- If your thyroid treatment isn't working despite following your doctor's advice, the problem often isn't with you. It may be that you need a doctor who takes a more personalized approach to thyroid management.
- Look for a thyroid doctor who tests and considers your individual circumstances including genetic factors, environmental influences, and other conditions that affect thyroid function. A one-size-fits-all treatment rarely works well.
- Many thyroid patients are told their symptoms like fatigue or weight gain must be from depression or anxiety when they continue despite thyroid medication. This dismissal keeps you from getting the real help you need.
- Integrative, holistic, or functional medicine doctors tend to understand thyroid management better than conventional practitioners, though you may need to search to find an experienced one.
- An experienced thyroid doctor can guide you through your symptoms, treatment options, and recovery path, transforming your quality of life.
Does it feel like your current thyroid treatment isn’t working?
Have you been reading a lot about your thyroid but now you are more confused?
If you fall into these categories then the answer may be to find the right thyroid doctor.
There is no substitute for an experienced physician who understands the importance of thyroid function and who can guide you through your symptoms, treatment, and recovery.
The difficult part is finding the “right” thyroid doctor and finding one who can put everything together.
In this guide, I will walk you through some tips and tricks designed to help you find a good thyroid doctor to help you on your path to recovery:
Dealing with Thyroid Problems?
Thyroid problems include disease states such as Hypothyroidism (sluggish thyroid), Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Hyperthyroidism, thyroid nodules, and thyroid cancer.
Why is it that so many patients are unhappy with their current thyroid treatment?
We don’t have to look far to see that this is the case:
Entire websites are dedicated to helping you understand thyroid function and to help you be an advocate for your own health.
There are hundreds of stories of patients who relate their encounters and experience in switching doctors or medications or therapies who then get their life back.
Why is this the case?
Some of this may have to do with the current understanding and treatment of thyroid disease states.
The prevailing conventional thought is that thyroid disease is easily treated, that the treatment is essentially the same for all patients, and that if you continue to experience symptoms despite following this treatment those symptoms must be related to some other cause such as depression or anxiety.ย
There are a lot of good reasons to believe that this approach to thyroid treatment is not accurate and that taking a more personalized approach to thyroid management leads to optimal and better results.
It seems, though, that the only doctors who take this approach tend to be those who fall into the integrative, holistic, or functional group.ย
The reality is that most patients follow the conventional route of care which means that they tend to see Endocrinologists and Family practice doctors who then manage their thyroid.
And this may not be a problem for many patients.
But for those who do not respond to this typical treatment paradigm, it can be a big problem and dramatically alter their quality of life.
So how do you go about finding a “good” thyroid doctor?
#1. Willingness to Explore Medications Outside of Levothyroxine
The first, and probably most important, point on the list is the willingness to explore medications outside of Levothyroxine.
It may actually come as a surprise to you that there are MANY different types of thyroid medications and they can be used with success in different circumstances.
Levothyroxine represents a T4-only thyroid medication and it is the first line therapy when treating thyroid disease.
The problem with T4 thyroid medication is that it simply may not work for every single person.
Thyroid conversion is the process by which your body takes the T4 thyroid medication and “activates” it by turning it into the active thyroid hormone T3.
Many patients, due to genetic SNP changes, may not efficiently utilize this process.
For some patients that means that they may not be experiencing the beneficial effects of thyroid medication even though they take it faithfully.
In addition to genetic factors, there are also other anatomical issues that may prevent this type of medication from working.
One example is the issue of thyroid hormone absorption in the gastrointestinal tract.
Some individuals simply do not absorb Levothyroxine or Synthroid as well as others (2) and may benefit from taking different formulations of thyroid hormone which are easier to digest.
These are just some examples that explain why various patients don’t do well on conventional or typical thyroid medication.
The hallmark of a good thyroid doctor is that they are willing to explore other thyroid medications.
These medications include:
- Other T4-only thyroid medications such as Tirosint
- NDT (Natural Desiccated Thyroid) such as Armour thyroid, WP thyroid, and Nature Throid
- T3-only thyroid medications such as Cytomel and liothyronine
#2. Willingness to Order the Complete Thyroid Lab Test
In addition to using other medications, you want to make sure that your physician is willing to order more than just the conventional TSH and perhaps T4.
The standard of care when treating thyroid dysfunction is to evaluate the function of the thyroid gland, and the effectiveness of thyroid medication with the use of the TSH test.
The evaluation of the TSH can be a helpful tool, but simply using this tool doesn’t allow for the evaluation of other important thyroid markers in the blood.
Other markers that can help guide treatment include:
- Evaluation of Thyroid Conversion
- Evaluation of free thyroid hormone concentration
- Evaluation of thyroid autoantibodies
- Consideration of nutrient deficiencies and their impact on thyroid function (Such as iodine, zinc, and selenium)
In order to evaluate these factors, you will need much more than just the TSH and standard free T4 level.
The complete thyroid lab panel includes the following thyroid function tests:
- TSH
- Total T3
- Free T3
- Free T4
- Reverse T3
- Thyroid Antibodies
These lab tests help you understand if your body is utilizing thyroid hormone effectively in your body, if the proper feedback loops are working properly and if thyroid hormone is making it to the target tissues and cells.
While the TSH is important, it may be insufficient to fully understand what is happening in each person (though it should always be ordered).
Finding a physician who is willing to order all of these tests (preferably without you asking) and also who is able to interpret these lab values will help you dramatically.
#3. Understanding that All Patients are Different
Another important factor when dealing with a thyroid doctor has to do with their understanding of you as an individual.
It may come as no surprise to you that you look, think, and act differently than your neighbor.ย
Why then should it come as a surprise to you that your treatment with thyroid hormone should be different from that same person?
We are each genetically unique and therefore require different treatments, therapies, medication doses, and so on.
Doctors are well aware of these differences, especially when using conventional medications.
For some reason, they seem to regress to a basic understanding of physiology whenever hormone therapy is involved.
This treatment paradigm has been boiled down to the idea that every person is treated in the same way with the same medication regardless of body type, weight, metabolic function, genetic factors, and so on.
Make sure that your physician is willing to look into your personal history, learn more about your unique circumstances, and take into account these important factors when determining treatment for you.
For instance:
It may not be wise to use Levothyroxine or Synthroid in patients who have a history of medication reactions or reactions to inactive fillers and dyes (3).
It may be wiser to use a medication such as Tirosint which has fewer inactive fillers and may, therefore, be better tolerated (4).
This type of logic and understanding should be expanded to other factors in your personal history.
#4. Understanding of Other Hormone Systems
Is your doctor only focusing on thyroid function?
You should be thinking about your body (and hormone systems) as an intricate spider web.
There isn’t a way to pull out a single spindle without altering the structure of the entire system.
This concept holds true for hormonal systems in your body.
Because of this, it’s also important that your doctor has an understanding of other hormones such as estrogen/progesterone balance, testosterone levels, cortisol function, and insulin/leptin.
These hormones tend to become dysregulated in cases of thyroid dysfunction and may also need to be treated.
In addition, some of these hormonal imbalances may result in symptoms that mimic hypothyroidism and may “muddy” the picture of your health.
If you are in a situation in which treating your thyroid only provided some relief to your symptoms then you may need to be evaluated for these other hormones.
#5. Understanding the Importance of Thyroid Antibodies
The presence of thyroid antibodies may be a clue that you have a condition known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
In many cases, the standard and conventional approach to this condition is to simply “watch and wait”.ย
In this condition, your body creates antibodies that eventually destroy your thyroid gland and lead to reliance upon thyroid medication indefinitely.
Many physicians ignore even testing for this condition because they feel that knowing it exists doesn’t change treatment or management.
This may be a mistake for many reasons…
It’s also important to know if this condition exists because some lifestyle changes and therapies may be effective in reducing thyroid antibodies.
Make sure that you find a physician who is willing to test for thyroid antibodies and who is willing to explore potential treatment options.
If you have Hashimoto’s you can learn more about treating this condition here.
How to Find a Good Doctor
It can be very difficult to find a physician who fits the criteria of a “good” doctor but it doesn’t mean that you should give up or stop looking.
There are many resources, tips, and tricks that you can use to try and find one.
I’ve included some below that you may consider:
- Contact local compounding pharmacies and ask for a list of doctors that prescribe bio-identical hormones including T3 and NDT (you can also try local regular pharmacies)
- Use doctor directories from Integrative and Functional medicine training centers
- Look for doctors who write blog posts or who have written books on the subject
- Use Facebook support groups for patient references
- Contact advanced laboratory testing centers and ask for a list of doctors who utilize these tests
- Call local offices and ask if the doctors prescribe NDT and/or T3 medications
- Look for doctors who have certifications in anti-aging medicine, hormonal therapy, integrative medicine, and functional medicine
These may not seem like easy options but unfortunately, they are the only ones available.
Why is it so hard to find a doctor who treats this way?
Much of the reason has to do with the training system that physicians undertake.
All physicians are taught to treat pretty much the same way in medical school and residency and it’s only the physicians who take extra training who understand some of the concepts discussed here.
This can make it difficult to find a good doctor because the training isn’t standardized.
Because of this, the skill between practitioners varies even if they have both taken the same courses after their conventional training.
Integrative & Functional (Holistic) Doctors
Should you switch to an integrative or functional doctor?
In many cases, this may be the preferred option, but some reasons may make the transition difficult.
Most of the time integrative and functional doctors operate outside of the insurance model which means that you will need to pay cash for visits.
This can be difficult if funds are tight.
In addition, not all providers in this category have the same knowledge or skill.
This may lead to you spending significant amounts of money and not getting the results you are looking for.
To fight this you can stick to the guidelines listed above.
In some cases, you may be able to find a physician who has an advanced mindset but that is also in the insurance model.
These Doctors are not common, but it’s worth looking into.
Bottom Line: Integrative and functional medicine doctors are more likely to prescribe medications that contain T3 such as NDT and T3-only medications. These Doctors tend to operate outside of the insurance model and may cost more money than conventional physicians.
Conventional Doctors (Endocrinologists)
Can you get help by using an endocrinologist?
The answer is maybe.
The more unconventional your case is the less likely you are to get help from the conventional model.
But if you fit the “standard” patient case then you will most likely have results with an endocrinologist.
Just remember that endocrinologists, despite being hormone doctors, don’t really focus on bio-identical hormone replacement and they tend to all treat and evaluate the same way.
This has to do with their training.
Modern medicine is remarkable in the sense that training throughout the United States is quite standardized.
This is good if you fit the “standard” but bad if you fall outside of it!
Endocrinologists tend to prescribe T4-only thyroid medications and are more resistant to prescribing medications that contain T3.
You may have success in asking your doctor to switch T4 medications such as switching from levothyroxine to Tirosint.
Bottom Line: Conventional endocrinologists may provide relief to those people who fit the “standard” thyroid treatment mold. Those with non-typical or advanced cases may do better with integrative physicians.
Wrapping it up
When it comes to finding a Thyroid Doctor it’s worth spending time and energy researching and looking for the right person.
There is nothing more important than your health and suffering for years trying to get your Doctor to understand your situation is probably not worth your time.
I recommend looking for a thyroid doctor who is open to using various thyroid medications, who orders a complete thyroid lab panel, who understands your individual scenario, and who also evaluates your symptoms in the context of other hormones.
Now I want to hear from you:
Do you have a great thyroid Doctor?
Are you still searching?
What tips or tricks have you found to find a good doctor?
Share them below so that you can help others who are struggling!
Scientific References
#1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3219766/
#2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6897778
#3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23377335
#4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4737508/
#5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5422478/
Hi Dr. Childs,
Would you refer some doctor from the Chicago area? I am struggling from depression for 5 years and looks like nobody can help me.
I tried many medications and treatments and it makes my depression worse.
Hi Voytek,
Unfortunately, I don’t know anyone in that area but you might find this article helpful for your depression: https://www.restartmed.com/t3-thyroid-hormone-depression/
Hello Dr.Childs, I am a very concerned women, I started having problems 10 years ago, I was getting tested for how far along was I at in menopause. I had elevated estradiol levels of 764. My Doctor at the time put me thru so many tests. These levels were not good. I even had a MRI that showed a normal pituitary gland. Assessment; Hyperestrogenism,They said it could be a functional abnormality.Fast forward 10 years,I have been living with hot flashes still, I just went on Estradiol-Norethindrone Acet this past December, my GYN said it would help me, I can’t keep having these hot flashes. I went to another Doctor in December also. Blood work came back with Hyper Thyroid. Took another test 3 weeks later and this Dr. thinks I have Hyperthyroidism.I am worried because I need to know what really is wrong? could it be something else. Could this test be off the charts from my experience in the past? The Doctor is wanting to do the I-131 Therapy.I feel I will not do anything. I will have to have more proof that I have a Hyperthyroid. I have no other systems. I have week nails, I still have hot flashes, not so many. I really don’t know what to do. Could the Pills I’m taking be causing the Thyroid to be Hyper? What tests should I take? What kind of Doctor should I see? Help Thanks for any information. Vickie
Hi Vickie,
You can find some tips to find a knowledgable doctor in my download on this page here: https://www.restartmed.com/start-here/
I am in WASHINGTON State. I feel like I should be in a world of NEW medicine but I can’t find anyone! Any thoughts for me? I am in the pyullup, sumner,auburn area. I have had every symptom for hypo for 5 plus years. Even my podiatrist some marks on my nails that indicated hypothyroidism and I still can’t find a doctor to help me. Thanks!
Hi Alicia,
You would think so but 99.9% of doctors practice the same way regardless of where they are located. Your best bet is to use the resources at the end of this blog to find one that is more progressive-minded. I don’t have any recommendations for anyone in your area.
Hello!
I am writing on behalf of my son who is panhypopit due to a pituitary tumor and thus has not pituitary or thyroid function and is treated with levo, desmopressin, testosterone, and hydrocort. He is 19 and has been receiving replacement therapy since age 13.
My question is because he does not have the pituitary function – would that skew a “full lab work? And would a t4 and t3 med possibly be more beneficial? He does still have joint pain, weight gain, anxiety and CRAVES sweets and Carbs. (He lacks focus, organization, and planning…but I attribute these to ADHD.)
Hi Jan,
Yes, you would still benefit from a full lab panel and I find that most people do better on T4 + T3 combinations whether they have a functioning thyroid gland or not.
My endo is adamant my thyroid is perfect, yet I still have brain fog and many difficulties with sleep. I drag in the morning and wired at night. I am on 32.5 nature-throid. Can you please recommend a Dr in the Phoenix area. I am suffering. My Labrix cortisol am30 is 11 noon 2.1 evening 0.85 night 2.4 also having blood cortisol checked next week on an i.v. with medicine to induce from endo.
58 female
TSH 1.80
t4 free 0.9
t3 free 2.4
fsh 71.0
estradiol <5
testoterone total 36
Vit D 51.7
testosterone free lc ms/ms 1.9
Looking for a good Dr in Augusta Ga. Any suggestions?
Hi Lynn,
I would recommend starting with the bullet points at the end of the article. You can also download my free resource on this page: https://www.restartmed.com/start-here/
Do you know of any endocrinologists that are more likely to understand your way of thinking about thyroid in the Denver Colorado area? My primary care doctor and my new functional medicine doctor both want me to see an endocrinologist because my TSH is below range, but I’m obviously inadequately treated on my NDT because my free T4 is the lowest number in the range and my free T3 is below range. I’m desperate for some help. They have concerns about central hypothyroidism.
I thought I had found an endo who would be great to work with.. she switched me from levo to Tirosint, added 5mcg Cytomel 2x a day, and I felt the best I had in years. I finally wasnโt freezing and had better energy. Free T4 was mid range, Free T3 was lower 1/3 of range, but she wouldnโt let me stay on cytomel because TSH was suppressed. Very disappointing because as far as I know this is to be expected! She insists a suppressed TSH is dangerous for the heart and osteoporosis. I could not sway her with looking at my Freeโs.
Hi Amy,
The TSH isn’t always suppressed on T3, at least it doesn’t have to be in order for it to be effective. In regards to whether it is dangerous or not, I would check out this post for more information:
https://www.restartmed.com/suppressed-tsh/
Hi Lori- check our the Facebook group Hashimoto 411 for references and info. Iโm in the same boat- TSH will be suppressed on NDT or T3 meds, and if your doc doses based on TSH only you will end up under medicated. Iโm surprised your functional med doc isnโt better informed- thatโs disappointing!
Hi Amy,
I just wanted to clarify a couple of points:
“TSH will be suppressed on NDT or T3 meds” – TSH suppression is based on dosing and is not medication specific. It is possible to have a normal TSH on T3 only, NDT only, or a combination of NDT + T3. If you start dosing with the expectation that you need the TSH to be suppressed then you may find you are accidentally overdosing.
“if your doc doses based on TSH you will end up under medicated” – There are some individuals where this is true, but these individuals tend to have genetic conversion issues or thyroid resistance which impairs the ability of standard tests to be accurate. For many patients, the TSH can be used as a treatment marker as long as it’s used in conjunction with free T3 and free T4.
Hi Dr. Childs! Thank you so much for your website. I had a hemithyroidectomy about 5 years ago. For a while after the surgery I was on Nature-Throid and doing perfectly until the manufacturer, RLC Labs, had a manufacturing problem and for many months I could not get Nature-Throid. I switched to Armour Thyroid (same dosage as Nature-Throid) at that time and my T3 and RT3 both went through the roof and my heart palpitations were severe. I stopped all thyroid medications at that time and waited for things to settle down. After repeating labs all results were in the normal range except TSH (10.72) and Thyroglobulin Antibodies (2.7). I was able to purchase Nature-Throid again and started on a very low dose (65 mg). Tests were repeated exactly 2 months later and all results were in the normal range again except TSH (4.99) which was an improvement and Thyroglobulin Antibodies (2.8). I decided to stay with the same dosage of Nature-Throid (65 mg) and repeat the tests 2 months later. This time all tests were in the normal range except Thyroglobulin Antibodies (2.3), a slight improvement and Reverse T3 (25.6). TSH was in the normal range but high (4.38). As a side note, I’m battling SIBO. In any event, I know you can’t give me medical advice but can you recommend anyone good within the State of Florida or do you offer phone consults? Also, can you recommend certain articles on your website that may benefit me and help with my situation? Thanks so very much.
Any recommendations for a doctor to see near East Valley in Phoenix, Arizona, when dealing with Hashimotos & Hypothyroid?
Hours wasted reading every bit of this information and taking notes. Thousands of dollars wasted on lab work that no one will read or take into consideration. Hundreds of dollars wasted on supplements. Quality of life remains zero. What is the point of this info when it is impossible to find a physician who will listen or help? It provides a lot of false hope. The one I saw most recently wanted to take me off of ALL thyroid medication because it is his option that the reason my TSH is low (0.02) and my antibodies are high, ( >900 and ABOVE 2is because I am taking too much Thyroid medication, though my Free T3 is 2.9 and my Free T4 is 0.9.
Hi Stephanie,
It’s definitely difficult but certainly not impossible as many people who are on this blog and in the comments section will tell you that they have eventually found someone. There’s also the chance that your symptoms may not be related to your thyroid and to some other issue in which case this information may not even be relevant to you. This is why it’s so important to find someone to help guide you.
Any recommendations for a doctor in the Atlanta, GA area- Marietta, Kennesaw, Acworth…Thanks.
Any recommendations for a dr in Scottsdale or NE Phoenix, AZ? I have a TSH of .006 and a Free T3 of 3.7 and that’s all my doctor has ordered. I don’t even want to go back to him even though I may be bald by the time I find a good doctor.
Hi Donna,
Try Dr Elizabeth Grady. She practices in holistic and naturopathic medicine. She works in Tucson also in Phoenix area.
Is there a doctor in Austin, TX you would recommend or even San Antonio?
Try Focus Total Health. Locations in San Antonio and New Braunfels.
I am a marathon runner and found that on some days I could run 20 miles, no big deal and then the very next week or week after, it was a struggle to put one foot in front of another. I chalked it up to tons of training and being a full time working mom. It wasnโt until I goT my blood drawn to show my son it wasnโt scary that I received news that my tsh was off. After that and more tests, my general practitioner saw my thyroid levels go up and down, antibodies showed up and I tested positive for ANA. Was referred to a rheum who did more tests and declared I had Hashimotos. They sent me to an endo. In this time (2.5 month span) while not changing my diet (95% plant based and netting about 1200 -1300 calories a day after running) and keeping my running mileage the same as marathon training (160-190 miles per month), I had gained 8 pounds so far. I finally got into see the endo. She shot me down and dismissed that my numbers were not extreme enough for treatment. She said my weight gain was age related and that I should try reducing my calorie intake to 900 net. After pushing back and demanding for my hormone levels to be checked, she finally gave in and ordered the tests. I have had my blood drawn but now with the Coronavirus, I fear that I will be put on hold while the world deals with this pandemic. I have ordered the adrenal medicine and will look into zinc/selenium. I am from Tallahassee, FL so Iโm limited in specialists but can travel. Hoping Shands in Gainesville may have someone there. Any other suggestions? Can I take T3 the booster pill with the adrenal one?
Hi Jenny,
Without your full bloodwork, it’s hard to say what exactly is going on but it sounds like adrenal fatigue is certainly a component. And yes, T3 conversion booster and Thyroid adrenal reset complex can be used together and that is the preferred way to take them (together).
My name is Allison and I live in a very outer place town and good doctors are hard to find. I have been suffering from Hashimoto’s disease for a long time. I am not getting any better and I need help. My health is going down hill. Can you help me find and doctor in the functional medicine field here in Maine. I really need some help.
Do you have any recommendation for a doctor in the Denver, CO or north Denver area? I have been dealing with horrible thyroid issues for the past 5 years. I was treated for hypothyroidism for 40 years and on the lowest dose of Levothyroxin. It wasnโt until my PCP decided to adjust my meds by doubling the dose after I was recovering from kidney cancer because I was a little tired. Since then it has been impossible to stabilize. I have been to 5 endocrinologists. I have mostly been told Iโm getting older, or I am stressed, or to take Minoxidil for hair loss, or that I have male pattern baldness. My hair grows back for a few months, then it breaks off and extensive hair loss all over. The cycle repeats every 3-4 months. My TSH and T4 are all over the chart. One time I even went from a TSH of 6.2 to .2 in a 30 day period. 4 months ago I was switched to Tirosint because I have Celiac disease and the PCP thought I wasnโt absorbing T4. The numbers havenโt changed at all and I have lost so much hair I am horrified. I have insomnia, shortness of breath, and I have to plead for help from PCP. Obviously the Tirosint isnโt good for me for some reason.No one has ever tested for T3, they only test T4 and TSH. I would give anything if I could find someone who could help me. It is exhausting and I just feel like there is no hope. I am 67 and I feel like I have lost 5 years of my life.
I know I have Hashimotos because I paid for the test and TPO is very high. None of the doctors seem to care about that when I tell them. It is so frustrating. At this time with the pandemic it is really hard to know what to do.
Hello Dr Childs, can you recommend a good Thyroid Doctor in the area of southeast Florida, near Boca Raton Florida? I’d appreciate it. Thanks a lot.
Hello, Dr Childs, do you know of Dr. Anjali Noble in Boca Raton Florida as a functional Doctor? If you can please let me know as Iโm in search of a Doctor here in southeast florida. Thanks so much! Lynn
Dr Childs, thank you so much for your time and work on this website. I really appreciate all of the free information as I’ve been trying to get my thyroid issues corrected for a couple years now. I saw multiple people looking for a Dr to address these issues in Phoenix/Scottsdale. Please look up Dr Tracy Wooten, a homeopath (no insurance unless it’s for your bloodwork) and she does run full panels on T3/T4, and whatever else you need for hormone levels, etc.,
Thank you Dr. Childs for these instructions and information on this troublesome subject. I am inflicted with Hashimotos/hypothyrodiim disease for over 25 years now. I am on levoxythyroxin 112medication and I take vitamins also, Recently, I have discovered that my complexion is getting darker and I’m not in the sun. I have done a 6 weeks protocol with fruits, nuts and vegetables. I feel better and lost some weight but my complexion is still at the same point,,,,,,,,darker. Can this be a thyroid problem and how to correct it. I went to my gasterontologist and will do a full panel blood work. I would like you to take a look at it when I receive it and make recommendations. I am also scheduled to do a colonoscopy next month. Thanks for listening.
I was wondering if you know of any doctor that follows your protocol in the Phoenix area? Any recommendation would be wonderful! Have been struggling with Hashimotoโs for 18 yrs and now have insulin resistance as well as leptin resistance.
Do you have any Dr. recommendation for the thyroid in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area. I really appreciate it.
Hello Sir I do not need of any prescription only seeking openion or Advise …
Hello sir .. Good morning.
I m Dr .Viral Makwana..- Very very grateful to get your treatment.I am much much better now..Sir I need your help regarding thyroid medication dose adjustment in my ongoing pregnancy..
Recently I just found that I m pregnant – 6 weeks on Ultrasound..
(After 11 years of marriage and 2 years back 1 miscarriage so very Precious Pregnancy)..
( I donโt need prescriptions for medicine I just need your advise)..
Do I need to increase my dose of meds I don’t find any doctor here who can guide me to adjust synthetic T4 and T3 in Pregnancy
Please help me to adjust my dose ..
Currently I am taking synthetic T4and T3 combination
Total 25 micro gram T3 and 125 miligram of T4
In divided doses (8am 12.5 T3 and 75 t4 and at 8 pm 12.5 T3 and 50 t4)
My latest blood reports after taking Morning dose (8am dose) and blood given at 8 pm ( before taking evening 8 pm dose ) So after 12 hours of T 3 and T4
My lab report (on 25th February 2021)
Free T3 3.1 ( reference range 2.3-4.2)
Free T4 1.16 ( reference range 0.8-1.7)
TSH. 0.01 ( reference range 0.35-5.55)
Hello!
As long as your TSH is at least around the range of .1 and 1.0 and your free T3 level is at least mid-range then you can be sure that your baby will be getting the thyroid hormone that it needs to thrive ๐ Be sure to also take methyl folate as well as iodine while pregnant to support brain development.
Dr. Childs,
How do you know for sure that you are on too much T3? I have been on 1 grain compounded NDT and 50 mcg T3 for sometime and my Ft3 is still not optimal, yet my TSH is suppressed and my Ft4 is obviously low. I have no symptoms from the T3 except I get heart palps/hard beats. Doctors are telling me T3 is dangerous. A cardiologist I saw told me it was normal for thyroid patients to have heart palps. I am confused and obviously don’t want to damage my heart. The combo that I have been on seems to make me feel the best, although not great. I think I would benefit from more T3, but no doctor os going to prescribe that for me! Any advice?
Hi Michelle,
Your symptoms will tell you if you are taking too much, typically.
Dr. Childs,
Iโve been diagnosed with hashimotos since I was 25. Iโm now 48. Oh the struggle! I have had numerous Endocrinologist. My last one moved out of the area. The one prior to that put me on a Tirosint and Cytomel combination. This seemed to be very effective for several years. However, for the past couple of years I have been struggling and my NP has been treating me. I live in AL. If you know or anyone else on this blog knows of a Great Doctor like you recommend, please let me know…. I take two hour naps every afternoon and still sleep all night. My last test ran was just a T4 and it was .68
Sincerely,
Selena
Hi Selena,
Unfortunately, I don’t have anyone to recommend in the area.
I can lose consciousness and it has been going on for years. I have really had enough and am so outspoken, I shall probably soon be barred from (and hated by) all (obstructive) state health robots.
At the moment, I have elevated my blood pressure (not good is it?), so that I can use my GTN if I am out and about.. and need to stay awake.
In the UK, we have no choices. Everyone thinks our health service is great, but in reality, with certain chronic health conditions, such as autoimmune disease, it is hell on earth for patients. Things are even worse than this, but I shan’t bore you with TMI, but ‘the systems’ in place are why we have such a high Covid death count. This plague having been embraced – for obvious reasons.
Hi Dr. Childs
I can identify with your diagnostic path and need a doc with your thinking to fix me. I started with Synthroid way back in 2003 which hardly worked until it came to a total halt. I was then switched 5 years later by another doc to NDT and put on crazy 270mcg/day to barely operate. my suspicion is that the T3 in the NP is what keeps me moving and now to think that some of T3 is probably reversed in the process would mean I bearly have enough T3 for my fast-twitch muscles
Any recommended doc in the Dallas Fort Worth Area in Texas?
Hi Mike,
Unfortunately, I don’t have anyone to recommend in that area.
Does anyone know of a Dr in Rochester NY who would prescribe Armour thyroid?
Hello and happy Thursday
Thank you for all you do and not least for helping to make the world a better place.
Can you recommend anyone in Denmark, Europe?
Thank you in advance and have a fantastic, fun, healthy and adventurous day :-))
Hello,
I understand that Dr. Childs was in the process of training physicians about 5 years ago. Do we have any physicians trained that we can be referred to?
Hi Irene,
A few were trained and their practices are now full. It was harder than I anticipated to find physicians that were willing to be trained so I have put it on the back burner. There’s a huge market for people who need better thyroid management, the problem is that physicians often take the path of least resistance which is just standard medical practice. Most don’t want to take the risk.
I have been to 3 different doctors even endocrinologist and they all say the same thing. I tell them there is an underlining organ issue or reason my thyroid has been inactive since I was 16 and you testing for just tsh is not correcting the problem it is just masking it. The DR. state: Your thyroid is normal with taking the levothyroxine, and you cannot make it better. If you go off the medication you could die, they tell me, which I do not believe! I have gone in with the list of lab test and asked if they would schedule them for me, they all stated they will not request lab test that they do not see are necessary to do. I even told them I will pay for them if I have to. I live in a town that does not have many options available. I am on levothyroxine and furosemide for water retention have never been on any other medications. I do intermittent fasting and cut all processed, sugar, and minimized my carbs, up my protein and good fat like avocado olives, nuts, I take black seed, I use charcoal tablets when I am detoxing and code live oil packs, I take omega 3, vitamin d3 and k2 and a few others for the past 4 years and my weight fluctuates like a balloon I can weigh myself and will be down 4 pound and next day weigh and be up 8 pounds this is continuous. I have maybe lost 20 pounds in 4 years. I am beside myself because I want to be totally free from all meds and find out why my thyroid is inactive. All the functional medicine doctors in my area do not except insurance or I should say my insurance won’t cover them. I am on fixed income and limited resources and have run out of options on my end. I did just order your thyroid T2 will try taking that with my 175mcg levothyroxine when it arrives. Please any advice other than what you have given is greatly appreciated. Thank you for all your help.