Hi! My name is Bernadette Thomas, DNP, Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner.  I have an intense passion for helping thyroid patients because I too am a thyroid patient and understand first hand the struggles that come with thyroid disease.

 

Although the thyroid is small, it is mighty, and affects every cell in our bodies. The “small and mighty” thyroid is a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland located low on the front of the neck just above the collarbone. The thyroid makes thyroid hormones and controls metabolism. The name “Monarch Wellness Center” references the shape of the thyroid as well as our dedication to specialized thyroid care. As many know the butterflies emerge from total darkness in their cocoons to eventually display beautiful symmetrical patterns on their wings. This phenomena is why we here at Monarch Wellness Center find great value in the quote “perhaps the butterfly is proof that you can go through a great deal of darkness yet still become something beautiful.”

 

In our Wilmington, Delaware office we take a complete functional medicine approach (root cause of disease) to managing patients with various Thyroid Diseases such as Hashimoto’s Disease, Grave’s Disease, Hyperthyroidism, and Hypothyroidism. This means we are not going to just glance down at your labs, and tell you it’s “all in your head” or that “you’re just depressed.” We know there is more to it than that, and our goal is to make your body function more optimally. We will not just make a few numbers on your lab report look good, and ignore the fact that you still don’t feel well. We will work with your until ‘you’ actually feel better.

 

At Monarch Wellness Center we have combined the best of functional medicine modalities to bring Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Maryland area residents an exciting addition to their thyroid care that moves beyond the simplistic dated Thyroid Replacement ONLY Model.

 

We offer a patient-centered, whole-person, functional metabolic approach that gives our patients the opportunity to feel more energized, vibrant, and truly feel good again. This process does not happen overnight, but over an ongoing partnership to ensure your health continues to improve.  We help treat and manage your Thyroid Disease and your autoimmune disease.

 

The health information of our patients is important. The health history and lab results holds key pieces of information that may very well provide the answer to thyroid symptoms. We at Monarch Wellness Center understand that just because your lab values are ‘normal’ it does not mean that everything is OK and you feel great.

 

At Monarch Wellness Center of Delaware we don’t want you to continue to suffer with the same thyroid symptoms. So, we will work together in a step by step approach to support and improve the underlying mechanisms that are causing you continued thyroid health problems.

 

The thyroid makes hormones that regulate the way your body uses energy (metabolism). It also plays an important role in regulating your weight, body temperature, muscle strength, and even your mood.

Here is a list of some of the common thyroid labs that are ordered at Monarch Wellness Center of Delaware to help treat your Thyroid Disease (your list may vary due to individualized care):

 

TSH – TSH stands for “thyroid stimulating hormone” and the test measures how much of this hormone is in your blood.

TT4 (Total T4) – The total thyroxine test is used to diagnose thyroid disorders. Thyroxine (T4) is a thyroid hormone and the test measures how much is in your blood. Some thyroid diseases are tied to too little T4, and others are tied to too much.

TT3 (Total T3) – total triiodothyronine (T3) test measures how much of this hormone (measures both bound and free T3) is present in your blood. If the level is either abnormally high or abnormally low, it can be an indicator of thyroid disease; useful for diagnosing hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid).

FTI – free thyroxine index (FT4I) is the product of the measured T4 level and the triiodothyronine uptake (T3U). It takes into account the absolute hormone level and the binding capacity of thyroid-binding globulin. The FT4I is decreased in hypothyroidism and increased in hyperthyroidism.

FT3 – Free T3 or free triiodothyronine is unbound and able to enter and affect the body tissues. FTE measures the level of triiodothyronine (T3) in your blood; used to diagnose hyperthyroidism.

FT4 – Free T4 or free thyroxine measures the amount of free T4 in your blood. Free T4 is the thyroxine that is not attached to a protein in the blood.

T3 Uptake – measures the level of proteins that carry thyroid hormone in the blood. Used to help determine the levels of Thyroid Binding Globulin because it’s measurement reflects the available binding sited for thyroid hormone.

Reverse T3 or rT3 – measures of the amount of reverse T3 produced from T4. This is the inactive form of thyroid hormone T3. rT3 seems to increase during times of extreme stress, both acute such as trauma or chronic stress such as more mental and emotional stressors or even chronic calorie restriction, perhaps as a protective mechanism for survival.

TgAB –  thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb) test is used to check blood levels of antibodies the body has made against the compound thyroglobulin. These antibodies can also be a sign of Hashimoto disease. Most people with Hashimoto disease have high levels of both Tg and TPO antibodies.

TPO or thyroid peroxidase antibody – thyroid antibodies test is used to help diagnose autoimmune disorders: Hashimoto disease (Hashimoto thyroiditis) or Graves’ disease.

ATA  or Antithyroglobulin antibody –   Antithyroglobulin antibody is a test to measure antibodies to a protein called thyroglobulin. This protein is found in thyroid cells. Antithyroglobulin antibodies can be a sign of thyroid gland damage caused by the immune system. They may be measured if thyroiditis is suspected or measure levels after treatment for thyroid cancer to monitor you for a recurrence.

Thyroglobulin antibodies (Tg) – These antibodies can also be a sign of Hashimoto disease. Most people with Hashimoto disease have high levels of both Tg and TPO antibodies.
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor – These antibodies can be a sign of Grave’s disease.

 

 

• Initial New Patient Consultation for Thyroid Disease Treatment $200
• Established Patient Follow Up $75
• All visits include lab result interpretation and medication adjustments as needed.

 

Please note that all insurance Copayments are due at the time of service.

Call us for more information

(302) 482-2289