Diagnosed in October 2009, nine months later still struggling with tiredness and weight gain. Source info:
What causes thyroid disease?
There are several different causes of thyroid disease. The following conditions cause hypothyroidism:
Thyroiditis is an inflammation of the thyroid gland. This can lower the amount of hormones produced.
Hashimoto's thyroiditis is a painless disease of the immune system that is hereditary.
Postpartum thyroiditis occurs in 5 percent to 9 percent of women after giving birth. It is usually a temporary condition.
Iodine deficiency is a problem affecting approximately 100 million people around the world. Iodine is used by the thyroid to produce hormones. Although prevalent before the 1950s in the USA, iodine deficiency has been virtually wiped out by the use of iodized salt.
A non-functioning thyroid gland affects one in 4,000 newborns. If the problem isn't corrected, the child will be physically and mentally retarded.
The following conditions cause hyperthyroidism:
With Graves' disease, the entire thyroid gland might be overactive and produce too much hormone. This problem is also called diffuse toxic goiter (enlarged thyroid gland).
Nodules might be overactive within the thyroid. A single nodule is called toxic autonomously functioning thyroid nodule, while several nodules are called a toxic multi-nodular goiter.
Thyroiditis, a disorder that can be painful or painless, can also release hormones that were stored in the thyroid gland causing hyperthyroidism for a few weeks or months. The painless variety occurs most frequently in women after childbirth.
Excessive iodine is found in a number of drugs such as Amiodarone, Lugol's solution (iodine), and some cough syrups, and might cause the thyroid to produce either too much or too little hormone in some individuals.
What are the symptoms of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism?
The following are symptoms for hypothyroidism:
Fatigue
Frequent, heavy menstrual periods
Forgetfulness
Weight gain
Dry, coarse skin and hair
Hoarse voice
Intolerance to cold
The following are symptoms for hyperthyroidism:
Irritability/nervousness
Muscle weakness/tremors
Infrequent, scant menstrual periods
Weight loss
Sleep disturbances
Enlarged thyroid gland
Vision problems or eye irritation
Heat sensitivity
How is thyroid disease diagnosed?
Thyroid disease can be difficult to diagnose because symptoms are easily confused with other conditions. Fortunately, there is a test, called the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test, that can identify thyroid disorders even before the onset of symptoms. The Journal of the American Medical Association found that screening for mild thyroid failure in women and men over age 35 is as cost-effective as screening for more common problems such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure.
When thyroid disease is caught early, treatment can control the disorder even before the onset of symptoms.
How is thyroid disease treated?
The goal of treatment for any thyroid disorder is to restore normal blood levels of thyroid hormone.
Hypothyroidism is treated with a drug called levothyroxine. This is a synthetic hormone tablet that replaces missing thyroid hormone in the body. With careful monitoring, your doctor will adjust your dosage accordingly, and you'll soon be able to return to your normal lifestyle.
Hyperthyroidism, generally more difficult to treat, requires the normalization of thyroid hormone production. Treatment could involve drug therapy to block hormone production, radioactive iodine treatment that disables the thyroid, or even thyroid surgery to remove part or the entire gland.
The most popular treatment is radioactive iodine. This therapy often results in hypothyroidism, requiring the use of levothyroxine (synthetic replacement hormone) in order to restore normality.
Thyroid diseases are life-long conditions. With careful management, people with thyroid disease can live healthy, normal lives.
© Copyright 1995-2009 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. All rights reserved.
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Living with underactive thyroid: 2 months inby justacameragirl4,821 views
@kiranohime Thanks :) Yeah I'm in Australia, apparently Desiccated Thyroid isn't readily available here. Your story inspires me ! Hope I can get sorted soon...
ToadPurse 2 weeks ago
@ToadPurse also, feel free to shoot me a message if you want any tips on getting all the help you can from your doctors. Sounds like you're in a different country so I don't know if my info will work as well as it did for me, but sometimes every little bit helps.
kiranohime 2 weeks ago
@ToadPurse :( I know how frustrating that can be. I have to say though, there is a lot doctors don't know about our bodies. My endo didn't think switching to armour would make a difference for me, but I have literally dropped 60lbs since I switched to it about 3 months ago. She's still adjusting the dose. And there are things you can do to help with absorption. (I'm a "bad absorber") I'm also severely gluten intolerant and that changed a lot for me. I hope things are going better 4u
kiranohime 2 weeks ago
@kiranohime I have booked in to see an endocrinologist on the 14th of Feb... Hope it goes well. Taking my boyfriend with me as I'm not sure I have the energy to argue with a doctor who won't help me. Since my last post here I've put on another 5kg. So this will take me to 75kg's all up. Covered in stretch marks too. I've noticed that my nails have ridges now.. They're really thin and brittle... Also my hair and skin are very dry :( I hate this.
ToadPurse 1 month ago
I completely understand what you are going through. I was the same exact way until I got on Armour thyroid. I waited a whole year until I got off synthroid. Please check out stop the thyroid madness website. I really hope you can get off synthroid and can try armour or naturethyriod!
Best wishes,
T.
TheSunshinesmiles90 2 months ago
(1/2) hm mm, first let me give you guys a youtube hug, cameragirl xoxo, everything you mentioned with the exception of the weight I can relate, in fact i was in search to find out if jacking up the Levothyroxin,75 to a higher dose, i could say bye bye to some of these other medications, nine years ago i battled Lyme disease, then squamous cell carcinoma and the radiation left me without a thyroid, (to wake my mind up/ provigil,sleep/alprazolam), normal is a surreal term to me anymore (um cont)
kizzMyBuzz 2 months ago
(cont 2/2)all these years I'm still in search, because I have faith the mystery to correct each and every one's unique chemical disequilibrium is right around the corner, I'm not physician bashing, but if there not listening, it's time to find another, or one who will steer you in the right direction, ego in the way of health progress,a no no I find university hospital's served me well, brainstorming doctors create miracle magic, diet,fish, chicken,veg,honey fruit,* No sug.WF,Blch, 145 5'11"GL
kizzMyBuzz 2 months ago
Respond to this video... Indeed you will get it off. I have been doing this for a week and have lost 3lbs already.
padussia 3 months ago
@MsLizzard17 I was just diagnosed with hypothroidism in May of this year. Since then, I have been on synthroid and my levels have come back up to what it suppose to be. I'm so hopping that I don't have to be on this medication for life. Also, If you want to get that weight off kind of quick, you should do the low carb diet, but include all of your fruits, vegetables, and eat only whole grain bread, but eat the whole grain bread every other day. And walk alittle and you will get it off.
padussia 3 months ago
@MsLizzard17 I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism when I was 12; and when they found it my thyroid was also completely dead. I wish they had tested me sooner. Since I've had this problem for 9 years I've gotten pretty good at monitoring my weight with they low thyroid. I started to have a bit of trouble after getting of birth control and found that a combination of levothyroxine with liothyronine worked best for me. Watch my video on my page for more about what i do.
Tessalarable 4 months ago