The standard way in which conventional medicine investigates a suspected under-active thyroid is a blood test from the GP that tests for TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone), if this is elevated and comes back out of range then maybe T4 will be tested. T4 is the pre-hormone that the body needs to convert into T3 (the much more biologically active form), T3 can then be used by the body. Both of these markers have a very broad range on standard blood tests. So it is often the case that individuals will be informed that their thyroid function is completely normal and within range and yet they are still symptomatic.

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Most people (but not all) who have an under active thyroid have Hashimoto's which is an autoimmune disease that over time results in the destruction of the thyroid gland. 

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Common symptoms of an under-active thyroid include: 

Fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, forgetfulness , menstrual irregularities, bloating, sluggish bowel movements/constipation and lack of motivation or low mood and anxiety. It's also possible to transiently experience symptoms of hyperthyroidism such as weight loss and restlessness as the thyroid may release pockets of extra hormone as it becomes damaged. 

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It's possible to get much more in-depth thyroid testing performed privately with laboratories that provide a considerably more detailed picture as to what is going on with the thyroid and the hormones that it produces . It may also be appropriate to investigate gut health, food sensitivities, chronic viral conditions and markers of chronic stress in conjunction with thyroid testing. Registered Nutritional Therapists can arrange these tests and go through the results with you and together we can make a nutrition and lifestyle plan of action in order to support optimal health. 

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