Hashimotos Thyroiditis the Cause of Your Thyroid Problems?

By Dr. Greg Fors

• Suffering from hypothyroidism symptoms, fatigue, pain, and weight gain?
• A majority of hypothyroidism today is caused by Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
• There is no conventional treatment for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
• Therefore, most patients are not adequately tested for Hashimoto’s
• Hashimoto’s can respond to a Personalized Lifestyle Medicine approach

Meet Sandy:

Sitting across from Sandy I could tell that she was confused and frustrated. She was only 42 years old but was already on four different medications plus her levothyroxine for her primary complaints of chronic fatigue, pain, and depression. She was also contending with other symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia, and poor memory. Looking over her history of complaints and previous lab tests I realized that something had been missed.

Inadequate Thyroid Testing:

Reviewing her previous outside lab work I explained that she never had comprehensive thyroid testing, Free T4, Free T3, Reverse T3 and especially her thyroid antibodies. I went on to complete her laboratory testing and found that she had poor conversion of T4 to Free T3 and elevated anti-TPO antibodies establishing she had Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

I explained this to Sandy, "When you were first diagnosed with hypothyroidism five years ago no one ran a thyroid antibody test. If they had they would have found that your condition was caused by an autoimmune disorder, your immune system was killing off your thyroid." Sandy was upset and angry, "Why didn't they run these tests?"

Not Addressing The Problem:

I told Sandy," The tragedy is if you have hypothyroidism, diagnosed or undiagnosed, there is around a 70% chance that it is being caused by autoimmune Hashimoto's thyroiditis. This is one of the most common autoimmune disorders today! Conventionally there is no way for them to treat this disorder, so generally they do not test for it.

They just wait and watch as your thyroid dies and then increase the amount of your T4 medication Synthroid or Levothyroxine, as your T4 production decreases. However, many times with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis an individual does not adequately convert T4 into the bioactive T3, as in your case. Leading to a continuation of your hypothyroid symptoms.”

How To Fix the Problem

Sandy look concerned, "Is there no way then to fix this problem?" Happily, I explained, "Sure there is, we just have to address the underlying causes of the autoimmune disorder helping your immune system become less angry, strangely enough that starts with healing your gut". I went on to explain, "70% of your immune system lies in your G.I. lining and if you have leaky gut this can lead to activation to your immune system and an autoimmune disorder. Leaky gut is also connected to food allergies and activation of your immune system, and the primary culprit in Hashimoto's disease is gluten."

What Causes Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis:

It is the most common thyroid disease in the country today. As an autoimmune disorder, it is triggered when antibodies from your immune system attack your thyroid. This can decrease the thyroids output of thyroid hormone (a condition called hypothyroidism). Symptoms include weight gain, fatigue, constipation, dry hair, depression, joint and muscle pain, infertility, and often increased cholesterol. Research finds this to be eight times more common in women than in men.

The underlying cause of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis is the production of antibodies by your immune system to specific antigens such as a food proteins, bacteria, or chronic virus that triggers this autoimmune reaction in your thyroid. Recent research is shown that the common Epstein-Barr virus many times infects the thyroid, leading to an autoimmune reaction against the thyroid tissue.^[1] Another example, sensitivity to the food protein gluten is a quite common cause of Hashimoto's autoimmune reaction. People can also develop an immune response that affects the thyroid and other tissues from environmental chemicals and heavy metals.

Proper laboratory testing by a knowledgeable doctor is the only way to know what is causing your hypothyroidism and how to heal it. Running the proper thyroid antibody tests are vital to diagnosing Hashimoto’s and treating this autoimmune condition.

Sandy Finds Healing:

Utilizing a natural Personalized Lifestyle Medicine approach to Sandy's Hashimoto's thyroiditis we were able to restore her health. By changing her diet, nutrient levels, eliminating toxins, correcting her leaky gut, and removing food allergies she was able to overcome her chronic inflammation, healing her pain and improving her mood and memory, unlocking the full potential of her life!

You want to know how you can transform your life? Call 763-862-7100 for your FREE Consultation today.

[1] Dittfeld A, Gwizdek K, Michalski M, Wojnicz R. A possible link between the Epstein-Barr virus infection and autoimmune thyroid disorders. Cent Eur J Immunol. 2016;41(3):297-301. doi:10.5114/ceji.2016.63130