Section one
Goiter and Hyperthyroid - my personal experience story
Ultrasound
Comparison - results
before and after thyroid treatment
Misc. bits of thyroid information
Frequently Asked Thyroid Questions
Section two
Miscellaneous information about this website
Section three
Email
Copyright ©1998 -
2006
molly b. All Rights Reserved
Molly b.'s Thyroid FAQ Page 3
10. Q. Both my parents and grandparents have been diagnosed with thyroid problems and take medication. I have the symptoms of depression - for which I take medication - and some of the others, yet whenever I have been tested for thyroid, my levels are always normal. I have been sleeping an extraordinary amount and my physician is testing me again for my thyroid. I am absolutely at my wits end and just want to feel "normal" again. Anything I should tell her or ask her to look for?
A. You may want to ask the doctor whether you have been tested for thyroid antibodies - TPOab (thyroperoxidase antibodies), TGab (thyroglobulin antibodies) and TRab (thyrotropin receptor antibodies, also known as thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins (TSI) or thyroid stimulating antibodies). Most people with Hashimoto's thyroiditis have TPOab or TGab. About half of people with Graves' Disease will also have these.
T4 blood tests might show an abnormal level, even if the TSH is normal in some medical disorders. The TSH test is usually reliable in diagnosing thyroid conditions. If symptoms similar to that of a thyroid disorder are present, and the TSH is within normal range, there may be some other medical problem that has missed diagnosis so far, or a thyroid disorder could be present, which has not shown up in the TSH results for some reason. TSH levels can be affected by some medications and also by acute illness. A thyroid scan is a reasonably simple procedure and may also be an option. This would indicate just how your thyroid gland is working and would show if there are any cysts etc. There are other medical problems that your doctor would probably consider as well, if you feel depressed and are often tired. Anemia, not enough vitamin B12, or a sleep disorder can cause these symptoms, as can some other conditions. Many people struggling with depression feel tired and may sleep a lot.
Also, does the medicine you're taking for depression cause increased tiredness as one of its side effects?
In May 1997 my TSH, T4 and T3 indicated I was hyperthyroid. In late June 1997, about 6 weeks later, the doctor told me my TSH result was normal. The copy of the lab tests that I have from June 1997 don't show that a TSH test was done. The result for Free T4 is 15.9, which is normal. The normal range is listed as 8.0 to 21.0 PMDL/L. ( I don't go to that doctor anymore. ) I was still hyperthyroid with lots of symptoms. Later blood tests, including TSH, ordered by the specialist, confirmed this. I don't like to think of what might have happened, had I not had those first tests done in May. If I had waited until June, and the test results came back normal, as they did, would I have been tested further, or told there was nothing wrong with my thyroid?
11. Q. I'm concerned that my children may develop thyroid conditions. My oldest is under the age of 10, but I was younger than that when I was diagnosed. My doctor says it's too early to run any tests.
A. The doctor may have looked for symptoms during regular checkups and may feel there's no need for blood tests, but with your family history and considering the fact that babies can be born with thyroid conditions, I'd want to be sure the doctor is familiar with thyroid disorders.
12. Q. I'm hypothyroid. My doctor has prescribed thyroid hormone pills. How long will I need to take them? Are there any side effects?
A. If you're hypothyroid from thyroiditis and you're prescribed medication, you may only need it for a few months. If the hypothyroid condition is from causes other than 'mild temporary' types of thyroiditis - Hashimoto's thyroiditis could result in your needing these pills permanently, if the thyroid gland becomes too damaged to function anymore - then you will most likely need the thyroid hormone replacement pills for the rest of your life.
Just as insulin helps persons with Type I diabetes everyday, thyroid hormone replacement helps persons with hypothyroid conditions.
Since thyroid hormone replacement is just a synthetic substitute for the natural thyroid hormone that your own thyroid would manufacture naturally, if it could, it will rarely cause side effects. The inactive ingredients ( binders to hold pills together in a shape, and the colors etc ) in all medications made by pharmaceutical companies are chosen specially for their non-allergenic qualities, so these rarely cause problems for the average person. The doctor will test your TSH level occasionally, once a year or so, to be sure the amount you're taking is what you need. Higher than needed amounts of this medication can result in an increased risk of osteoporosis. Untreated hyperthyroid conditions also increase this risk. The effects of untreated hypothyroidism would be more of a problem, since these include enlargement of the heart.
13. Q. Does everyone who is or who becomes hypothyroid gain weight?
A. Because untreated hypothyroidism can cause a lack of energy, it could result in some weight gain.
With the proper amount of thyroid hormone replacement, a person will ideally remain very close to their normal weight, energy level and so on, and with the medication, will not be hypothyroid, but will be euthyroid (normal). Regular blood testing and your own awareness of hypothyroid symptoms are probably good ways to avoid unnecessary hypothyroid-related weight gain. If you notice hypothyroid symptoms, ask to have your TSH tested, so your medication can be adjusted. Weight gain may be most common in people who aren't tested regularly, who don't take their pills as they should, and for those who have a natural, family tendency to gain weight - something that would happen whether hypothyroidism is involved or not.
There are a number of factors involved in weight gain, for many people --
Here is some info that I've found at the Mayo Clinic website--
"Causes of middle age weight gain...
...For most women, increases and shifts in weight begin during perimenopause — the years leading up to menopause. But these shifting levels of estrogen aren't the sole source of your weight gain. Aging also plays a part in your changing body composition....
-Reduced physical activity...
-Increased food intake...
-Slowing metabolism...
-Genetics..."
Read the whole article here --
http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?objectid=7878C26C-47F2-4F1F-BF04FCEB2D9C658914. Q. What symptoms did you experience when you were hyperthyroid?
A. These are not all necessarily thyroid related, but here are the mostly hyperthyroid symptoms that I had...
1. increased pulse, sometimes pounding heartbeat, as if I'd been exerting myself when at rest - especially at bedtime when trying to sleep
2. waking at night, sweating
3. mild exertion caused shortness of breath and racing heart
4. dry eyes and sensations like I had a speck of dust or an eyelash in the eye
5. 'bone tired' - alternating with lots of energy
6. dry itchy skin on backs of hands, often with a painful, nearly bleeding rash
7. less muscle, difficult to open a jar for example, and no stamina - brushing teeth was actually painful, because the arm muscles got weak really quick
8. not very swift mentally - slowed thinking, absentminded and 'feeling dopey'
9. aches in joints and muscles, including difficulty walking up and down stairs, especially in the morning
10. feeling warm sometimes - normally I'm 'always cold' which doesn't fit the typical symptoms
11. some hair loss - for years before weight loss and diagnosis
12. short-tempered, and/or feeling emotionally unbalanced ( someone said it's like having PMS all the time ), panicky feelings for no reason ( anxiety attacks )
13. fingernails growing unusually fast, and much less brittle than before
14. pains in stomach
15. never constipated
16. teenage acne at age 43, with oilier skin and hair
17. insomnia. Difficulty getting to sleep. While I'm not a morning person, I was also waking very early, feeling wide awake, and leaping out of bed, after 5 or 6 hours of sleep, instead of a normal 8 or 9. ( By mid afternoon, I'd be 'burned out' and have to lie down to rest )
18. earaches - maybe no more than usual. My hearing's not all that great sometimes either. I've never got an answer from a doctor as to whether ear/hearing problems might be due to the goiter and cyst
19. pains on side of neck - from the goiter or the cyst, maybe
20. shaky hands - family had noticed these tremors for a long time ( and they never mentioned it - maybe they thought I was a closet alcoholic or something? )
21. overly sensitive to noise - always had this tendency anyway
22. bursts of extreme hunger
23. waking up coughing in the middle of the night and early morning, sometimes
24. a very dry throat during the day - I'd have to have a coffee or soda frequently
25. very rapid weight loss without dietary changes - actually very hungry and eating more
October 1998 These symptoms have disappeared, except for 6) dry skin on hands though it's not as bad as before or as frequent and 23) coughing at night - just once in a while.
January 1999 These last symptoms seem to have stopped as well. The ear aches and pains have subsided a whole lot also.
