In the last article in this series, I shared many of the symptoms of thyroid imbalance. If you feel even one of these symptoms is affecting you, the next step is to order tests that check your thyroid function. However, many practitioners only check for a few of the essentials and often overlook levels that give valuable insight into your thyroid levels. Before requesting lab work, read this article to be sure to know which tests to request!

How to Monitor the Thyroid

A simple blood test will determine whether your thyroid is functioning optimally. Most practitioners will order bloodwork to test your levels of both TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) and Total T4. While this may indicate an abnormality, for many living with an autoimmune thyroid condition like Graves’ Disease or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, a complete set of thyroid tests is necessary. TSH is made in the pituitary and only measures what your brain is telling your thyroid to do. There are ten steps in thyroid hormone production and you can measure most of them. To be thorough in your blood tests you need the following:

• Free T4
• Free T3
• Antithyroid antibodies
• Reverse T3
• Thyroglobulin levels and antibodies

If you wish to understand your body even better, ask about further testing once you’ve reviewed your initial results.

Even when these tests appear normal by the lab’s standards, your thyroid may still be underperforming. Functional medicine practitioners like me also look at these labs from a functional standpoint. Our parameters for normal are different. Also, you may be thyroid resistant which may not show up in your tests at all! There’s so much to know about the thyroid!

If you have any of the symptoms, find a doctor who can help you unravel them to find out the underlying cause.

A Thyroid Masterclass

Whether your thyroid is functioning optimally or not, learning more about its role in our health is a wonderful way to connect with this important gland. I am excited to announce that I am taking part in The Thyroid Secret, a masterclass which sheds light on how the thyroid influences every aspect of our health.

This begins on January 19th at 12:00pm PST.

The Thyroid Secret’s 9 part documentary series is going to be premiering for a very select group of people and I want you to be a part of it. It’s 100% FREE for you! Come and participate and you’ll also be exposed to some of the most cutting-edge thyroid health information on the planet.

That’s right; it’s both free and loaded with TOP health experts from around the world who share their knowledge and expertise and reveal the truth about thyroid disease.

Here are just a few of the big names in the film:……ME!!! 😛 and these amazing experts.

Dr. Izabella Wentz: Internationally acclaimed thyroid disease expert, pharmacist-practitioner, researcher, and patient advocate who overcame her own autoimmune thyroid condition (Hashimoto’s) and has also helped thousands of others do the same utilizing her root cause approach to healing! Dr. Wentz focuses on innovative treatments options and reversing thyroid disease at its roots!

Andrea Nakayama: Functional nutritionist, founder of Replenish PDX, Holistic Nutrition Lab and co-founder of Hashimoto’s Institute

Dr. Kelly Brogan: Manhattan-based psychiatrist who helps women uncover the real reason behind their anxiety and depression. Dr. Brogan reversed her own thyroid condition (Hashimoto’s) and now works exclusively with patients who want to take back their own health using her revolutionary approach!

Dr. Mark Hyman: Internationally respected physician and leader in the functional medicine movement, Dr. Hyman trains physicians all over the world on his approach!

Dr. Sarah Ballantyne: World-renowned autoimmune researcher turned blogger, Dr. Ballantyne shares both nutritional and lifestyle approaches that can work better than medications in restoring health!

PLUS MORE!

Thyroid disease isn’t a single symptom issue. The Thyroid Secret experts extensively cover all of these topics over nine episodes:

Diagnosis and Misdiagnosis: The many elusive symptoms and how to finally get the answers you need.

Medications: Did you know that most people with thyroid disorders are treated with medications that are not effective (and are also sometimes dangerous)?

Thyroid cancer: What to do when you are told you have the C-word.

Fertility: The truth behind how this vulnerable time in a woman’s life is affected by thyroid disease (and also what to do about it).

Hashimoto’s: Reversing Hashimoto’s naturally.

Thyroid nodules: How to shrink them.

Graves’: Reversing Graves’ disease naturally without removing your thyroid and the toxic treatments.

How to overcome symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, weight gain and more… for good!

And so much more- you HAVE to check it out!

Isn’t it time to know the truth about healing? The Thyroid Secret’s whole mission is to raise awareness about thyroid disease and empower people to implement natural alternatives and therapies to get their health back.

Register Today and reserve your spot for the FREE viewing. Spots are filling up faster than I can type, so don’t delay. Do it now. It’ll take 1 minute tops, and it could literally be the life-changing key to unlocking your health and living your best life.

Click HERE to register.

You can start watching Episode 1 on January 19th at 12:00pm PST. I will also be there!