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Thyroiditis

Dysfunction of the thyroid gland may induce a temporary hyperthyroid state before it burns out and the condition turns into the more characteristic hypothyroid function, often seen in our clinic. The symptoms include gradual changes in the patient’s personality coupled with a slow in of speech, thickening and puffiness of the hands and face, mental apathy, drowsiness, sensitivity to the cold and constipation. The woman patient’s menses become extremely copious; rarely there may be psychotic depression or dementia.

The trouble is that tests of the patient’s thyroid function (thyroxin levels (T3 and T4), thyroid stimulating hormone levels, etc.) usually prove normal. Excessive reliance on the value of laboratory tests, however, may prompt many physicians to pronounce the patient normal and he or she is then denied further treatment when needed.

Barnes developed and promoted a diagnostic test for thyroid function that became known as the “Barnes Basal Temperature Test”. This means recording one’s daily temperature first thing in the morning (in bed before getting up). The readings should ideally be taken rectally. Don’t take the readings sublingually; that’s unreliable. You can use under the armpit; the thermometer should be held there for at least three minutes to get a reliable reading.

Barnes considered a measurement of 97.8 °F (36.6 °C) or below to be highly indicative of hypothyroidism, especially when hypothyroid symptoms are present. Barnes believed that a reading over 98.2 °F (36.8 °C) was indicative of hyperthyroidism unless a patient had advanced arthritis, which he claimed would falsely elevate the temperature due to muscle contractions. See: Barnes, Broda (1976). Hypothyroidism: the Unsuspected Illness. HarperCollins. ISBN 0-690-01029-X

A better laboratory test is to assess the patient for anti-thyroid and anti-thyroxine antibodies. This is done by an immuno assay test which is quite sensitive. But such a test isn’t included in routine thyroid function tests and therefore needs to be requested specially by the physician. The best tests are thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO) level and anti-thyroglobulin antibody level.

Examination of the patient may reveal a goiter and a characteristic thyroid gland that is lumpy and grainy. If still in doubt about the diagnosis, a thyroid scan may be necessary.

According to Dr Phyllis Saifer, a US physician specializing in allergy and endocrinopathy, she has on occasion had to arrange surgical removal of the thyroid gland in order to prevent the patient from continually generating antibodies that attack thyroid hormone manufacture. The patient is maintained thereafter on hormone replacement tablets.

Obviously this is a drastic step and, thankfully, rarely seems necessary. It would only be called for if all intermediate measures fail. However, these measures could not be expected to succeed in the absence of a comprehensive environmental programme; it is no use treating just one aspect of body load and ignoring all others.

Low Dose Naltrexone:

Naltrexone is a an opioid antagonist, and when taken in low doses, has been found to elevate your endorphins, which in turn promotes better immune function. Thus, many Hashi’s patients report a lowering of their antibodies while using this medication. It may be challenging to get a prescription from your doctor if he or she hasn’t learned about the effectiveness of LDN, so you can refer him to this LDN science site.

The way it’s used by patients is to dissolve one 50 mg Naltrexone tablet with 50 ml of distilled water in an amber glass bottle. It has to be shaken before use. Using a baby medicine dropper, or even more accurate, a syringe, many patients start at 1.5 ml and mix it with water or juice. It’s taken a bedtime, since the best action occurs during sleep. Patients report vivid dreaming the first several nights, but it goes away. They slowly make their way up to 3 mg. The maximum is 4.5, but many like the results from 3 mg. Once antibodies fall, you may suddenly find yourself on too much medication for your needs.

Check into LDN groups on Yahoo and Facebook.