Where To Begin For Improving Your Thyroid Health...
Karen Fitzpatrick-Dame, ChhC, AADP
Start with testing, then treatment, then re-test again annually.
Step #1: Comprehensive Thyroid Panel Test
Measures the levels of thyroid hormones and antibodies in the blood. The results provide important information about thyroid function and help diagnose and monitor conditions such as Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's disease. Available direct to you without a prescription from Life's Healthiest Rupa Health Tests
Every person whose results indicate the presence of a Hypothyroid condition or Hashimoto's is iodine deficient period. For treatment you may chose to use Thyroid Hormone Therapy or apply Iodine Therapy or use both in tandem.
Prescription Thyroid Hormone Therapy: Desiccated thyroid extract (DTE), also known as natural desiccated thyroid (NDT) and porcine thyroid, is a prescription medication made from the desiccated (dried) thyroid glands of animals. DTE drugs, which include the brand names Armour Thyroid, Nature-Throid, NP Thyroid, and WP Thyroid, have been around for decades and remain popular with holistic, alternative, and integrative physicians as a thyroid hormone replacement treatment for underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).
Work with your doctor for prescription-only Naturally Desiccated Thyroid [NDT]. If medication is the choice you and your doctor make, compounded thyroid medication from a compounding pharmacy is the best option because the medication is tailored to the individual's personal needs based on their lab results. You will also be able to select the filler(s) you want used in the medication and often times, dried food powers are available instead of synthetic fillers.
Be aware that pharmaceutical drugs can deplete vitamins and minerals. This includes prescription thyroid hormone therapy. In fact, Levothyroxine (Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothroid, Unithroid). NDT (Armour, NP Thyroid, Naturethroid, WP Thyroid) and Lotrix (Thyrolar), all deplete both iron and calcium. Complications when there is a loss of these minerals can result in, anemia, weakness, brittle nails, irritability, fatigue, osteoporosis, tooth decay, high blood pressure, heart disease, insomnia, acid reflux, digestive problems and a higher risk of cancer. Additionally over the years some of the pharmaceutical companies have made changes to the prescription formulas of NDT that have become an issue for people. Synthetic fillers and corn are often used and cause reactions.
Over-The-Counter Thyroid Hormone Therapy: Prescription thyroid medication whether synthetic or NDT is not your only option. There are effective and natural over-the-counter desiccated thyroid replacements.
Consider these Over-The-Counter NDT options, both clean and effective:
Homeopathic thyroid options can work both in tandem with your thyroid medications or in place of them for a more natural approach.
Consider DesBio Thyroid (Homeopathic) options.
Iodine Therapy and The Iodine Protocol: It could be that the root cause of your thyroid dysfunction is iodine deficiency. Iodine is needed to make thyroid hormone and in some individuals, that's all that's needed.
[Do not take iodine alone. The Iodine Protocol includes 3 additional nutrients, known as co-factors. Taking iodine alone can throw your body further out of balance. The 4-nutrients that comprise the Iodine Protocol, work synergistically so that the patient achieves the desired results in the most healthful way.]
If you choose to use Iodine Therapy instead of or in combination with Thyroid Hormone Therapy, move to Step 2 to establish your pre-treatment baseline.
Step #2: 24-Hour Iodine Loading Test Kit
This Gold Standard Test is the only accurate way to determine iodine sufficiency. It is an in-depth evaluation of your whole body iodine deficiency/sufficiency and provides a baseline reading for moving forward with iodine therapy. The 24-Hour Iodine Loading Test Kit is available direct to you without a prescription.
Re-test annually.
Step #3: The Iodine Protocol
FLEX-TIME Private Consultations with Karen Fitzpatrick-Dame, ChhC, AADP are available to you if so desired for personal guidance.
