It is commonly assumed that generalized complaints are not very serious, or that if a patient complains of a multitude of complaints, then no single complaint must be bothering him very much. Neither of these assumptions is necessarily correct. As mentioned in previous chapters, medical problems that affect lower levels of organization of the body tend to be more difficult to measure with our current technology and tend to cause more generalized complaints. So, some might assume that because a condition is difficult to quantitate or measure exactly with available technology, the resulting generalized complaints can't be very severe. But, it must not be assumed that the symptoms of Wilson's Temperature Syndrome are mild and insignificant. They are severe, inappropriate, and undesirable enough for WTS sufferers to be given all manner of symptomatic therapies in an attempt to address them.

Sometimes patients will come to my office on five or six different symptomatic medicines for five or six different symptoms that are related to Wilson's Temperature Syndrome. These medicines can often be discontinued when the body temperature patterns have been normalized without return of the symptoms even after the WT3 protocol has been weaned. Of course, not every symptom of which a person complains is necessarily due to thyroid hormone deficiency. But we have discussed in previous chapters, why DTSF especially due to Wilson's Temperature Syndrome, should be one of the first possibilities considered. It is very common, very easy to recognize, very easy to treat, and getting it treated can make all the difference in a person's life. Considering the pervasive influence of thyroid hormones on the body, and considering thyroid hormone function can affect all aspects of life including recovery from illness, emotional make up, productivity, and overall good health, it stands to reason that special attention should be paid to the possibility of DTSF-especially since it can affect the way a patient responds to treatments for other medical problems that may also be present. Finally, Wilson's Temperature Syndrome and other causes of DTSF should always be considered in patients suffering from symptoms of MED since it is better to treat the underlying problem rather than just the symptoms.

I will now review symptomatic treatments that are commonly implemented by doctors to treat the symptoms of Wilson's Temperature Syndrome. There are a few things that the following treatments have in common. I have seen each of them used in the treatment of symptoms of Multiple Enzyme Dysfunction in Wilson's Temperature Syndrome sufferers prior to their being treated with proper liothyronine therapy. When the symptom a certain treatment is managing returns after the treatment is discontinued, it is more likely that the treatment is symptomatic. It has also been seen in some cases, that the patients' symptoms responded at least as well if not better to proper thyroid hormone therapy as compared with the symptomatic treatment; with the symptoms remaining persistently improved after the symptomatic therapy had been discontinued and even after the thyroid hormone therapy had been weaned. So proper liothyronine treatment can be a symptomatic treatment (managing the symptoms during treatment), and even a therapeutic one (effecting a persistent "cure").

We will now discuss symptomatic treatments commonly given for the symptoms of Wilson's Temperature Syndrome which often respond better to proper thyroid hormone treatment. The following are common symptomatic treatments:
 

Given for the treatment of allergies, hay fever, sinus congestion, and other associated complaints. Again, when one finds out through careful history that the patient's hay fever or allergies came on together in a group after a major stress several years ago, and its onset correlated with that of several other symptoms of Wilson's Temperature Syndrome, it is possible that the complaints are related to DTSF and low body temperature patterns. This is especially true when the allergy and hay fever symptoms resolve together with the other symptoms of Wilson's Temperature Syndrome quickly and predictably after normalization of body temperature patterns with the WT3 protocol.
 

Given for acid indigestion and ulcer formation that develop secondary to decreased bowel motility which caused decreased stomach emptying and greater build up of acids in the stomach. Many times patients can be easily weaned off ulcer medication, and enjoy resolution of their heartburn and indigestion problem once their body temperature and bowel motility have been returned to normal with proper thyroid hormone treatment.
 

Given for the lightheadedness, clumsiness, and sensation of being "off balance" that frequently resolve better with proper thyroid hormone treatment.
 

Patients frequently take prescription and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicines for menstrual cramps and arthritis that can be associated with Wilson's Temperature Syndrome. The menstrual cramps are often easily resolved with proper thyroid hormone treatment.
 

Given for the respiratory, urinary, skin, and yeast infections that are commonly associated with Wilson's Temperature Syndrome. Recurring and difficult to treat infections such as acne, yeast infections, skin, and wound infections can frequently be eliminated with proper thyroid hormone treatment and normalization of body temperature patterns.
 

Given sometimes for the depression that is related to Wilson's Temperature Syndrome. They are also sometimes given with the intention of treating the muscular aches or fibromyalgia that is sometimes associated with WTS . The antidepressants are also sometimes prescribed in an attempt to address the associated anxiety and panic attacks.
 

Inappropriate weight gain has long been recognized as a characteristic of hypothyroidism (one cause of DTSF). This symptom of DTSF can present in the same fashion as other DTSF symptoms caused by Wilson's Temperature Syndrome. It can appear or worsen after a major stress, be related to one or many of the other symptoms of Wilson's Temperature Syndrome; and be well correlated with a consistently low body temperature pattern. A patient's weight can depend on their diet, exercise, female hormones, adrenal hormones, and thyroid hormones as well as body shape and stress levels. Of course, not all of these factors can be controlled with thyroid hormone medication. However, it has long since been made clear that decreased thyroid system function can greatly affect a patient's ability to maintain normal weight. If a person's DTSF is overlooked when approaching their weight problem, the approaches taken may not fully address the underlying problems. Such approaches, therefore, often result in the gaining back of the patient's weight after the approaches have been discontinued. Since Wilson's Temperature Syndrome is essentially a starvation coping mechanism gone amuck, severe dieting can actually make the problem worse causing the patient to gain all the weight back and then some. If people are having a problem maintaining their weight, it would be worth taking a careful history to see if the patient's weight problems came on after a major stress together with other symptoms of Wilson's Temperature Syndrome and a low body temperature pattern (WS?).
 

Even though these are cosmetic issues, they deserve to be mentioned because of the impact that they can have on a patient's life, financially and emotionally. Many, many of the female patients that I treat for Wilson's Temperature Syndrome have artificial nails because of the splitting, breaking, peeling, and lack of growth of their own nails. Patients will often wear wigs or toupees due to hair loss. Patients may sometimes require a repeat perm after their permanent falls out within two weeks, when their permanents usually stay in for months (before Wilson's Temperature Syndrome). Sometimes the perm may not take at all. This problem is often corrected with proper thyroid hormone treatment. Interestingly, the dry and brittle hair problem that is frequently associated with Wilson's Temperature Syndrome sometimes begins to clear up in a manner of days, even two to fourteen days. Since the hair certainly has not had time to grow out completely within a period of two weeks, it appears that the condition and quality of the hair must have something to do with the oils that are secreted from the scalp. Frequently, with proper thyroid hormone treatment the change in the hair can often be dramatic and noticeable leaving it more manageable even within a period of two weeks. Some of the changes come over time as the hair grows out but it is interesting that some of the hair complaints improve in such a short period of time. (See PIGMENTATION, SKIN AND HAIR, CHANGES in Chapter 9).
 

Asthma is not commonly considered to be related to DTSF. However, that it can be related has been seen to the extent that the asthma associated with Wilson's Temperature Syndrome frequently follows the pattern of onset and resolution of the other symptoms of Wilson's Temperature Syndrome (coming on together in a group after a stress and resolving with that group with proper thyroid treatment). The asthma, when untreated, can be quite severe at times with some patients even being hospitalized and requiring maintenance asthma medicine therapy to control their symptoms. Again, careful history can provide clues that a person's asthma may be related to Wilson's Temperature Syndrome. Asthma is frequently a disease of childhood that people outgrow, but Wilson's Temperature Syndrome patients sometimes first develop asthma in adulthood. Whether the symptoms of asthma begin in childhood or adulthood, the patient should always be asked if they presented after a major stress and if they came on in association with any of the other symptoms of MED caused by low body temperature patterns, to see, if by chance, the asthma may be related to Wilson's Temperature Syndrome. Many times these patients respond much better to thyroid hormone treatment than they do to asthma medicines, especially in the sense that their asthma sometimes stays persistently improved even after treatment has been discontinued. I have seen many patients who, when I first saw them, had been taking asthma medicine for years (even 10 to 20 years). Upon careful history one sometimes finds that these patients' asthma began after they were having a period of severe marital problems, financial collapse, or other severe stress, with their asthma persisting even after the stress had passed. Many of these patients have been able to wean off their asthma medicine (beta-agonist pills and bronchodilator inhalers) even completely. Their asthma sometimes even remains persistently improved even after the thyroid hormone treatment has been gradually tapered off and discontinued.
 

Frequently given to help regulate irregular periods or to treat heavy menstrual periods. In this setting, the birth control therapy frequently does help. The irregular periods and heavy menstrual cycles can sometimes be corrected to such an extent that they even remain corrected even after therapy has been discontinued. Sometimes, however, the irregular menstrual cycle and heavy periods resume once birth control pill therapy has been discontinued. Proper thyroid hormone treatment can often be used in Wilson's Temperature Syndrome patients to treat the irregular periods and heavy menstrual cycles with there being persistent improvement even after the therapy has been discontinued. So, in cases where irregular menstrual cycles and heavy periods do not remain persistently improved after birth control therapy has been discontinued, persistent improvement might be accomplished through the use of thyroid hormone therapy (in Wilson's Temperature Syndrome sufferers).
 

Sometimes patients with Wilson's Temperature Syndrome have scars on their wrists where they have undergone surgery to release the ligament that overlies the carpal tunnel. The carpal tunnel is the bony tunnel at the base of the hand through which many of the hand's most important blood vessels, nerves, and tendons pass. The Carpal Tunnel Syndrome surgery is done to release the pressure that results from fluid retention in the tissues of the confined space that causes pinching of the nerves, and numbness and tingling of the hands. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome has long been associated with hypothyroidism. Again, however, DTSF is commonly overlooked because of over reliance on thyroid hormone blood tests. A patient presented to my office with a scar on her right wrist and numbness and tingling of her left hand. The scar on her right wrist was from the successful Carpal Tunnel Syndrome surgery that had relieved the numbness and tingling of her right hand which she had had previously. When I first saw her, she was having the identical problem with her left hand. She had already been scheduled for surgery that was to be done thirty days after our first meeting. Since her related symptoms, signs, and story were so characteristic of Wilson's Temperature Syndrome, it was recommended to her that she postpone her Carpal Tunnel Syndrome surgery until after a therapeutic trial on thyroid hormone treatment. Within the month the numbness and tingling of her hand resolved with normalization of her body temperature patterns and she canceled her Carpal Tunnel Syndrome surgery.
 

Because patients are sometimes unable to get their cholesterol levels down to a normal level in spite of diligent dieting and exercise.
 

Wilson's Temperature Syndrome patients are sometimes treated with cortisone for arthritis, asthma, and hair loss. Low body temperature patterns frequently can lead to fluid retention or swelling that can result in aches and pains of the muscles and joints; for which patients are sometimes treated with cortisone. It is interesting that cortisone is well known to inhibit 5'-deiodinase (the enzyme that converts T4 to T3) directly. Understandably then, cortisone therapy has been seen to precipitate or bring on cases of Wilson's Temperature Syndrome as well as worsen existing cases. Cortisone therapy can often be quite useful in the treatment of arthritis, asthma, and hair loss (frequently given by injection into the scalp). However, sometimes these problems can respond much better to thyroid hormone therapy than to cortisone therapy as can the other related symptoms of Wilson's Temperature Syndrome. Careful history can frequently correlate the onset of these symptoms with the clinical picture of Wilson's Temperature Syndrome (beginning after a major stress, associated with low body temperature patterns, and responding very well with normalization of the body temperature patterns).
 

Frequently given for fluid retention.
 

Wilson's Temperature Syndrome sufferers sometimes develop ringing in the ears that begins or worsens after a significant stress. Ringing in the ears typically gets worse with the onset of fluid retention symptoms and gets better with the resolution of fluid retention. These patients frequently have undergone a number of evaluations and sometimes treatments for their ringing in the ears without success. In several cases that I have seen, these patients can have very disturbing, almost maddening ringing in the ears that responds quite well to proper thyroid hormone treatment, even with complete resolution of this disturbing complaint.
 

It is well known that one of the first things that should be checked in a patient being treated for infertility is their thyroid function. Unfortunately, too much attention is often focused on the thyroid gland rather than the thyroid system. The possibility of decreased thyroid system function is often dismissed if thyroid hormone blood tests are normal even in the face of classic DTSF symptoms. Sometimes fertility drugs can even worsen the situation in Wilson's Temperature Syndrome, causing initiation or worsening of the symptoms of Wilson's Temperature Syndrome; sometimes, with the symptoms remaining persistently worse even after the fertility medicine has been discontinued. Quite a few patients I have treated have conceived easily when they had previously had difficulty getting pregnant. Of course, Wilson's Temperature Syndrome patients often have a history of one or more miscarriages. Proper thyroid hormone treatment is sometimes necessary to enable these patients to conceive and maintain a pregnancy.
 

Since patients with Wilson's Temperature Syndrome frequently have hypoglycemia, they are frequently advised to eat six small meals per day (rather than three) that are a little higher in protein and a little lower in carbohydrates. Indeed, this is good advice since it does alleviate fairly well the symptoms of hypoglycemia and it does decrease the body's incentive to slow down further into conservation mode. The less time the stomach is empty, perhaps the less inclined the body is to perceive itself as starving. I remember one case in particular when a patient developed the symptoms of Wilson's Temperature Syndrome (including hypoglycemia) and a low body temperature pattern after a major stress. Upon discussing the pros and cons, risks, and benefits of the alternative treatments, it was decided that the patient should employ a hypoglycemic diet initially. Interestingly, she was able to bring herself out of the conservation mode and back into the productivity mode through the use of her hypoglycemic diet, which is possible in some cases. However, in the many cases that hypoglycemic dieting and proper exercise alone are unable to reverse the patient's tendency for hypoglycemia (due to Wilson's Temperature Syndrome), normalization of body temperature patterns through the use of proper thyroid hormone treatment frequently will.
 

Decreased thyroid system function and resulting low body temperature patterns can cause decreased bowel motility which can manifest itself in several ways. It can lead to constipation, which constipation is frequently treated with various types of laxatives, including bulk-forming laxatives and suppositories. Patients can frequently go three to five days without a bowel movement and sometimes as long as three weeks. This constipation is often treated with high fiber diets, bulk-forming laxatives, and stool softeners. The constipation can also lead to straining-at-the-stool and consequent hemorrhoid formation which is often treated with creams and other preparations. The abnormal bowel motility and constipation sometimes leads to reflexive spasms, abdominal pain, cramping, gas, and even diarrhea. This situation is commonly referred to as Irritable Bowel Syndrome or Spastic Colon. Patients with Wilson's Temperature Syndrome often have constipation and/or diarrhea with gas, bloating, and cramping. I remember one patient who was suffering from acid indigestion, constipation, and hemorrhoids because of his decreased bowel motility. He was taking histamine blockers (ulcer medicine) for his acid indigestion. He was on a bulk-forming laxative to prevent constipation, and he was requiring a steroid hemorrhoid cream for his hemorrhoids. With proper thyroid hormone treatment, his bowel motility returned to normal. His tendencies for constipation and acid indigestion also resolved. And he was no longer bothered with hemorrhoids. He was able to wean off his ulcer medicine, laxative, and hemorrhoid medicine as well as the thyroid hormone treatment.

Antispasmodic medicines are frequently given for the spastic colon symptoms to help patients with gas, bloating, and sudden episodes of diarrhea. One such unfortunate patient can remember, to the day, when his case of severe spastic colon began (a day of severe job stress). From that day, he had symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome so severe that he had been unable to enjoy some of his favorite pursuits (piloting an airplane and scuba diving). Doctors were unable to find the cause of his Irritable Bowel Syndrome and were treating him with antispasmodic/anti anxiety medications, which improved his situation but did not correct it. With the WT3 protocol, the patient's symptoms of spastic colon resolved quickly (several weeks), and dramatically, with normalization of his bowl motility. His situation was far better treated with proper thyroid therapy than with the less successful antispasmodic therapy.
 

Wilson's Temperature Syndrome patients often benefit from marriage and family counseling for the interpersonal relationship problems that can sometimes result due to the symptoms of MED caused by low body temperature patterns. However, this counseling can sometimes be disappointing in that it cannot always get to the underlying problem. I have seen cases where proper thyroid hormone treatment resulted in such an improved level of well-being and restored emotional resources that the patient and patient's family were able to enjoy much more appropriate interpersonal relationships-so much so that the need for marriage and family counseling was obviated. It is truly amazing to see how much Multiple Enzyme Dysfunction resulting from low body temperature patterns caused by Wilson's Temperature Syndrome can affect the attitudes of people, the way they feel about themselves and other people, and the way they interact and get along with other people. It can literally be as great as the difference between night and day.
 

Patients are frequently treated with long lists of different headache medicines for the troublesome and debilitating headaches, and even severe migraines that can be associated with Wilson's Temperature Syndrome. These medicines include aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and an assortment of migraine headache medicines (beta-blockers, calcium channel-blockers, ergotamines, and narcotic pain medicines). One dramatic case that I remember involved a woman who was diagnosed as having severe basilar artery migraine headaches that would cause severe headache pain, nausea and vomiting, and even neurological changes that would cause numbness and/or weakness of her face, mouth, and hands. Her migraines were so severe at times they would leave her almost unresponsive. During such episodes she would often be taken to the hospital and given oxygen therapy which would sometimes help. Since her headaches were so frequent and so severe, she actually was given a prescription for oxygen tanks that she could keep at home for this purpose. When the migraine headaches became very severe she would sometimes use oxygen at home to provide her brain with sufficient oxygen. She has undergone every available migraine headache treatment from pain medicines,