Re: Thyroid/Patty?

July 18, 2001

Have you had your thyroid checked because it is my understanding you

can mess yourslef up by taking thyroid meds if you don't need them. I

am curious if you have hyper or hypo thyroid disease?

In @y..., " Patty " <faussettdp@m...> wrote:

> This is the article from Alternative Medicine magazine from which I

got the referal to Dr. Fuller Royal.

> Patty

> http://www.alternativemedicine.com/digest/issue35/35072.shtml

> Turn on Your Radar with Proper Thyroid Function

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

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>

> If your feet are freezing in bed--and you have trouble lighting

your libidinal fires--look to treating an underactive thyroid.

>

> Do you feel in the groove with your brain working perfectly, a 360

degree awareness of all that's going on around you, anticipating

others' thoughts and responses, feeling fearless and comfortable in

the moment? Are your hands and feet nice and warm, energy streaming

through you, memory generating old information as well as recent

recall, problem solving easy and exciting? And does your libido surge

to the best levels of your recollection? If so, then the chances are

that you have arrived at a good balance with your thyroid gland. I

like to call it your body's radar, when your senses are wide open and

penetrating.

>

> The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the neck. It is the

master-controller of our body's metabolism, which is why its under-

functioning causes so many different problems. Thyroid deficiency

(underactivity, hypothyroidism) is a massive health problem, mostly

undiagnosed and untreated. Low thyroid functioning gives many

symptoms including low sex drive, depression, weakness, dry skin,

lethargy, slow speech, edema (swelling) of the eyelids and face,

sensation of cold, coarseness or loss of hair, skin pallor, memory

impairment, constipation, hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid causing

bloating and gas with failure to digest proteins and absorb

minerals), weight gain, shortness of breath, swelling of the

extremities, hoarseness or loss of voice, anorexia (loss of

appetite), nervousness, heavy menstrual bleeding, heart palpitation,

deafness, chest pain, morning stiffness or rheumatism, numbness and

tingling of the fingers, apathy, listlessness, difficulty in

conceiving, and anemia. And in children, hypothyroidism is related to

ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder).

>

> Low thyroid functioning is very common in women after childbirth.

The baby's thyroid puts out antibodies against the mother's thyroid

and causes it to under-function. This is one of the chief causes of

postpartum (after childbirth) depression and weight gain. During

pregnancy the pituitary (master gland in the brain) puts out large

amounts of thyroid hormone which is needed for growth of the infant.

It is fed by the placenta in the uterus during the pregnancy. After

the baby is born the placenta is delivered and its drive to the

pituitary stops, sometimes causing low thyroid levels. This then

causes weight gain and depression. ( " Gee Doc, I've never been the

same since I had my babies. " ) So, if mom is feeling tired, depressed,

cold, dry, puffy, irritable, and overweight, I guarantee her libido

isn't going to be terrific.

>

> Of course men have thyroid problems, too. Exposure to heavy metals

like mercury, lead, cadmium, and arsenic can create problems with

libido. Selenium deficiency in both sexes can effect the way the body

converts the thyroid hormone T4 to the metabolically active form of

the hormone, T3. Iodine also is important for normal thyroid health

in both sexes.

>

> For sexual health, you must have adequate thyroid function

> to absorb proteins and amino acids such as arginine,

> which creates nitric oxide (a la Viagra) for good erections

> and strong prostatic and vaginal orgasms.

>

> When one first encounters the world of the thyroid gland and the

extent to which it is underactive in such a large segment of our

population, it is a staggering discovery. The regular thyroid blood

tests may or may not detect hypothyroidism. Broda , M.D, in his

seminal book, Hypothyroidism: the Unsuspected Illness, suggests the

use of basal temperatures to diagnose the problem. One's first

morning underarm temperature should be 98 +/-0.2 degrees. Take it

over a period of five days. If it is lower on average than 97.6,

thyroid deficiency should be considered. Other diagnostic signs are a

low " triple warmer " pulse in traditional Chinese medicine, absent

Achilles' tendon reflexes, swollen tongue, eye symptoms, as well as

other physical and psychological symptoms.

>

> Thyroid hormone replacement is helpful in many people, especially

the elderly. Some authors estimate as many as 70% of hospitalized

elderly patients exhibit low thyroid states.

>

> Most important for your sexual health, you must have adequate

thyroid function to absorb minerals like zinc, which is critical for

sexual functioning, and for the absorption of proteins and amino

acids such as arginine, which creates nitric oxide (`a la Viagra) for

good erections and strong prostatic and vaginal orgasms.

>

> Replacement of thyroid hormone, like all natural hormone

replacement, is a bit of an art. I have used natural thyroid from a

pig source (Westhroid or Armour) for over 25 years. It is very

similar to human thyroid. Natural thyroid contains all three thyroid

hormones T2, T3 and T4. T3 is the active hormone at the cellular

level in our body. The gland also contains iodine and the three

thyroid hormones attached to the protein carriers which deliver it to

the tissues, thyroid-binding globulin, and the thyroid prealbumin.

Some doctors argue that because of seasonal variations in light and

food supply there may be fluctuations in the strength of the natural

porcine hormone, but it has been standardized by T4 for at least 30

years. Synthetic T4 (Thyroxin) is less complete and in my experience

more difficult to deal with, plus it contains chemicals and dyes.

Recent studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine

support the use of both T3 and T4 because it gives a better clinical

result.

>

> The Thyroid Gland

>

> The dosage of thyroid is very individual. Too much thyroid or too

much too soon can cause anger, nervousness, fast heart rate, or

angina in patients with obstructed arteries, and insomnia. I use

the " cup of coffee " rule of thumb. If you can drink several cups of

coffee without becoming extremely nervous or jittery then you

probably can handle modest doses of thyroid. If you can't handle any

coffee you must begin with very small amounts of thyroid (1/8th

grain) and increase very gradually with adrenal gland support such as

adrenal extracts, vitamin C, B vitamins with extra B5 (pantothenic

acid), adequate protein intake, and calcium and magnesium

supplementation.

>

> It is important to find doctors who believe in this approach for

prescribing thyroid. Your regular general practitioner, internist, or

endocrinologist will generally not prescribe thyroid based on signs

and symptoms unless the blood tests are grossly abnormal; however

most patients with hypothyroidism usually test at only borderline low

or even normal. Alternative medicine doctors are usually more open to

this approach. The Broda O. , M.D., Foundation in Trumbull,

Connecticut, keeps a list of doctors who prescribe thyroid based on

basal temperatures and signs and symptoms. Many members of the

chelation doctors group, American College of Advancement in Medicine

(ACAM) are also more liberal with thyroid prescribing (see sources

below).

>

> I have seen thousands of patients helped remarkably and safely by a

little thyroid--and a month's supply costs only about $3.00. It is

marvelous to help restore lost sex drive, and it is great for women

having difficulty conceiving. We've had several patients per year who

futilely spent megabucks on drug and in vitro fertilization

techniques, but were able to conceive by using simple natural thyroid

and hormonal replacement. But the more common thyroid miracles are

reflected by the nice letters and occasional flowers I receive from

grateful patients whose spouses are no longer freezing in bed. Cold

feet and buttocks covered with sweats and heavy socks are replaced by

toasty, warm extremities.Now that's sexy!

>

> Sources:

> The Broda O. , M. D., Research Foundation

> P.O. Box 98,

> Trumbull, Connecticut 06611

> Tel. 203-261-2101

> Fax 203-261-3017

> www.brodabarnes.org

>

> American College of Advancement in Medicine (ACAM)

> 23121 Verdugo Dr., Ste. 204,

> Laguna Hills, CA 92653

> Tel. 949-583-7666

> Fax 949-455-9679

> www.acam.org

>

> Contact:

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

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> Gerber, M.D., has practiced orthomolecular medicine,

chelation and nutrition therapy for 25 years. He is founder and

director of the Gerber Medical Clinic in Reno, Nevada, at which

acupuncture, neural therapy, Sanum Therapy, homeopathy, herbology,

and detoxification modalities are also employed. He is a past

president of the Orthomolecular Medical Society and currently the

Secretary-Treasurer of the Nevada Association of Homeopathic

Physicians. The Gerber Medical Clinic is located at 3670 Grant Dr.,

Reno, NV 89509.

> Tel: 775-826-1900.

July 18, 2001

My TSH (reflex free T4) was checked in Feb. 98 when I got sick and it was in

the low range.

Definitely not HYPER thyroid!!!! (No bug eyes here...)

It is most definitely on the hypothyroid side.

Patty