Thyroid what doctor to see

Q: Tell me about the most popular alternative medicines for thyroid disease and the evidence, if there is any, for their use. A: First of all, the thyroid gland primarily makes T4, and just a little bit of T3. T3 is the active thyroid hormone that controls metabolism, etc. Levothyroxine is primarily T4, so people have been theoretically interested in giving T3 directly as an alternative.

There was a study in that showed some potential benefits of giving a combination of T4 Synthroid and T3 Cytomel agents. However, a meta-analysis of 11 research studies showed that there was no evidence of benefit of combination T4 and T3 regimens. Armour Thyroid Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc. However, the problem with Armour Thyroid is that the ratio of T4 to T3 thyroid hormone it contains can vary from batch to batch. I've had patients complain of palpitations and nervousness at times and studies reveal that blood levels of T3 can fluctuate substantially with T3-containing regimens in comparison with levels seen in patients with normal thyroid function or taking T4 preparations.

As far as a thyroid diet is concerned, we have no evidence that any particular diet specifically helps thyroid function. Of course, people need to consume sufficient quantities of iodine or else goiters can result. Q: Do you see a lot of patients who self-diagnose hypothyroidism through a Google search? A: Yes. The symptoms of hypothyroidism are often non-specific.

Weight gain and fatigue are very prevalent in general. I often find that people are trying to get by on six hours of sleep, eating poorly, and not exercising, and then they complain of fatigue and weight gain and want to ascribe it to a thyroid problem. That being said, the occasional patient does correctly self- diagnose themselves with hypothyroidism based on information obtained on-line or in books. Q: What is the best advice to give a patient with hypothyroidism when they complain that their T4 agent is not making them feel fully well?

A: Again, I'd want to find out more about their sleep, diet and exercise habits. I'd also make sure their TSH was in an optimal therapeutic range and that they were taking their medicine at regular intervals.

Calcium and iron can bind thyroid hormone in the gut so it's important not to take levothyroxine with vitamin supplements, and proton-pump inhibitors can also reduce their absorption.

You may als What is hypoparathyroidism? Hypoparathyroidism is when the body does not make or respond to a hormone called PTH. PTH, or par Will my voice change after thyroid surgery? What steps should someone take if they think they have a thyroid condition?

They should either see their primary care physician or an endocrinologist and discuss their symptoms in detail. If they have had any previous tests done on the thyroid, it would be helpful to bring those to the visit. Screening for thyroid problems is done with a thyroid stimulating hormone TSH level, which can be obtained at any time of the day with a blood draw and can help direct further need for testing. Her office is located at Lomita Blvd.

She can be reached at Patients will benefit from a specialized practice with five physicians who treat conditions including adrenal disorders, diabetes, osteoporosis, pituitary diseases and thyroid conditions. The office provides treatments, therapies and services that include assessment for hormone deficiencies and excess syndromes, insulin pump therapy, nutrition counseling, testing for adrenal tumors and ultrasound of thyroid.

The most common health problem endocrinologists treat today is diabetes—it affects 1 in 10 adults in California. Be sure to educate yourself about the effect of pregnancy on your condition, and vice versa, if you have an underactive thyroid. Pregnancy changes your hormone levels considerably. Some women need between 25 percent to 50 percent more thyroid hormone while pregnant. Another reason to work with an endocrinologist during pregnancy: untreated hypothyroidism increases the risk of having a miscarriage.

Your primary care doctor most likely has names of endocrinologists he or she can refer you to. Or you can visit the website of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists or the American Thyroid Association to search for endocrinologists in your area. By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.