ARTICLES

ASK THE EXPERTS

 Questions and Answers as they appear on
Mary Shomon's website Thyroid-Info
under "Ask The Experts"

QUESTION
Why do thyroid patients lose hair, and is there anything that you suggest can be done?-- Mary Shomon

DRS. RICHARD AND KARILEE SHAMES ANSWER
It is widely believed that thyroid sufferers lose hair due to decreased metabolism in the scalp follicles, resulting in early release of the shaft, root and all. sometimes the hair becomes just too brittle, and there is a great deal of loss from split ends and breakage. As you know, thyroid is intimately involved with hair function, witness that early graying and loss of outer eyebrows, is a cardinal sign of low thyroid in oneself or in the family.

As far as what can be done, the first and primary step is to restore full normal thyroid function. Consider that in general the body's wisdom directs it to conserve energy when possible, from nonessential areas, shunting repair and regeneration power to those functions considered more essential. Another mechanism is that when thyroid function is low, intestinal absorption and utilization of vitamins, minerals, and other nutritional cofactors is compromised also. Not only are there not enough of the raw materials available, but the enzymes and sometimes temperature required for optimal chemical reactions is lessened.

As to restoring full function, don't be misled into utilizing the TSH test alone as a terrific barometer of full restored function. This one laboratory determination is in no way up to that important task, regardless of what you may have been told by your doctor or HMO. A great many thyroid sufferers need more thyroid hormone replacement than most current endocrinologists are comfortable with giving.

We have seen people whose hair loss is only finally reversed, after years of unsuccessful treatments, with a fairly high dose of thyroid medicine, resulting in a very low TSH. Sometimes it is a mixture of thyroid pills (T3, T4, and/or natural all combined) that eventually does the trick.

In addition, we recommend a rich vitamin, mineral, amino acid, and essential fatty acid replacement program. These four categories need to be well represented, using high quality products to restore and regenerate normal scalp function via optimizing thyroid metabolism. No other mechanism in the body has eight separate layers of biochemical control as does thyroid, each requiring specific vitamins, minerals, and other cofactors that would allow a full recovery of function. (July, 2002)

As it appears on Mary Shomon's Website Thyroid-Info under "Ask the Experts"
http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles/shames-hairloss.htm

QUESTION
What sorts of things -- medicine, supplements, mind and body approaches -- can be done for a flagging libido?-- Mary Shomon

DRS. RICHARD AND KARILEE SHAMES ANSWER
This can indeed be a difficult area, perhaps one of the least talked-about and most distressing aspects of low thyroid conditions. because in addition to having the same complex biochemical aspects that the more purely physical ailments have, there is often now even more emotional overlay to cope with. Keep in mind that emotional overlay with a thyroid sufferer is in part due to the compromised brain function that somehow is linked to memory loss, depression, and anxiety. These brain difficulties are known to be a direct result of the lack of proper brain stimulation by thyroid hormone. We consider this challenge to be one that begs for creative solutions, as well as the optimal medication and supplementation.

First of all, if low libido is affecting your life, once again make sure that your thyroid correction is as exactly right for you as possible. You may need a different brand of thyroxine, you may need T-3 added to your thyroxine regime, you may do better on natural thyroid hormone. If you are already on natural thyroid, you could benefit from adding synthetic T-3 and/or T-4 added. For some people, an excellent way to accomplish this is with the synthetic combo called Thyrolar. This fixed combination does not serve everyone well, and many do better with two different pill bottles, one of T-3 and one of T-4, so as to get a more personalized ration of the two. If you are on natural thyroid and it is working reasonably well, you still might benefit from changing brands of natural thyroid. In addition to Armour, there is Naturethroid, Westroid, the new Bio-Throid, and the old standby Proloid.

In addition to these medication possibilities, make sure your vitamin intake is strong. That means: a high quality multivitamin and multimineral (not from discount drug store); plenty of extra antioxidants, which help with inflammation of the gland through eliminating free radicals; extra amino acids, generally a couple of grams a day of mixed high-quality aminos; to ensure entry of thyroid hormone into the cells, take a full dose of Omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids. This means adding to your fish or flax oils some primrose or borage oil.

We suggest doing everything possible to balance your life, including meditation, exercise, stress-reduction maneuvers, counseling with the opportunity for safe emotional discharge, and simply taking time off to do nothing in particular. This program, with the last suggestions in particular, can be highly effective in freeing up creativity, or sexual energy, that has been hidden or locked inside.

As we have detailed in our book THYROID POWER, there are many other loving actions one can take with oneself and one's partner to overcome this challenge. An energy-compromised person must guard her energy carefully, making decisions about where to spend it just as one must when considering financial expenditures. When one person has this condition, the couple must work together diligently to protect their energetic investment, often necessitating a thoughtful decision-making process that honors the needs of the unit. This kind of teamwork becomes even more critical when caring for children, aging parents, or in highly demanding work situations.

The actual day-to-day spark can be more forthcoming if the non-affected partner can contribute to re-establishing more energy flow through supportive behavior, including massaging sore muscles, reminding the affected person to exercise, eat properly, take the assorted supplements mentioned, eat nutritionally-charged foods that work to enhance energy (less and less sugar and junk food, more low-fat protein and less carbs).

The partner can lovingly remind the affected person of his or her needs without coming across as demanding or blaming. This can, under the right circumstances, become an interesting challenge for the pair. It seems to require the pursuit of romance much like the playful seduction applied in the earlier courting days of the relationship. While this can be perceived as a burden to tired working couples or parents of young children, it is a challenge worthy of the time and space needed to maintain harmony. If a person is not in a committed relationship, she or he must be even more protective of oneself and ones energy, in order to create the possibility of a more balanced life. The truth is, this is a big challenge, and one must make very wise decisions about where to spend time and commitment. (July, 2002)

As it appears on Mary Shomon's Website Thyroid-Info under "Ask the Experts"
http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles/shames-sexdrive.htm

QUESTION
Are saliva or urine tests for thyroid disease accurate? -- Mary Shomon


DRS. RICHARD AND KARILEE SHAMES ANSWER
It is our contention that the saliva tests for thyroid are not yet as reliable as the saliva tests for female or adrenal hormone levels. The technology is more recent, and the technical problems are still being worked out to the satisfaction of careful practitioners.

Any new tests are worth a try as part of your overall diagnostic regimen, which should also include appropriate blood testing (insist on the Total T-3 test and not TSH being the primary indicator), regular basal temperature testing, and close monitoring of changing symptoms.

The urine tests, on the other hand, have a longer history of reliability and effectiveness. This is especially true if the tests are done at high-quality laboratories such as Vitamin Diagnostics in Cliffwood Beach, New Jersey, or especially the Broda Barnes Foundation in Trumbull, Connecticut. We have seen people whose blood tests were reported normal by top-name conventional laboratories only to finally obtain the diagnosis and treatment they have long needed when the hypothyroidism finally showed up on the urine tests.

In summary, we recommend the urine testing if a simple blood test shows normal and you have significant symptoms, low basal temperature, family history, or associated illnesses. (July, 2002)

As it appears on Mary Shomon's Website Thyroid-Info under "Ask the Experts"
http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles/shames-saliva&urinetests.htm

QUESTION
What is the percentage of men versus women with thyroid deficiencies?

DRS. RICHARD AND KARILEE SHAMES ANSWER
According to studies, which present varying statistics, out of every 10 thyroid sufferers, approximately 7 to 8 are female. It appears that this difference is related to the fact that thyroid conditions are autoimmune in nature for the most part, and that women tend to have more autoimmune illness. The reason might be related to the more complex reproductive system, and continuous hormonal and inflammatory changes during monthly cycling. (August, 2002)

As it appears on Mary Shomon's Website Thyroid-Info under "Ask the Experts"
http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles/shames-gender.htm

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Harper Collins, 2001

Harper Collins, 2002

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