There is so much medical information coming out these days that no doctor can keep up with everything. That’s why many doctors aren’t aware of the latest thyroid information and recommendations coming out, even though some of it is not that new.
For example, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is the hormone that stimulates the thyroid gland to make more thyroid hormones (T4 and T3). When the pituitary gland feels that the body has enough thyroid hormones then the TSH levels will decrease so that less T4 and T3 are made. By the same token, when the pituitary gland feels that the body isn’t getting enough thyroid hormones then the TSH levels will increase so that more T4 and T3 are made.
Sometimes, when the TSH level goes up, the thyroid gland doesn’t respond as it should and thyroid hormones don’t increase as much as they should. This is hypothyroidism. Most doctors have been taught that the normal range for TSH is .4-4.5 mIU/L. However, there’s a book called ‘Endocrine Secrets’ (6th Edition, Elsevier Mosyby, 2009) that is used in hospitals to teach new endocinology specialists. This book lists the goal of treating hypothyroidism to be keeping the TSH between .5 and 2.0 mIU/L. You can easily see that a TSH that would be considered normal by an old school physician (like 4.0) can be considered hypothyroid by the current standards.
Other studies have shown that these nuances can be a very big deal. For example, one study showed that if the TSH is higher than 4.0 (considered normal by most doctors) there is an increased risk of cancer and obesity! Another study showed that people with lower T4 levels have an increased chance of death (Maldonado LS; 1982). Thus, you can die earlier just from having lower thyroid hormones.
All this just goes to show that even mainstream medicine is recognizing that you might benefit from thyroid treatment even if most doctors would consider your thyroid blood tests to be in the normal range. Of course, at WilsonsSyndrome.com we believe that you might benefit from thyroid treatment if you’re not feeling well and you have oral temperatures that average less than 98.6 F.
I sure hope this information gets in every medical journal and publication to doctors — I have suffered for 30 years and it’s time someone started paying attention! Doctors need to start thinking outside the box, using their own reasoning to help patients.
I have hashimottos and am taking synthroid and nature throid and have high blood pressure . Could I double up on the nature throid and still do well My doctor does not agree and I am some how convinced that 120 of nature throid would be better than 100 synthroid and 60 nature throid . any ideas? I am free of all gluten prcess foods sugars (exceot some fruit ) and milk products and absolutely grain free.I live on organic greens and organic grassfed animal products. I use steva for sweetening and as little as is possible.