Whether you have a preexisting thyroid condition, or just suspect that you may, you have come to the right place!
The thyroid is an important gland for so many reasons – it plays an important role in metabolism, weight control, mood, digestive health, menstruation, bone health, and heart health. When the thyroid suboptimal, you may have symptoms such as trouble losing weight, fatigue, dry skin, hair loss, brittle nails, and/or feel constantly cold. An overactive thyroid may produce symptoms such as heart palpitations, anxiety, weight loss, and difficulty sleeping. For a more comprehensive list of symptoms, please click this link for a thyroid symptom evaluation checklist.
A Naturopathic approach to your thyroid issues can help determine the root cause of your health concerns and provide various conventional and alternative management options.
Initial assessment of your thyroid gland will help give a baseline of your thyroid health. At your first visit, Dr. Burke will review your symptoms and discuss family health history. After performing a physical exam to aid in diagnosis, Dr. Burke will order lab work to assess your thyroid health. Examples of common initial labs for diagnosing thyroid conditions include but are not limited to: TSH, free T3, free T4, and thyroid antibodies. After reviewing all information, Dr. Burke will provide a comprehensive individualized treatment plan which will include dietary and lifestyle counseling, supplemental/ herbal support, and, if indicated, discussion of medication options for your thyroid condition. Your initial appointment will provide you with ample time for questions and a thorough evaluation of your thyroid concerns.
Dr. Burke will follow up regularly with lab testing and symptom updates to ensure safe and effective thyroid management, as her primary goal is keeping her patients feeling their best.
Dr. Burke is a licensed naturopathic doctor with a focus in endocrinology, receiving extensive thyroid management training. While your thyroid itself may be a component of your health concerns, she will also look into other body systems and lifestyle patterns to find the root cause of your thyroid issues. Dr. Burke believes it is of the utmost importance to use evidence-based ethical medicine, and to keep up to date with the latest in conventional and alternative medicine. Her philosophy is to meld these two worlds together to provide the best possible care.
This is very dependent on the individual. Some of the factors taken into account for a follow up include the type of thyroid condition, medication dosage changes, your symptoms, and any other additional health concerns you may have. In general, labs will be re-evaluated 6 weeks after a medication dose change to ensure adequate and safe dosage. Once your thyroid labs and symptoms have stabilized; follow ups will be at minimum every six months to one year, or more frequently as desired.
Yes, but it depends on the type of thyroid condition. Often herbal medicines and supplementation will be used in conjunction with conventional medicine. For additional information please check out this article.
There are 2 types of thyroid medication – Synthetic or Natural Desiccated Thyroid (NDT). At your visit we will discuss, if indicated, what options are available to you based on your thyroid labs, symptoms, prior medications, lifestyle/religious beliefs, and medication costs.
An initial appointment can help Dr. Burke to determine if your thyroid could be contributing to your health concerns. She can perform comprehensive labs to look not only at your thyroid but other body systems to determine a root cause of your symptoms.
Please use the online appointment scheduler, contact Dr. Burke via the form below, or call the office at 480-702-1445. We would love to see how we can help you feel optimal!
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