Diagnosis. Getting Tested, and Re-Tested if necessary. And even if all your lab’ tests turn out normal, you’re still likely have sub-clinical hypothyroidism if you have multiple symptoms. If you’re GP won’t order these tests, then perhaps it’s time to find a good ‘Integrative’ GP and/or a Naturopath.
WHAT TO TEST.
- TSH Test – The ideal level for TSH is between 1 and 1.5 milli-international units per litre. The higher your level of TSH, the higher the likelihood that you have hypothyroidism.
- Free T4 And Free T3 – The normal level of free T4 is between 0.9 and 1.8 nanograms per deciliter. T3 should be between 240 and 450 picograms per deciliter.
- Thyroid Antibody Testing – includes antibodies and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies. This measure helps determine if your body is attacking your thyroid, overreacting to its own tissues – i.e. autoimmune reactions. This is almost never automatically tested.
- Basal Body Temperature – A measure of your basal body temperature at rest.
- TRH Stimulation Test – For more difficult cases, TRH can be measured using the TRH stimulation test. TRH helps identify hypothyroidism that’s caused by inadequacy of the pituitary gland.
When your body is working well, it will make what you need and have the right amounts of T3 and T4 – properly controlling the metabolism of every cell in your body. Happy days!
If your T3 is inadequate, your whole body suffers. T3 is critically important because it sends messages to your metabolism to burn fat. In this way T3 lowers cholesterol levels, regrows hair, and helps keep your weight even.
T3 levels can get out of whack from:
– a poor diet
– toxic overload
– allergens
– infections
– stress