WILSON’S THYROID SYNDROME
Dr. E Denis Wilson discovered this malfunction of the thyroid system in the early 1990’s. The main characteristics are low body temperature, clinical symptoms of an under active thyroid gland, and normal blood thyroid tests. This occurs when the person undergoes an acute stress and the decrease in thyroid function is unable to recover on its own. The most common precipitating stress is childbirth. Other stressors can include emotional and physical trauma, loss of a job, financial stress, family dysfunction, severe illness, or loss of a loved one.
This syndrome does not respond to normal treatment with doses of levothyroxine (T4). The biochemically active form of thyroid hormone is liothyronine (T3). Treatment is with T3 and response is evaluated by taking three daily oral temperatures and monitoring clinical symptoms. When the temperature is up to the normal 98.6 F and symptoms of low thyroid function have cleared up, the person is weaned off the T3. In many cases, the thyroid function has been returned to normal and no further treatment is needed. However, many people have to go through several cycles of being on and off the T3 before function stays normal. Dr. Wilson learned that treatment is much more effective with many fewer side effects from the T3 if a sustained release tablet is taken exactly every 12 hours. A compounding pharmacy with experience in making sustained release T3 is the best way to insure minimal problems with using T3. This is generally not an expensive medication since it is not on a drug patent.
Symptoms of an underactive thyroid system may include the following: fatigue, headaches, premenstrual symptoms, irritability, fluid retention, hair loss, low sex drive, weight gain, constipation, dry hair and brittle nails, irregular periods, low blood pressure, hives, asthma, anxiety, depression, heartburn, itchiness and dry skin, and frequent colds. If you have developed a variety of these symptoms following a major stressor in your life, you might have Wilson’s thyroid syndrome. If you have been to your usual physician and they have been unable to find any other medical cause for the way you feel, consider seeing a physician knowledgeable about this syndrome. The treatment is clinically based since thyroid blood tests cannot be relied upon to diagnose or follow the treatment course.
As a patient committing to treatment for this syndrome, you must be willing to do three things. Your oral temperature needs to be checked three times daily since this is the way to tell if the dose of T3 you are taking is working. You must take the T3 dose exactly every 12 hours to minimize fluctuations in hormone levels. You must have close follow up with your physician by phone or visits so the treatment can be modified to get the best possible results.
If you are interested in learning more, an excellent website by Dr. Wilson is available. www.wilsonsthyroidsyndrome.com A 300 page book designed for patients is available online and explains everything you need to know.
Daniel Blodgett MD