Symptoms
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Do you think you might have thyroid disease but aren't sure?  Here is a description of the symptoms of hypothyroidism (Hashimoto's Thyroiditis), hyperthyroidism (Graves' Disease), and Ophthalmopathy or Thyroid Eye Disease (TED).  If you're still not sure, get to a doctor and have a thyroid panel done.  If the thyroid panel doesn't show elevated or depressed hormone levels, consider other options such as hypertension or Pheochromocytoma.

GRAVES' DISEASE/HYPERTHYROIDISM SYMPTOMS

  1. Rapid Heart Rate, often first noticeable about 4-6 am.
  2. Sweating, trembling, and feeling hot.
  3. High libido.
  4. Rapid loss of weight and muscle strength.
  5. Inability to exercise because of rapid heart rate.
  6. Significant increase in heart rate when frightened which doesn't decrease as normal.
  7. Itching or protruding eyes (beginning of TED, thyroid eye disease.
  8. Inability to think clearly, or brain fog.
  9. Psychiatric problems associated with the above symptoms.
  10. Thyroid storms which are periods of severe rapid heart beat which makes you wonder if you're going to live or die.

Hyperthyroidism is a very serious situation and life threatening.  People die every day of it.  If you are having thyroid storms, you need to get to a doctor as soon as possible.  You are in real trouble and could die of a heart attack.   If it is an emergency and you cannot get to a doctor or secure proper medication, take calcium and magnesium in a 1:1 ratio (take extra magnesium if necessary), or take only magnesium if no calcium is available.  You may need to take 6-12 capsules to control a thyroid storm.  Also read the foods not to take as these can precipitate a thyroid storm.

The antithyroid medications are not dangerous for most people.  They carry some risk for long-term use, but many people have been taking them for over 20 years.  Once on the antithyroid drugs (ATDs) you can begin a supplement program.  I believe that by supplementing with copper and the other nutrients in the Supplement List that you should gradually recover and be 80-95% recovered in three months.  If you have had hyperthyroidism for a long time, recovery will probably take longer.

HASHIMOTO'S THYROIDITIS/HYPOTHYROIDISM

  1. Low energy.
  2. Depression.
  3. Low libido.
  4. Feeling cold and having a subnormal body temperature.
  5. Gaining weight.
  6. Getting a round face.
  7. Developing a yellow tint to the skin, from being unable to convert beta carotene into vitamin A.
  8. Low pulse rate.
  9. Inability to think clearly, or brain fog.
  10. Irritability.

If you have any of the above symptoms, you should get to a doctor and get a blood sample taken to determine thyroid hormone levels.  Many people, especially women, are misdiagnosed and told that they are depressed, or that "it's all in your head."  Demand a thyroid test so that you will know.

 

 

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