A terrifying return from maternity leave struggling with memory problems left me (Dr Sarah) struggling to prescribe made me feel as though I was losing my mind.
Thyroid health is a topic close to my heart. Having suffered from severe low energy, brain fog and weight gain associated with hypothyroidism, I know what it feels like for your metabolism and brain to malfunction as a consequence of a lack of vital thyroid hormone.
For many patients, finally getting a diagnosis and relief from symptoms with standard treatment can be life-changing. Hair loss stops, and sluggish gut and dry skin become a thing of the past.
However, for many of the patients we see at Functional Nexus, taking the standard treatment of prescribed Levothyroxine never really seems to help.
For these patients, getting a diagnosis may be followed by years of unremitting and frustrating symptoms – in the face of normal test results. Many patients are offered anti-depressants or simply told to eat less and exercise more – their evident change in health status is often dismissed as being due to ageing or stress.
For this minority, we believe it’s vital to investigate what’s really happening, learn why the medication is not working, and offer a holistic approach to solve the very real and complex issue of poor thyroid hormone metabolism.
For me, a lifetime of high mercury levels (inherited from my dentist mother), coupled with a genetic variant which reduces my capacity to properly activate the thyroid hormone, eventually led to symptomatic hypothyroidism when my thyroid gland started to reduce in function due to autoimmune attack after pregnancy (largely driven by my sensitivity to gluten).
Fortunately, a functional medicine approach—a change in diet, nutritional support, and a more nuanced approach to Thyroid support—means I can once again think creatively, prescribe with ease, recall your patient’s history with amazing accuracy, enjoy exercise, and no longer struggle with memory and motivation.
In the clinic, we have seen many patients really benefit from this approach and reclaim their health and vitality. Often, these are women at the height of their careers who, like me, suddenly find themselves unable to function in the workplace, fighting to understand why, desperate to find answers.
The great news is that we can offer hope and relief.
So, if your thyroid medication is ‘never quite right’, if you’re teetering on the edge of ‘subclinical hypothyroidism’ (which perhaps feels clinically relevant to you), or if your blood tests are perfect but your hair loss and weight gain are continuing, we offer a comprehensive and holistic approach to thyroid assessment.
Our consultant Endocrinologist, Dr La Rosa, offers our Functional Medicine Doctors expert support, and we are happy to see complex cases of both hyper and hypothyroidism.
To learn more about our nuanced approach and investigation of the ‘root causes’ associated with complex thyroid problems, complete our appointment enquiry form HERE or do reach out to our experienced patient care team HERE for more advice.
References:
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