Thyroid Disease
Successfully diagnose and treat hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism with a personalized, root-cause approach.
Addressing Thyroid Disease
Thyroid Disease is an often undiagnosed and poorly treated condition that manifests when your thyroid, a small butterfly-shaped gland in your neck, produces too much (hyperthyroidism) or not enough (hypothyroidism) T3 and T4 hormones. Additionally, your thyroid may be healthy but your thyroid hormones may be out of balance because of metabolic problems. Your thyroid hormones regulate vital functions including metabolism, energy levels, and heart rate. If you are left untreated or improperly treated, thyroid disease can result in long-term health issues that significantly affect your quality of life.
Thyroid problems can manifest differently for everyone, and traditional medical testing often overlooks the complexities of thyroid disease, leading to missed diagnoses and ineffective treatments. That’s why we take a functional, metabolically directed approach to your treatment–by focusing on the root causes of your thyroid dysfunction, rebalancing your hormones, recommending targeted supplements, and dietary and environmental adjustments.
Ready to Take Control of Your Health?
If you are experiencing symptoms of Thyroid Disease and are seeking effective, metabolically directed treatments, contact us online or call (732) 268-7663 for a consultation with Dr. Rothman.
What are the Symptoms of Hypothyroidism?
Hypothyroidism occurs when your thyroid doesn’t produce enough hormones, or your thyroid hormones are not available to bind to your thyroid hormone receptors. This lack of available, active thyroid hormone, can slow down your body’s metabolism and disrupt your normal vital functions. The symptoms of Hypothyroidism can vary from person to person, but some of the most common include:
- Constipation: Slower digestion, leading to infrequent or difficult bowel movements.
- Gas and Bloating: Increased discomfort due to poor digestion.
- Brain Fog: Difficulty concentrating or remembering things, leading to mental fatigue.
- Chronic Fatigue: Constant exhaustion that doesn’t improve with rest.
- Weight Gain: Unexplained weight gain, even with proper diet and exercise.
- Depression: Low mood, feelings of sadness, or loss of interest in daily activities.
- Insomnia: Difficulty falling or staying asleep, contributing to overall fatigue.
- Cold Intolerance: Feeling unusually cold, even in warmer environments.
- Anxiety: Feelings of nervousness or unease, often accompanied by mood swings.
- High LDL Cholesterol: Increased “bad” cholesterol levels may lead to cardiovascular issues.
- Low HDL Cholesterol: Reduced “good” cholesterol levels affect heart health.
- Edema: Swelling in the limbs or face due to fluid retention.
- Muscle Aches and Spasms: Generalized muscle pain, stiffness, or cramping.
Other factors like stress, metabolic imbalances, environmental exposures (mold, heavy metals, or inflammatory foods), sex hormone imbalances (like estrogen dominance) and adrenal stress, can impair the proper production and bioavailability of your active thyroid hormones leading to Reverse T3 Syndrome and hypothyroidism. With its overlapping symptoms and potential for comorbid conditions it is essential to consult a knowledgeable doctor who can properly read and interpret your T3 hormone results and effectively address the root cause of your thyroid issues.
What are the Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism?
Hyperthyroidism occurs when your thyroid produces too much hormone, leading to long-term problems with your cardiovascular, muscular, and reproductive systems. Hyperthyroidism can present with a range of symptoms that can vary widely between individuals, but common symptoms include:
- Weight Loss: Unexplained weight loss or difficulty maintaining weight despite increased appetite.
- Rapid Heart Rate: A fast or irregular heartbeat, along with palpitations.
- Increased Appetite: A noticeable increase in hunger, sometimes without corresponding weight gain.
- Anxiety and Irritability: Feelings of nervousness, anxiety, or irritability.
- Heat Sensitivity: Feeling unusually hot or sweating more than normal, even in cooler environments.
- Tremors: Shaking hands or fingers, which may occur when you’re at rest.
- Fatigue or Muscle Weakness: A feeling of tiredness or muscle weakness.
- Sleep Problems: Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.
- Menstrual Changes: Lighter, shorter, or less frequent menstrual periods.
- Thinning Hair: Your hair may become thinner or fall out more easily.
- Goiter (Swelling in the Neck): An enlarged thyroid gland, causing visible swelling in your neck.
- Eye Irritation or Bulging Eyes: Your eyes may appear swollen or bulging (a condition known as Graves’ ophthalmopathy).
If you are experiencing any symptoms of or have cause to suspect you have hyperthyroidism, seeking a holistic, metabolically directed treatment approach can help reverse your thyroid dysfunction and improve your overall well-being.
Our Functional and Metabolic Medicine Approach to Thyroid Disease
At Michael Rothman MD, we understand that thyroid disease is influenced by a range of factors, including metabolic imbalances, hormonal disruptions, nutrient deficiencies, and environmental factors and as a result is often improperly diagnosed. Our approach to treating your thyroid disease involves a comprehensive, multifaceted strategy that aims to identify and address the root causes of your symptoms, ensuring an effective path to your recovery.
Learn More About Our Metabolic
Approach To Thyroid Disease
Diagnostic Methods Used:
- Specialized lab tests to check your thyroid hormone levels and detect imbalances and deficiencies
- Comprehensive evaluations that analyze your dietary habits, environmental exposures, immune systems, and stress levels
- In-clinic metabolic testing to determine your acid-base balance, anabolic/catabolic, autonomic nervous system balance
- Evaluating additional lab results, including cholesterol levels and liver function tests
Potential Treatment Options:
- Personalized dietary modifications to support your thyroid function
- Comprehensive thyroid replacement therapy, not just levothyroxine (T4), but also incorporating liiothyronine (T3) and natural thyroid hormones (T4 & T3)
- Lifestyle modifications; stress management, regular exercise, and improved sleep
- Metabolic therapy
- Identify and address the underlying environmental issues that are stressing your body.
Why Choose Functional and Metabolic Medicine for Thyroid Disease?
Traditional diagnostic methods often emphasize TSH (a pituitary hormone) and free T4 levels, which can overlook essential aspects of your thyroid health. You may face ongoing issues even with normal TSH levels due to inadequate conversion of T4 into T3—the active hormone crucial for your metabolism. This insufficient conversion can lead to persistent symptoms including fatigue, weight gain, and mood fluctuations. Reverse T3 syndrome, where inactive RT3 blocks the effects of active T3, is also frequently missed in traditional diagnostic methods.
To properly evaluate your thyroid function, a comprehensive functional and metabolic assessment of your immune and endocrine systems should be considered. This includes testing you for iodine deficiency, dietary influences, sex hormones, adrenal hormones, insulin, and chronic inflammation.
With a functional and metabolic medicine approach, we create personalized treatment plans tailored to your specific needs. By focusing on your dietary habits, stress management, sleep patterns, and environmental exposure, we aim to rebalance your body’s systems to restore your proper thyroid function. Choosing functional and metabolic medicine means committing to a deeper, more personalized level of care designed to restore and sustain your thyroid function.
Is Functional Metabolic Testing the Key to Unlocking Your Wellness?
Meet Dr. Michael Rothman:
Holistic Health and Metabolic
Medicine Expert
Dr. Michael Rothman is a Functional and Metabolic Medicine Specialist with over two decades of holistic practice. Drawing on his personal experience with Crohn’s disease, he is passionate about utilizing metabolically directed functional medicine to address complex health conditions, like hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and reverse T3 syndrome. Dr. Rothman’s comprehensive method considers dietary habits, genetic predispositions, and environmental factors to identify and treat the metabolic imbalances at the root of health issues.
Certified by the National Board of Medical Examiners and the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners, he also holds board certifications in Internal Medicine and previously in Emergency Medicine. His unique approach integrates knowledge from nutrition, biochemistry, physiology, and physics, alongside extensive training in environmental illness, medical acupuncture, naturopathy, Reiki, qigong, and oriental martial arts. Patients can expect a thorough, individualized approach aimed at restoring and maintaining lasting well-being.
Ready to Take Control of Your Health?
If you are experiencing symptoms of Thyroid Disease and are seeking effective, metabolically directed treatments, contact us online or call (732) 268-7663 for a consultation with Dr. Rothman.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped organ located at the front of your neck. It plays an essential role in regulating your metabolism by producing hormones like T3 (liothyronine) and T4 (levothyroxine). These hormones control your key bodily functions such as heart rate, energy levels, and digestion.
Your treatment for thyroid disease varies depending on whether you have hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) or hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). At Michael Rothman MD, we take a functional, metabolically directed approach to treating your thyroid disease.
We focus on restoring your metabolic balance and utilizing appropriate thyroid hormone replacement therapy, which may include options like T3 (liothyronine) and natural desiccated thyroid. Restoring your metabolic balance incorporates dietary changes, lifestyle modifications, and nutritional support to address the root causes of your thyroid dysfunction. Our holistic methods aim to optimize your thyroid health through comprehensive care.
Weight gain is a common symptom of hypothyroidism. Your underactive thyroid slows your metabolism, which can lead to weight gain even if your diet and exercise routine haven’t changed. A comprehensive evaluation of your thyroid hormone levels can help determine if hypothyroidism is contributing to your weight gain.
Your unexplained weight loss may be due to hyperthyroidism. Your overactive thyroid speeds up your metabolism, leading to rapid weight loss, even with increased food intake. Testing your thyroid hormone levels is key to confirming if hyperthyroidism is the root cause of your symptoms.
While you cannot have both conditions simultaneously, you may experience fluctuations in your thyroid function. This means you could alternate between periods of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, requiring careful monitoring and management to address the root cause of your oscillating thyroid dysfunction.
With proper diagnosis and treatment, you can lead a normal and healthy life. Our functional, metabolically directed approach ensures that your treatment is personalized, addressing your hormone levels and dietary, environmental, and metabolic factors that influence your thyroid health. Regular monitoring and adjustments to your treatment plan can help you maintain balance and well-being.
