Thyroid disorders can make you feel like your body has the wrong “settings.” Your energy will drop off, your weight will shift, you’ll have strange sleep patterns, your moods will be affected, your digestion will either slow down or speed up and it can all feel very out-of-sync. Practitioners at Innovative Health take a holistic view of thyroid disorders and use personalized medicine. Instead of providing a standard treatment for the ill mind-set, practitioners want to understand why your thyroid related symptoms are appearing in your case, and create a treatment plan that matches your body and lifestyle.
What Thyroid Disorders Mean
Your thyroid is a small gland located in the base of your neck that plays a key role in controlling your metabolic rate, body temperature, heart rate, the amount of energy you produce and many other functions. The majority of thyroid disorders fall into one of four categories: your thyroid is producing less hormone (underactive), your thyroid is producing too much hormone (overactive), your thyroid is inflamed, or you have an autoimmune disorder such as Hashimoto’s that causes your immune system to attack your thyroid. Some individuals experience symptoms prior to their labs indicating a problem, especially when there are stressors, gastrointestinal problems, nutritional deficiencies or inflammation that impact how your body uses and produces hormones.
Symptoms of Thyroid Disorders
Thyroid symptoms can present themselves throughout the body, which makes them easy to miss or misinterpret. Here are some of the more common symptoms people report experiencing.
- Fatigue/low energy and feeling drained regardless of how much sleep you get.
- Brain fog/concentration/memory/thinking slowly.
- Weight gain or weight loss that cannot be explained/appetite changes.
- Cold sensitivity/heated intolerance/sweating changes.
- Hair loss/dry skin/brittle nails.
- Constipation/slower digestion/bloating/new food sensitivities.
- Irritability/anxiety/depression/flat emotional state.
- Difficulty sleeping/trouble falling/staying asleep.
- Palpitations/faster heart rate/shaking/wired feelings.
- Changes in menstrual cycles/PMS issues/fertility/low sex drive.
Since symptoms can overlap with other conditions, this is why a holistic approach is so important.
How Innovative Health Helps Individuals with Thyroid Issues
Treatment begins by reviewing the client’s symptom history and patterns; including sleep habits, stress responses, digestion, and lifestyle factors that may influence thyroid function. Testing is also utilized when testing would add to understanding of the situation. Lab results are reviewed within the framework of the entire picture, not just the test results.
Many times support for clients involves nutritional advice, gut support when necessary, sleep and nervous system regulation, and replenishing nutrients that are deficient. In cases where hormonal balance is involved, practitioners may also discuss Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy and related support when appropriate. Many of our clients find relief using stress response techniques (such as NET, Vagus Nerve Re-Training, Somatic Focused Support) especially when symptoms worsen during periods of high stress.
Schedule a Visit With Innovative Health
If thyroid symptoms are affecting your energy, mood, weight, or focus, Innovative Health can help you sort through what is going on with a personalized approach. To talk with a practitioner about thyroid disorders and next steps, schedule an appointment through the Innovative Health contact page.