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Need book recommendation
I have Hashimoto's thyroiditis and was wondering if anyone knows of any good books about the condition. From reading posts it seems like diet and other things can affect thyroid. Still searching for a doctor who will address my symptoms despite my "normal" values. Until then I want/need to do what I can to feel better. Any book recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
This is just my opinion, but I think I would rather spend the time looking for a good thyroid doctor. A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels. You can get some good insight into clinical treatment from this letter written by a good thyroid doctor for patients that he sometimes consults with after initial tests and evaluation. The letter is then sent to the participating doctor of the patient to help guide treatment. In the letter, please note the statement, "the ultimate criterion for dose adjustment must always be the clinical response of the patient."
http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf
From your test results and symptoms, you clearly need a doctor that recognizes and accepts that TSH is totally inadequate as a diagnostic by which to medicate a thyroid patient. Also, using "Reference Range Endocrinology" does not work either, because the ranges are far too broad due to the erroneous manner they were established. There is no logic to saying that being anywhere within the range is adequate. If your Free T4 result was .81, would he consider increasing your meds, but not if it was .82????
Many members, myself included, say that symptom relief required Free T3 in the upper third of its range and Free T4 around the middle of its range. Your Free T4 is too low in the range, and you don't even know your Free T3 level. Total T3 is an inadequate test. You need to know Free T3. Free T3 is the most important because it largely regulates metabolism and many other body functions. Scientific studies have shown that Free T3 correlated best with hypo symptoms, while Free T4 and TSH did not correlate at all.
In addition, hypo patients are frequently too low in the ranges for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin. You also need to know those levels compared to reference ranges.
I have been collecting from members a list of good thyroid doctors. Unfortunately I don't have one in your area. The best I can offer is a doctor that I located from another site. I will send a PM with the info for you. If that doesn't work out, I will be glad to try to help find a good thyroid doctor somewhere in your general area.
My most recent results are:
TSH= 1.05 (0.45 - 4.5)
fT4= 1.05 (0.82 - 1.77)
T3= 132 (71-180)
TPO Ab= 257 (0-34)
Anti thyroglobulin= 75 (0-40)
My fT4 has decreased and my antibodies increased since last test. I have many symptoms - dizziness, blurred vision, discomfort in my throat and neck, abdominal discomfort, increased urination and defecation, period changes, achy wrists and hands, swelling in my thumb joint and fingers, weakness, shortness of breath, fatique, and much of the time an overwhelming ill feeling. Many of the symptoms come and go and can vary in severity. After many docs and many tests I have been told yhe symptoms are from stress, depression, fibromyalgia, overweight (could thyroid be why I can't lose weight since I had my baby). I was put on a bunch of meds for FM which didn't do a thing. I was told to just try to ignore my symptoms. To me it seems so clear that it is thyroid related but every doc tells me it can't be because values are normal. Can't find anyone willing to even consider treatment for thyroid.
That's why I want to collect all the info I can. If a change in diet or lifestyle will make even the slightest difference maybe life will be bearable.
TSH= 1.05 (0.45 - 4.5)
fT4= 1.05 (0.82 - 1.77)
T3= 132 (71-180)
TPO Ab= 257 (0-34)
Anti thyroglobulin= 75 (0-40)
My fT4 has decreased and my antibodies increased since last test. I have many symptoms - dizziness, blurred vision, discomfort in my throat and neck, abdominal discomfort, increased urination and defecation, period changes, achy wrists and hands, swelling in my thumb joint and fingers, weakness, shortness of breath, fatique, and much of the time an overwhelming ill feeling. Many of the symptoms come and go and can vary in severity. After many docs and many tests I have been told yhe symptoms are from stress, depression, fibromyalgia, overweight (could thyroid be why I can't lose weight since I had my baby). I was put on a bunch of meds for FM which didn't do a thing. I was told to just try to ignore my symptoms. To me it seems so clear that it is thyroid related but every doc tells me it can't be because values are normal. Can't find anyone willing to even consider treatment for thyroid.
That's why I want to collect all the info I can. If a change in diet or lifestyle will make even the slightest difference maybe life will be bearable.
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