Thyroid help...best Dr. in East Bay?

[heysteve989]

I have been struggling with what I believe is a Thyroid issue for the past year. I am a 39 year old healthy male. Eat very clean whole foods, take probiotics, bladderwrack supplement and some sea veggies to help make sure I have iodine in me. But, anytime I exercise intensely or tax my body my Thyroid seems to swell and if I continue to push myself it will usually turn into the flu or a cold or just a weakend state where I need to sleep and rest. I have been working with a holistic Dr. who has helped me quite a bit, but I need a Thyroid pro. I don't show signs of hypothyroidism, I am fit and training for a triathlon...I really need help and direction on getting this figured out. I am even considering a flight to Ill. to visit Dr. Mercola's clinic, but would like to see a specialist here in the bay area.
My numbers:
TSH - 6.1
Thyroxine (T4) -  8.4
T3 Uptake - 34
Free Thyroxine index - 2.9

I have saliva, full blood panels and Gastro. Functionality panels done. I am in dire need of some direction and the best Dr. around.

Thanks
Steve

[heysteve989]

I forgot to add to the above:

My TPO is:    9  IU/mL

Also...I would really like to speak to jodi f. if any one can put me in touch with her. I am reading as much as I can on this forum and trying to get this figured out once and for all.

[jodi f.]

Hi Steve. You're totally hypothyroid. A TSH of 6 is the main clue. Heck, that's not even subclinical; it's full-blown hypo (except, of course, I don't diagnose). As far as your TPO goes, there are some who say you have Hashimoto's no matter how few antibodies you have, others who say a few antibodies are normal. What I DO know is that you can't diagnose Hashi's from this one test. Antibodies come and go, so this may have been tested at a low ebb in their production, or they may remain low, or they may be high next time. You need to watch for trends over time.

You DO suffer from symptoms of hypothyroidism: Swollen thyroid; getting sick when you push yourself. And once again, a TSH of 6 says it all. If not for the swollen thyroid, I would have mentioned adrenal fatigue, too, but that swelling makes me think your thyroid is your first priority. But there are always layers to these issues, so your adrenals will probably need to be addressed at some point.

What's the reference range for the T4 and the Free thyroxine index?

Also, these are not the best tests.

Where are you in the Bay Area? Is SF too far to go for a doctor? Thomas Cowan, MD is in the City, and he's very holistic and works effectively with thyroid. He doesn't take insurance, but he has a very affordable subscription practice (monthly fee).

If you go to www.thyroid.about.com, there'll be a portal to a list of thyroid doctors submitted by patients. The listings often have comments, and I imagine you'll find someone nearby on that list. You can also check out www.naturalsolutionsmag.com/go/practitioners to see if they list any practitioners near you.

BTW, Bauman Nutrition can test your thyroid properly at what may be the best pricing out there. So can www.canaryclub.com. Compare the prices.

Keep us posted, and feel free to email me personally if you wish.

[JudithSil]

While you search for the right practitioner, I'd like to recommend a book I found very helpful in understanding my situation & options: "Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms - When My Lab Tests are Normal?" by Datis Kharrazian, just out this year (thanks to Bauman teacher Nori Hudson for letting me know about this book).

[jodi f.]

Judith, yes, it's a good book. I also like the website, www.stopthethyroidmadness.com. Grass roots thyroid activism---mainly Hashimoto's.

[heysteve989]

Thanks Jodi and Judith, I live in Livermore (94551), east bay. I checked the links you provided without much luck as far as locating a closer Dr., so let me know if you know of a good Dr. closer to me that is on the holistic side. I would go to SF, it just may limit how aggressively I can attack this issue if I only have the time to see him once a month. Any help is much appreciated.

[jodi f.]

Steve,

Go to Mary Shomon's doctor directory for California: http://thyroid.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=thyroid&cdn=health&tm=8&f=22&su=p284.9.336.ip_p726.5.336.ip_&tt=2&bt=1&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.thyroid-info.com/topdrs/california.htm

Looks like there's a very good doc in Berkeley and one in Lafayette.

This is a good list (when it's up to date) because there's patient feedback on it, so you can get a real sense of what these doctors are like.

If you find a good one, please post.

[heysteve989]

Thanks again Jodi. I just ordered the "advanced plus hormone profile" from canary club and will start tracking my body temps just to get an idea of where I am at. I know adrenals are an issue for me as well because I generally wake up at about 3am and have trouble going back to sleep, but I have some adrenal calm cream from my Dr. that is helping me with that. I'll keep you posted.

[Catherine McConkie]

Dr. Rachelle Halpern is an MD endocrinologist who also practices complimentary medicine. I've been seeing her annually for over 10 years and think she's great. Her office is in Layfayette. Not sure if that's close but thought I'd pass it on. Catherine

[ClareL]

Hi,
I have Hashimoto's and have been improving after struggling with my thyroid and Adrenal fatigue for years.  I started going to Dr. Audra Foster, a Naturopathic Doctor in Santa Cruz and she's helped a lot.  I'm not sure if Santa Cruz is a little too far, but thought I'd let you know.  I started seeing her last September after struggling with my thyroid and adrenals for years.

I also have a couple of good books and websites:  "Adrenal Fatigue" by James L. Wilson, N.D., D.C., Ph.D.  He has a website where I've gotten supplements that were helpful.  www.adrenalfatigue.org.  The supplements are distributed by Future Formulations.  I found them really helpful.

Also, "Wilson's Temperature Syndrome", by E. Denis Wilson, M.D. (Same last name, but different people...).  I haven't read this book entirely, but have tried the supplements through my former Dr.  I also liked these.  They helped me get stronger after my Mom passed away last year.  It's listed under www.WTSMED.COM  I hope this helps.  :-) Clare

[JudithSil]

My compounding pharmacy, Abbott's in Berkeley, has given me three MD referrals. I also have two ND referrals from Apex Energetics;  these are simply practitioners who use Apex Energetics products (which at least, as with the pharmacy, indicates the kind of approach they take). I can't vouch for any of these folks personally, though Shames & Langer are well-known authors (see other posts, in which several of these folks are also mentioned).

From the compounding pharmacy (Abbott's in Berkeley)

Nathalie Bera-Miller, MD, in Lafayette (again, too far for either of us)
 
Richard Shames, MD is in San Rafael 415 472 2343 and has written books about thyroid.
   
 Stephen Langer MD is in Berkeley  510 548 7384 and has also written books on thyroid

From Apex:

Andrea Gibson-Nobles, ND    Oakland, CA    510-326-5078

Karen Peters, ND    Albany, CA    510-559-3640
 
 

[jodi f.]

Nori once mentioned that she's not thrilled w/Shames, though his book is good, and he was very nice when I interviewed him. Her comment was that he was recommending soy foods for someone who was quite hypothyroid.

It may be that when people get super busy with their books and media that they don't pay enough attention to their practices.

So, this isn't a recommendation against him, but just a reminder to be a discerning medical consumer.

[anasuya]

I've had a good experience with Dr. Marcy Shapiro in Albany. 510-848-8439. She is a holistic MD and works a lot with thyroid issues. She is a real human being too and takes time to talk with you.

[heysteve989]

So,,,,I wanted to give an update on my Thyroid issues after all the great advise I have gotten from this board. I met with  Dr. Stephen Langer in Berkley earlier this week for my Thyroid. Before meeting with him I got my blood and saliva done through the Canary Club so I would have information for him walking in there. I also read his book, "Solved" The Riddle of Illness" which is all about the thyroid and how it impacts every part of our body. I got a lot of valuable information from it and started taking "Fatigued to Fantastic" vitamin supplement which has definitely helped my thyroid. I learned from Dr. Langers book how critical, zinc, copper, B, E and several other vitamins are to the thyroid.
I met with him this week and have started on a 1/4 grain of Nature-throid, I can tell a difference just after a day....feels like my drive and vigor is starting to come back. I say come back, but it is as almost as if it's a new feeling for me since my drive and vigor has been gone for so long. I am really excited to see what the next couple weeks/months bring, he will probably up my does to 1/2 a grain in two weeks. Thanks again to Jodi F. and everyone who posted. I am doing my first triathlon in two weeks, I can't wait to crush it!!!

[jodi f.]

Steve,

Congratulations! Sounds like you've found a good doc, and you're lucky. Nature-throid is now back on the market. It, and its twin, Westhroid, are now considered the most effective dessicated thyroid treatments, Armour having fallen far behind a few years ago.

Fatigued to Fantastic must be Jacob Teitlebaum's line. He has a book of the same name and is another on my list of respected docs. He works with fibromyalgia, thyroid, and adrenal health.

Good luck on the triathlon. Let us know how it goes.