Let’s say you’re one of the six patients we met in our last blog post. Fatigue, weight gain, and brain fog are driving you mad, and now you’re frustrated, too, because the doctor said your test results are “normal.”

The problem? Even though the doctor suspected your thyroid was to blame, your insurance company only covered two basic thyroid tests (TSH and Total T4 & T3). And while the results of those tests made it seem like you were sitting pretty, you’ve still got the symptoms you came in for. As a result, there are thyroid disorders or conditions still lurking, undetected.

Thyroid Diseases and Conditions Your Doctor May Have Missed

Source: Pixabay, via Pexels

You’ve probably already heard of hyperthyroidism (when your thyroid produces too much thyroid hormone) and hypothyroidism (when your thyroid doesn’t produce normal amounts of thyroid hormones) but let’s get technical for a moment.

Your hypothalamus is tasked with sensing the levels of thyroid hormones in your body and releasing thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH). TRH stimulates the pituitary gland to produce thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which stimulates the thyroid gland to produce T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triodothyronine). A lot more T4 is produced than T3, and your body must convert that T4 to T3. When this process doesn’t happen, you can end up with Low T3 Syndrome or Low Thyroid, the most underdiagnosed thyroid disorder.

Low T3 Syndrome

T3 is one of the most powerful mediators of energy production, helping to determine your basal metabolic rate. Your “Total” T4 and T3 levels can be normal while your “Free” T4 & T3 – the active thyroid hormones responsible for proper thyroid function – may be running amuck. The result? Low T3 Syndrome, a condition which can directly (or indirectly) result in a slow metabolism, fatigue, and/or low energy levels (sound familiar?).

Hashimoto’s Disease

Sometimes the body’s immune system can turn against itself and attack its own tissues. Enter Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune disorder that can lead to hypothyroidism. Since the symptoms of Hashimoto’s may be similar to those for other medical conditions, and because the required test to diagnose is often skipped, the disease often goes undetected and untreated.

So, What Thyroid Tests Do You Need?

While your conventional doctor certainly has your health and wellness in mind, they don’t always have the means to test and address what’s going on beneath the surface. Visit a metabolism doctor and you’ll have a new world of clarity. Using conventional and advanced metabolic testing, metabolism doctors can uncover thyroid problems with indisputable results. A complete testing panel will include:

• TSH: Most likely already used by your doctor, this is the most basic test evaluating thyroid problems and the need for thyroid medications.
• Total T4 and total T3: Also probably performed by your previous doctor, both measure the total amount of thyroid hormones that come from the thyroid itself, with T3 more active than T4.
• Free T4 and Free T3: In their free form, these thyroid hormones become active and are responsible for proper thyroid function.
• Reverse T3: When elevated (as in times of high cortisol), this “anti-thyroid” deactivates the active thyroid hormones.
• T3 Uptake:A measure of how the sex hormones are affecting thyroid function.
• Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPO) and Thyroglobulin Antibodies: Two tests that detect autoimmune disorders like Hashimoto’s disease.
• Outside Factors that can indirectly affect thyroid function:
  • Sex hormone levels (estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone)
  • Adrenal testing (4 cortisol tests, 1 DHEA test)
  • Stool/GI testing (lysozyme for inflammation, and chymotrypsin for digestive enzyme levels, yeast, fungus, and mold)
  • Bacterial infections, good bacteria levels, and parasites
  • Leaky gut syndrome (lactulose/mannitol test)

So, where might you find a metabolism doctor who runs such thorough thyroid testing? At Twin Cities Metabolism! We’re here to get to the bottom of even the most mysterious and frustrating health concerns. Schedule a free consultation, and stay tuned for our next blog to learn more about how those “Outside Factors” may be indirectly affecting your thyroid function.