DEAR THYROID^TM

Once we’ve determined that our hypothyroidism is caused by an autoimmune reaction, our work has just begun.  I can’t tell you how many people I come across that already KNOW they have Hashimoto’s Disease but there has been ZERO treatment other than synthetic hormones.  Why do testing to find out something if you don’t know how to treat it in the first place???  I’m baffled, “You know you have Hashimoto’s but you’re just taking Synthroid and haven’t done anything for the autoimmune disorder?”  The usual answer retorts, “I don’t think my doctor knows what to do next.”

What DO you do next?  Step two, Identify the Antigen!  IF you have an autoimmune disease by any name, you most likely have an antigen present.  What is an antigen?  That’s what we call a toxin that has been identified by your immune system as an enemy that it desires to kill.  Your immune system is supposed to ‘turn-on’ against living organisms that invade your body (bacteria, virus, parasites, etc).  It does a good job destroying such varmints and keeping you safe.  The problem comes when your immune system identifies a toxin that cannot die (mercury, lead, poisons, pesticides, foods, etc) that were harmlessly lodged in tissue, as an enemy worthy of death.  No matter how hard it may try, your immune system will never kill something that isn’t alive.

These toxins, now identified by your immune system as something needing to be attacked, are now termed ‘antigens.’  As it ‘fires’ a hyper-Th1 response (for example), it does considerable damage to the surrounding tissue.  This destruction is what gives you the symptoms, is an inflammatory reaction that causes swelling and pain; if this is happening on your thyroid it’s responsible for bursts of T3 release causing the occasional hyper-thyroid symptoms common in most Hashimoto’s cases.  Simply put:  If you don’t identify and then get rid of the antigen, you have NOT begun to treat the problem!

Identifying the antigen is our next step.  Again, we rely heavily on proper lab testing which can be extensive and expensive but is crucial, no, critical for proper care.  Blood tests, stool tests, salivary tests and hair analysis testing are in order.  Leave NO stone unturned!  There IS a cause…find a doctor who will FIND IT!!!!

Identifying the antigen is today’s step but useless if we don’t know how to get rid of it and calm the immune attack in the process.  In the coming weeks we’ll uncover more of the ‘moss under the rock’ of autoimmune disorders.

Read all about this and similar information on Dr. Conners website and even download a FREE COPY of his book at www.upperroomwellness.com.

Dr. C

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Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 & Part 4

Tags: Autoimmune hypothyroidism, autoimmune response, Dr. Kevin Conners, functional medicine, Hashimotos, hypothyroid, inflammatory response, Upper Room Wellness

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