Thyroid Tests

Thyroid Tests
Forrest Health Online offers at home clinical testing, interpretation and natural vitamin, herbal and homeopathic therapies for thryoid and hypothyroid conditions.

When Should You Suspect Your Thyroid?
Your thyroid gland tells every cell in your body the rate at which it should function. Having too little hormone, called hypothyroidism, can lead to fatigue, hair loss, depression and much more.
 
This is a problem for more than 10 million Americans-of whom 8 million don't know it. Having too much hormone, called hyperthyroidism, races your engine, so you feel all revved up-as if you were burning out. This problem affects some 4.5 million Americans, but at least 600,000 of them have yet to be diagnosed.

Feeling tired and chilly, having constipation or losing your hair, can mean your thyroid is underactive - but these could also come from overwork, or aging, or a dozen other causes. Feeling totally tense and overworked could mean an overactive thyroid-or just plain stress.

Hypothyroidism is an often missing diagnosis and is often worth checking into. Although typically diagnosed through blood tests, we like to also underarm basal body temperature over 97.8 and an Iodine Loading Test available below.

Iodine Deficiency
Iodine is not only necessary for the production of thyroid hormones, it is also responsible for the production of all the other hormones in the body.  Adequate iodine levels are essential for proper immune system function.  Iodine contains potent anti-bacterial, anti-parasitic, anti-viral, and anti-cancer properties.  Iodine is also effective for treating fibrocystic breast and ovarian cysts, fatigue, hemorrhoids, headache and migraines, excessive mucous production as well as the many conditions related to thyroid disorders.

If iodine is found to be deficient, many times reversing the iodine deficiency can result in improving or even curing these hypothyroid related conditions.  Thyroid medications can actually exacerbate an iodine deficiency and with proper iodine treatment the medication can often be reduced or eliminated altogether.

Signs and Symptoms of Hypothyroid

• Chronic fatigue and weakness
• Weight Gain or difficulty losing weight
• Hair loss or coarse, dry hair
• Dry and rough skin
• Intolerance to cold
• Abnormal menstrual cycles
• Decreased sex drive
• Memory loss
• Depression and irritability
• Constipation
• Muscle cramps
• Under arm morning temperature less then 97.8

Not all of these symptoms are always present. If you are concerned that you may have Hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, always consult your doctor.

Take the free Thyroid Deficiency Questionnaire


What to do if you suspect hypothyroid

1. Fill out the thryoid questionnaire. The more yeses you have the more likely hypothyroid may be present.
   
   
2. Take your basal body temperature (BBT) (first morning, under the arm). Anything below 97.7 is indicative of hypothyroid.
   
   
3. Take a thryoid hormone test that includes TSH, T3 and T4. Your can also include reverse T3 and anti-thyroid antibodies.
   
   
4. Take an iodine loading test. Iodine is essential for thyroid health and is often deficient.
   
   
5. Have a consultation with your doctor or doctor Forrest.

Other Testing to Consider:
1. Adrenal Stress Test - Fatigue and exhaustion.
2. Neurotransmitter Testing - Fatigue, Exhaustion and depression.
3. Hormonal Imbalances - Hormonal symptoms.
5. Metabolic Testing - Fatigue and exhaustion.

Testing
When you order a test from us we will send you the test kits with free mailers. Samples are taken at home  or the lab and then mailed directly to the testing laboratory. Results are review by Dr. Forrest and then sent to you.

Consultations with Dr. Forrest are available to go over your results or if you wish advice on supplement usage.

Not Certain What To Do Next?
If you are uncertain as to which products or programs to use or which tests to take; or, if you would like additional help:

• Contact us with a brief question.
• Arrange a phone consultation with Dr. Forrest.
  Call ( 408) 354-4262