Hi
@nini
Sorry to read of your struggles. A few thoughts in the hope it will help.
Thyroid
When you mention thyroid tests, have all of the following been tested? It is scary that there are still doctors out there that think TSH is a thyroid hormone and only use that test to determine if there is an issue.
When your thyroid was tested, did it include all of the following tests?
- free T4
- free T3
- reverse T3
- TPOAb antibodies (to exclude Hashimoto autoimmune)
- TgAb antibodies (to exclude Hashimoto autoimmune)
- TSH
Reverse T3 is often overlooked, and so is Hashimotos. But they are very important to check. If the endo only wants to check TSH....run out of the office and find another. Also ask if they prescribe Armour (NDT), and not just the synthetics. If not, that is not a good sign of a good doctor either.
In addition there are some related nutrient levels that would be good to check:
- selenium, iodide, iron, ferritin, iron binding capacity and saturation, and DHEA.
The best book I read on the subject was from Elle Russ, the Paleo Thyroid Solution.
Malabsorption
Doctors sadly often overlook this. Have you checked for any nutrient deficiencies or any malabsorption issues including pancreas function, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), liver function, Candida yeast overgrowth, gallbladder function, stomach acid strength, Crohn's, food sensitivities, Celiac?
Have you taken a close, hard and honest look at absolutely everything you eat and drink?
Tests
Have you done the following tests?:
- Nutrient level and Organic Acid testing such as Genova FMV or Great Plains Lab Organic Acid Test (OAT) are great for an overview.
- Stool test pancreatic elastase to check for exocrine pancreatic issues
- Blood test fasting trypsin (to see if you produce enough enzyme for protein breakdown)
- Stomach acid: Is your pH low enough to start digesting food? If it is too high this will exacerbate any SIBO, candida overgrowths, and malabsorption. Are you taking antacids or PPI as these only cover symptoms, do nothing about root cause, and can make things much worse. Have you tried the following simple selftest:
A simple unscientific test to approximate acid level is by drinking a quarter teaspoon of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) mixed in a glass of water on an empty stomach in the morning. This creates bubbles within two to three minutes when mixed with the hydrochloric acid in your stomach. If after five minutes nothing happens, there is a very good chance the pH of your stomach acid is too high (i.e., low stomach acid).
- Blood sugar tests (all before breaking fast)
1. A1c. "Low" carb means something slightly different for everyone, but if your A1c is too high (5.3% or higher) you should try to lower carb intake as it can indicate excess sugar or carb intake. Your cells are likely being damaged (glycation) at this level. 5.7% is the official pre-diabetes number. It is a great simple indicator of excess carb intake
2. Triglycerides. If your triglycerides are high (<100 mg/dL is optimal) you should try to lower your carb intake as your liver is transforming excess into energy storage. Another indicator of excess carb intake.
3. Ketones. I also track my blood ketones to be in nutritional ketosis (0.5-3mmol), which is another great indicator of diet quality. I never go to extremes and never add exogenous ketone salts either.
4. Insulin. Higher than 5 uIU/mL is an indicator of too high carb/sugar intake and/or start of insulin resistance
5. Blood glucose. <100 mg/dL is the expected norm, but <85 is better for longevity and health.
Water Quality
What is the quality of your water? Are you drinking, e.g. mineral, well, tap, bottled (plastic or glass), chlorinated, fluoridated , reverse osmosis, reverse osmosis with minerals added back in, filtered (what kind?), restaurant or cafe water, etc.? Try a few different types of mineral waters (glass bottle of course as you don't want the extra hit of plastic particles and leached chemicals) to see whether that helps.
Water quality is often overlooked as possible causes of microbiome dysbiosis, reflux, allergies, skin issues, airway irritations and many chronic health issues. Tap water is shockingly bad in most of the US (and the UK) with poor treatment, and additional toxins added in the form of chlorine, fluoride and ammonia. Minerals are not the problem, it is often the added chlorine and ammonia that causes digestive, airway and skin irritations (you are breathing in chlorine during a shower!). They are toxins. Certainly drinking it is unhealthy and will impact your microbiome, but many overlook the contact with skin, eyes, lungs, throat during showering and bathing. A shower filter is cheap and takes a few minutes to install. Well worth it. A few of my neighbours noticed quick improvements for them and their children by adding filters for bathing. Drinking from plastic water bottles and you are 100% ingesting plastic particles and leached chemicals. Even US tap water has the highest level of plastics in it these days. This is a hit on your whole immune and digestive system every single sip you take. Also be careful with reverse osmosis water, but that is a different discussion.
Hope that provides some food for thought. Wishing you strength!