In the preceding chapters I have tried to lay the foundation to prepare the reader for what follows -- symptoms, treatments, and significance of Wilson's Temperature Syndrome. The present chapter deals with the symptoms of Wilson's Temperature Syndrome. We have talked previously about how it is better to treat the underlying problem rather than just the symptoms. When the underlying problem is treated, not only do the symptoms respond more completely, but they frequently remain corrected even after therapy has been discontinued. An effort has been made to prepare the reader for that which is very difficult to imagine. I am continually amazed by its ramifications. There are many days in which I will see several patients that I would feel comfortable putting in the "miracle" category. Miraculous because their severe and debilitating symptoms, some of which have been treated by some of the best doctors in the world for years without much success, have resolved quickly and easily with proper thyroid hormone treatment. Of course, many of the symptoms in this chapter are normal for anyone to have at times, but they are especially problematic when they are inappropriate and persist.

There are at least two things that are difficult to imagine about the unprecedented impact and significance of Wilson's Temperature Syndrome.

1. How can one problem cause so many complaints? It is because it affects such a fundamental process upon which so many other functions are dependent (like removing the one card from the bottom of a card house that cannot be removed without the whole house of cards collapsing).
2. How can so many different symptoms respond so completely to normalization of body temperatures? Because in so many cases the treatment is addressing the problem rather than the symptoms.

We have also mentioned previously why Wilson's Temperature Syndrome should be considered first in addressing many of the associated symptoms for several reasons: Very few, if any, non life-threatening conditions can affect a process so fundamental so as to easily explain so many different symptoms; it is extremely common; it is easily recognized; it is easily treated; response to treatment is rapid; the medicine is found in nature and is not foreign to the body; and there is a chance for "cure". The symptoms listed in this chapter all have certain things in common. They have all been seen to follow the typical pattern of presentation and response of Wilson's Temperature Syndrome. Namely, they each have been seen to come on together with several or many of the other symptoms listed. They many times occur after a major mental, physical, or emotional stress. They have each been seen to be correlated in many cases with a low body temperature pattern. They have each been seen to respond together with other presenting symptoms upon normalization of body temperature patterns with the WT3 protocol. And finally, they each have been seen to, in certain cases, remain persistently improved even after the WT3 protocol has been gradually weaned.

I feel that the WT3 protocol is not only a treatment for many of these symptoms is also the best available treatment in many cases, for many of the symptoms (when persistent and inappropriate), including fatigue, migraines, PMS, decreased memory, insomnia, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, constipation, and irritable bowel syndrome.

The WT3 protocol for Wilson's Temperature Syndrome is not a panacea or "cure-all" and I don't mean to imply for a moment that it is. But there is no reason that it should be overlooked any longer. Time will tell if Wilson's Temperature Syndrome accounts for more cases than other causes of migraines, PMS, fatigue, depression, insomnia, anxiety, panic attacks, constipation, and irritable bowel syndrome. Therefore, time will tell also if the WT3 protocol proves to be more effective than other treatments in more cases of migraines, PMS, fatigue, decreased memory, insomnia, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, constipation, and irritable bowel syndrome.

The following are descriptions of the most common pervasive effects of Wilson's Temperature Syndrome:
 

Decreased bowel motility secondary to WTS can result in the backing up of stomach acids. This can lead to heartburn, esophageal acid reflux, and even ulcers. As mentioned previously, this acid indigestion and predisposition for reflux and ulcers often responds quite easily to the WT3 protocol, even when not well controlled by other medicines.
 

Not uncommonly, Wilson's Temperature Syndrome sufferers relate the development and/or worsening of allergy symptoms such as stuffy nose, sinus drainage, hay fever, etc., to a major stress. When the allergies come on together with other signs and symptoms of Wilson's Temperature Syndrome, it is more likely that they are related, particularly when they become worse after a significant mental, physical, or emotional stress. As will be discussed later, other allergic type responses can also be associated with Wilson's Temperature Syndrome such as asthma, itchiness, and hives. I suspect that body temperature changes can affect histamine physiology, possibly by causing enzymatic changes that result in an over production of histamine or resulting in decreased breakdown of histamine by the body. The symptoms of allergy, asthma, itching, and hives also seem to be related to the balance of fluids in the body (the degree of fluid retention and degree of fluid fluctuations). Interestingly, histamine among other things mediates changes in fluid balance to a certain degree in certain areas. It may be that histamine and body temperature patterns play a role in the symptoms of allergies, asthma, itching, and hives to the extent that they influence fluid balance in certain areas of the body.

It may be that with lower body temperature patterns, the blood vessels of the sinuses dilate resulting in increased transudate (which is fluid that seeps from the blood vessels into the tissues), thereby resulting in tissue swelling, congestion, and increased sinus drainage. Regardless of the mechanism, it is clear that allergies can be related to low body temperature patterns and can follow the behavior of other symptoms related to Wilson's Temperature Syndrome. Allergy manifestations can present together with other symptoms of Wilson's Temperature Syndrome especially after a significant stress, and can resolve even completely (together with the other presenting symptoms of Wilson's Temperature Syndrome) upon normalization of body temperature patterns with the WT3 protocol.
 

Panic attacks are acute episodes of anxiety. They can be accompanied by overwhelming feeling of fear and dread. They can be associated with palpitations, breaking out in sweats, and even chest pains. Panic attack sufferers commonly say that they sometimes feel as if they are going to die during some of their attacks. Panic attacks are one of the most interesting manifestations of Wilson's Temperature Syndrome. They are somewhat the way one feels when one awakens thinking that there might be a burglar in the room. When faced with such a threat, feelings of fear and dread are appropriate and the surge of adrenaline is useful in helping one prepare to react to threatening situations. This is what is sometimes referred to as the "fight or flight" response. This response can be quite inappropriate, however, when it takes place with very little or no provocation. Common settings in which WTS sufferers will find themselves having pain attacks include shopping (especially in grocery stores, for some reason), driving over bridges, driving in heavy traffic, or flying in an airplane.

Wilson's Temperature Syndrome is characterized by the body being stuck in conservation mode wherein it feels its resources are being threatened even when such feelings may be inappropriate. In a similar way, panic attacks are characterized by the body responding dramatically to inappropriately small challenges. All of us know what it feels like to panic, however, most of us would agree that such feelings would be inappropriate if they occurred out of the blue with little or no provocation.

The "fight or flight" response is mediated by adrenaline produced in the adrenal gland, which causes an increase of blood supply to the extremities and muscles, increased heart rate, enlarging of the air passageways, etc. The adrenal gland is stimulated to release adrenaline during threatening circumstances. The adrenal gland secretes adrenaline also during normal maintenance of proper blood pressure levels. When the blood pressure is detected by the body as being too low, a signal will be sent to the adrenal gland to secrete adrenaline to increase the pulse rate and help bring the blood pressure back up to normal levels.

One characteristic of WTS sufferers is that they commonly have low blood pressure and "relaxed" blood vessels. Because of the decreased vascular tone, these patients have a more difficult time maintaining normal blood pressure. They frequently can get lightheaded when they stand up too fast because of their body's inability to maintain adequate blood supply to the brain. It seems then, that the blood pressure of such patients bounces around just above the threshold, below which a compensatory burst of adrenaline would be secreted by the adrenal gland to prevent fainting. So in essence, these patients may normally be on the verge of a compensatory burst of adrenaline. I feel this helps explain why the slightest provocation can trigger a burst of adrenaline that can bring on palpitations, sweating, fear, and panic. At any rate, panic attacks can frequently be easily eliminated with proper thyroid hormone treatment.
 

These symptoms seem to be related to the fluid retention, either obvious or microscopic and could be related to Wilson's Temperature Syndrome. These symptoms seem to come and go in a pattern that is similar, with regard to body temperature patterns and body temperature fluctuations to that of WTS symptoms related to fluid retention. Fluid retention or swelling plays a role in inflammation. It is well known that inflammation can be painful and that it can impair wound healing and recovery from injuries. For this reason, anti-inflammatory medicines are frequently prescribed to decrease inflammation in order to decrease the pain and to aid in healing. Worsened inflammation can be a disturbing manifestation of a low body temperature pattern. For example, perhaps a person accidentally injuries his back at work and the stress of the back injury, being laid up in the hospital, and being out of work causes a drop in body temperature patterns resulting in the development of the symptoms of Wilson's Temperature Syndrome. The patient's back problems, consequently, may not resolve or respond as well as those of other patients. His convalescence and recuperation compared to other patients might be prolonged and disappointing.

WS sufferers commonly have muscular and joint aches that respond well to proper thyroid hormone treatment. The arthritis associated with Wilson's Temperature Syndrome frequently follows patterns of presentation, persistence, and resolution of other symptoms of Wilson's Temperature Syndrome. For example, the arthritis and muscular aches might be more severe in the morning upon awakening, better during the day, and worse again in the evening, and correspond with improvement and worsening of other symptoms of Wilson's Temperature Syndrome with temperature changes.
 

As mentioned previously, asthma may be due to changes in histamine physiology. Regardless of the mechanism, asthma has been seen to follow the pattern of presentation of Wilson's Temperature Syndrome symptoms and frequently responds well to proper liothyronine treatment. Many patients that I have seen who have been less than adequately controlled on even several asthma medicines at a time, have been able to wean off their asthma medicine, while enjoying resolution of their asthma symptoms with normalization of their body temperature patterns If the asthma symptoms, come on later in life (as opposed to childhood asthma) especially after a major physical, mental, or emotional stress, together with other classic symptoms of Wilson's Temperature Syndrome and low body temperature patterns, then it is quite possible that the patient's asthma will respond to proper T3 therapy.
 

Some patients and their spouses have noticed changes in the smell of the patient's breath with onset of Wilson's Temperature Syndrome. The change in breath odor was noticeable since the patients had not previously had problems with their breath. Halitosis or bad breath is well known to be exacerbated by bacterial growth in the mouth and because of other internal changes. It may be that MED secondary to WTS may impair the body's ability to retard the growth of bacteria or development of plaque in the mouth or to prevent other internal changes that can result in breath problems. There have been some patients who have even noticed significantly increased tooth decay with the noticeable change occurring with the onset of WTS symptoms.
 

When the tone of the vessels becomes more relaxed, blood vessels can be more easily ruptured. Bruises are areas in the skin where blood vessels have been ruptured with the blood seeping into the surrounding tissue. This can result in soreness and discoloration of the skin that are familiar to all of us. Bruises are cleared by special "clean-up" cells of the body. The function of these cells, like the function of virtually all cells, is dependent upon the proper functioning of enzymes. Multiple Enzyme Dysfunction can, therefore, explain a phenomenon that is sometimes seen in Wilson's Temperature Syndrome patients.

I remember one patient who pointed to bruises on her leg and said that "I have had this bruise for six months, this bruise for one year, and this bruise for two years." I was astonished and could barely believe that she could have a bruise that could last for two years. However, it seemed to be a difficult thing to invent and she seemed quite sincere about it. And it didn't sound too hard to imagine since there are some people who have difficulty healing scratches that many remain open for as long as six months, or may take even longer to heal. At any rate, as you may have guessed, her bruises resolved within one month of her body temperature patterns being normalized with proper thyroid supplementation. Thus, Wilson's Temperature Syndrome sufferers bruise more easily, more frequently, and those bruises can last longer than is appropriate.
 

Canker sores are certainly not the most common symptom of WTS . However, it has been seen that canker sores can be influenced by Wilson's Temperature Syndrome. One patient noticed that she began having canker sores develop inside her mouth just prior to her menstrual cycle ever since she began developing other symptoms of WTS , following a major stress in her life. With normalization of body temperature patterns, her symptoms of PMS, her symptoms of WTS , and even her tendency to develop canker sores premenstrually all resolved.
 

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is the numbness and tingling experienced in the hands, fingers, occasionally with shooting pains up the arm that result from the impingement of nerves that pass through a narrow tunnel at the base of the hand. The numbness and tingling frequently follow the distribution of the nerves that pass through the tunnel. It can involve the pinky and ring finger as well as the pinky side of the hand; or it can affect the thumb, index and middle finger.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is frequently seen in people who have a job that requires constant repetition of certain hand movements, but CTS has also been long associated with DTSF. As mentioned previously, the tissue swelling that results from fluid retention caused by DTSF can cause pinched nerve syndromes, especially in areas where the swelling occurs at a site where there is only a limited amount of space. When tissue swelling occurs within the closed spaced of the Carpal Tunnel, then the nerves that pass through the tunnel can become pinched resulting in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
 

Cholesterol has long been associated with decreased thyroid system function. In fact, prior to thyroid hormone blood testing, cholesterol was sometimes used as a test for decreased thyroid system function. Some doctors used to say, "Well, you have high cholesterol, therefore, you have a slow metabolism." Doctors don't often make that same conclusion now, but it is often still true. In fact, in the literature that accompanies many of the medicines used in lowering blood cholesterol levels, it is pointed out that the medicine should not be prescribed until hypothyroidism (one cause of DTSF) is ruled out. It is well known that thyroid system function should be one of the first things evaluated in a patient with persistently elevated blood cholesterol levels, especially those that do not respond well to dietary changes. Unfortunately, it is again assumed that DTSF can be satisfactorily ruled out based solely on thyroid hormone blood tests, even in the face of classic signs, symptoms, and presentation of DTSF.

I remember a classic WTS sufferer who had cholesterol levels in the low 300's (normal is below 200) in spite of being treated with several different cholesterol lowering drugs and in spite of strict dietary changes. With normalization of his body temperature pattern with the WT3 protocol, his symptoms of Wilson's Temperature Syndrome resolved and within 1 1/2 months, his blood cholesterol levels had dropped below 200 for the first time in years, in spite of having not taken his cholesterol lowering drug during that I 1/2 month period.

Most Americans are aware of the importance of blood cholesterol levels, thanks to the media. In the last sixty years there is evidence that the average blood cholesterol levels and heart disease in Americans are increasing. These increases have baffled scientists who have been unable to attribute the increases to any observable changes in dietary, environmental, or health trends. However, these increases are easy to understand when one realizes that due to our improved medical technology more and more people who would be susceptible to developing Wilson's Temperature Syndrome are living into adulthood. And, of course, our world is continually becoming more and more stressful. It is easy to imagine then, that more and more people are developing decreased thyroid system function as a result of developing Wilson's Temperature Syndrome. This could easily account for the increases in average blood cholesterol levels and increased heart disease. Of course, not every person who has elevated blood cholesterol levels is suffering from Wilson's Temperature Syndrome. But obviously, body temperature patterns and other characteristics of Wilson's Temperature Syndrome deserve special consideration in patients who have stubbornly elevated blood cholesterol levels.

It seems that substances such as T3 and T4, which are found in every person's body, would be preferable to cholesterol lowering agents which are "not found in nature," especially if they better address the underlying problem, are more effective, and especially if they can be used to bring about a persistent correction of the underlying imbalance that would eliminate the need for a person to remain on medicine for the rest of his life. Wilson's Temperature Syndrome explains what many people already know, and that is that their elevated blood cholesterol levels depend on more than just what they eat since their diet contains as little cholesterol as is possible, while their cholesterol levels remain elevated.
 

WS patients often experience cold hands and feet. At first glance this does not seem to be a very disturbing complaint. However, it can be quite troublesome at times. It can be the cause of a great deal of self-consciousness or embarrassment. Several patients that I have seen have stated that they are actually embarrassed and self-conscious to shake people's hands because of how frequently people will exclaim about the coldness of their hands. People will sometimes tease them and make comments about them having a cold heart, being an ice cube or glacier, or being dead. These comments, and others can be a great source of embarrassment and self-consciousness. Cold feet seem to be most often disturbing in relation to sleeping with one's mate. Patient's spouses will often complain about the coldness of the patient's feet in spite of many blankets and covers. The coldness sometimes literally jolts the patient's spouse. Patients themselves often find it very disturbing that their feet feel extremely cold in spite of being dressed warmly, wearing socks, and doing whatever they can to keep their feet warm.

One of the most severe incidents of this type of complaint that I have seen was in patient who had been diagnosed as having Raynaud's Phenomenon. Raynaud's Phenomenon is a condition characterized by vasoconstriction or vessel tightening in response to exposure to cold. It can cause impaired circulation for a period of time resulting in skin color changes. The patient that I had seen, upon exposure to cold, would experience her hands turning blue. The discoloration would sometimes extend thorough her forearms and even halfway up her upper arm. There often would be quite a line of distinction between the color of her normal skin and the bluish discoloration of the affected skin, looking almost as if she was wearing a long blue stocking glove extending up past her elbow. This cold sensation, of course, was quite uncomfortable and disconcerting. It was recommended that she change her occupation, which was that of a surgical assistant. Because she was an operating room assistant, the cold conditions of the operating rooms aggravated her condition. However, with proper thyroid treatment, her tendency to develop cold hands and to experience the blue discoloration of her arms resolved and it was not necessary for her to change her occupation. In fact, the patient was a scuba diver, and whenever she entered significantly cold water, she would experience this disturbing complaint, but now when she puts her hands in cold water, she no longer develops the symptoms that had been previously associated with Raynaud's Phenomenon.
 

Constipation is an extremely common associated symptom. Multiple Enzyme Dysfunction caused by low body temperature patterns can result in the slowing down of the gastrointestinal tract. This may lead to less frequent bowel movements, constipation, bloating, gas, abdominal cramping, irritable bowel syndrome/spastic colon, and indeed diarrhea. So decreased bowel motility can lead to constipation or maldigestion of food, and gaseous bloating leading to spastic contraction of the colon and diarrhea. As mentioned previously, these symptoms can respond remarkably well to proper liothyronine treatment, even when many other approaches have failed.
 

Occasionally, patients notice with the onset of Wilson's Temperature Syndrome becoming more "clumsy or klutzy." They sometimes notice that they have begun to drop things more easily, run into things more easily or temporarily lose their balance while walking. These abnormalities have been seen to resolve with the symptoms of Wilson's Temperature Syndrome (just as they came on with the symptoms of WTS ) with the WT3 protocol.
 

The depression associated with WTS will frequently respond to antidepressants, sometimes for only two or three months, sometimes longer, and, at times, not at all. Interestingly, there have been many studies about T3 being used to enhance the effects of antidepressants - sometimes converting non-responders to a particular antidepressant into responders. It is my feeling that many of these patients' depression would have responded to the WT3 protocol alone. The correction was probably due to the T3 itself and not necessarily because of the enhancement of the antidepressants' effects. Thus, the correlation between thyroid hormone (T4 and T3) and depression has been long known. I have seen many patients with intractable (difficult to treat) depression, having unsatisfactory results to years of antidepressant therapy, who have responded within weeks to proper liothyronine therapy.

One such patient that I have treated developed significant