This is an outline about the various levels of dysfunction in the thyroid system of patients with chronic disease, especially fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and post infectious viral, bacterial, mold and lyme related illness. Stay in tune for the two posts to read about a fibromyalgia body has a different thyroid system and therefore requires an individualized thyroid approach.
The reason I share this to explain why “normal” thyroid tests and treatments do not help patients with symptomatic thyroid issues.
1. Thyroiditis is strongly linked to fibromyalgia even if thyroid blood levels are normal.
The studies below demonstrate clearly that Hashimoto’s thyroid autoimmune disease contributes significantly to disease symptoms, regardless of thyroid dysfunction ie even if thyroid hormone levels are apparently normal.
Action item: Ensure you get your antithyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin antibodies tested.
Hashimoto’s thyroid autoimmune disease responds very well to focused integrated treatment.
Werner Vosloo ND MHom
Symptoms in euthyroid Hashimoto’s thyroiditis: is there a role for autoimmunity itself?
Thyroid auto-immunity per se plays a role in fibromyalgia symptoms and severity, independently from thyroid hormone status.
Rheumatic manifestations of euthyroid, anti-thyroid antibody-positive patients.
46 patients with hashimoto’s thyroid disease had the following findings: 98% joint pain, 59% fibromyalgia, Raynaud’s 28%, ANA auto-immune disease 24% of patients – all with normal thyroid hormone blood levels.
The frequency of thyroid antibodies in fibromyalgia patients and their relationship with symptoms.
FM patients had thyroid autoimmunity similar to the frequency in RA and higher than controls.
Association between thyroid autoimmunity and fibromyalgic disease severity.
Autoimmune thyroiditis is present in an elevated percentage of FM patients, and it has been associated with the presence of typical symptoms of the disease