Thyroid & Adrenal Hormones and FMS
Similar Interrelated Symptoms
Hypothyroidism and FMS are often times indistinguishable. In my opinion, they are interwoven diseases – each one magnifying the effects of the other.
Both my FMS and hypothyroid patients have problems sleeping. No matter how tired you are during the day, insomnia is an added burden making your distress even worse.
That’s why melatonin is recommended for both groups – it’s one of the only two hormones (the other is human growth hormone) that actually increases during the night, and is essential for producing a restful and restorative slumber. (It’s also thought to be a potent anti-cancer agent.) Since natural melatonin production basically nosedives when we hit 30, supplementation is indeed an important consideration when treating these conditions.
Brain fog is yet another similarity – the inability to think clearly or shake the cobwebs from your head. My patients with these diseases tell me concentrating on anything is a major effort. This is especially disturbing for those at work.
Parasthesia (the tingling, numbness & burning sensation in the limbs) is again something both hypothyroid and FMS sufferers experience, as is tinnitus (ringing in the ears).
FREE ONLINE TEST: There’s a quick test you can take in the privacy of your own home to see if you are hypothyroid or not. Just go to http://www.1-thyroid.com/selftest.htm and enter in your symptoms.
You’ll then get a pretty good idea of how advanced your thyroid deficiency actually is.
The Thyroid Adrenal Connection
The thyroid – adrenal connection is tied closely together. Almost everyone who is hypothyroid is also extremely hypoadrenal - adrenal deficient. To a person, all will recount a past of “severe stress.”
Why is stress a factor? Because the adrenal glands (the adrenal cortex and adrenal medulla) are responsible for managing long and short term physiologic stress.
- Long term stress management is done by cortisol hormone production,
- Short term stress management is done by the catecholamine hormones –“fight or flight” hormones like adrenaline (also known as epinephrine).
People with FMS not only contend with an under-functioning thyroid, but they often experience Chronic Fatigue Syndrome to boot. Basically, they’ve simply exhausted and worn out their adrenal cortices. Whatever miniscule amount of these hormones still trickling through their system is used up by mid morning.
That’s why those with FMS are likely to crash in the afternoons – living off endless cups of coffee and cokes for the caffeine effect - giving them the temporary energy boost so sorely needed.
An Intricate Balancing Act
The human body is enormously complex – with intricate and often subtle inter-relationships of the various hormones happening at every level.
Adjust one – and the body compensates somewhere else.
Treating the thyroid while neglecting the adrenal glands can cause problems.
Getting your thyroid levels up is important, but there is a consequence: Doing so further runs down the adrenal glands. It’s almost like trying to drive your car with the parking brakes partially engaged. You’ll go forward, but not very efficiently – and you wear out the brakes in the process.
This is why supporting the adrenals with the over the counter glandular Raw Thyroid is crucial. Containing both thyroid and adrenal extracts, it balances the body’s need for both essential substances.
If you’re suffering from FMS, it’s almost certain your thyroid & adrenal glands are sputtering along on borrowed time as well.
But there is good news – because help is available. Find out how you can soon be receiving the nutrients and supplements you’ll be needing – kick-starting your failing thyroid and adrenal glands into healthy activity again.
Ultimately, your health is in your own hands.
Isn’t it time you start making the right choices?