Jules ChandlerWe’ve collated some of the most frequently asked questions about thyroid conditions and given you the answers.
Do I really have to commit to a three month programme?
Unfortunately there are no “quick fixes” with healthcare.
Hormonal health (thyroid being one of the major hormones in the body) can often be like turning an ocean liner! Slow and steady. This doesn’t mean you will need to work with a practitioner for months or years! We often see many smaller changes after the first session.
However, investing three months in your health not only guarantees a momentum, it allows your body to “catch up” and heal while being supported by your practitioner to stay on the right track.
Taking someone through a full case history takes time and many thyroid clients are incredibly complex. The initial session will allow us to get to know how you and your body works. We like to know how you have got along with the changes we have suggested so that we can alter them to make them work better or to add to them to move you forward further.
We are confident that if you follow the guidelines and suggestions that we coach you with, you will absolutely see results and feel better.
Each person is completely unique and although we have an idea of how a body will react to the small changes we make, working over a period of three months gives time for you and I to reflect on what is happening and how you are healing.
There is always an opportunity to continue working with your practitioner, either by block booking a few sessions at a time or on a Pay As You Go basis. We are happy to see you whenever you need a “top up”. Often clients will sometimes need a tweak, redirecting back onto the right track sometimes months, or even years, later.
What will I need to do? Will I need to go vegan? Will I need to eat meet if I am a vegan?!? Or will I need to give up everything I love to eat!??
Don’t panic!
All of our practitioners are well practiced in reality! We have been where you are right now. And we we understand completely how it is to make changes, large or small. We know not everyone can move on over to kale overnight and we wouldn’t expect you to! Regardless of how you like to eat, or what your lifestyle is, we can support you, meet you where you are at with it all and build on that lifestyle.
Each client is are unique and all of your plans and suggestions will be unique to you. There will always be some similarities with how we support each of our clients, for example, most Thyroid Collective practitioners will start with a gut heal if it’s appropriate, but this will be suggested to you in a way that fits into your lifestyle completely.
Why is nutritional therapy so expensive?
We work a lot on your case! We don’t just work with you within your session.
All of work is science based and needs time to be researched. Of course, we all know a lot of basic nutritional information that we can pull out immediately but our client’s conditions are often extremely complex. They need to be researched in depth. On top of that, there are always new tests and supplements being developed and, as you may know, science is never still. There are always new scientific papers and research to consider.
Each practitioner will spend time reading over your notes before your consultation and then take time to formulate your plan after each session. Compiling a plan can take between 30 minutes to 3 hours depending on the complexity of the case.
Why do I still feel so poorly even on thyroid medication?
It could be a number of issues; certain everyday foods or supplements can inhibit the absorption of Levothyroxine (t4). Perhaps stress is a huge factor, or there may be some key nutrients missing from the diet, in which case the conversion between t4 and t3 thyroid hormones can be blocked. Some patients have a genetic DNA SNP (we call this a snip) which will impact on how your body converts Levothyroxine. We can get this tested. Whatever the cause, we can get to the root of it to help you manage it.
How do I know if my thyroid isn’t working – what if it is something else?
We can determine this with private lab testing. We are by no means diagnosticians; however, lab testing will indicate low thyroid hormones levels or autoimmune factors. We also work closely with your GP and refer back to them if necessary for any further testing.
Can I work with you if I have other medical conditions or are already on many different medications?
Absolutely. We are fully trained to work with all medical conditions and all pharmaceutical medications. Any supplements we use are always cross-referenced to ensure that there are no contraindications to them being used with your currently diagnosed condition or medication. There are many “cross-over” symptoms with thyroid disease and part of our job is to help you understand which symptom is coming from where.
Why is my thyroid not working properly?
There are many reasons why your thyroid isn’t working properly right now. But with a thorough case taking history and by looking at your testing results, we can work out together where this has come from and how it can be managed. The thyroid never suddenly stops working. It often has a trigger and has usually been showing symptoms that have been disregarded by the patient (or unfortunately the GP) for many years.
Will I ever feel “normal” again?
We’re not sure what “normal” means! But we really hope you will feel happy, empowered and in control of your health. If you are committed to change, then you have a better chance of recovering and managing your thyroid health.
Why AM I SO TIRED? ALL the time?
It is very likely that your thyroid’s T3 hormone output is low and therefore there is very little energy in your body. This will affect every cell in your body and will result in fatigue, pain, brain fog and slowing you down. Sometimes it will manifest in what we call a “tired and wired” feeling; you cannot sleep but you’re exhausted.
Read my blog post Tired All The Time?>>
Why does my GP constantly say that there is nothing wrong with me? And that my results are normal?? Yet I still feel awful!
The GP will have run a TSH test to check if your Thyroid Stimulating Hormones are in range. That TSH range runs between 0.27 to 4.2 in the UK and often GP’s will not give anyone medication until it has run up to 10. Naturopathically, we say anything above 2 and your thyroid is struggling to create enough t4 and t3 hormone. If you are lucky enough to have your t4 and t3 tested, these ideally need to be in the top quarter of the range (which is also rather a large range!).
Incidentally, I do not believe there is such thing as “borderline thyroid” which the GP’s call anyone with a result at the top end of the TSH range (so around 4 and above). It’s not borderline, it is struggling. In our dedicated clinic, we can test to see exactly which hormones are being released from your thyroid (T4, T3) so that we know exactly what is going on.
Why don’t GP’s run any other tests?
The short answer? Time and money. Sorry. That’s just the way it is. But we can test privately which will us a broader picture of exactly what is going on.
Why won’t the GP take any of my symptoms into account?
Thyroid disease effects every single cell in the body. If the GP has ran your TSH and it has come back “within range”, they will generally be quite stumped as to what’s going on. Generally they won’t go deeper with any further testing. And without the necessary lab work, patients often end up with an umbrella diagnosis such as chronic fatigue, ME, fibromyalgia. This isn’t to say you don’t have that, but thyroid health will play a huge part in those conditions if it hasn’t been diagnosed.
Is there ever a chance I can stop taking my Levothyroxine?
We have seen many patients improve their diet and lifestyle management which in turn facilitates the better conversion and utilisation of their medication. As the GP interprets their patient’s now above optimal lab results, there is an indication that the patient is now overmedicated and needs a reduction in their synthetic medication. This in turn results in a lowered dose of Levothyroxine from their GP.
Can you get me onto Natural Desiccated Thyroid medication?
We cannot prescribe NDT but we can certainly discuss the differences and benefits of taking NDT in comparison to Levothyroxine. We can support you in the process of readying the body for taking NDT and signpost you to a private GP who may be able to prescribe.
Do I really have to stop eating gluten??
If your lab work is showing autoimmunity then yes, you do. But then, it’s also up to you. We can’t make you do anything! But we can supply you with the latest science to make your own decisions. There is a great deal of research to indicate that gluten is contained in the process of molecular mimicry. This will drive an autoimmune antibody response which attacks the thyroid TPO and Thyroglobulin receptors. So you may want to switch that gluten out right now!
What do I need to do to sign up for help?!?
Click here to get in touch with a trusted Thyroid Collective practitioner. Whatever you are going through or if you have more questions about thyroid conditions, we can help you.
