ARE YOU STILL SUFFERING THYROID SYMPTOMS? Thyroid / Throat / Neck / Mouth
___ I have a goiter ___I have a "buzzy" feeling in my neck/thyroid area ___ My thyroid/neck is enlarged ___I sometimes feel like I am choking or have ___ I can feel a lump -- or what appears to be something stuck in my throat
some sort of fullness or growth -- in my ___Sometimes it's hard to swallow
neck or thyroid area ___My tongue feels thick and/or trembles
I have pain and tenderness in my neck and/or ___ I have enlarged and/or tender lymph nodes ___thyroid ___ I find neckties, turtlenecks, necklaces and or ___My voice has become hoarse, husky, or gravelly. scarves around my neck uncomfortable
Weight Changes / Appetite Changes
___ I feel thirsty much of the time ___I am able to eat more and not gain weight ___ I am unusually hungry ___I am able to eat more and am still losing weight ___ I have no appetite ___I can't gain weight, even if I eat more ___ I am losing weight, even though I haven't changed ___I am gaining weight without a change in diet my diet and exercise or exercise
___ I have experienced rapid and/or dramatic weight loss ___I am unable to lose weight, despite proper diet without particularly dieting and exercise
___ I am losing weight during pregnancy ___I am having excessive vomiting and nausea -- ___ I am craving and/or eating more carbohydrates accompanied by weight loss -- in pregnancy
(bread, rice, pasta, sweets, fruits, sugary foods, etc.) ___I have had a baby in the last year and experienced a
___ I'm a diabetic, and having symptoms of poor blood rapid and/or dramatic weight loss without dieting
sugar control ( hunger, shakiness when hungry) ___I have recently been diagnosed as anorexic
Bloating/Fluid in the Abdomen ___ I have rapidly gained weight in the abdominal area ___My ankles are swollen I am experiencing abdominal discomfort and ___ distention ___I’m experiencing shortness of breath Temperature
___ I am very intolerant of any temperature extremes -- ___My "normal" basal body temperature is lower than hot or cold 97.8 to 98.2 degrees Fahrenheit.
___ I have a low-grade fever ___I feel warm or hot when others are cold, or cold ___ I have been diagnosed as having hypothermia (low when others are warm
body temperature). ___I'm experiencing hot flashes
___ I feel cold, especially in the hands and/or feet. ___I'm sweating excessively, or much less than normal ___ I'm frequently thirsty
Slowness
___ My movements are slower than normal ___My speech is slower than normal
Heart
___ My pulse rate is particularly low or high (insert ___I feel heart palpitations, flutters, skipped beats, beats per minute here ______bpm) strange patterns or rhythms
___ I have unusually low or high blood pressure ___I have frequent headaches ___ I feel like my heart is racing or pounding ___I often feel breathless ___ I feel like I can "hear" my heartbeat in my head ___I frequently feel dizzy ___ I have occasional chest pain
Gastrointestinal System
___ I have more frequent bowel movements ___I have constipation ___ My bowel movements are looser than normal ___I have to urinate more frequently ___ I have diarrhea ___I am experiencing nausea and/or vomiting ___ I have pain in the upper right abdominal area
Breathing ___ I experience periods of shortness of breath ___I have tightness in the chest ___ Occasionally, I feel the need to yawn to get oxygen
Dizziness ___ Vertigo and dizziness ___Lightheaded feeling, dizziness
Hearing/Tinnitus ___ I have tinnitus (ringing in ears). ___I have sudden hearing loss or onset of deafness
Energy / Muscles / Joints
___ I feel fatigued more than normal. ___I have experienced one or more episodes of extreme ___ I feel weak, run down, sluggish, lethargic. weakness, i.e., difficulty walking
___ I feel like I can't get enough sleep ___I have had an unusual increase in energy ___ My muscles feel weak ___I'm feeling a need to exercise far more than usual ___ My arms, shoulders and/or legs feel week ___I have pains, aches, and stiffness in various joints, ___ I am more fatigued and sore than normal hands, and feet
after exercise ___I have developed tarsal-tunnel syndrome (legs), or
___ I have developed carpal-tunnel syndrome, or my my existing condition is getting worse.
existing carpal tunnel syndrome is getting worse. ___I have developed plantar's fasciitis (balls of feet) or
___ I need very little sleep my existing condition is getting worse.
Skin/Face
My skin is rough, coarse, dry, scaly, itchy, and ___ My skin is smooth, young looking, and/or velvety ___thick. ___ I have worsening acne, breakouts ___I get painful, inflamed boils in my armpits or groin ___ My mucous membranes (i.e. mouth, eyes) are ___I'm bruising easily especially dry ___I have prominent spider veins on my face or neck
I have blister-like bumps on my forehead and/or ___ I have a dull facial expression ___face ___ I have puffiness around my eyes ___My skin is yellowish ___ My face, throat, palms and/or elbows are flushed ___I'm getting hives frequently ___ My coloring and/or lips are pale ___I'm experiencing itching ___ I have patches of unpigmented skin (vitiligo) ___I have puffy/swollen eyes and/or face. ___ I have waxy, reddish-brown lesions on my lower ___I have swollen eyelids. legs, feet, toes, arms, face, shoulders and/or trunk.
Nails / Hands
___ My nails are more shiny than usual ___My nails are dry, more brittle, break more easily ___ My nails are softer ___My hands and palms are warm and moist. ___ My nail bed is separating from my finger ___I have swollen hands, pain in finger joints
Hair Changes ___ My hair is falling out more than usual ___I'm losing body hair ___ I'm losing hair from the outer edge of my eyebrows ___My hair has become thinner ___ My hair has become finer ___My hair has become softer ___ My hair can no longer hold a perm or a curl ___My hair has become rough and coarse ___ My hair has become dry ___My hair has been breaking and has become brittle Legs/Feet/Toes
___ My toes are swelling and becoming wider ___I have pain in the joints of my toes ___ I have swollen feet ___I have tarsal tunnel syndrome (pain in leg) ___ I have plantar's fasciitis (pain in the ball of the feet) ___I have waxy, reddish-brown lesions on my lower legs, feet, toes
Eyes
___ My eyes feel uncomfortable ___I have a noticeable "stare" ___ My eyes feel dry, and/or gritty ___I don't blink frequently ___ It feels as if there is something in my eye ___My eyes get jumpy (tics in eyes) ___ My eyes are tearing and watering frequently ___When I shift my gaze quickly, I feel dizzy or ___ There are visible blood vessels in my eyes disoriented
___ My upper and lower eyelids look irritated and puffy ___My vision is blurred and/or worsening ___ I feel an achiness or pain behind my eyes ___My vision is blurry, but eyedrops help ___ I frequently have a headache in the eye area ___I have double vision ___ My eyeballs are bulging or protruding ___I find colors are less vivid and/or brightness is ___ I can't completely close my eye during sleep diminishing
___ My upper eyelids are retracting, giving me a ___I have poor night vision wide-eyed, startled look ___I'm light sensitive
I have tics, twitches and/or tremor in my eyes ___ and/or ___I see "flashing lights" or "floaters" Eyelids ___My eyelids are puffy
Depression
___ I feel sad, empty, worthless and/or hopeless ___I have thoughts of death or suicide ___ I feel hopeless or pessimistic ___I have mood swings ___ I feel guilty and/or helpless ___I'm feeling unusually elated ___ I am withdrawing emotionally ___I'm feeling unusually self-confident I've lost interest or pleasure in activities and ___ hobbies ___I'm having hallucinations ___ I've lost interest or please in sex ___I'm taking an antidepressant, but it doesn't seem to be working.
Mood/Thinking/Cognition
___ My moods change easily. ___I have dyslexia My mind feels like I'm in a "fog," I have "brain ___ fog" ___I'm having difficulty with reading and/or calculating ___ I find it difficult to focus or concentrate ___I have memory problems, and am forgetting things ___ I find it difficult to make decisions ___I feel like my mind is going blank regularly I'm feeling confused and my thinking is ___ disorganized ___My mind is racing, I can't shut my thoughts off
Anxiety/Panic ___ Sometimes I am acting erratically, overemotionally ___I'm jumpy, easily startled ___ I feel uncontrollable and/or irrational anger or ___My reflexes are particularly fast aggressiveness at times when it's not appropriate ___I have tremors, my hands are shaky
___ I feel anxious, nervous, restless, irritable, on edge ___I'm having panic attacks ___ I feel inexplicably frightened at times ___I'm always moving, jiggling, tapping a foot, ___ I'm frequently worrying, and I find it hard to stop drumming my fingers -- can't sit still
Sleep Problems
___ I find it hard to fall asleep ___ I wake feeling tired and unrefreshed ___ After I've fallen asleep, I frequently wake up ___ I frequently oversleep ___ When I wake up in the middle of the night, I find it ___ I am frequently exhausted hard to fall back asleep ___ I snore
___ I have insomnia and can't sleep ___ I have sleep apnea
Menstruation ___ My premenstrual syndrome (PMS) seems to have ___ My menstrual periods are coming less frequently My menstrual periods have become unusually gotten worse ___ heavy
___ My menstrual periods have stopped ___ My menstrual periods have become unusually long ___ My menstrual periods have become unusually light ___ My menstrual periods are coming more frequently ___ My menstrual periods have become unusually short
Sex Drive
___ My sex drive is low or nonexistent ___ I have difficulty reaching orgasm ___ I have a suddenly "raging libido"/very high sex drive ___ I'm behaving in a sexually obsessive way ___ I have constant excessive vaginal lubrication
Fertility ___ I'm unable to get pregnant ___ I've had a miscarriage or multiple miscarriages ___ I'm showing signs that I'm not ovulating ___ I have an in vitro fertilization failure ___ I've had donor egg failure
Symptoms in Pregnancy
___ I am vomiting excessively ___ I am losing weight or not gaining appropriately ___ I have an extreme case of morning sickness ___ I am gaining excessive weight during pregnancy ___ I am extremely fatigued ___ My hair is falling out ___ I'm feeling unusually depressed
Post-Partum Symptoms
___ I have had or am having difficulty breastfeeding ___ I am having difficulty losing weight ___ I’m experiencing depression and mood swings ___ I am losing large amounts of hair ___ I’m having brain fog and difficulty concentrating ___ I am abnormally fatigued Breast Changes
___ My breasts are leaking milk, but I’m not lactating or breastfeeding
Menopause/Perimenopause
___ My perimenopause symptoms have gotten worse ___ My menopause symptoms have gotten worse
Other Symptoms/Notes:
Thyroid Hormone Replacement Drugs
Options Levothyroxine only Levothyroxine with T3 Levothyroxine with time-released compounded T3 Levothyroxine with natural desiccated thyroid Natural desiccated thyroid only Natural desiccated thyroid with T3 Natural desiccated thyroid with time-released compounded T3 T3 only Specialty prescription compounded combinations
Levothyroxine Synthetic thyroxine (T4), sometimes called "l-thyroxine" or "L-T4" Primary brand names of levothyroxine: Synthroid, made by AbbVie (Abbott Laboratories), Levoxyl, Unithroid, Tirosint, also generics, made by various companies
Liothyronine/T3 Synthetic triiodothyronine (T3) Only brand: Cytomel, from Jones Pharma Inc., generic
Natural Desiccated Thyroid (NDT) Dried porcine (pig) thyroid, FDA-regulated prescription drug, includes natural forms of T4, T3, as well as T1, T2 Armour Thyroid, made by Forest Pharmaceuticals Nature-throid and WP Thyroid from RLC Generic, made by Acella
Specially Compounded Thyroid Preparations Compounding pharmacies can compound time-released or regular T3, and create combo levothyroxine/natural preparations
Websites www.synthroid.com www.armourthyroid.com www.levoxyl.com www.nature-throid.com www.wpthyroid.com www.tirosint.com
Optimal Thyroid Balance for Hypothyroidism Treatment
Per many integrative physicians: TSH of 1.5 or less Free T4 in top half of normal range (Can be lower, if taking a medication with T3, and Free T3 is optimized) Free T3 in top half (but ideally, top 25%) of normal range Reverse T3 not elevated Thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO) not highly elevated or increasing Ferritin above 50 (on range of 20-100) -- Above 80 if hair loss Vitamin D above 50 (on range of 20-100)
How to Take Your Thyroid Meds
First thing in the morning, on empty stomach, an hour before eating, or drinking anything other than water or herbal tea Do not take at the same time as milk, calcium-fortified orange juice, or fiber-rich food Do not take any calcium or iron supplements within 4 hours of taking your thyroid medication Do not take with coffee. Wait an hour after your medication to drink coffee (including decaf) Consider taking your thyroid medication at bedtime If you take a drug with T3, consider splitting the dose into 2 or 3 doses per day (talk to your doctor) If you take levothyroxine and don't absorb or tolerate it well, consider trying Tirosint (hypoallergenic, gel cap with liquid levothyroxine)
Supplements for Thyroid Support
Iodine -- test for deficiency, otherwise get from food sources Selenium - no more than 400 mcg from all sources Zinc - 10-25 mg. of zinc, balanced by 1-2 mg of copper Vitamin D - enough to get to level of 50 or more on scale of 20-100 Multivitamin/Antioxidant - Fatigued to Fantastic Energy Revitalization
Ways to Target Autoimmune Inflammation
Avoid sugar, processed foods, allergens Eat anti-inflammatory dietary fats (salmon, avocados, olives, olive oil) Take a daily probiotic supplement and eat probiotic rich foods (Kombucha, miso, kimchee, yogurt, kefir) Anti-inflammatory supplements: Curamin ( www.curamin.com), selenium (no more than 400 mcg/micrograms a day) Antibody-lowering prescription medication - Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) -- http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org, Book: Honest Medicine (www.honestmedicine.com) Tyrosine - Recommended Daily Allowance
ADRENAL FATIGUE/ADRENAL IMBALANCE SELF-QUIZ
Check all that are true...
____ You are still having symptoms after being prescribed thyroid hormone ____ You can not tolerate increases in your thyroid medication dosage ____ You feel excessively fatigued ____ You have non-refreshing sleep (you get sufficient hours of sleep, but wake fatigued) ____ You wake up in the middle of the night, and find yourself unable to go back to sleep ____ You you feel energetic at night, and exhausted in the morning ____ You feel overwhelmed by or unable to cope with stress ____ After a stressful physical or emotional experience, you feel run-down and especially exhausted ____ You feel exhausted after exercise, you’re slow to recover after exercise ____ You have poor resistance to respiratory infections, you tend to catch everything going around ____ You have difficulty recuperating from illness ____ You are slow to recover from injury ____ You have difficulty recuperating from jet lag ____ You generally feel rundown or overwhelmed ____ You have cravings for salty foods ____ You have excess mood responses after eating carbs ____ You feel most energetic in the evening ____ You have difficulty concentrating, brain fog ____ You have particularly low blood pressure ____ You feel momentarily lightheaded after standing up ____ You are extremely sensitive to cold ____ You have chronic food or environmental allergies ____ You feel "tired but wired" ____ You have cystic breasts ____ You have a history of mononucleosis and/or Epstein Barr Virus reactivation ____ You have a history of chronic fatigue syndrome ____ You are post-menopausal Total # of Yes Responses: ______
WAYS TO RESOLVE ADRENAL IMBALANCES
Diet and Nutritional Changes -- (See nutritional handout) Mindful eating Healthier overall diet, gluten-free/low-carb/low-glycemic, not vegetarian or raw foods Avoid allergens, artificial sweeteners, processed foods, go organic whenever possible Lots of clean water Enough fiber Watch dietary stressors
Rest/Sleep Sleep, sleep, sleep!! 7 hours a night minimum!
Identify and Resolve Hormone Imbalances Hydorcortisone / Cortef / natural cortisol - prescription Estrogens - prescription Testosterone - prescription Thyroid - prescription Progesterone- prescription or over-the-counter DHEA - over-the-counter Pregnenolone - over-the-counter Melatonin - over-the-counter
Vitamins and Supplements Royal Maca (only Royal Maca from Whole World Botanicals) Multivitamin --- Daily Energy Revitalization from Enzymatic B-Vitamins Vitamin C B5 - pantothenic acid Vitamin D Fish Oil Rhodiola Phosphatidyl serine Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Eleuthero / Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) Astragalus root Schisandra Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) Extra B vitamins (B-complex) Vitamin C Adrenal Glandulars (like Adreset, or products from Metagenics) Alfalfa (organic, from T-Tapp) Ginseng Cordyceps: Chinese mushroom Digestive enzymes Probiotics Zinc Selenium L-tyrosine Iron Essential Fatty Acids
Specialized Adrenal Support Supplements Cortisol Manager / Integrative Therapeutics Adrenal Stress End, from Enzymatic Therapy Adreset from Metagenics
Relaxation Response/Stress Reduction Minimize stress impact with daily stress reduction practice -- 3 types of stress reduction -- physical, mental, manual Spirituality or prayer
Detox Steam rooms, sauna, near infrared sauna, etc.
Support Counseling, cognitive therapy Relaxation/stress reduction training
Exercise Getting appropriate levels of exercise If exercise makes you feel good, and adds energy, keep doing it. But if you feel exhausted after exercise, or it takes several days to recuperate, make exercise more gentle. (Walking, yoga, T-Tapp) Do dry skin brushing to detox the lymphatic system Lymphatic exercise
Attitudes Learn to say no Eliminate unnecessary obligations Schedule time for self-care, sleep, exercise Career change if needed Stop multitasking Avoid "stress carriers" or "energy vampires” Take periodic "news" fasts, avoid violent tv/films Technology fast Adopt a pet Drive less aggressively Focus on forgiveness, letting go, gratitude
Tips to Thyroid-Proof and Adrenal Stress-Proof Your Diet
Practice mindfulness when eating Minimize or avoid hormones and pesticides in food Take three deep cleansing breaths before each meal Eliminate diet drinks and artificial sweeteners and snack Eliminate food allergens from the diet Take a deep breath between bites Choose healthier, lower fat protein sources Eat slowly and chew your food thoroughly Use grass-fed organic meats, versus grain-fed, Do not eat standing up, in your car, while reading, whenever possible watching TV, or while talking on the phone Incorporate more “good fat” – like olive oil, avocado, and healthy nuts – into your diet Follow a healthier overall diet Consider a gluten-free diet Good habits Consider a low-glycemic/carbohydrate-controlled diet Drink plenty of clean water to balance blood sugar Get more fiber Consider Wildatarian animal sources - avoiding all amyloid-filled meats, including beef, chicken, pork, and Avoid hormonal interference turkey, and focusing on bison, lamb, game, Cornish Don’t overconsume raw goitrogens game hens, and seafood, nuts, seeds, and organic Don’t overconsume soy produce Watch dietary stressors Limit dietary stress Minimize or eliminate caffeine Eat sufficient protein (animal meats, fish and eggs) Don't drink excessive alcohol Minimize or eliminate processed foods, refined sugars, Don’t eat excessive carbohydrates or sugar refined carbohydrates and high fructose corn syrup Don’t eat too much at any meal Minimize or eliminate honey, molasses, and all forms of Avoid eating after 8 p.m. sugar, including fruits Minimize or eliminate sweets, including sweet "soft" Secrets drinks Take psyllium capsules with low-fiber carbs or sugar to Avoid quickly absorbed carbohydrate vegetables like raise fiber-level of foods and help minimize glycemic potatoes, corn, and rice impact Avoid high–carb foods like grains, legumes (beans or Drink 1 ounce of water for each pound of body weight peas), vegetables high in carbs, sugars or starch, i.e. Dark chocolate - lowers cortisol most root vegetables like potatoes, carrots, beets If you crave salt, use good quality unrefined sea salt Choose organic foods whenever possible
DO YOU NEED A NEW DOCTOR?
YES / NO Does your doctor ignore your calls or faxes? YES / NO Do you find yourself leaving message after message, but not getting a return call for days? YES / NO Do you ever go several days without medication because your doctor won’t approve a refill until you make an appointment? YES / NO Is your doctor’s office unresponsive, disorganized, or rude? YES / NO Have you ever gone several days without medication because your doctor’s office hasn’t called in a refill, despite your requests? YES / NO Are you finding out that the office staff are not getting your messages to the doctor? YES / NO Are the office staff members rude on the phone, or in the office? YES / NO Does the office regularly make billing mistakes, overcharge you, or lose paperwork? YES / NO Have you ever showed up for a scheduled appointment and been told there’s no record of your appointment? YES / NO Does your doctor refuse to look at any information you bring in from the Internet? YES / NO Does your doctor think that everything on the Internet is foolish quackery, and tell you so? YES / NO Does your doctor display a lack of knowledge or misinformation about your disease, symptoms, and treatments? YES / NO Does your doctor treating thyroid disease refuse to consider adding T3, refuse to consider natural thyroid drugs, say that that “natural thyroid is going off the market,” or that “natural thyroid is not consistent?” YES / NO When you bring up a symptom or concern, does your doctor tell you it’s something like “age, hormones, not enough sleep, eating too much” and fail to explore other medical causes? YES / NO If you request a test for a particular condition, does your doctor say “You don’t have that condition,” and refuse to order a test? YES / NO If you asked for a different or new drug for your condition, does your doctor refuse, without a reasonable explanation? YES / NO Do you frequently leave your doctor’s office with costly vitamins, supplements, powders, books, videos or other materials that that the doctor claims you can only get from him/her? YES / NO Does your doctor regularly recommend remedies that only he or she sells? YES / NO Do you find surprises in your bill, and charges that you don’t understand, and can’t get decently explained? YES / NO Does your doctor pop in and out of the examining room or office to take phone calls while you are having an appointment? YES / NO Does your doctor sit at his/her desk and read, type, or text while you are having an appointment? YES / NO Do you find that your doctor is asking you the same questions over and over, indicating that he or she doesn’t remember what you’ve said? YES / NO Does your doctor view each appointment independently, and forget symptoms or conditions you’ve had in the past? YES / NO Does your doctor fail to pull out your chart and review your history for a few moments to look for patterns in symptoms? YES / NO Do you get the feeling like your doctor never has read your chart or history? YES / NO Does your doctor/doctor’s office have mousepads, pens, pencils, prescription pads, calendars, mugs, patient information literature, wall charts and posters, and other paraphernalia with drug company logos on them? YES / NO Does your doctor refuse to allow you to switch to competing brands of drugs, but fails to provide a rational reason other than “this drug is just better?” YES / NO Is your doctor a “holier than thou” type, who acts accordingly? YES / NO Does your doctor make you wait for extremely long periods of time, but never apologizes for the delays? YES / NO Would your doctor NEVER say “I don’t know the answer?” YES / NO Does your doctor interrupt you or act impatient when you are speaking? YES / NO Does your doctor ever talk to you in a condescending or patronizing way, as if he or she thought you weren’t very bright, or were a child? YES / NO Is your doctor unwilling to explore your situation, explore treatments, finetune treatments as necessary – and work in partnership with you?
Recommended Resources
Thyroid Related Websites, Social Networking and Support * Mary Shomon's "Thyroid-Info" Website: http://www.thyroid-info.com * Mary Shomon's Thyroid Site at Verywell.com: http://verywell.com * Thyroid Disease Manager, online thyroid disease textbook: http://www.thyroidmanager.og * Mary Shomon on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thyroidsupport * Mary Shomon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThyroidMary * National Academy on Hypothyroidism, http://www.nahypothyroidism.org * HypothyroidMom - http://www.hypothyroidmom.com
Thyroid/Autoimmune Organizations * American Thyroid Association: 1-800-THYROID / http://www.thyroid.org * Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association (ThyCa) -- 877-588-7904 / http://www.thyca.org * American Autoimmune Related Diseases Assn (AARDA) (810) 776-3900 / http://www.aarda.org
Self-Testing /Order Your Own Thyroid & Hormone Tests * MyMedLab: http://www.thyroid-info.com/thyroidtests.htm and 1-888-MYMEDLAB (888-696-3352) -- Tell them you are referred by Mary Shomon to get Internet discount price for call-in orders * Iodine Test 24-hour urine test, $70, -- Hakala Labs, http://hakalalabs.com, 303-763-6242, Toll Free #: 1-877-238-1779, email [email protected]
Finding Doctors * Thyroid Top Doctors Directory: http://www.thyroid-info.com/topdrs * American Assn of Clinical Endocrinologists Database -- http://www.aace.com/memsearch.php * American Thyroid Assn Thyroid Specialist Database -- http://www.thyroid.org/patients/specialists.php3 * Thyroid-Cancer.net's Specialists -- http://www.thyroid-cancer.net/resources/findaspec.php3 * Endocrine Surgeons / Membership List -- http://www.endocrinesurgeons.org/members/members.html * NY Thyroid Center -- Surgeon Referrals, (212) 305-0442 * HealthyNet Find a Practitioner -- http://www.healthy.net/scr/center.asp?centerid=53 * American Holistic Medical Assn -- 505-292-7788 / http://www.holisticmedicine.org/ * The North American Menopause Society US Practitioners: http://www.menopause.org/cliniciansus.pdf * Credentialed NAMS Menopause Practitioners: http://www.menopause.org/MPlist.pdf * American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Physician Finder:http://www.acog.org/member- lookup/disclaimer.cfm * American Society for Reproductive Medicine: http://www.asrm.org/search/providersearch.html
Mary Shomon's Thyroid Books Available at bookstores, Amazon.com, BN.com) * Your Healthy Pregnancy with Thyroid Disease: fertility, pregnancy, postpartum health, and breastfeeding for women with thyroid disease * The Thyroid Diet Revolution: Manage Your Metabolism for Lasting Weight Loss -- for any thyroid patients trying to lose weight, people who can't lose weight and suspect they have a thyroid problem * Living Well With Hypothyroidism: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You...That You Need to Know -- conventional and alternative diagnosis and treatment of hypothyroidism, including autoimmune, post-RAI, post-surgery, congenital * Living Well With Graves' Disease and Hyperthyroidism: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You...That You Need to Know * Living Well With Autoimmune Disease: -- Graves', Hashimoto's, and connection to 80 + autoimmune diseases * The Thyroid Hormone Breakthrough: Overcoming Sexual and Hormonal Problems at Every Age -- info on PMS, libido, fertility, pregnancy, post-partum, perimenopause and menopause * Living Well With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You...That You Need to Know * Hair Loss Master Plan -- available as PDF Ebook or hard-copy book – Amazon.com
* The Menopause Thyroid Solution: Overcoming Menopause by Solving Your Hidden Thyroid Problems http://www.menopausethyroid.com
Other Recommended Thyroid and Related Books * Overcoming Thyroid Disorders, By David Brownstein, M.D. * Iodine, By David Brownstein, MD * The Thyroid Solution: A Mind-Body Program for Beating Depression and Regaining four Emotional and Physical Health, By Ridha Arem, M.D. * Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms? When My Lab Tests are Normal, by Datis Kharrazian * Hypothyroidism: The Unsuspected Illness, Broda Otto Barnes, M.D. * The Everything Health Guide to Thyroid Disease, by Theodore Friedman, MD * What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Hypothyroidism, By Kenneth Blanchard, M.D. * Solved: The Riddle of Illness, Stephen Langer, M.D., James F. Scheer * ThyroidPower: Ten Steps to Total Health, and Thyroid Mind Power, By Richard Shames, M.D. and Karilee Halo Shames, RN, PhD * Fat, Fuzzy or Frazzled, By Richard Shames, M.D. and Karilee Halo Shames, RN, PhD * Graves' Disease: A Practical Guide, By Elaine Moore, Lisa Moore * From Fatigued to Fantastic, Jacob Teitelbaum, MD * Listening to Your Hormones, by Gillian Ford * The Hormone Cure, by Sara Gottfried, MD
Mary Shomon's Favorite Weight Loss/Diet/Exercise Resources * The Slow Down Diet -- Marc David * The Self-Hypnosis Diet Program, from Steven Gurgevich, PhD: The Self-Hypnosis Diet: Use the Power of Your Mind to Make Any Diet Work for You (3-CD Audio set), The Self-Hypnosis Diet: Use The Power Of Your Mind to Reach Your Perfect Weight (Book, with 1 CD) * T-Tapp -- http://www.t-tapp.com
Nutritional Consulting and Wildatarian Diet * Teri Cochrane, Reston VA – http://www.tericochrane.com
Emotional Health/Well-Being/Mind-Body, Creating Health * One Light One Spirit - Guided meditations with Demo DiMartile, including the Thyroid Meditation, http://www.onelightonespirit.com * Dr. Rebecca Elia -- http://www.rebeccaelia.com
Sources of Vitamins/Herbs/Supplements * Iherb.com -- My favorite supplement source, lowest prices, they only sell online, not by telephone, http://www.iherb.com * Brands of supplements that I like: Planetary Formulas, Enzymatic Therapy, Metagenics, New Chapter, Living Seas, Now Foods, Source Naturals, Jarrow * Whole World Botanicals: Dr. Viana Muller, Amazon rainforest/Andean/South American herbs and supplements, including Royal Maca, Royal Camu, Cat's claw, 888-757-6026, http://wholeworldbotanicals.com
Melatonin * The Melatonin Miracle: Nature's Age-Reversing, Disease-Fighting, Sex-Enhancing Hormone -- Walter Pierpaoli, MD and William Regelson. Pocket Books, 1996. * Reversal of Aging: Resetting the Pineal Clock: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, Walter Pierpaoli, MD (Editor), Wiley-Blackwell. 2006 * Walter Pierpaoli, MD / Melatonin Research -- http://www.drpierpaoli.com
T-Tapp Exercise Free video clips and exercise instructions for a number of popular T-Tapp exercises are located at the T-Tapp website, at http://www.t-tapp.com. T-Tapp offers a variety of products to help meet fitness and exercise goals, including Teresa Tapp’s book with DVD, “Fit and Fabulous in 15 Minutes,” (the “secret to a flat stomach exercise” in the bonus DVD is especially popular with women in perimenopause!) and a number of DVD-based exercise videos, including, among many options: * T-Tapp Total Workout * T-Tapp Senior Fit * T-Tapp More Rehabilitative Program (for people with more pounds to lose, more physical limitations, or more “candles on the cake”) * Sit Down T-Tapp (a T-Tapp workout done in a chair) AND T-Tapp Broom (a T-Tapp workout done using a broom for balance and support) The T-Tapp book is also available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and local bookstores, T-Tapp, Toll free 800-342-0717, 727-724-0123, http://www.t-tapp.com
BREATHING/PRANAYAMA FOR AUTONOMIC BALANCING, STRESS REDUCTION, METABOLISM INCREASE
Deep Abdominal Breathing Exercise
Relax your body. Put your hand on your abdomen. Take a deep, slow breath through your mouth and nose, filling your belly, so you hand rises. Then exhale slowly, letting all the air out of your belly. Inhale again, filling the abdomen until your hand rises. Again, exhale. Feel the breath energy rising from the abdomen to the throat, and back down again to the abdomen.
Nostril Breathing
More and more interest is also now focusing on specialized yoga breathing techniques that have the ability to change the autonomic nervous system in various ways. For example, one study looked at three different pranayamas (or yoga breathing techniques.) One group did breathing in and out of the right nostril (the other nostril is pressed closed with a finger), one group did breathing in and out of the left nostril, and a third group did alternate nostril breathing.
Yoga experts believe that these types of breathing help balance the metabolism, generate increased energy, concentration, and mood, and help to repeated 4 times a day over the course of a month.
At the end of the month-long practice, the “right nostril pranayama” group showed a 37% increase over their baseline oxygen consumption. The left nostril group showed a 24% increase, and the alternate nostril group showed an 18% increase. The increase in oxygen consumption can help make the metabolism more efficient.
Here are brief guidelines on how to do Nostril Breathing... Sit on the floor in lotus position with legs comfortably crossed, or on a couch or chair, making sure your spine and head are straight. Rest your right hand on your right knee or in the lap Place your index and middle finger of your left hand at the center of your eyebrows Keep the right nostril open and close the left nostril with the thumb. Inhale slowly and deeply through the right nostril to the count of 4. Hold the breath for the count of 2. Exhale to the count of 4
That is one cycle of Nostril Breathing. Repeat the cycles, starting with 1 to 2 minutes, and working up to several sessions of 10 minutes a day.