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How do I know if I have Wilson’s Temperature Syndrome?

The steps of diagnosis are essentially,

  1. Does the patient’s story sound typical of Wilson’s Temperature Syndrome?
  2. Is there any other great explanation for the patient’s complaints?
  3. Is there any reason the patient shouldn’t try the treatment for Wilson’s Temperature Syndrome?
  4. Try the T3 therapy protocol for Wilson’s Temperature Syndrome and see how well it works.

Wilson’s Temperature Syndrome is largely a diagnosis of exclusion and is best identified with a therapeutic trial. What does that mean? It means that there are several identifiable medical conditions that can cause symptoms similar to Wilson’s Temperature Syndrome that can be easily ruled out or excluded by a qualified medical professional through tests. A “therapeutic trial” is a medical phrase that means “trying a treatment on a patient to see how well it works.” Therapeutic trials are especially helpful in establishing the diagnosis of conditions that are not easily identified with tests. The thinking is that if a patient responds to the treatment, there’s a good chance s/he has the condition. Sometimes doctors need to try treatments for different problems to see what works. Doctors recognize and are comfortable with these terms, and the treatment of Wilson’s Temperature Syndrome is “standard of care” medicine.

About the Author:

Denis Wilson, MD described Wilson 's Temperature Syndrome in 1988 after observing people with symptoms of low thyroid and low body temperature, yet who had normal blood tests. He found that by normalizing their temperatures with T3 (without T4) their symptoms often remained improved even after the treatment was discontinued. He was the first doctor to use sustained-release T3.

21 Comments

  1. Susan Bailey August 7, 2013 at 1:48 pm - Reply

    I live in Canada, Victoria BC is there any doctors able to help me get started on this program I have been begging the medical community for 18 years now

    • Dr. Denis Wilson August 9, 2013 at 12:03 pm - Reply

      Yes, check the doctor list under the “Patients” tab on the web site.

    • Dr. Denis Wilson August 9, 2013 at 12:11 pm - Reply

      Yes, there are. You can check the website for a list of doctors.

  2. Judy Pittman February 26, 2014 at 2:45 pm - Reply

    My temperature is always in the 96s, and I do have hypothyroidism. My first tsh was 108.4. Can one be hypo and have Wilson’s Temperature Syndrome?

    • Dr. Denis Wilson March 4, 2014 at 3:20 pm - Reply

      Certainly Judy, people with hypothyroidism that have WTS will often benefit from being weaned off their T4-containing medicine and treated with T3-only therapy. I can discuss your case with your doctor for free at 800 420 5801.

  3. Gerri June 20, 2014 at 12:28 am - Reply

    Is your protocol effective for Hashimoto’s? Or, would I need to remain on T3 for life? So excited to have found your info. Thank you for all you’ve done to help us.

    • Dr. Denis Wilson June 22, 2014 at 3:15 pm - Reply

      When caught early, some cases of Hashimoto’s are reversible.

  4. Dee Gibbs July 5, 2014 at 9:47 am - Reply

    I have discovered through no help from my MD I am reverse t3 dominent. Is WTS an road I can go down? Certain I will heve to tell my Dr. what to do. At least she will. Taking 0.5 gr armor currently. Tenp runs in 96’s. I’ve felt morbid ever since I’ve had thyroid issue diagnosed 2009. If so I will ask my doc to call you. Found you from the thyroid summit. Excited.

    • Dr. Denis Wilson July 9, 2014 at 12:12 pm - Reply

      The WTS road is all about RT3 dominance, that’s definitely what we’re here for. I’ll look forward to speaking with your doctor. Good luck!

  5. Michelle October 26, 2014 at 12:53 am - Reply

    Are there any doctors within the Kaiser system in San Jose/Silicon Valley working with this?

  6. Ron April 1, 2015 at 4:41 pm - Reply

    My question is On March 10th I experienced symptoms of numbness from knees down thru feet and also
    could not speak in full phrases for about 2 1/2 hours. I had been under some pretty intense stress for about
    3 weeks before the episode. About 2 weeks after getting out of the Hospital on March 13th My hands and
    feet have been getting extremely cold and turning white from the knuckle joint outward about two to three times a day. My primary Dr nor my Cardiologist have any idea’s. Before I had been told I have no Thyroid issues.
    This condition is very difficult and frustrating to cope with. Diagnosed with AFIB Oct 2009. Any help would
    be greatly appreciated. As part of my job at work includes using a keyboard of a computer at work and without
    feeling in my extremities that is difficult. Thank You in advance. Ron

    • Dr. Denis Wilson April 5, 2015 at 5:59 am - Reply

      Hi Ron :) The difficulty speaking in full phrases definitely sounds like you weren’t getting enough blood to the brain for some reason. I’ve never heard of low body temperatures contributing to decreased blood flow in the brain…however, come to think of it, i can see how that might be possible. I have seen that Raynaud’s syndrome can be precipitated by low body temperatures (which can come on under stress). Raynaud’s is when the circulation to extremities is reduced under cold circumstances. This usually affects the hands and the feet, since those are furthest from the core and most expendable. Your brain is the least expendable asset you have and your body would do all to protect it. Normally the brain is not affected in Raynaud’s. However, it has been very cold lately and heads can get cold. If your problems occurred on a day when your head was very cold then maybe there was a connection there. I searched google scholar for any reports of Raynaud’s of the brain and found this: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1526-4610.1984.hed2405256.x/abstract. At any rate, having a normal temperature may improve your fingers on a keyboard.

  7. Analucia May 24, 2015 at 3:26 pm - Reply

    Hello Dr. and thank you for this website. I’ve a normal TSH 1.5 , my temperature 97.7 and I usually have a normal to low weight. Could this be WTS?

    • Dr. Denis Wilson May 25, 2015 at 7:11 pm - Reply

      Yes, you may have WTS.

  8. Meiliani August 2, 2015 at 8:29 pm - Reply

    Hi Dr, I’m Meiliani from Jakarta. I’ve read that our body temperatures correlate to our basal metabolism (BMR) and body weight but never fully understand the correlation. Is it possible to be thin (like in the BMI of 18) and to have temperature in 98.7 range? How can people in Japan be so thin yet they live longer healthy life?
    I have gained 11 pounds but my temperature is still low and I really don’t want to eat more because I’m becoming fat

    • Dr. Denis Wilson August 20, 2015 at 8:50 am - Reply

      Having temperatures in the 98.7 range could help people remain thin and live healthy lives. Low temperatures can contribute to weight gain.

  9. Susan January 12, 2016 at 4:31 am - Reply

    Hi Dr. Wilson. I had a Total Thyroidectomy after a diagnosis of Thyroid Cancer. Went on Levo immediately after surgery- had never been on it prior to the surgery. Biopsy of the removed thyroid showed Hashimoto’s Disease- but I was never treated for it. Fast forward two year, on Levo the entire time- every six months raising it to where I am now at 137.5. Had a near nervous breakdown with my Endo in December because of the MANY side effects, and change of life I have experienced since the TT. Weight gain (35 pounds), fatigue AND insomnia, dry skin, hives, memory loss, no concentration (can’t even finish sentences) no mental clarity. Retain so much water I can’t wear my rings, all socks leave deep ridges in my legs. Severe muscle cramping, especially in the legs at night. Doc finally started me on T3- 5 mcg twice daily. I felt differently within 30 minutes of the first dose. But within two weeks, I feel I tapered, and now feel like I am falling back to the way I felt on the Levo alone. I have never had a body temp higher than 97- I have been taking my temp since finding your site two days ago, and my average is 96.7.
    My question: Since I have no thyroid, will this therapy work for me? The doctors are so conservative post cancer diagnosis…can I reduce my Levo and increase T3? Doctors want my TSH to remain suppressed, which is why I have been told the Levo is so important. All I know is I feel horrible, and to the point where I would rather have my thyroid cancer back rather than live like the zombie I feel like now.

    • Dr. Denis Wilson January 17, 2016 at 4:12 pm - Reply

      Hi Susan, absolutely, many people with thyroidectomies fare beautifully on T3 therapy. In fact, T3 therapy is often easier to administer in thyroidectomy patients because the doctor has complete control of the patients’ thyroid hormones. T3 is more suppressive than Levo. So if the doctors want the TSH suppress, you can’t do that any better than with T3. Plus, T3 therapy is not usually a life long proposition. Usually T3 therapy is only for a matter of months. Best :)

  10. Greg April 12, 2016 at 9:46 am - Reply

    Dr. Wilson,

    I’m 40, thin, body temps range between 95.6 and 96 with normal blood work, chronic fatigue, and hair loss. I can’t find a doctor in the state of Georgia that treats Wilson’s Syndrome. Do you recommend that I call up random endocrinologists, or could you help me out?

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