Hypothyroid Patient Finds TSH Ranges Inaccurate, Levothyroxine Insufficient, and T3 Essential

Feb. 26, 2014 - PRLog -- Does anyone out there understand thyroid physiology?  Apparently not, since thousands of thyroid patients on internet forums are looking for better treatment for their condition.  In her new book, Tired Thyroid:  From Hyper to Hypo to Healing—Breaking the TSH Rule, Barbara Lougheed chronicles her journey from being diagnosed as hyperthyroid with Graves’ disease, to undergoing radioactive iodine treatment, and finally being treated for hypothyroidism with Synthroid (levothyroxine).  She questioned much of what doctors and fellow thyroid patients told her, and searched for the facts herself.  Her findings did not agree with what she’d been led to believe, and she presents these findings, along with charts and graphs, to explain thyroid physiology and the many misconceptions that exist about thyroid treatment protocols.

One misconception is that a normal TSH rules out any thyroid problem.  TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) is a pituitary hormone that doctors test to determine thyroid function.  The TSH Rule says that if TSH is normal, then the patient is fine, and neither hyper nor hypothyroid.  Doctors believe that a low TSH (below the reference range) indicates hyperthyroidism, while a high TSH (above the reference range) indicates hypothyroidism.  Exceptions to this rule are common, especially if the patient is taking any replacement thyroid hormone.

The first of three sections, You Are Not Alone, consists of five case studies of real thyroid patients, all of whom are breaking the TSH Rule.

1.  Barbara’s story chronicles her health incidents through the years:  her reaction to sulfites, beer, flu shots, yellow #5 food color, a sulfa antibiotic, too much natural desiccated thyroid, too much T3 (both prescription thyroid hormones), and her adverse reaction to iodine supplementation.  She shares what she learned from thyroid internet forums.  She now takes levothyroxine and desiccated thyroid and has not had any TSH for a while.  She is breaking the TSH Rule.

2.  Peter had a head injury as a child and has little pituitary function.  Even though his hormones were low from that point on, he was nearly 50 years old before someone diagnosed him, because his TSH was always normal.  He takes thyroid hormone in addition to testosterone and hydrocortisone, and now has very little TSH.  Peter is breaking the TSH Rule.

3.  Jane, an 86-year-old woman with Hashimoto’s thyroid disease, recently started experiencing debilitating vertigo and vomiting attacks.  When her T3 levels were tested, they were below the reference range.  Since her TSH was also below the reference range, a board-certified endocrinologist reduced her levothyroxine dose, because she believed Jane was hyperthyroid.  When the doctor lowered Jane’s dose because of her low TSH, she was following the TSH Rule.  Jane’s TSH did not rise into the normal range, but she did become worse.

4.  Tony, a fatigued, 25-year-old male, has been sick (from colds and allergies) for most of his life, even though he looks like a model, has a full head of hair, and a normal TSH.  It turns out he has an iron loading condition, and carries one of the genes for hereditary hemochromatosis.  After his doctor prescribed thyroid hormone for him (in spite of his normal TSH), Tony’s fatigue lifted and he’s not sick all the time now, but he has no TSH.  Tony is breaking the TSH Rule.

5.  Lucy successfully battled Graves’ disease without resorting to radioactive iodine or a thyroidectomy.  She used herbs, modified block and replace therapy (taking both Tapazole and levothyroxine), and LDN (low dose naltrexone).  After two years on LDN, her endocrinologist confirms that her goiter is shrinking.  She still has little TSH though, so she too is breaking the TSH Rule.

The second section, Facts Every Doctor and Patient Should Know, consists of 20 chapters on different thyroid-related topics.  Each chapter includes multiple references from medical journals, some with charts or graphs to clarify some of the more difficult concepts.  Learn why current medical testing and treatment protocols are illogical, what tests should be requested instead, what a normal thyroid gland secretes, and the pros and cons of popular internet protocols.  Are patients aware that there are three different types of thyroid medications, each with pros and cons, and that patients can still be hypothyroid even with "normal" labs?  Is the iodine protocol, T3-only protocol to clear reverse T3, or natural desiccated thyroid a good idea for everyone?  This book reveals the facts so patients can make an educated decision.

The last section, Where Do We Go From Here? summarizes the problem and recommends specific changes that would benefit patients.

The information in this book is pertinent to both doctors and patients, and presents some eye-opening material (backed by hundreds of medical journal references) that is not in agreement with current Standards of Care practiced by the medical profession.  It should be required reading for anyone in the medical field.  Tired Thyroid:  From Hyper to Hypo to Healing—Breaking the TSH Rule by Barbara Lougheed can be found at http://www.amazon.com/Tired-Thyroid-Hyper-Healing-Breaking/dp/1495355535/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393392082&sr=8-1&keywords=tired+thyroid

Enter the book giveaway from February 27 to March 31, 2014 at http://www.tiredthyroid.com/blog/ or follow the Facebook site:  https://www.facebook.com/tiredthyroid