Why Your Thyroid Medications May Not Be The Only Answer To Fixing Your Thyroid

Have you been diagnosed with hypothyroid (under-functioning thyroid)? Are you currently taking medications that are not completely eradicating your symptoms? Do you still suffer from exhaustion, constipation, continued hair loss, depression, or infertility with no relief in sight?

I am NOT advocating discontinuing your thyroid medications. That is for you and your doctor to decide. But here are some important things to consider:

The most popular thyroid medications are a T4 derivative

That may be helpful IF your T4 is low. However, there are many reasons why you might be suffering from hypothyroid symptoms. The endocrine cascade of hormones starts in the hypothalamus (which is located in the brain) that releases TRH (thyroid releasing hormone). That, in turn, stimulates the pituitary to release TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone), stimulating your thyroid gland to combine with substances such as iodine and selenium to create T3 and T4.

Regular T3 and T4 must then travel to the liver.

In the liver, regular T4 is converted to Free T4 that converts to the active thyroid hormone called free T3. Free T3 then travels to your thyroid receptors and must be able to enter the cell unimpeded. If there is inflammation present on the cellular membrane Free T3 can be blocked from entering the thyroid receptors properly.

In conclusion, if your thyroid symptoms still continue in spite of medication, your problem might NOT stem from low T4. As you can see, there are so many places along the endocrine pathway that can suffer dysfunction.

If your thyroid symptoms persist, do not despair! Searching for the “root cause” of the problem is a very important key to healing, and for each person, it is a different combination of factors. In my talk on July 28^th, I will be discussing all the things that might be blocking your body’s ability to heal. Go to our Events page for details.