Functional medicine

Thyroid

Feel like your thyroid might be behind why you’re not feeling like yourself? Let’s uncover the root cause together and get you back to feeling your best.

Vitality

Functional Medicine Approach

Meet Your Thyroid: The Master Metabolic Regulator

Imagine a tiny, shield-shaped gland nestled in your neck, right in front of your larynx. That’s your thyroid gland. This little powerhouse, often hailed as the “master metabolic regulator,” is in charge of your body’s energy production and metabolism. Here’s how it works: It all starts when a part of your brain releases a hormone called TRH. This, in turn, nudges the pituitary gland—a small but mighty pea-sized gland at the brain’s base—to produce TSH. TSH then gives your thyroid the green light to produce two crucial hormonesT3 and T4. While T4 is like a sleeper agent waiting to be activated, T3 steps right up to manage everything from gut metabolism to temperature regulation.

How Can We Help?

In the world of conventional medicine, the typical go-to for thyroid issues is to check your TSH levels. If you’re lucky, they might even peek at your T3 and T4 levels. But here’s the kicker: sometimes, your thyroid can produce hormones that look “normal” on tests, but their function is off! This sneaky situation can pop up due to stress, illness, or fasting, leading to symptoms even when your tests claim everything’s “normal.” Frustrating, right?

Our Approach

At Vitality FFM, we’re not just looking to keep your thyroid levels in the so-called “normal range.” We’re on a mission to uncover why your levels are off in the first place. Our method goes beyond the basics with comprehensive testing that digs into all the relevant biomarkers. This thorough approach helps us pinpoint the root cause of your thyroid dysfunction. Since thyroid hormones impact so many systems in your body, we aim to optimize these biomarkers to their best levels for you—not just what the lab says is “normal.”

Consider This!

When you hear “thyroid issues,” you probably think about weight gain and fatigue. But did you know that thyroid dysfunction can mess with your mental health and cognitive function, too? Hypothyroidism, for instance, is linked to depression, memory problems, and brain fog. Thyroid hormones are key players in brain function, influencing neurotransmitter levels and brain metabolism. Addressing hypothyroidism can often lead to significant improvements in mood and mental clarity, highlighting how interconnected our body systems are. This underscores the need for a holistic, comprehensive approach to thyroid health.

Vitality Functional Family Medicine Principles

Vitality Functional Family Medicine Team...

Amrit Dockery, DO

Physician, Co-Owner and Chief Medical Officer

Amrit Dockery, DO is a board-certified family medicine physician and the Co-Owner and Chief Medical Officer of Vitality Functional Family Medicine. With specialized training in functional medicine through The Institute of Functional Medicine, Dr. Dockery is passionate about holistic and patient-centered care. She is dedicated to advancing health literacy, ending the disparity in women's health, and emphasizing preventative care. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Biology from Purdue University, where her fascination with the human body's complexity was nurtured. Dr. Dockery earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and completed her residency training in Family Medicine at OSU/OMECO in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Devoted to changing the landscape of medical care, she furthered her expertise by acquiring a Master's in Healthcare Administration, with an emphasis on Leadership and Entrepreneurship from Oklahoma State University while completing residency training. Committed to providing comprehensive and personalized medicine, Dr. Dockery integrates her diverse knowledge to support patients' healing journeys to enhance their health so they can live with the vitality they seek and deserve. Outside of work, she is a fitness enthusiast with a love for Olympic weightlifting, Crossfit and distance running. She also enjoys hiking and camping with her husband, Barry Dockery, DO. Her greatest accomplishment and source of joy, however, is being a proud mother to Eden Mae Dockery.

Heather Thornton

Health & Life Coach

From an early age, I've had a passion to serve people and a deep sensitivity for the human spirit. Along the way, life also threw a number of health and auto-immune challenges my way early on, so I became personally shaped by the complexity of how our mind, body and spirit all function together. I'm deeply empathetic of how those challenges can become discouragements and places we get stuck in life, and I'm equally passionate about how beautiful the freedom we find can be, even and maybe especially when life isn't so perfect.

My experiences for the last 30 years in both helping and healthcare roles have naturally converged, taking that wisdom, heart and hope and now devoting the second half of my life wholeheartedly to people who are on their own journey of finding balance and fulfilment. My goal is to compassionately and fervently help you reach your goals!

I am currently completing my accreditation through the International Coaching Federation, and if you are a patient of Vitality, you'll get the added benefit of our work together including a health plan and goals designed and refined at every visit with your personal physician. It's absolutely within reach to experience meaningful change, so let's get started!

Thyroid