Maintaining optimal thyroid function should be priority #1 for thyroid patients. 

Unfortunately, the standard methods doctors use to track thyroid function are not as accurate as you might think. 

The good news is that you don’t have to rely solely on these thyroid lab tests to determine your thyroid function. 

You can track other metrics on top of your thyroid lab tests which will give you very valuable information. 

Let’s talk about 5 metrics that every thyroid patient should start tracking right now: 

1. Basal body temperature. Very few things impact your basal body temperature and your thyroid is one of those. By tracking this metric you can determine if your thyroid medication dose is sufficient. 

2. Resting heart rate. Your resting heart rate is tied to your metabolism and both are under the regulation of your thyroid. 

3. Cholesterol level. Thyroid function controls and regulates your cholesterol and you should see your levels drop as thyroid function increases. 

4. Blood sugar level. Blood sugar is influenced by your thyroid and can help you determine if your thyroid is optimized (assuming your diet stays relatively constant). 

5. Body composition. Thyroid function can cause rapid changes in your weight which are not always related to an increase in fat mass. For this reason, you want to keep an eye on your muscle mass and fat mass on top of the weight on the scale. 

#thyroid #hypothyroidism #hashimoto’s

Download my free thyroid resources here (including hypothyroid symptoms checklist, the complete list of thyroid lab tests + optimal ranges, foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease, and more): https://www.restartmed.com/start-here/

Recommended thyroid supplements to enhance thyroid function:
- Supplements that everyone with hypothyroidism needs: https://bit.ly/3tekPej
- Supplement bundle to help reverse Hashimoto’s: https://bit.ly/3gSY9eJ
- Supplements for those without a thyroid and for those after RAI: https://bit.ly/3tb36nZ
- Supplements for active hyperthyroidism: https://bit.ly/3t70yHo

See ALL of my specialized supplements including protein powders, thyroid supplements, and weight loss products here: 
https://www.restartmed.com/shop/

Want more from my blog? I have more than 400+ well-researched blog posts on thyroid management, hormone balancing, weight loss, and more. See all blog posts here: 
https://www.restartmed.com/blog/

Prefer to listen via podcast? Download all of my podcast episodes here: https://apple.co/3kNYTCS

Disclaimer:
Dr. Westin Childs received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic medicine in 2013. His use of “doctor” or “Dr.” in relation to himself solely refers to that degree. Dr. Childs is no longer practicing medicine and does not hold an active medical license so he can focus on helping people through videos, blog posts, research, and supplement formulation. To read more about why he is no longer licensed please see this page: https://www.restartmed.com/what-happened-to-my-medical-license/

This video is for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. It should not be used to self-diagnose and it is not a substitute for a medical exam, treatment, diagnosis, prescription, or recommendation. It does not create a doctor-patient relationship between Dr. Childs and you. You should not make any changes to your medications or health regimens without first consulting a physician. If you have any questions please consult with your current primary care provider. Restart Medical LLC and Dr. Westin Childs are not liable or responsible for any advice, course of treatment, diagnosis, or any other information, services, or product you obtain through this website or video.

Track these instead of thyroid lab tests

This video will guide you through how to diagnose and treat both Leptin Resistance and Thyroid Resistance. Both of these conditions go hand in hand so its helpful to look for both if you suspect you have one or the other. 

Symptoms of Leptin resistance:
- Weight loss resistance or the inability to lose weight
- Ravenous appetite even after a large meal
- Slow metabolism
- Cold hands/feet/extremities
- Crushing fatigue
- Symptoms of hypothyroidism despite being on medication
- Constant weight gain

Thyroid resistance is defined as low free T3 relative to Reverse T3. In order to test for this condition you need to order both tests and look at the ratio between the two. The higher your reverse T3 the harder it is for free T3 to get into your cells which leads to thyroid hormone resistance at the cellular level. Treatment usually requires T3 medication in conjunction with the 8 tips below. 

8 Steps to Reverse Leptin Resistance and Thyroid Resistance:

1. Get your thyroid evaluated and get on the right type and dose of thyroid medication - For most patients this means NDT or T3 containing medications like Cytomel or Liothyronine. 

2. Add in HIIT (high intensity interval training) to your work outs - This type of burst training helps sensitize your cells to insulin and leptin. 

3. Avoid processed and inflammatory foods - High levels of inflammation makes thyroid function worse and makes it more difficult to reverse leptin resistance. 

4. Make sure to get 7-8 hours of sleep per night

5. Eliminate or drastically reduce your fructose consumption - Fructose is metabolized into uric acid in the liver and which increases inflammation and makes leptin levels worse. 

6. Do not restrict your calories - Starvation mode lowers your basal metabolic rate and increases conversion of T4 to reverse T3. 

7. Optimize T4 to T3 conversion - Use supplements or thyroid hormones: 
- Zinc: http://amzn.to/2aQF0pl
- Selenium: http://amzn.to/2bffBKU

8. If necessary use medications to lower Leptin levels - Consider using GLP-1 agonists which can help lower leptin levels and help patients with weight loss. 

If you enjoyed this video please subscribe for more updates and leave any questions or comments below!

More information in the video and the full blog post can be found here:
http://www.restartmed.com/leptin-resistance-thyroid-resistance/

You can read more on my website here:
http://www.restartmed.com/

My office is here:
Address: 3303 E Baseline Rd #204, Gilbert, AZ 85234
Phone: (480) 964-5107

Dr. Westin Childs is the Thyroid and Weight Loss Doctor

This video is not intended to be used as medical advice. If you have questions about your health please consult your physician or primary care provider. Dr. Westin Childs goes to great lengths to produce high quality content but this is NOT a substitute for medical care.

Leptin Resistance and Thyroid Resistance [8 Tips to Reverse Both]

Are your TPO antibodies or thyroperoxidase antibodies elevated?

In this video I go over 5 tips and tricks I use on patients in my practice to help LOWER TPO antibodies. 

1. Get on the right diet for YOUR body
- AIP diet vs Gluten free/dairy free/soy free vs elimination diet
2. Consider using DHEA and/or Testosterone
- DHEA and Testosterone help lower antibody levels while boosting weight loss and sex drive
3. Consider using Zinc or Selenium
- Both can improve immune function and boost T4 to T3 conversion
4. Improve gut function
- SIBO causes reduced T4 to T3 conversion and increases inflammation
5. Consider using Low Dose Naltrexone or LDN
- LDN is probably the best treatment for reducing TPO antibodies

These 5 tips are very effective at lowering antibody levels but be sure to use ALL of them at the same time for maximum benefit. 

You can see the entire article here: http://www.restartmed.com/tpo-antibodies/

Leave your comments below and I will personally respond!

See more from my website here:
http://www.restartmed.com/

My office is here:
Address: 3303 E Baseline Rd #204, Gilbert, AZ 85234
Phone: (480) 964-5107

How to Lower TPO Antibodies: 5 Tips I use in my Practice

In this video I explain how to convert from armour thyroid to levothyroxine or from levothyroxine to T3. It is based off of a thyroid conversion chart that I create which is more accurate than the traditional conversion chart used by most Doctors. 

If you can convince your Doctor to switch you from Levothyroxine or T4 to NDT then make sure you are getting the right dose. Many providers and patients make the mistake of lowering their total dose of thyroid hormone when doing this process and feel worse afterwards. 

By using the chart above you can get the proper dose of NDT, T4 or Armour thyroid when converting. 

Here are some basic guidelines:

In these examples NDT = Armour thyroid, WP thyroid or Naturethroid

50mcg of T4 = 1 grain of NDT = 25 mcg of T3
100mcg of T4 = 2 grains of NDT = 50mcg of T3
150mcg of T4 = 3 grains of NDT = 75mcg of T3
200mcg of T4 = 4 grains of NDT = 100mcg of T3

In addition I also give some practical advice on how to switch from T4 only medications like Levothyroxine to Natural Desiccated thyroid medications like Armour thyroid. In general I recommend starting the titration slow and periodically increasing your total dose every 10-14 days to prevent negative side effects from the T3. 

I also go over some of the average dosages of patients on T4, NDT and T3 in my practice. These numbers vary based off of the individual but these ranges can help determine if your dose is high enough. 

More information in the video and the full blog post can be found here:
http://www.restartmed.com/levothyroxine-dosage/

You can read more on my website here:
http://www.restartmed.com/

My office is here:
Address: 3303 E Baseline Rd #204, Gilbert, AZ 85234
Phone: (480) 964-5107

Dr. Westin Childs is the Thyroid and Weight Loss Doctor

This video is not intended to be used as medical advice. If you have questions about your health please consult your physician or primary care provider. Dr. Westin Childs goes to great lengths to produce high quality content but this is NOT a substitute for medical care.

Thyroid Conversion Chart

In this video I go over the 5 main reasons that patients who switch from Levothyroxine to Armour thyroid DON'T lose weight. 

Many patients believe that switching from T4 to NDT will cause immediate weight loss and are disappointed when it doesn't happen. 

The truth is that Armour thyroid CAN help with weight loss but you need to make sure that these 5 barriers aren't standing in your way:

1. Your dose isn't high enough
- Many Doctors under dose patients when converting from T4 medication to NDT by about 50%. Use the chart in this video to make sure your dose is high enough. 

2. You need more T3 added to your regimen
- Several conditions like euthyroid sick syndrome or tissue level hypothyroidism make it so patients need more T3 than what Armour thyroid provides. So while armour may be a step in the right direction you may need more T3 added to your NDT. 

3. You are suffering from Leptin resistance
- High leptin levels decrease T4 to T3 conversion and can make weight loss impossible unless it is addressed. Use this video to help you find out if you have leptin resistance and if you need to treat it. 

4. You are reacting to fillers in Armour thyroid
- Many patients react poorly to the methylcellulose that is used in Armour thyroid. It can reduce the amount of free thyroid hormone that is absorbed when you take this medication. Make sure this isn't limiting the amount of thyroid hormone your body can absorb!

5. Your Reverse T3 is TOO high
- High levels of reverse T3 effectively put the brake on your thyroid system and can result in a slow metabolism and symptoms of hypothyroidism. Taking T4 only medications and even sometimes NDT like armour thyroid can cause high levels of reverse T3. Find out how to treat and check for this condition. 

More information in the video and the full blog post can be found here:
http://www.restartmed.com/armour-thyroid-weight-loss/

You can read more on my website here:
http://www.restartmed.com/

My office is here:
Address: 3303 E Baseline Rd #204, Gilbert, AZ 85234
Phone: (480) 964-5107

Dr. Westin Childs is the Thyroid and Weight Loss Doctor

This video is not intended to be used as medical advice. If you have questions about your health please consult your physician or primary care provider. Dr. Westin Childs goes to great lengths to produce high quality content but this is NOT a substitute for medical care.

5 Reasons Armour Thyroid isn’t Helping you with Weight Loss

In this video I explain how I determine which thyroid medication a patient needs. There are basically three main choices in medications:

1) Natural Desiccated thyroid medication (including armour thyroid, naturethroid and WP thyroid)

2) T3 only medication (including Liothyronine, cytomel and sustained release T3)

3) T4 only medication (including levothyroxine, tirosint and synthroid)

The question is how do you determine which medication works best for you?

Patients who do well on NDT medication include:
- Those who have not felt better on T4 only preparations
- Those who need to lose 10-20 pounds of fat
- Those who have not been on thyroid medication before
- Those with Low free T3 and low Free T4 but normal reverse T3 levels

Patients who do better on T3 only medications: 
- Those with high levels of reverse T3
- Those with leptin resistance
- Those with insulin resistance, diabetes or pre diabetes
- Those with a personal history of bipolar disorder or a strong family history of mental health disorders
- Those with chronic illness

Patients who do better on T4 only medications: 
- Those who are VERY sensitive to all supplements and medications
- Those with extreme sensitivities to T3 containing medications

More information in the video and the full blog post can be found here:
http://www.restartmed.com/levothyroxine-side-effects/

You can read more on my website here:
http://www.restartmed.com/

My office is here:
Address: 3303 E Baseline Rd #204, Gilbert, AZ 85234
Phone: (480) 964-5107

Dr. Westin Childs is the Thyroid and Weight Loss Doctor

This video is not intended to be used as medical advice. If you have questions about your health please consult your physician or primary care provider. Dr. Westin Childs goes to great lengths to produce high quality content but this is NOT a substitute for medical care.

Thyroid Medication

In this video I go over the complete list of Levothyroxine side effects ranging from weight gain to hair loss and everything in between. 

Yes, Levothyroxine can cause hair loss and it can also cause weight GAIN. How can that be if levothyroxine is supposed to boost your metabolism? 

In this video I explain how the metabolism of thyroid hormone in your body from T4 to reverse T3 may help explain why many people actually gain weight on this particular medication. 

I also go over the recommendations I give to patients if this happens to them. 

I also go over how to determine which thyroid medication is right for YOUR Body and how to dose your levothyroxine. 

When patients have reactions to levothyroxine it's from 1 of 3 reasons typically:

1) they are reacting to a filler ingredient or a dye within the medication itself. 

2) they are converting or metabolizing the thyroid hormone into by products that don't promote proper activity

3) they are getting too much thyroid hormone for THEIR body (this one is less common)

The side effects when patients react to fillers or dyes include reactions like facial swelling, edema, hives, itching sensation, etc. 

The side effects from improper metabolism include reactions like weight gain, hair loss, slower than normal metabolism, cold hands/extremities, etc.

The side effects from TOO much medication include: hot flashes, tachycardia or rapid heart rate, palpitations, hair loss, intolerance to heat. 

The treatment for each of these reactions is quite different and I explain what to do depending on how you are reacting. 

Leave your questions below!

More information in the video and the full blog post can be found here:
http://www.restartmed.com/levothyroxine-side-effects/

You can read more on my website here:
http://www.restartmed.com/

My office is here:
Address: 3303 E Baseline Rd #204, Gilbert, AZ 85234
Phone: (480) 964-5107

Dr. Westin Childs is the Thyroid and Weight Loss Doctor

This video is not intended to be used as medical advice. If you have questions about your health please consult your physician or primary care provider. Dr. Westin Childs goes to great lengths to produce high quality content but this is NOT a substitute for medical care.

Levothyroxine Side Effects: The Complete List + Dosing Guide for Patients

Stin Hansen's Album

Release anxiety and Worry - Calm your Mind

Thyroid supplements (if used correctly) can help boost your thyroid function, help with weight loss and help you feel better. 

The problem comes with knowing WHICH supplements to take and at WHAT dose. 

It takes over 13 nutrients to create thyroid hormone, convert T4 to T3 and sensitize the cellular receptors to T3. Many thyroid supplements cram all of these nutrients into a supplement and call it "good". This is the WRONG approach to take. 

Instead basing your supplementation off of the needs of your body is far superior. That means using lab work and other markers to find what nutrients you need in what doses. 

9 Thyroid supplements that I find most hypothyroid patients are deficient in:

1. Vitamin B12 - Thyroid hormone is involved in the proper absorption of thyroid hormone. See the video for a complete list of symptoms. Repleting low vitamin B12 is best done through sublingual or intramsucular injections. 

2. Adrenal support - Most thyroid patients also have issues with cortisol dysregulation. If you have advanced adrenal fatigue most patients do better on adrenal glandulars. For more mild disease consider using adrenal adaptogens. If your cortisol is elevated consider using phosphatidylserine. 

3. Zinc - Low levels of zinc can cause issues with your skin and issue with hair growth. Adding zinc boosts immune function, T4 to T3 conversion and acts as an anti inflammatory. Make sure to supplement with zinc bound to picolinic acid. 

4. Iron - This is what I consider a "goldilocks" nutrient in that you don't want TOO much or TOO little. Unfortunately most doctors look for iron deficiency anemia and don't necessarily jus treat iron deficiency unless anemia accompanies it. Use these optimal levels to supplement with iron. 

5. Magnesium - Hypothyroidism alters magnesium and low levels of magnesium can lead to issues like depression, anxiety and other changes like muscle cramps or restless leg syndrome. Replace low levels with magnesium glycinate, magnesium citrate if you have constipation or magnsium threonate if you have neurological issues. 

6. Selenium - This nutrient is involved in the thyroid conversion process. Not only that but supplementing has been shown to reduce TPO antibodies and boost the immune system. In addition using iodine with selenium can help reduce negative side effects. 

7. Probiotics - Up to 20% of thyroid conversion happens in the gut and inflammation can reduce this number. Hypothyroidism sets up the gut for imbalances that lead to inflammation. Using probiotics can help improve your GI function. 

8. Digestive enzymes - Hypothyroidism leads to low stomach acid which can predispose patients to malabsorption of certain nutrients. Using enzymes can help digest your food, increase nutrient absorption and if taken in between meals may promote the breakdown of immune complexes. 

9. Iodine - If used correctly iodine can be helpful in boosting thyroid function. The thyroid hormone is made up of iodine moieties and low levels of iodine can reduce the amount of functioning thyroid hormone in the body. 

More information in the video and the full blog post can be found here:
http://www.restartmed.com/thyroid-supplements/

You can read more on my website here:
http://www.restartmed.com/

My office is here:
Address: 3303 E Baseline Rd #204, Gilbert, AZ 85234

This video is not intended to be used as medical advice. If you have questions about your health please consult your physician or primary care provider. Dr. Westin Childs goes to great lengths to produce high quality content but this is NOT a substitute for medical care.

9 Thyroid Supplements Every Hypothyroid Patient Should Consider – The Complete Guide

In this video I walk you through a patient who was able to lose 50+ pounds, reverse her diabetes and improve her energy levels within 3 months.  

This particular patient failed gastric bypass surgery, was suffering from chronic pain, insomnia, fatigue and of course weight gain. 

After adding the following therapies to her regimen she was able to lose 50+ pounds of weight, reverse her diabetes, remove her chronic pain and increase her energy:

- Thyroid hormone replacement: she needed to use NDT + T3
- Testosterone replacement
- Physical work
- Biofeedback to reduce stress
- Supplements
- Fasting routine to reverse insulin resistance
- Dietary changes
- Detox routine with FAR IR sauna

I go over her blood work and symptoms in detail and walk you through how to look at lab studies to find and treat the underlying diagnoses which lead to these symptoms. 

In this patient she was suffering from:

- Diabetes mellitus type II
- Thyroid resistance
- Diastolic heart disease
- Low testosterone
- Adrenal issues and chronic fatigue
- Iron deficiency
- Chronic diarrhea with multiple nutrient deficiencies
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Vitamin D deficiency
- Hyperlipidemia with hypertriglyceridemia
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)

She was seen by previous other Doctors and told her lab tests were "normal". 

Find more about this approach that can lead to long lasting weight loss and reduce your symptoms in this video!

More information in the video and the full blog post can be found here:
https://www.restartmed.com/weight-loss-hypothyroidism-success/

You can read more on my website here:
http://www.restartmed.com/

This video is not intended to be used as medical advice. If you have questions about your health please consult your physician or primary care provider. Dr. Westin Childs goes to great lengths to produce high quality content but this is NOT a substitute for medical care.

How to Lose Weight with Hypothyroidism: 5 Step-by-Step Examples

Are you struggling to lose weight with Hashimoto's? In this post I outline the 9 steps that I use to help Hashimoto's patients lose weight in my practice. 

Hashimoto's patients need to be differentiated from other thyroid patients when it comes to treatment, but also when it comes to weight loss. 

If you didn't already know exercising more and eating less will NOT lead to lasting weight loss in Hashimoto's patients. 

I discuss the 4 main reasons for weight loss resistance that patients face that most doctors aren't even looking for:

1. Body set point malfunction - hypothalamic changes that make weight loss almost impossible. 

2. Low resting metabolic rate or low resting energy expenditure (AKA slow or damaged metabolism) - Your metabolism controls the majority of your calorie consumption and a damaged metabolism will make weight loss very difficult. 

3. Leptin resistance - High levels of leptin tricks your brain into thinking that your body is starving even though you are overweight. 

4. Gut imbalances - Specifically SIBO and SIFO can cause inflammatory states which reduce thyroid conversion and lead to changes in microflora of the GI tract which causes weight loss resistance. 

These 4 topics are VERY important and these tips help treat them:

1. Check and treat your metabolism if damaged
2. Get on the right type and dose of thyroid medication - that generally means T3 in some form (NDT or T3) especially if you have insulin or leptin resistance
3. Find the best hashimoto's diet for YOUR body - that means anything ranging from AIP vs nutritional ketosis vs gluten free, dairy free, soy free
4. Make sure you are exercising (preferably HIIT + low intensity daily)
5. Address gut health - specifically SIBO/SIFO and malabsorption
6. Reduce inflammation in your body
7. Address adrenal related problems
8. Treat leptin and insulin resistance
9. Avoid endocrine disruptors and xenoestrogens (AKA make sure you are detoxing)

Listen to the video for tips on how to treat each of these conditions and let me know if you have any questions below! 

More information in the video and the full blog post can be found here:
https://www.restartmed.com/lose-weight-hashimotos/

You can read more on my website here:
http://www.restartmed.com/

This video is not intended to be used as medical advice. If you have questions about your health please consult your physician or primary care provider. Dr. Westin Childs goes to great lengths to produce high quality content but this is NOT a substitute for medical care.

Hashimoto’s Case Study: 50+ Pound Weight Loss on Naturethroid + AIP + LDN

Do you feel like your thyroid is taking over your life? Are you suffering from symptoms like weight gain, hair loss, fatigue, brain fog, or mood swings? If so, you aren’t alone. 

In fact, millions of other thyroid patients in the United States and around the world suffer from the same issues. And these issues persist even in the face of normal treatment with thyroid medication!

The question is: what can you do about it?

That’s exactly what this podcast is about.

I’m Dr. Westin Childs (D.O.) a former practicing osteopathic physician and my goal is to help thyroid patients get back to feeling 100%. 

Well, I actually have 2 goals:

#1. The first is to help 1 million thyroid patients directly or indirectly. 

And #2. To create the most comprehensive and helpful thyroid resource for thyroid patients on the internet. 

I know just how debilitating thyroid disease can be and I also know that it is possible to take control of your life. 

One of the biggest problems with thyroid management is that we just don’t talk about it enough. 

This podcast changes that. 

We are going to discuss all sorts of topics ranging from thyroid management, the use of less talked about thyroid medications, opinions on emerging treatments and therapies from leading experts, the use of natural therapies and how they fit into the conventional model, and so much more. 

If you want more information aside from the standard thyroid treatment of TSH and levothyroxine then this is the place for you. 

We won’t just stop at your thyroid, either. 

Other topics that are relevant and important to thyroid function will be discussed including things like hormone balance, menopause, testosterone replacement therapy, and weight loss therapies. 

If something helps you to better manage your thyroid, improve your symptoms, lose weight, or balance your hormones then it’s something I want to include. 

For more information on me and why I do what I do check out my website here: www.restartmed.com 

If you have any questions or have a topic you want me to discuss please shoot me an email on my website to submit a request in the "contact" section!

Track these instead of thyroid lab tests

Dr. Westin Childs (restartmed)

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