxiety. also have ptsd which causes a lot of
stress and bad anxiety. i wonder if i may have adrenal issues. i have periods of health but frequently also tired, no energy etc.
should i see an endocrinologist ??? don’t know what to do. thank you carmen d.
Hi Carmen. I can sense your frustration, I’d be happy to consult with you by phone to help you get a handle on where to start. If you have medical questions about your thyroid medication or numbers, you should of course have a physician who can answer your questions and teach you what you need to know. Our number is 6466617447. Gioia (Joya) my assistant can arrange for a free 15 minute consult just to get an idea of where you are at and inform you about what natural approaches are available. If that resonates with you I can make recommendations for moving forward.
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