optimal thyroid

Presentation by The Lucy Rose ClinicSpecialising In Integrated Thyroid Health And Functional Medicine

Optimal ThyroidLesson 1. Interpreting Pathology

What You Will Learn

• What are the thyroid hormones.

• The difference between optimal and normal reference

ranges so you can interpret your test results straight away.

• Test results and symptoms for hyperthyroid.

• Test results and symptoms for hypothyroid.

• Other tests for treating thyroid imbalances.

Let’s get started!

Common Signs Of Imbalanced Hormones

How many of these do you relate with?

• Low energy - waking, mid afternoon, or all day.

• High energy - periods of hyperactivity, anxiety, heart palpitations.

• Irregular periods - breast tenderness, cramping, heavy bleeding, irritability, etc.

• Menopause symptoms - hot flushes, vaginal atrophy, irritation, belly fat.

• Weight changes - suddenly storing fat in different zones, not able to lose weight, weight

loss or gain without change in diet and activity levels.

• Headaches - cyclical headaches due to hormone surges.

What Is The Thyroid?Regulates Your Metabolism

✓ Makes thyroid hormones T4 which then converts to T3 your active hormone

✓ 75% of your thyroid hormone is in your muscle and brain

✓ Controls fat burning and energy levels✓ Tells every cell in the body what to do, how to do it

and how effectively to do it✓ Governs the entire hormonal system (much like the

conductor of an orchestra) If the conductor is not there the orchestra do not know what to do.

Thyroid Test Interpretation

TSH - Thyroid Stimulating Hormone

● Hyperthyroid● Grave’s or

Hashimoto’s● Stress● Medications

LOWLess than 0.4

NORMAL0.4 - 1.5

HIGHMore than 1.5

● Hypothyroid● Nutrient depletion -

iodine, iron, tyrosine, zinc selenium, B2, B3, B6, vit C, vit D.

Standard Reference Range - 0.27 - 4.2 Optimal Reference Range - 0.4 - 1.5

● Not reliable to pick up suboptimal changes alone

TSH - Symptoms

Tachycardia, Shakiness, Increased Sweating, Insomnia, Loose bowels, Brittle Nails, Loss of Appetite, Weight Loss

LOWLess than

0.4

NORMAL0.4 - 1.5

HIGHMore than

1.5

Tiredness, Sluggishness, Weight Gain, Sleep more than normal, Cold hands/feet, Poorer memory, Mood changes, Puffy Eyes, hands or feet, Constipation, Bump into thing (coordination), Hair loss, Muscle Cramps, Heavy Menses, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Should not have symptoms - but not diagnostic alone if symptoms are active.

Case Study

Amanda (not her real name) was not feeling herself, yet her GP kept telling her she was normal. She booked an appointment with us because a work friend recommended us.

Her main concerns were:

1. Unable to lose weight2. Always tired yet unable to fall asleep or stay

asleep3. Skin and hair issues

Case StudyHer symptoms included:

• Heavy, irregular, and painful periods

• Sleepiness all day

• Bloating

• Susceptibility to yeast infections

• Mood swings

• Irritability

• Anxiety

• Water retention

• Weight gain in the hips

• Heart palpitations

Case Study - ResultsWe balanced her hormones with a diet plan based on

food intolerance testing, herbal medicine, and

nutritional therapy.

Results at 9 weeks:

● Lost 7 kg - in the healthy range

● Sleeping well and waking refreshed

● Hair shedding stopped

● Energy stable through entire day

Thyroid Markers

Standard Reference Range - 3.1 - 6.8 Optimal Reference Range - 5.9 - 6.8

FREE T3

Standard Reference Range - 12 - 22 Optimal Reference Range - 15.4 - 19.3

FREE T4

Standard Reference Range - 170 - 450 Optimal Reference Range - 170 - 370

Reverse T3

Standard Reference Range - <34Optimal Reference Range - <34

Anti Thyroid Peroxidase Ab.

Standard Reference Range - <115 Optimal Reference Range - <115

Anti Thyroglobulin Ab.

Further PathologyTo discover the driving factors

● Iodine is the building block to make thyroid hormone.● Iodine is used by all the glandular tissues such as ovaries,

prostate, and breast tissue. When low, tissues changes occur.

● Iodine deficiency is extremely common, affecting thyroid function, and all over health.

24-Hour Urinary Iodine Loading Excretion Test. Shows level of blocking elements that affect absorption of iodine, as well as deficiency level.Functional Testing


● Nutritional cofactors● Iron ● Ferritin● Vitamin D● 5-MTHFR ● Homocysteine● Cholesterols ● Sex Hormones - estrogen, progesterone, testosterone,

DHEAs.

5-MTHF. Shows level of blocking elements that affect absorption of iodine, as well as deficiency level the body’s ability to convert folate to its active formFunctional Testing


● The adrenal glands are endocrine glands that produce a

variety of steroid hormones including adrenaline,

aldosterone, DHEA, and cortisol.

● Adrenal hormones help regulate our day and night time

rhythms.

● Adrenal hormones respond to stress - environmental,

physical, emotional and mental.

3-Point Cortisol Saliva Test.Benefits: Test ‘free’ cortisol. Shows stage of adrenal stress. More sensitive.

Preferred Testing


● Insulin is the enemy of weight loss, so careful evaluation of blood sugar fluctuations is essential when looking at weight problems.

● High glucose levels can indicate insulin resistance and possible diabetes.

● Blood sugars are affected by stress, as well as diet. Issues often arise at hormonal junctures in life, such as peri-menopause.

Hba1C - average level of blood sugar over the past 2 to 3 months1,5-Anhydroglucitol - shows 1 to 2 weeks blood sugar trendFunctional Testing

Summary

● Standard Thyroid Results pick up thyroid disease. Optimal

reference ranges can pick up sub-optimal thyroid changes.

● TSH is not a reliable test for all thyroid disorders.

● T4 is made by the thyroid gland and is ‘inactive’.

● T3 is the activate thyroid hormone responsible for all cellular

function.

● Testing iodine levels allows for safe iodine dosing to treat low

thyroid hormone production.

● When symptoms are affecting severe symptoms, further

testing is needed to treat all affected areas of the body.

optimal thyroid

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