Welcome to Southwest Florida Natural Health Center, where we treat you, not your disease. We don't use drugs to cover up your symptoms, we use all-natural therapies to help your body heal itself.
A healthy person should not have symptoms! If you have symptoms, something is wrong. If you are on medication or if your lab results are "normal" and yet you are still having symptoms.... something was missed. You either didn't have the correct tests run, the results of the tests were misinterpreted or conventional therapies are not the answer for you. A healthy person does not have symptoms !
HOW THINGS ARE SUPPOSED TO WORK-
You walk outside. Its cold. Temperature receptors in your skin send a signal to your brain. The brain sends signals to - hypothalamus - pituitary - thyroid. The thyroid releases hormones to every cell in your body signaling them to speed up. The thyroid hormone makes it's way into the cells and everything speeds up - making you warmer.
Every cell in your body has thyroid receptor cells - even your brain. This is why you have so many symptoms with an under active thyroid.
WHAT CAN GO WRONG?
A closer look reveals where things can go wrong-
1. PRIMARY HYPOPITUITARY- The pituitary isn't sending a strong enough signal to the thyroid.
2. PRIMARY HYPOTHYROIDISM -The thyroid isn't releasing enough thyroid hormone.
3. HASHIMOTO'S -Your immune system is attacking the enzymes that makes the thyroid hormone.
4. THYROID UNDER-CONVERSION -You are not converting enough T4 (storage from of thyroid hormone) into T3 (active form of thyroid hormone).
5. THYROID OVER-CONVERSION & DECREASED TBG -You are converting too much T4 into T3 with a decrease in TBG (thyroid binding globulin), the protein that transports thyroid hormone,
6. THYROID BINDING GLOBULIN ELEVATION - Your body is producing too much TBG.
7. THYROID RESISTANCE - Your cells become resistant to the thyroid hormone, much like a diabetic becomes resistant to insulin.
TAKING THYROID HORMONES ONLY CORRECTS SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH PRIMARY HYPOTHYROIDISM !!
HOW WAS YOUR PROBLEM MISSED?
Testing -
Let's begin with testing. If you complain of fatigue, sensitivity to cold, lack of motivation, etc. your doctor should consider your thyroid. So far, so good. The next step....testing. This is where things may start to fall apart. Routine thyroid testing consists of checking your TSH level.... and maybe T3 and T4.
While TSH levels are the single best indicator of thyroid production, it doesn't tell you whether your thyroid hormone is actually getting into your cells... and thats all that matters. If the thyroid hormone isn't getting into your cells you will continue to have symptoms.
COMPLETE THYROID TESTING -
TSH - TOTAL T4 - FREE T4 - FREE THYROXINE INDEX - RESIN T3 UPTAKE - FREE T3 - REVERSE T3 - THYROID ANTIBODIES
If your doctor has not run all of these tests they may have missed something... and if you are still having symptoms despite "normal" test results or if you are still having symptoms despite taking thyroid hormones... either the proper testing wasn't done or the treatment you are getting is not what you need.
INTERPRETING THE RESULTS OF YOUR LAB WORK-
Most doctors use the very broad laboratory range when interpreting your blood work. The problem with this is.... you can be within the very broad ranges of "normal" and still have symptoms. You see, each lab has a different "normal" range. These "normals" are based on the sick people in your area who have visited your lab in the past year.
WHAT DOES "NORMAL" IN NORMAL LABORATORY RANGE REALLY MEAN?
The normal range for most labs are based on statistical norms (called "2 standard deviations"). This means that out of every 100 people, those with the 2 highest and lowest scores are considered abnormal and everyone else is defined as normal. Unfortunately, our testing system does not take biological individuality into account. To translate how poorly this "2%" system works, consider this. If we applied it to getting you a pair of shoes, any size between a 4 and 13 would be "medically normal."
TREATMENT-
Thyroid hormones is the right treatment for someone with primary hypothyroidism and is usually all that person needs. It is also an essential piece of the puzzle with many people suffering from Hashimoto's (an autoimmune disorder). However, if you have Hashimoto's and you don't address the underlying autoimmune condition, you will continue to have symptoms and may develop other autoimmune conditions as a result.
But, if your symptoms are the result of a distribution problem....4, 5, 6 and 7 from the list above, thyroid medication can actually make things worse by desensitizing your cells to the thyroid hormone.
DOCTOR-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP
A typical doctor sees an average of 30.7 patients a day. The average patient sees a doctor 3.6 times a year. The average time a doctor spends talking to his or her patient is 13 minutes per visit. So, if a doctor works 50 weeks in a year and 5 days a week, he or she will see 426 patients in a year. That means a typical doctor sees roughly 426 patients for about 47 minutes each per year. Is it any wonder that the World Health Organization ranks the United States dead last among all industrialized countries in over-all health?
HOW WE'RE DIFFERENT
We run a complete thyroid panel. We also check the basics... CBC w/diff - complete metabolic panel - lipid panel - TPO & TBG antibodies etc. We are thorough.
We interpret the results using functional or optimal ranges instead of these very broad so-called "normal" lab ranges. If you want to make it through the day without feeling exhausted you need to be within the optimal range.
We treat you, not your disease or your symptoms. There are times when the only way to get rid of your symptoms is to be healthy. This means no short cuts. You will have to take an active role in your health. This means making lifestyle and/or dietary changes. But we won't give you the generic advise "eat better and exercise". That just doesn't work. Everyone is different. As the old saying goes....... one man's food is another man's poison.
Instead, we do specialized blood tests to see what is causing your immune system to react. After all, inflammation is the underlying cause of all chronic health conditions. Once you find and eliminate the things that are causing your body to produce this inflammatory response.... the quicker you can get your life back.
What we do is not for everyone.... but if you have tried everything else and nothing is working..... what we do may be the only way you can achieve the results you're looking for.
We limit the number of patients to 25 per doctor. We work with patients until they reach their goals. Depending on the patient, that could be anywhere from a few weeks to months. During this time you have access to your doctor 7 days a week. You get your doctor's cell phone number and email address. Any time you have a question or concern you can contact your doctor directly.
We only see people for chronic health conditions. This means you aren't required to come in for regular office visits. So, if you live in a different city or even a different state, we can still help you.
DISTANT CARE PLAN:
Schedule too busy for office visits? Is our office too far away? Don't worry, we can still help you. All that is required is an initial office visit to get started. Click here to see how our Distant Care works.
A healthy person should not have symptoms! If you have symptoms, something is wrong. If you are on medication or if your lab results are "normal" and yet you are still having symptoms.... something was missed. You either didn't have the correct tests run, the results of the tests were misinterpreted or conventional therapies are not the answer for you. A healthy person does not have symptoms !
HOW THINGS ARE SUPPOSED TO WORK-
You walk outside. Its cold. Temperature receptors in your skin send a signal to your brain. The brain sends signals to - hypothalamus - pituitary - thyroid. The thyroid releases hormones to every cell in your body signaling them to speed up. The thyroid hormone makes it's way into the cells and everything speeds up - making you warmer.
Every cell in your body has thyroid receptor cells - even your brain. This is why you have so many symptoms with an under active thyroid.
WHAT CAN GO WRONG?
A closer look reveals where things can go wrong-
1. PRIMARY HYPOPITUITARY- The pituitary isn't sending a strong enough signal to the thyroid.
2. PRIMARY HYPOTHYROIDISM -The thyroid isn't releasing enough thyroid hormone.
3. HASHIMOTO'S -Your immune system is attacking the enzymes that makes the thyroid hormone.
4. THYROID UNDER-CONVERSION -You are not converting enough T4 (storage from of thyroid hormone) into T3 (active form of thyroid hormone).
5. THYROID OVER-CONVERSION & DECREASED TBG -You are converting too much T4 into T3 with a decrease in TBG (thyroid binding globulin), the protein that transports thyroid hormone,
6. THYROID BINDING GLOBULIN ELEVATION - Your body is producing too much TBG.
7. THYROID RESISTANCE - Your cells become resistant to the thyroid hormone, much like a diabetic becomes resistant to insulin.
TAKING THYROID HORMONES ONLY CORRECTS SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH PRIMARY HYPOTHYROIDISM !!
HOW WAS YOUR PROBLEM MISSED?
Testing -
Let's begin with testing. If you complain of fatigue, sensitivity to cold, lack of motivation, etc. your doctor should consider your thyroid. So far, so good. The next step....testing. This is where things may start to fall apart. Routine thyroid testing consists of checking your TSH level.... and maybe T3 and T4.
While TSH levels are the single best indicator of thyroid production, it doesn't tell you whether your thyroid hormone is actually getting into your cells... and thats all that matters. If the thyroid hormone isn't getting into your cells you will continue to have symptoms.
COMPLETE THYROID TESTING -
TSH - TOTAL T4 - FREE T4 - FREE THYROXINE INDEX - RESIN T3 UPTAKE - FREE T3 - REVERSE T3 - THYROID ANTIBODIES
If your doctor has not run all of these tests they may have missed something... and if you are still having symptoms despite "normal" test results or if you are still having symptoms despite taking thyroid hormones... either the proper testing wasn't done or the treatment you are getting is not what you need.
INTERPRETING THE RESULTS OF YOUR LAB WORK-
Most doctors use the very broad laboratory range when interpreting your blood work. The problem with this is.... you can be within the very broad ranges of "normal" and still have symptoms. You see, each lab has a different "normal" range. These "normals" are based on the sick people in your area who have visited your lab in the past year.
WHAT DOES "NORMAL" IN NORMAL LABORATORY RANGE REALLY MEAN?
The normal range for most labs are based on statistical norms (called "2 standard deviations"). This means that out of every 100 people, those with the 2 highest and lowest scores are considered abnormal and everyone else is defined as normal. Unfortunately, our testing system does not take biological individuality into account. To translate how poorly this "2%" system works, consider this. If we applied it to getting you a pair of shoes, any size between a 4 and 13 would be "medically normal."
TREATMENT-
Thyroid hormones is the right treatment for someone with primary hypothyroidism and is usually all that person needs. It is also an essential piece of the puzzle with many people suffering from Hashimoto's (an autoimmune disorder). However, if you have Hashimoto's and you don't address the underlying autoimmune condition, you will continue to have symptoms and may develop other autoimmune conditions as a result.
But, if your symptoms are the result of a distribution problem....4, 5, 6 and 7 from the list above, thyroid medication can actually make things worse by desensitizing your cells to the thyroid hormone.
DOCTOR-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP
A typical doctor sees an average of 30.7 patients a day. The average patient sees a doctor 3.6 times a year. The average time a doctor spends talking to his or her patient is 13 minutes per visit. So, if a doctor works 50 weeks in a year and 5 days a week, he or she will see 426 patients in a year. That means a typical doctor sees roughly 426 patients for about 47 minutes each per year. Is it any wonder that the World Health Organization ranks the United States dead last among all industrialized countries in over-all health?
HOW WE'RE DIFFERENT
We run a complete thyroid panel. We also check the basics... CBC w/diff - complete metabolic panel - lipid panel - TPO & TBG antibodies etc. We are thorough.
We interpret the results using functional or optimal ranges instead of these very broad so-called "normal" lab ranges. If you want to make it through the day without feeling exhausted you need to be within the optimal range.
We treat you, not your disease or your symptoms. There are times when the only way to get rid of your symptoms is to be healthy. This means no short cuts. You will have to take an active role in your health. This means making lifestyle and/or dietary changes. But we won't give you the generic advise "eat better and exercise". That just doesn't work. Everyone is different. As the old saying goes....... one man's food is another man's poison.
Instead, we do specialized blood tests to see what is causing your immune system to react. After all, inflammation is the underlying cause of all chronic health conditions. Once you find and eliminate the things that are causing your body to produce this inflammatory response.... the quicker you can get your life back.
What we do is not for everyone.... but if you have tried everything else and nothing is working..... what we do may be the only way you can achieve the results you're looking for.
We limit the number of patients to 25 per doctor. We work with patients until they reach their goals. Depending on the patient, that could be anywhere from a few weeks to months. During this time you have access to your doctor 7 days a week. You get your doctor's cell phone number and email address. Any time you have a question or concern you can contact your doctor directly.
We only see people for chronic health conditions. This means you aren't required to come in for regular office visits. So, if you live in a different city or even a different state, we can still help you.
DISTANT CARE PLAN:
Schedule too busy for office visits? Is our office too far away? Don't worry, we can still help you. All that is required is an initial office visit to get started. Click here to see how our Distant Care works.
We do not accept every patient who comes in. To be accepted as a patient in our office YOU MUST BE MOTIVATED!!!
CALL Dr. Gilliland today to see if you qualify as a patient
239-444-3106
Tuesday May 15th and 22nd at 6pm in the conference room in the Crexent Building at 27499 Riverview Center Blvd., Bonita Springs, FL 34134
If you would like to have Dr Gilliland speak at your next meeting call
239-444-3106.
To watch seminar video online click here.
Click here to read article about Dr Gilliland in the December 2011 edition of Natural Awakenings Magazine
Click here to read Dr Gilliland's article in Southwest Florida Health & Wellness Magazine.
Dr Kharrazian's Blog
Author of the book: "Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms? When my Lab Tests Are Normal"
The Real Reasons Why You Still Have Symptoms of a Hypothyroid
Click on the picture to see the possible cause(s) of your problem.
May 15th and 22nd
@ 6pm
Tests We Use In Our Office:
Food Allergy Tests
Adrenal Stress Index
Gut Ecology Profile
Urea Breath Test
Hormone Panels
Food Allergy Tests
Adrenal Stress Index
Gut Ecology Profile
Urea Breath Test
Hormone Panels