Dr. Westin Childs Podcast: Thyroid | Weight Loss | Hormones

Is it possible to test your thyroid at home? The answer is yes. If you watched the video you can download the free resource I mention in it here: https://www.restartmed.com/start-here/ The only problem with testing your thyroid at home is that the tests available are not quite as accurate as blood tests. Having said that they can still give you very important information. My recommendation is to use these tests in conjunction with your lab tests to give you a better idea as to what is happening with your thyroid. Here are the 4 ways you can test your thyroid at home: #1. Check your symptoms. The first thing you can do is check and monitor your symptoms! Your symptoms give you an idea as to how well your thyroid is working. The worse your symptoms are the worse your thyroid is. You can also check and monitor them over time. #2. Check your basal body temperature. Your body temperature tracks with thyroid function because your thyroid helps control and regulate about 60% of the heat your body produc

Free T4 is an important measurement which gives you an idea how well your thyroid is functioning. But what's interesting about this value is that it changes based on what type of thyroid medication you are taking. You need to understand how these changes manifest to know if you are on the right track. How T4 changes with thyroid medication: - On T4 only thyroid medication. Free T4 tends to increase when taking thyroid medication such as Levothyroxine and Synthroid. This makes perfect sense! You can use your free T4 as a measure to determine if you are taking enough medication. As you take more medication you should see your free T4 increase. - On NDT thyroid medication. On NDT some people experience a dramatic drop in free T4 while others may see a slight increase. How you respond to NDT will depend on your unique biochemistry. - On T3 only thyroid medication. All people taking T3 only thyroid medication will see a drop in free T4 if their dose is high enough! Evaluating your free T4 is importan

Men with hypothyroidism tend to have similar but different symptoms when compared to women. The difference in symptoms stems from the impact that your thyroid has on testosterone. Testosterone, as it turns out, is much more important for men when compared to women. Even minor changes in testosterone can lead to numerous side effects which are separate from hypothyroidism. So, in a sense, men get both the symptoms of hypothyroidism AND low testosterone. Men with hypothyroidism commonly present with any or all of the following symptoms: - Increase in fatigue or decreased energy levels - Decreased libido/sex drive and other changes in sexual function including erectile dysfunction - Inability to build muscle mass or decreased strength - Unexplained weight gain or inability to lose weight despite using therapies that have worked in the past - Changes in mood ranging from feeling "down" to depression In addition to these symptoms men usually present with 1 or more of the following general symptoms of hypot

TSH is a marker of thyroid function and it's incredibly important if you are pregnant. During pregnancy, the thyroid gland enlarges and must produce enough thyroid hormone for both you and your child. If you can't produce enough thyroid hormone then your child may suffer from developmental issues, a low birthweight and potentially a lower than normal IQ. Because of this, doctors recommend that thyroid function be monitored very closely during pregnancy. It also means that the standard "healthy" ranges must be altered during pregnancy to match the increase in demand of thyroid hormone. This means there are new reference ranges for the TSH and other thyroid hormones. You can find these levels below: Standard TSH levels during Pregnancy: First trimester: 0.1 to 2.5 mU/L Second trimester: 0.2 to 3.0 mU/L Third trimester: 0.2 to 3.0 mU/L Normal non-pregnant TSH range: 0.5 to 4.0 mU/L (with newer studies showing that a healthy TSH is probably less than 2.5 (2) and maybe even closer to 1.0 mU/L (3)) M

How long does it take thyroid medication to work? That's the question we will be exploring in today's video. The short answer? About 60% of people will experience some improvement within 4-6 weeks of taking their medication. Another 20% will experience symptomatic relief even sooner and the last 20% may experience symptomatic improvement up to 8+ weeks after starting their medication. Why does it take so long? It has to do with how thyroid hormone works once it's in your body. Thyroid hormone has to interact with your cells and change genetic transcription and this process takes time. Other factors such as your starting dose, whether or not you are taking T3, and your lifestyle can also all impact how quickly your medication will work. Those people who take T3 medications often experience improvement faster than those who take T4 only thyroid medication. Recommended thyroid supplements to enhance thyroid function: - For thyroid hormone production and conversion: https://www.restartmed.com/product/t

The answer is yes. Actually, both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can lead to high blood sugar. This stems from a condition known as insulin resistance in which your cells become resistant to the effects of insulin. Insulin is supposed to help your body take up glucose and utilize it for energy. If it can't then the blood sugar will build up in your blood and you will experience high blood sugar. This condition stems from ANY disorder of thyroid function including both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. And this is also true of thyroid medications. It's not the medications themselves which cause blood sugar but how much you are taking of them. It's possible for thyroid medication to both hurt or help your blood sugar, depending on your dose. In addition to this, hypothyroid patients also suffer from a high cortisol if they do not use an adequate dose of thyroid medication. High cortisol leads to further insulin resistance and can exacerbate high blood sugar. Because of this, if you have hypoth

Thyroid dysfunction can lead to both general hair loss and eyebrow hair loss. Eyebrow hair loss can be particularly troubling because it can cause considerable distress and issues with your appearance. It's important to know that your eyebrows are a sensitive marker of thyroid function in your body. They are often the first sign of thyroid disease and can be the last symptom to improve once you improve your thyroid. 6 steps to improve thyroid eyebrow hair loss include: #1. Take thyroid medication! (If necessary) #2. Ensure that your thyroid medication is actually working. #3. Take hair regrowth supplements (this works for both your hair and eyebrows). #4. Take thyroid enhancing supplements #5. Look at your iron/ferritin #6. Consider switching thyroid medications By following these steps you should be able to improve your eyebrow hair growth and improve your thyroid function at the same time. Always remember that there can be other causes of eyebrow hair loss which are unrelated to your thyroi

The quick answer to the question: Yes, but only in about 10% of the population (based on my estimates and experience). And by reversed I am talking about a 100% complete remission where you are not taking thyroid medication, where your thyroid antibodies are zero, your weight is normalized, and you do not have any symptoms of hypothyroidism. Other people can experience anywhere from minor to major improvements with natural therapies, but the degree that they will improve depends on their individual circumstance. Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease which will eventually result in the complete destruction of your thyroid gland. In the conventional setting, most doctors do not do any treatment for Hashimoto's except using thyroid medications and/or surgery (in some cases). This means that it's up to you to find the treatment you need to fix your condition. If you are interested in reversing Hashimoto's or in treating your condition naturally then you will have more luck getting treatment

Radioactive iodine treatment is a medical treatment used to destroy your thyroid gland. It's used to treat conditions such as hyperthyroidism to help reduce the amount of thyroid hormone that your body produces. As you can imagine, destroying your thyroid gland does come with some consequences. I want to talk about those consequences and what you should expect if you get this procedure done. 6 Things to expect after Radioactive iodine treatment: #1. You are going to be radioactive. - Yes! It is true. You will be radioactive for about 5-7 days after your procedure which means you shouldn't be close to other people for that time. You can't kiss others, prepare food for others, share a toilet, and so on. This fades in about 5-7 days so don't let it freak you out. #2. You may gain weight. - This is another big one. There is about a 30% chance that you will gain weight after your procedure. Studies have tested and looked at people who undergo RAI and they have found that those who are overweight before

Can taking thyroid medication alter your blood pressure? The answer is absolutely. It doesn't happen all the time, but certain types of thyroid medication can lead to a rise in your blood pressure. Your cardiac tissue (heart cells) have different thyroid receptors when compared to most other cells. As a result, they are particularly sensitive to T3 thyroid hormone. When they come into contact with T3 it can act to increase the force of contraction of your heart which increases both your heart rate and your blood pressure. What can you do about it? #1. Pay attention to your dose (if your dose is too high you may need to lower your medication). #2. Take your dose of medication several times throughout the day. - By splitting up your dose throughout the day you can slow down how much thyroid hormone hits your heart. #3. Consider switching to a different thyroid medication. - Lastly, if you can't find any relief from the steps above then you may need to switch medications entirely. Switching from one c

NP Thyroid is a form of natural desiccated thyroid hormone which is similar but different than Armour thyroid. Both medications contain the same active ingredients but they differ in the inactive ingredients. This small difference can greatly impact how you feel when you use or take these medications. Armour thyroid contains the following ingredients: Triiodothyronine (active ingredient) Thyroxine (active ingredient) Calcium stearate Dextrose Microcrystalline cellulose (May cause reactions in some people Sodium starch glycolate Opadry white Minor amounts of calcitonin, T1, T2, and proteins NP thyroid contains the following ingredients: Triiodothyronine (active ingredient) Thyroxine (active ingredient) Calcium stearate Dextrose monohydrate Maltodextrin Mineral oil Minor amounts of calcitonin, T1, T2, and proteins You can see from the list that NP thyroid has slightly fewer ingredients and may be better tolerated for some people. In addition, NP thyroid is also cheaper when compared to Armour thyroid.

If you are confused about thyroid medication names then this is the video for you. In this video, I break down how various thyroid medications differ from one another and what thyroid hormones that they contain. There are two main types of thyroid hormones: T4 and T3. Thyroid medications contain both or just one or the other of these hormones which impact how they work in your body. T4 only thyroid medications include: - Synthroid (Brand name) - Levothyroxine (Generic) - Tirosint (Brand name - special in that it only has 4 total ingredients) - Levoxyl - Unithroid - Euthyrox - Levo-T - Levothroid *T4 only thyroid medications MUST be activated by your body in order to be used. NDT (Natural Desiccated thyroid hormone) medications include: - Armour Thyroid (Brand name) - NP Thyroid (Generic for Armour Thyroid) - WP Thyroid - Nature-Throid - Thyrolar *NDT medications contain a combination of T4 and T3 thyroid hormone. T3 only thyroid medications: - Cytomel (Brand name) - Liothyronine (Generic) - SR T

Thyroid pain is never a normal symptom and the presence of this symptom is an indication that something is wrong. Believe it or not, thyroid pain is not a common symptom even though thyroid disorders are quite common. Almost all conditions which result in thyroid pain do so because of inflammation in the thyroid gland itself. This inflammation could be from your own immune system, from an infection, or from trauma. With this in mind, let's talk about conditions that cause thyroid pain: #1. Subactue thyroiditis. - This is the most common cause of thyroid pain among patients and is usually caused by a viral infection. #2. Hashimoto's Thyroiditis - Rarely, Hashimoto's thyroiditis (which is an autoimmune condition) can cause thyroid pain. But most people with this condition do NOT have thyroid pain. #3. Lymphadenopathy - Lymphadenopathy refers to a condition in which your lymph nodes are enlarged and sensitive. While this isn't exactly thyroid pain, this condition can be confused with thyroid pain bec

Can you use thyroid supplements to help you with weight loss? The answer is maybe and that it really depends. Some supplements work better than others, but you should never plan on only using supplements if your goal is weight loss. Why? Because it usually takes a lot more than just 1 or 2 supplements to help you lose all of your weight and feel back to normal. This should go without saying, but just keep it in mind. Having said that, there are certain categories of supplements which can help thyroid patients with weight loss. These categories include: #1. Supplements that increase T3. - T3 is king when it comes to weight loss. Any supplement which helps to promote more T3 may, therefore, help with weight loss. Certain supplements such as selenium, zinc, guggul, and vitamin A can help more than others. #2. Supplements that support your metabolism. - One of the most important things you can do to help with weight loss is enhance your metabolism. Certain supplements, such as protein powder, can impr

The answer is that it really depends. Sometimes hypothyroidism is curable and sometimes it isn't, it depends on the cause of your condition. Before we talk about these conditions you need to understand the difference between a cure and a treatment. All forms of hypothyroidism can be treated but when I talk about a cure I am talking about a therapy which will completely heal your body. All types of hypothyroidism are treatable but not all are curable. Conditions that cause hypothyroidism include... Hypothyroidism from Hashimoto's thyroiditis: - The most common cause of hypothyroidism is from Hashimoto's which is both treatable and curable. Most people do not realize a complete cure but they can almost always improve their condition, symptoms, and antibody levels. Hypothyroidism from nutrient deficiencies: - If your thyroid dysfunction is caused by a nutrient deficiency then there is a good chance that it can be cured. Simply taking the nutrient you are deficient in may be enough to cure your condition.

Are you taking too much Synthroid? Synthroid is the most commonly prescribed medication in the US which means that millions of people are taking this medicine. Of those millions, there will always be a small percentage who are either taking too much or too little. We are going to focus on those people who are taking too much. Symptoms of taking too much Synthroid include... Common but less serious side effects: Increased hair loss Weight loss (sometimes but not always) Tremors in the extremities Jittery sensation Heart palpitations Anxiety Flushing of the skin Heat intolerance (not able to stand hot environments) Rare, but serious side effects of Synthroid overdose include: Osteoporosis or decreased bone density Heart enlargement Atrial fibrillation Chest pain Shortness of breath *If you experience any of these symptoms you should seek medical care as soon as possible. If you are experiencing any of these side effects then you can check your blood work to confirm that you are indeed taking too much.

Do supplements help or hurt your thyroid? Many supplements can actually improve your thyroid function but they can also interfere with thyroid medication absorption! If you are taking supplements and if you take thyroid medication then this information is important for you. Certain medications and over the counter supplements can act to block or bind up thyroid medication like Levothyroxine or Synthroid. If you take supplements together with your thyroid medication then you may be limiting how much thyroid medication can actually enter into your body. The most important supplements which inhibit thyroid hormone absorption include: - Iron - Calcium - Cholestyramine - Aluminum - Cimetidine - Sucralfate - Iodine - Selenium - Magnesium - Zinc - Fiber - Caffeine - Antacids If you are taking any of these supplements (or medications) then you need to make sure that you don't take them around the same time as your thyroid medication. In addition, the time of day that you take your medication and whether o

Is using iodine safe for your thyroid? In this video, I discuss all of the potential risks associated with using iodine. Iodine is an essential nutrient required for thyroid function in your body, there's no question about that. But does using high doses of iodine help or hurt you? Will using iodine worsen your thyroid function? It turns out that using high doses of iodine may be associated with an increase in certain conditions. 4 conditions that may result from excessive thyroid dosing include: #1. Thyroid cancer. - Studies have shown that iodine use is associated with a rise in cancer rates. This doesn't mean that iodine causes thyroid cancer but it is worth considering. #2. Autoimmune thyroiditis. - This shouldn't be controversial, but there is emerging evidence that taking iodine can increase your risk of developing autoimmune thyroiditis. #3. Fetal hypothyroidism. - The fetal thyroid is more sensitive to iodine when compared to the thyroid gland of the mother. Using high doses of iodine

What is a normal free T4? If you are looking for a quick answer then somewhere in the top 50% of the reference range is a good starting point but it is much more nuanced than that. Various other conditions, even taking thyroid medication, can impact your free T4 and change up what would be considered normal. In addition, because T4 is a hormone, we also need to establish the difference between a healthy and a normal level. A healthy free T4 is one that would be seen in people who are active, healthy, and have no thyroid problems. But what does your free T4 actually mean? Free t4 is a measure of the number of free T4 which is available in your blood. Free T4 simply means that the T4 hormone we are measuring is not bound up by proteins and is available for your body to use. But, even though it is available for use doesn't mean that it is active. In order to be active, free T4 must be turned into T3. Luckily, we have the ability to check both free T4 and free T3 to evaluate how well this is happening. So

There is a big difference between optimal thyroid lab tests and normal lab tests. The reference range for your lab tests includes both healthy and unhealthy people that you are compared to. By creating a tighter reference range for your lab tests you can ensure that you are being compared to only healthy people. In this video, I go over 2 examples of how to calculate this reference range for both Free T3 and free T4 and show you exactly how to do it. Free T3 example: You generally want your free T3 in the top 30% of the reference range in order to be optimal: Reference range = 1.7 to 3.7 Step #1. Find the spread between the range by subtracting the top end of the range from the bottom end. In this case, it’s 3.7 and 1.7. So, 3.7 minus 1.7 equals 2.0. This number represents the total range between the top and bottom end of the reference range. This range is often very large and so it’s important to find out where you fall within it. Step #2. Multiply the spread by the percentage value that you