Patient Stories – THE THYROID TRUST, THYROID FRIENDS

my hypothyroid diary – Thyroid UK

2010:  Pre-hypothyroid my adult weight was on average around 150 pounds which at 5’10 suited me just fine and gave me a BMI of around 22 and a dress size of 14-16. I was teaching six days a week, 12 dance classes in the community, plus part-time school teaching. At weekends I often performed dance with my troupe or enjoyed doing all my own DIY and gardening… My attitude to life was ‘just do it’ and very little held me back for long. I knew a lot about activity, nutrition and exercise but I knew nothing about the thyroid. So much was about to change.

Sunday 18th March, 2012 – Diagnosis 

It was late January 2012. I’d been feeling very tired, run down and to be frank, a bit old. I had never felt like this before. I put it down to getting older. When I went to visit my Godmother who is around thirty years older than me, my reaction to cold and my energy levels troubled her. In fact, I couldn’t keep up with her. She told me to go and have my thyroid tested. Within days I was called back to the surgery for the result. The doctor told me it was bad news and good news… I had hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism
“a term used to describe an under-active thyroid gland”
 but it was easily treated. I was relieved by the diagnosis. I felt it was good news and good news. There was a simple reason why I was feeling so rough and I believed it was simple to put right (the doctor said so). I was given some pills and I assumed that things would soon be back to normal…

When I got home, I weighed myself for the first time in two years. I knew I’d put on a bit of weight but didn’t realise how much. I was surprised to see I’d put on a third of my body weight and since my vegetarian diet hadn’t changed over that time, this was quite impressive – and not in a good way. I decided to look more closely at what had been going on. I thought about my lack of energy, the continual tiredness, the crashing lack of confidence when doing things which had been a part of my everyday life and which now seemed too difficult – teaching, dancing, driving… the strange muscular aches and cramps which came from nowhere and lingered for days, the changes in my classroom management – my inability to multi-task, inability to make clear decisions quickly, inability to ‘think on my feet’, forgetting names and words and the panic attacks and insomnia

Insomnia
“inability to sleep”
.

More recently I was struggling to walk at the end of the day… and when I got out of bed in the morning, my feet didn’t work and I couldn’t stand up without holding onto furniture and mobilising my feet for about five minutes. Yes, now I was taking stock it was clear things had not been right for a while but how had I not noticed? So much had changed in so many ways and so slowly I hadn’t noticed apart from a vague, ‘well I’m getting older, people often put on a bit of weight… its winter, of course I’m cold… ‘

By early 2012 I was doing nothing, apart from teaching in school two days a week and taking my one evening dance class – and I was struggling to cope with these. In my dance class I stood or sat at the front and directed. I was no longer taking part. When I finally took stock I realised that hypothyroidism had completely changed the way I live and my independence had been eroded so much that I was on the verge of becoming disabled.

 Sitting in the doctors’ surgery and being told I had hypothyroidism was actually a relief. It was a relief to put a name to how I felt and to be told that the changes were not permanent. I felt very positive about the diagnosis and I started my treatment – a low dose, 25mcg of levothyroxine

Levothyroxine
“a synthetic thyroid hormone commonly given to treat an under-active thyroid. It is also known as L-thyroxine”
. The doctor told me my body would need time to adjust back to having thyroid in my system.

 So, one month on… How have things changed?  I’m feeling positive about the future and decision making again with more confidence. I can manage physical activities around the house and garden and even if this is only in small bursts of activity, at least it’s something. My skin is less dry and when my muscles ache it’s from genuine activity and not just because my muscles always ache. I still get strange little cramps in my hands, legs and feet, but I’m hoping these will go with more time on the thyroid replacement. 

Last week, I had two brilliant days at school when, for the first time for a very long time, I didn’t have the energy crash at midday. For the past few days, I’ve been able to stand unaided when I get out of bed in the morning and my feet work within a couple of minutes! Things are not yet back as they were, however, everything is slowly going in the right direction.

Six weeks later I returned to the GP after my follow-up blood tests, which came back ‘normal’. I thought the cramps may be a sign that I needed more levothyroxine so I asked about this. According to the GP the muscle cramps have nothing to do with being hypothyroid. The GP told me hypothyroiders do a lot of imagining. I assumed this meant he couldn’t answer my questions. I also asked about my excess weight and was told that this has nothing to do with being hypothyroid. He gave me anti-depressants.

While I tried not to take on board his comments I was angry and confused. This was the first time I had come up against negativity from the healthcare professionals. My GP had no idea that I know a lot about nutrition and exercise. My GP saw an overweight woman and assumed this was a lifestyle choice – or he wanted it to be a lifestyle choice. I was very upset by the attitude of my GP and by a lack of support and realised that I needed to do as much research as possible and become as informed as I could.

Since being diagnosed I’ve been open about my thyroid condition. I’ve discovered several family members have thyroid problems. I’ve now contacted everyone in my family and told them to be more aware. There is no way of predicting who will develop the condition. Hypothyroidism is silent and insidious… I found lots of reasons to explain to myself why I wasn’t ‘right’ without it ever occurring to me that there could be a clinical reason. I’m sure I’ve had this for a long time and it’s disabling and destructive. My advice to others is; become aware of the symptoms, don’t make excuses and get tested!

Wednesday 8th August, 2012 – my own Olympic challenge

I’ve already written about discovering I had hypothyroidism and the effect this had had on my life. I’m now going to write more about the muscle damage I experienced when undiagnosed and the path to recovery.

The good part; over the past six months I have become more able to cope with my ‘normal’ day. I rarely get muscular cramps now and I’m not on my knees by 3pm. I can take part in my dance classes – although still at a limited level. I’m no longer gaining weight. I feel reasonably well and happy… and I love my tiny, new garden which I created a little each day during part one of my recovery this spring. After diagnosis, I decided I needed a project to lift my mood so this is my hypothyroid garden. During these months I knew that my level of fitness was at its lowest, however, my priorities were to give my thyroid time to return to an acceptable level, to try to stay positive and to regain control of my teaching career which had suffered as a result of my condition. When I was first diagnosed I was warned that recovery can take months.

The not so good part – June 2012; despite feeling better in many ways, my stamina and endurance are shot. I can’t go to dance events and cope with more than a few minutes of dancing. After attempting any activity, I’m exhausted the following day. I can’t walk far or for long. I can’t do the exercise I used to do as my muscles are wasted and the extra weight I gained whilst undiagnosed puts stress on my joints. My leg muscles are so weak I can’t get up out of the bath without rolling over onto my greatly enlarged belly and pushing myself onto my knees.

My clothes don’t fit as I’m several dress sizes bigger. I’m more than three stone higher than my typical adult weight and my BMI is around 29. Whilst medication with thyroid replacement of T4 has stopped me gaining weight, it hasn’t enabled me to lose any of the excess weight I gained whilst undiagnosed. Everything I wear has elasticated waists and is baggy. My body doesn’t look or feel like me. I don’t recognise it and I don’t like this new body. I resent the changes forced on me – as superficial as they may seem to be. I’m shocked at how quickly this change came about. My body is cumbersome and prone to injuries which seem to appear out of thin air. My muscles are wasted and weak and in their place is soft, spongy flesh which does not effectively support or protect my skeletal-muscular system.

July; I had my first dance performance this year which was great fun but appeared to trigger an injury to my foot where the tendon meets the bone. This injury was probably caused by a combination of weight gain, weak muscles, low stamina and unusual exertion. Following this event, I couldn’t walk without a great deal of pain. I’m fearful that I’ll never be able to dance in the future. I put off a visit to the doctor but after three weeks I accepted defeat and went to the surgery expecting to be told again that I’m imagining things. The GP was much more positive. He identified the injury as plantar fasciitis – it was not in my imagination at all – and gave me several pages of information covering causes, treatment, exercises and prevention. He also gave me anti-inflammatories which have worked a treat.

August; I’m not going to settle for a weakened, overweight body, an inactive life and a body which is vulnerable to injury. I’m going to get strong and fit and I’m going to dance again. I’ve built a new toy – an elliptical X-trainer which is giving me exercise whilst not aggravating my foot injury or stressing my joints. I’m taking whey protein to supplement my vegetarian diet as I begin to regain fitness. The cramps re-appear after exercise, so I’m trying out another protein supplement – creatine monohydrate – to see if its recovery boosting qualities will help. It’s early days – a lot of trial and error – and I’m taking it slow with lowest resistance training, gentle, consistent speed and plenty of stretches.

Unfortunately, hot on the heels of the foot injury I got a back injury… while leaning to pull out a weed ‘something’ went in my back. I suspect it was triggered by the attempt at sit-ups so I won’t be doing those again! I took myself straight to bed and watched the Olympics. I have another two days of inactivity and anti-inflammatories, but I’m thankful that this time I took action to sort it in days instead of weeks. As impatient as I am to resume exercise at the level of two years ago, I’m resigned now to taking recovery slowly. Inspired by those amazing athletes and Team GB, I’m now up to a 16-minute session on the X-trainer and my muscles really are getting stronger. I know this because at last, and for the first time in almost a year, I can get up out of the bath without the roll-over onto my knees!

Sunday 20th January, 2013 – one year on!      

How well I am now – almost one year on! I feel like my ‘old’ self again – I’m a bit chunkier, but feel well and am happy. My body may look different, but I feel like ‘me’ again!

So, what has happened since my August update? In the summer of 2012, while my foot injury was still healing I was asked to teach an introductory dance workshop for one hour a week at a local health farm to provide some fun for the residents during their week of ‘boot-camp’. This was too good an opportunity to miss and gave me a real boost. I still had something to offer! It lifted my spirits and my confidence began to grow.

On one visit to the health farm, I spoke about my condition to the owner and she advised me to look into the impact that nutrition has on hypothyroidism and to consider taking a vitamin supplement, so I began some research. As a result, there were some changes I made to my diet. I started to cook all cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower to beyond the crunch, I introduced celery and cut out all soya. As a vegetarian, I had been eating a lot of soya and soya-based products. I started to check ingredients lists and I found soya hidden in so many unexpected places. I hunted out and eradicated all soya from my diet and after about two weeks I had a surge of well-being and feeling ‘right’ again. Is this a coincidence? I can’t be sure but I won’t be eating soya again.

I decided to keep my lifestyle as consistent as possible. I take my meds first thing in the morning with a mug of warm water. I leave breakfast and my first cuppa for about an hour. I take care to eat well with foods which have high nutritional value. I read that fruit can help the liver

Liver
“a large lobed glandular organ in the abdomen, involved in many metabolic processes”
 produce T3 and I regularly snack on fruit. If possible I walk away from stress and situations which may give me anxiety. I need about seven to eight hours sleep so I aim to be in bed by 11 pm each night. Insomnia has gone and I’ve been sleeping soundly through the night again. What bliss a good night’s sleep gives!

I take gentle exercise. It is surprising how quickly muscles begin to strengthen. I noticed in August that I always had a good night’s sleep after I used the cross-trainer – this was the start of sleeping through the night again. I don’t overdo the cross-trainer and in fact, I’m now so active again, I rarely use it. I walk several miles, take part in my dance classes and spend several hours cleaning or gardening without problems. The muscle cramps and nightly leg pains have completely gone. I recently treated my belly to an electronic exercise machine since I didn’t want to do sit-ups and risk injury again. Using the machine to stimulate

Stimulate
“to excite”
 abdominal muscles has helped and an added bonus is that those intestines are really working again!

My confidence and positive outlook on life has returned. I have never been happier. The cherry on the cake is that I passed my latest teaching assessments with flying colours. I feel I have snatched back my teaching career from imminent disaster. I can multi-task again, think on my feet and organise better than ever! 

Sunday 19th May 2013 – Flu’ and my first flare-up

Almost immediately after writing my last update, in late January 2013, I had flu’. It left me very drained afterwards and on my return to work, I noticed I had a return of the heavy legs, fatigue and muscle aches. I was unable to continue with my fitness programme and my sleep patterns were disturbed again. The time was approaching for my yearly blood test, so I called the surgery and asked for this. I also asked for my actual TSH figures of 2012. The GP questioned why I needed these figures and told me they are for guidance only, and that GPs place much more importance on symptoms. I was amazed. I told him this made me very pleased to hear, however, this had not been my actual experience at times over the past year and I needed to monitor my results for myself.

This conversation ended with me writing in a letter of ‘concern’ to the surgery and I asked that attitudes to patients with hypothyroidism should change. I also got my previous blood test results plus a new blood test and a response from the centre manager promising to raise my concerns with all staff at their next meeting.

During this time I found the list of symptoms on ThyroidUK and decided that I needed to monitor my symptoms several times a year. I used a traffic light colour code system so I could see at a glance which symptoms were improving or getting worse.

The blood test came back with a TSH level of 18.63 (0.35-5.5). Thanks to the research I had done on ThyroidUK I now understood this and the implications. The results also came with an instruction from the GP to take a higher dose of levothyroxine – 50mcg.

This time I knew what to expect during recovery and felt more confident managing the symptoms. I had a return of the cramps and aches, particularly when I felt I needed a top-up of T4. So, this is what I did. After a top-up my cramps always eased off within an hour. If I felt overtired I’d go to bed and get a little sleep – even half an hour of rest made a big difference. This daytime napping also helped if I became very cold. On days when I was in school, I just struggled on. I informed my line managers about my flare-up and they were as supportive as was possible so that I could avoid taking time off.  

After four weeks my TSH level had dropped to 3.88 and I was no longer getting muscle cramps. A TSH of nearly 4 is still a little high although after another month it dropped further and I no longer needed the afternoon naps. I felt so well I started running again. I loved running outside – much less boring than the cross-trainer. I even came home from a teaching day and could go out for a run! Just a few weeks before, I was barely able to walk after a school day and within a short space of time on a T4 increase and I was running again! Then… the bad news; a head cold was followed by a knee which ‘clicked’ then became painful. I have never had a knee injury before, ever. Now anti-inflammatories a support bandage and no more running. I can hardly walk (again) never mind run. Last summer it was plantar fasciitis, I’d never had that before either.

OK, the thyroid didn’t cause these injuries, but the thyroid did cause the weight excess and the muscle weakness and the prolonged periods of extreme fatigue. I won’t run again. In future, I’ll stick to walking and my cross-trainer and count myself fortunate that I can do this.

It took four weeks for the knee injury to recover, and now I can look again at the weight/BMI issue. This is so frustrating. I’m still more than three stone overweight with a BMI of 29 and I have a thyroid-pot-belly. I cannot seem to lose weight. This still gets me down.

I avoid stress. I walk away from situations which only a short while ago were ‘battles’ I would have taken on board. Now I have my say and move on. I don’t allow others to draw me into discussions which I know will create stress.

Things aren’t always easy. I no longer take my health for granted and I work at making progress. I’m learning all the time. I feel I have some control over my health again so I’m less anxious about the future. I’m content and I’m enjoying life again. I’m trying to accept and work with the changes being hypothyroid has brought and I’m trying to be positive about the challenges.

Summing up my story so far: ‘Nothing is ever clear in thyroid world’. 

I am eternally thankful that my GP did eventually send me for testing, that there is treatment and that I have responded well to this. I’m grateful for all of the information I’ve found on the internet and for the help I’ve received from ThyroidUK. I’m pleased that I’ve learnt how to monitor my symptoms. I’m aware that at present I respond well to T4 monotherapy and seem to have no further medical complications, so I’m very, very lucky.

I never see my thyroid issues as a success story as there’s always some new challenge around the corner. I get very frustrated at times by the on-going struggles. Perhaps I need to change my interpretation of ‘success’ and I should measure this by my ability to understand, monitor and manage the condition. I’ve discovered that Hypothyroidism is complex and individual. A ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach doesn’t work and I’m aware that my treatment may need to change in future. I’m getting prepared!

I’ve responded well to medication but also feel that I have helped my healing by looking at areas which were neglected by my GP. I was given no advice about nutrition or exercise and I know that these areas have been important in my wellbeing. My hope for the future is that a more holistic and supportive approach is taken by the medical profession. I’d like to see more support given in managing the condition. Perhaps units, like diabetes centres, need to be established.

I’d like some GPs to improve their ‘bedside manners’. I didn’t need to be told ‘you’re imagining things because you’ve read it on the internet’. Or that you’re ‘too analytical’ or that my GP has ‘just seen someone whose levels are much worse than you – and he’s ok…’  I was given no help in managing my condition and was criticised for trying to find out more. The attitude was ‘take this tablet each day, go away and don’t come back’.

I’m still surprised that some professionals I saw assumed that I knew nothing about weight loss, nutrition or exercise. At times they were dismissive and disinterested in my symptoms and concerns. I’m saddened by the attitude I have encountered which doesn’t speak well for the medical profession and the attitude towards thyroid issues. My condition has not been a ‘lifestyle choice’. 

Last year I needed my GPs to acknowledge my very real aches and pains and re-assure me that this can be part of the path to recovery. This would have given me hope at a time when I needed support and compassion.

I’d like thyroid problems to become more well-known – I had no idea about hypothyroidism before I was diagnosed. It doesn’t seem to be discussed much, yet can affect anyone. When it does hit the news it often seems to be taken as a bit of a joke by some, or as a ‘fashionable’ excuse for weight gain. This trivialisation of thyroid issues is dangerous and undermines the struggles we face with this condition.

My diagnosis came when I was only just into the level where the medical experts in the UK have decided treatment should begin. At this level my underactive thyroid was already taking a heavy toll on my well-being and I was on the way to becoming disabled.

Recovery has not been easy and I wonder if things would have been better if I had been sent for testing when I first visited my GP with stress and panic attacks. It is my opinion that I needed levothyroxine to be given much earlier and when my TSH levels were much lower. So much of the muscle damage I suffered would have been avoided and my weight would have stabilised much sooner. I wonder what other hidden damage has been done as a result of delays in starting T4 medication.

The professionals need to take a closer look at thresholds and symptoms. Treatment and management of the condition should be approached in the way that diabetics manage their condition. Diabetics are encouraged to become knowledgeable, whereas I was discouraged. I suspect that in years to come the medical profession will look back at current treatment of thyroid issues and attitudes in the way we now look at Victorian ideas towards mental health.

My advice now is ‘get educated’. Thyroid conditions are for life. Aim for ‘optimal’ treatment and don’t accept less.

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Have you become well again after a long struggle with a thyroid problem? Will you share your story with others to give them hope and encouragement whilst they travel their own personal road to thyroid wellness?

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90,000 Thyroid ultrasound – “4 years of inactivity in hypothyroidism. How I “revived” after ultrasound of the thyroid gland. Who should have an ultrasound, which allows you to find out how to prepare for the diagnosis »

Hello friends!

I would like to share my story with you. Every time I think about my thyroid disease (hypothyroidism), I come to the conclusion that our body is incredibly smart and always points us to failures, and we, in turn, very rarely listen to ourselves, attribute our ailments to stress, fatigue and we tolerate for years what is easily corrected by the right treatment and improves the quality of our life. The main thing is to find the cause of your troubles. Thyroid problems can be detected by blood tests and ultrasound. Let’s talk about the latter …

At the age of 25, I had to abruptly move from the warm south beyond the Arctic Circle to the shores of the Barents Sea. To say that it was stressful for me is an understatement. Cold, damp, a long absence of sun in the first months backfired on my appearance.

❗ It was autumn, hair loss started. I linked this with autumn beriberi. I drank a vitamin complex, which more or less normalized the situation.

❗ My dry, or rather combination skin began to peel indecently. Heavy nourishing creams have become constant companions. The face, arms, legs suffered. Feet were especially dry. Never before my skin” did not absorb the cream with such an appetite as “. I saw the reason in the cold, overdryness of the rooms, change in climate and water.

❗November began, and with it the time of the polar night came. on my thermometer I saw a stable 37.2 °.I was constantly haunted by weakness, drowsiness, bad mood and complete apathy.I lost interest in my past hobbies, going for a walk was tantamount to an earthquake.

❗ Half a year later, I was diagnosed with low blood pressure, tachycardia and decreased iron levels in the blood.

❗ Weight dropped from 56 to 48-49 kg with a height of 167. Painful thinness, terrible appearance.

I perfectly understood that the body was screaming, no yelling SOS . All the doctors I went to wrote a diagnosis of “cold” with a sick leave of 5 days and let me go home with a recommendation to lie down and wait out the harsh acclimatization, a couple of times they did an x-ray of the lungs due to temperature, they stuffed me with antibiotics. Everyone, absolutely everyone told me that it was so hard for me to get used to the difficult northern conditions. Only once, and then, at my request, the therapist felt my thyroid gland, waving “everything is fine, not enlarged. ” And me, little knowledgeable in medicine, had no idea that it could be reduced, as it turned out later… 12, at a rate of 4.6). In an instant, the endocrinologist explained to me everything that had happened to me for several years and sent me for an ultrasound of the thyroid gland.

Ultrasound cost

It was not possible to do it for free, there were no free coupons for several weeks in advance. Actually, I always do only in private medical centers.

Prices are approximately 800-1000 rubles, but the last time I made it in the “village for a chocolate bar”, figuratively speaking…

Preparation for the study 900 40

No preparation required. There are no dietary or water recommendations. The choice of time of day also does not matter. They say that with a gag reflex, you should not eat in advance. I went to my first ultrasound at the time of toxicosis, on an empty stomach. Didn’t experience any additional problems.

How the ultrasound works

In the office, you will be asked to lie down on a couch with your head tilted back. Sometimes they give a pillow under the neck, sometimes without it. It is necessary to remove jewelry, bare the neck. It is not necessary to undress completely, sometimes they require you to take off your T-shirt, to remain only in the bodice. The doctor will examine the thyroid gland with a probe with ultrasound gel and let go. Everything lasts 10 minutes, no more. Next, they enter the data into the computer / certificate, make a comparison with previous results. Therefore, you need to grab them.

Ultrasound sensations

Touch your neck in the organ area. It’s not very pleasant for me, but it’s not difficult to endure a couple of mines. In my usual life, I do not feel any trouble in this area. If you have a different feeling, for example, a feeling of a lump in your throat, I think that an unpleasant moment will also appear during ultrasound.

What you need to take for ultrasound

As already mentioned, previous test results, diapers, wipes. Although often this consumable is provided by a medical institution.

Which parameters are subject to examination of the thyroid gland

• Structure . The endocrine gland consists of 2 lobes and an isthmus connecting them.
• Location . It can be pathological, low, typical.
• Outlines . Fuzzy contours indicate an inflammatory or neoplastic disease, clear contours are an indicator of the norm;
• Structure . In the normal state, the structure is homogeneous, with a characteristic granularity. A heterogeneous structure signals inflammatory processes.
• Dimensions – for both lobes of the thyroid gland, 3 linear mutually perpendicular dimensions are estimated to obtain information about the volume of the gland.
• Echogenicity is the tone, shade of the tissue of the examined gland on the display.
• Presence, structure, size, structure of visible lymph nodes.
• Structure and degree of response to ultrasound of the salivary gland located in the parotid region.
• Structure and size of the larynx and soft tissues of the neck.

Diseases that this type of diagnosis helps to identify:

• Diffuse-toxic goiter – enlarged iron increases the production of hormones.
• Nodular goiter
• Hypothyroidism – reduced iron reduces hormone production.
• Thyroiditis is an inflammatory disease that can be caused by viruses or bacteria.
• Cyst – the formation of a small area (congenital or acquired) filled with fluid.

The first time it was scary to go. To be honest, before visiting the endocrinologist, I read fears on the Internet, wound myself up to disgrace. Why? – complete illiteracy in this matter and the lack of adequate, correct information. Superficially read forums and articles shocked me. Only a doctor was able to convince me to take a sensible look at the disease, to “forget” about the sick, mutilated babies and other fears. Hmm… my pregnant brain was going crazy…

I am writing this so that only specialist will actually correctly assess your health and prescribe the correct dosage of hormones and iodine. I don’t want to offend medical workers, I have great respect for their work, but sometimes I am torn apart by the competence of the staff. I’ll tell you why:

In the summer, preparing for an appointment with an endocrinologist, I took tests from a therapist to get a referral. Everything is complicated is . The nurse, preparing the documents, asked the doctor: what is the diagnosis? I silently silently said “HYPOTHYROISIS”. The nurse, after asking the doctor again and having received an affirmative answer, laughed a little, and wrote in the direction of “HYPERTOXICOSIS”. She heard my answer very funny. Somehow I was disgusted to see it later. I said nothing – it was interesting to see the reaction of the endocrinologist. She, in turn, almost swore at her colleague.

Let’s get back to ultrasound… for the first time, the uzist, when touching the transducer to the neck, bombarded me with questions, unfortunately, all the answers to them were positive:

1. Dry skin
2. Hair loss
3. Brittleness nails
4. Poor sleep
5. Weak immunity
6. Pain in the muscles

Having calculated the proportion of thyroid lobes, they turned out to be on the lower border of one, and significantly below the norm of the other.

Ultrasound of the thyroid gland

Endocrinologist’s diagnosis was confirmed – hypothyroidism, moderate hypoplasia. I was given a study protocol and a black-and-white picture of the gland.

Treatment: euthyrox hormones were prescribed at a dosage of 75 mg, then again blood control and dose reduction to 50 and after delivery to 25 mg per day. Iodomarin – 100 mg per day. Note that this is less than prescribed for pregnant women. And its complete cancellation after childbirth.

Previously, it was believed that the main cause of HYPOTERIOSIS is iodine deficiency, and special attention was paid to residents of regions with low levels of iodine. Today, the list of reasons has expanded, here are the standard of living, nutrition, stress, heredity.

Heredity, by the way, my relatives have no problems, the child was also born healthy. The endocrinologist and analyzes have confirmed it.

I have been taking hormones for more than 2 years now. My doctor recommends doing an ultrasound once a year, donating blood twice a year.

Last ultrasound done in the summer. The results are good. The volume of shares, the size is normal. The specialist noted the improvement. Hormones, unfortunately, do not cancel. According to the endocrinologist,

Cancellation may be causing nodes in my case. And even for some time without compensation, it can lead to an aggravation of the problem and an increase in the dose of artificial hormones.

There are groups of people at risk of developing thyroid diseases. These include:

Those with heredity, including diabetes mellitus

Age over 35-40, especially women

Living in poor environmental conditions

It is these groups that are recommended to undergo an ultrasound of the thyroid gland annually.

Ultrasound of the thyroid gland is a fast, high-quality, affordable and necessary for many diagnostics. You should not be frivolous, turn a blind eye to your problems, be afraid of the results.

20% of the population suffers from malfunctioning of the thyroid gland

As for myself, it is not clear why the experts did not advise me to do an ultrasound, they did not refer me to an endocrinologist. I am ashamed of myself, for my low medical culture, inaction for several years. By starting a treatment that does not interfere with life, not beats in my wallet, I again felt a surge of strength, gained weight, my cheeks turned pink. I feel good, I like my reflection in the mirror … And yes, we “tied up” with the north, and could not fall in love with the harsh beauty.

Thank you for your attention. Appreciate your health!

what kind of disease, symptoms, treatment, diet, diagnosis and causes

Ismail-Mel Redwolf

lives with hypothyroidism

Author profile

One day I started to get tired so that even eight hours of sleep did not help.

He also became distracted and forgetful: he could go to the kitchen for coffee seven times in a row, because he came and forgot what I needed.

I tried taking extra days off and taking vitamins, but it didn’t work. Then I decided to consult an endocrinologist, who was observed for another disease. The doctor ordered additional tests, and it turned out that my level of thyroid hormones was low. This condition is called hypothyroidism – I will tell you how it is treated and how much it costs.

See a doctor

Our articles are written with love for evidence-based medicine. We refer to authoritative sources and go to doctors with a good reputation for comments. But remember: the responsibility for your health lies with you and your doctor. We don’t write prescriptions, we give recommendations. Relying on our point of view or not is up to you.

Causes and types of hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is a lack of thyroid hormones. This is usually due to the fact that the body cannot produce them for any reason.

Hypothyroidism – American Thyroid Association

Primary hypothyroidism. It is associated with problems in the thyroid gland itself, occurs most often – in 95% of cases. The most common causes are:

• removal or damage to the thyroid gland. This may be, for example, due to oncological diseases, when the gland has to be removed along with the tumor. Radiation therapy also damages the organ;
• autoimmune thyroiditis, or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, is when a person’s own immune system begins to destroy the thyroid gland.

Diseases that cause hypothyroidism – Uptodate

Primary hypothyroidism may be due to a deficiency or excess of iodine in the diet, the use of certain drugs, such as lithium, against the background of certain systemic autoimmune diseases.

Central – secondary and tertiary – hypothyroidism. It is associated with a malfunction of the pituitary or hypothalamus – glands located in the brain and controlling the endocrine glands of the body, including the thyroid.

Central hypothyroidism – Update

The hypothalamus and pituitary gland have their own hormones that directly or indirectly affect the thyroid gland and make it work. If they are not enough, the thyroid gland will not receive the necessary signals, and therefore, will not produce hormones, even when it itself is completely healthy.

Central hypothyroidism is rare, occurring in about 5% of all people with this condition. Most often it occurs with tumors of the pituitary gland and after traumatic brain injuries. In such cases, there are often problems with other hormones.

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How to treat diseases of the thyroid gland and how much it costs

For what reason the disease developed in me – it is impossible to say for sure. At that time, I had already been examined by a doctor about problems with a lack of testosterone, the male sex hormone.

The doctor who made the diagnosis suggested that the long-term use of glucocorticoid hormones, which I had taken in the past due to another disease, could have had a negative effect on the endocrine system.

Congenital and acquired hypothyroidism. In most cases, hypothyroidism is an acquired disease, that is, it occurs during life for some reason.

But some people are born with hypothyroidism. This may be due to thyroid disorders, genetic diseases, iodine deficiency in the mother’s diet, and other reasons.

Congenital Hypothyroidism – Patient Article on Updatedate

This condition must be treated or the child will not develop normally. All newborns in the maternity hospital are tested for congenital hypothyroidism using a blood test.

Features of hypothyroidism in women. Hypothyroidism is equally manifested in women and men, but in women it occurs much more often – 5-8 times. It is also more common in women who, at birth and in childhood, were of low weight and height.

In addition, women have an increased need for thyroid hormones during pregnancy. Hypothyroidism is often first diagnosed during pregnancy. Without treatment, it can lead to disruption of the course of pregnancy and fetal development.

Hypothyroidism in Pregnancy – Uptodate

The hypothalamus and pituitary gland produce hormones that regulate thyroid function. At the same time, the level of thyroid hormones in the blood also affects the work of the pituitary and hypothalamus: normally, if it is high, the hypothalamus and pituitary gland reduce the production of their hormones, and vice versa, the hypothalamus and pituitary gland produce hormones that regulate the thyroid gland. At the same time, the level of thyroid hormones in the blood also affects the functioning of the pituitary and hypothalamus: normally, if it is high, the hypothalamus and pituitary gland reduce the production of their hormones and vice versa

Why Central Hypothyroidism Develops

Yuriy Poteshkin

Neuroendocrinologist, Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Atlas Clinics Network, Candidate of Medical Sciences

Secondary hypothyroidism most often develops due to damage to the pituitary gland. For example, because of a benign tumor that presses on him. Another reason is the consequences of treating a pituitary tumor with radiation therapy, in particular proton therapy, which is not currently used, or with a gamma knife. After proton therapy, as a rule, all the functions of the pituitary gland were disturbed, after therapy with gamma knife this rarely happens.

There are some genetic syndromes associated with impaired synthesis of pituitary hormone that affects the thyroid gland. As a rule, this manifests itself in childhood, but it can be diagnosed later. Hypothyroidism also occurs with dystopia of the pituitary gland – its incorrect location. This is rare.

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is accompanied by symptoms that may resemble other diseases. So, for example, low mood and apathy are often associated with depression, the inability to recover after a hard day – with chronic fatigue, constipation – with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Symptoms of hypothyroidism – Uptodate

Often, patients with symptoms of hypothyroidism are observed for a long time with VSD – vascular dystonia. There is no such diagnosis in modern medicine, but it is still often made by Russian doctors.

Symptoms of hypothyroidism are associated with a slowdown in the overall metabolism, that is, all processes in the body. The heart beats slower, the intestines work worse, the nervous system is inhibited.

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What is vascular dystonia and why such a diagnosis does not exist

The first signs of illness are usually the following: a person is constantly cold, gets tired quickly, the skin becomes dry and cold, the mood is depressed, forgetfulness appears, appetite decreases, and constipation develops.

Symptoms alone do not mean that there is hypothyroidism – as I said, many other diseases can have such manifestations. The only way to know if you have hypothyroidism or not is to take a blood test and see the level of the right hormones.

How is hypothyroidism different from hyperthyroidism

Hypothyroidism is a lack of thyroid hormones, and hyperthyroidism is their excess. It is manifested by anxiety, hand trembling, weakness, shortness of breath, weight loss, diarrhea, insomnia. The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is an autoimmune disease called Graves’ disease. Less commonly, this may be due to the formation of overactive nodes in the thyroid gland or certain medications.

Hyperthyroidism is a dangerous condition that, in severe cases, can lead to a thyroid storm, heart failure, and other complications.

Diagnosis of hypothyroidism

What tests should be done if hypothyroidism is suspected. For diagnostics, a blood test for hormones is taken.

Diagnosis of hypothyroidism – Uptodate

Usually, TSH, the pituitary thyroid-stimulating hormone responsible for the thyroid gland, is first prescribed. If it is normal, then most likely there is no hypothyroidism.

If something is wrong with TSH or there is a suspicion of problems with the pituitary gland, one of the thyroid hormones, free T4, is also checked.

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What tests should be done to check the thyroid gland?

Sometimes a doctor may additionally prescribe an analysis for another thyroid hormone – free T3. This also happens with central hypothyroidism and in some other cases.

Primary hypothyroidism. In this case, thyroid hormones will be reduced and TSH elevated. This happens because the pituitary gland is trying to make the organ work by actively releasing its own hormone. The thyroid gland does not react, which means that the problem is in it.

Central hypothyroidism. In this case, all hormones can be reduced: both the thyroid gland itself and the pituitary gland. Sometimes pituitary hormones remain normal or slightly elevated – inappropriate to how little thyroid hormones are in the blood.

In such cases, the problem lies above the thyroid gland. It secretes few hormones, and the pituitary gland does not react to this or reacts badly, does not secrete the right amount of TSH.

Subclinical hypothyroidism – Uptodate

Subclinical hypothyroidism. This is a condition where thyroid hormones are normal and TSH levels are elevated. That is, the thyroid gland still has a resource to produce hormones, but this already requires the active work of the pituitary gland.

In this case, as a rule, there are no symptoms – the problem is visible only on tests. But in a significant proportion of people with subclinical hypothyroidism, it will develop to manifest – the level of thyroid hormones will drop below normal. Treatment here depends on the age of the person and other factors – the tactics are determined by the doctor.

The doctor ordered a blood test for TSH and both thyroid hormones. The cost of such tests in private laboratories is about 1300 R.

As a result, all my hormones turned out to be reduced, which means that the problem is not in the thyroid gland itself. I didn’t find out exactly what the reason was: there were no abnormalities on the MRI of the pituitary gland – no tumors, no damage.

An endocrinologist deals with thyroid gland disorders in the polyclinic. But if it is not there, you can ask your therapist for a referral for tests. In a paid clinic, you can come with test results for an appointment with any endocrinologist.

I went to see a doctor who had other problems. At the first appointment, they took an anamnesis from me, gave me a list of tests. I made them in the nearest private laboratory so as not to travel on an empty stomach to another part of the city. With ready-made results, I received a diagnosis at the second appointment. I paid 3,500 rubles for each appointment.

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10 important questions for endocrinologist Yuri Poteshkin

Tests that helped me to be diagnosed

What additional examinations are needed for central hypothyroidism

Yuriy Poteshkin

neuroendocrinologist, chairman of the Scientific Council of the Atlas clinic network, candidate of medical sciences

First of all, you need to retake TSH and free T4 in another laboratory. If the test result is confirmed, an MRI of the pituitary gland with contrast should be done – without contrast, you can not see the tumor. It may be small, but located exactly in the place that is responsible for the production of TSH.

It is worth mentioning that secondary hypothyroidism is usually associated with conditions associated with other pituitary hormones, such as secondary adrenal insufficiency. Because of this, it is best to check all pituitary hormones. Minimum: luteinizing hormone – LH, follicle-stimulating hormone – FSH, prolactin, insulin-like growth factor 1 – IGF 1, growth hormone – STH.

In most cases, all functions of the pituitary gland are disturbed, that is, violations should be traced not only by TSH analysis. If only the level of TSH is changed, and there are no changes in the pituitary gland, the diagnosis is “isolated TSH deficiency”, or “isolated secondary hypothyroidism”. This rarely happens.

Treatment of hypothyroidism

Thyroid hormones. The basis of treatment for any hypothyroidism is compensation for the lack of thyroid hormones.

Hypothyroidism – article for patients on Update

For this, preparations with the active substance levothyroxine sodium are prescribed. For example, “Eutiroks” or “L-thyroxine”.

These products are available in packs of 50 and 100 tablets. They cost up to 200 R. I did not notice their shortage in pharmacies. Taken once a day in the morning. My working dosage is 150 mg per day. I take “L-thyroxine” or “Eutirox” – which is in the pharmacy.

Before treatment, I had dizziness, apathy. Now my productivity is higher. It is difficult to get up in the morning, but after taking a pill, you feel vivacity and readiness for new volumes of information. I became more productive both at work and in training.

Primary hypothyroidism treatment — Uptodate

Euthyrox drug L-thyroxine drug

Test control. The exact dosage of drugs was chosen for me three months in advance, by measuring the level of thyroid hormones every month. At first, I took tests before taking the pills in the morning, then, with the permission of the doctor, with taking the medicine.

Treatment of hypothyroidism – article for patients on Updatedate

After the selection of therapy, the level of hormones should be checked once a year if the state of health does not change.

Overdose of Euthyrox or L-thyroxine for hypothyroidism. When treating hypothyroidism, it is important to achieve a normal level of hormones, while preventing the development of hyperthyroidism while taking medications.

This may be due to incorrect dose selection or accidental drug overdose. If you suspect the development of hyperthyroidism, you need to retake the tests and adjust the dosage together with the doctor.

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Results of analyzes with selected therapy

How to properly control therapy in the treatment of hypothyroidism

Yuri Poteshkin

neuroendocrinologist, chairman of the Scientific Council of the Atlas clinic network, Ph.D. Drugs should be taken after the analysis. The therapy is effective if the hormone level is in the upper half of the reference range.

When choosing a dose of medication, the analysis can be taken every two weeks. After selecting a constant dosage, it is taken after three months, then after six months, then once a year. When changing body weight, you need to consult a doctor to change the dosage, because the dose of thyroxine depends on weight.

Any preparation of levothyroxine sodium can be chosen. Brands can then be changed, but this is tantamount to changing the dose, so further monitoring of the effectiveness of therapy is needed – it is necessary to take tests in three months.

Diet for Hypothyroidism

There is a misconception that hypothyroidism greatly affects body weight, causing obesity. In fact, a lack of thyroid hormones is responsible for a maximum of 5% of excess weight. After the start of therapy, excess weight caused by hypothyroidism disappears, since it is mainly associated with edema.

No special diet for hypothyroidism. The recommendations remain the same as for healthy people: you need to eat a balanced, varied diet.

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Consequences and complications of hypothyroidism

If you take drugs, the level of hormones returns to normal and a person with hypothyroidism does not differ from a healthy one.

Myxedema coma – Uptodate

But if hypothyroidism is not diagnosed in time, the condition may worsen. The work of the heart is disturbed, anemia, severe edema may develop. Blood pressure often rises, cholesterol levels can be elevated in the blood, which increases the risk of atherosclerosis. Due to the weakness of the respiratory muscles, a lack of oxygen develops; people with hypothyroidism do not tolerate physical activity well.

The worst complication is hypothyroid, or myxedematous coma. It usually develops against the background of severe hypothyroidism after injuries, infections, hypothermia and exposure to other adverse factors.

Is it possible to cure hypothyroidism forever

There is no cure for hypothyroidism, most people have it for life. In some rare cases, thyroid function may return to normal. This, for example, happens with some viral diseases or disorders of the gland after pregnancy. This is called transient hypothyroidism.

Over time, hypothyroidism can become more or less severe, and then the dosage of the drugs will have to be changed.

Of course, drinking medication every day is not very convenient, but with hypothyroidism, this is a regimen for life. If you take pills every day in the correct dosage, the disease can be controlled: the symptoms will disappear, and the lack of hormones will not affect the quality of life in any way.

How much does it cost to treat hypothyroidism

My drug costs per month are less than 80 R. A pack of medicine for 100 tablets costs 200 R, enough for about three months if you drink one a day.

Testing to assess thyroid function once a year – 1330 R, appointment with an endocrinologist – 3500 R. In total, it takes about 6000 R a year.

It takes 5630 R per year to treat hypothyroidism

Endocrinologist appointment

3500 R

Tests

1330 R

Drugs, 4 packs per year

800 Р

Remember

1. Hypothyroidism is a decrease in the level of thyroid hormones.