Thyroid Problems (why do I still have sx when my lab tests are normal?

In 2010 a very ground-breaking book was written by DR. Datis Karazian, one of the world’s foremost authorities and researchers on thyroid metabolism and disorders. Thyroidbook.com

In this book of the same title doctor Karazian very methodically explains the physiology and interaction of the thyroid gland and it’s influence on the rest of the endocrine system and how this can affect overall health and function. He organizes thyroid metabolism problems into 7 main categories This article is the first in a series of articles that will help the chronic thyroid patient understand why they continue to have thyroid symptoms despite medical care and what can be done to correct it.

#1 secret to overcoming chronic thyroid symptoms:

Is understanding that laboratory  ranges are too Broad! As a result is that they miss find body dysfunction every day. Laboratory ranges are based on the averages of all the sick people who went to medical clinics last year, the ranges differ one lab to another and differ state to state. Does it make sense to use the date of sick people to set the standard for what health should be? No. A better range for blood testing is the functional range, is a national standard that is set by a regulatory committee based on the data of healthy people with no symptoms. let’s look at some scenarios that are common in the patients that I see highlighting the differences in the laboratory vs functional ranges.

 Most likely, your M.D. has only ordered one thyroid test, which is TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone).  If you are lucky, maybe he has have ordered a couple more.  From your M.D.’s perspective, if your TSH level is within that very wide lab range of .35 to 5.0, you’re normal, there’s nothing wrong with you!  BUT—and this is a HUGE “BUT”—the OPTIMAL LEVEL or “functional level” for TSH is 1.8 to 3.0.  So you could still be “normal” in the medical doctor’s eyes but abnormal in the functional or optimal range.  This is huge! And one of the reasons you have been so frustrated with your M.D. based care.

 It’s only when that range is above 5.0 that the medical doctor will put you on a thyroid hormone such as Synthroid or the generic, levothyroxine. BUT, as I mentioned, in a medical doctor’s eyes, if your thyroid TSH is within .35 to 5.0, YOU ARE NORMAL!  There is NOTHING wrong with you.  “It’s ALL in your head!”  “You don’t need medication, because you don’t have a thyroid problem!”  Even though you still may have all the thyroid symptoms: extreme fatigue, hair falling out, etc., you’re NORMAL!  Well…you and I both know that you are not “normal”. If you were, you would not be suffering from symptoms!  You could be within the “normal” TSH range of .35 to 5.0 but still be outside the optimal range of 1.8 to 3.0.  Your TSH level could be at 4.2, and that’s why you’re having the problem; it’s outside the “optimal” or “functional” range.  The same is true for any other of the thyroid blood tests such as Total Thyroxine (TT4), Free Thyroxine Index (FTI), Free Thyroxine (FT4), Free Triodothyroxine (FT3) and the three or four other tests that need to be run on your thyroid to get to the EXACT cause of your problem. 

If you are sick and tired of BEING sick and tired I would recommend you order doctor Karazian’s book..if you are close to our Kirkland WA office…call our office  at 425-821-1101 for a Free Consultation and Report of Findings.  Just ask for our “2 Free Visit Internet Special!”

DR. Michael Taggart D.C.

Applied Kinesiologist, Functional Endocrinologist, Functional Neurologist in training