Treatments for Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid, which regulates metabolism, creates too much thyroid hormone, causing your metabolism to increase. Symptoms include an increase in appetite, difficulty sleeping and irritability. Treatment is generally straightforward and involves reducing the size of the thyroid.
Hyperthyroidism is an autoimmune condition, which means that your own immune system has "turned against" the thyroid, and the thyroid reacts by creating more hormones. Most commonly, when both thyroid nodules are overproducing, the condition is referred to as Graves' Disease. Hyperthyroidism can also be present in only one thyroid nodule, though this is less common.
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Symptoms
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It is not unusual for hyperthyroidism to go unnoticed in patients for months or even years, depending on the severity of the case. Because the symptoms are somewhat contradictory, it can also be difficult to diagnose. For example, when more thyroid hormone is produced, the metabolism increases, which could cause weight loss. However, appetite it also increased in this situation, so patients tend to eat more. In many cases, patients notice that they are consuming more but losing weight, and this is a trigger for concern.
Another contradictory symptom is chronic weariness combined with a frustrating inability to sleep. The inability to sleep is caused by the raised metabolism, but this is the same reason that patients are tired. Similarly, patients may feel nervous or shaky, because their metabolism is so high.
Additional symptoms include swelling of the thyroid gland, irritability, increased heart rate and muscle weakness.
Diagnosis and Treatment
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Once hyperthyroidism is suspected, the most direct way to confirm the diagnosis is with a special blood test that measures the amount of T3 and T4 hormones in the body. If the levels are elevated, then hyperthyroidism is a probable diagnosis.
To treat this condition, the size of the thyroid must be reduced, as a smaller thyroid generates smaller amounts of the T3 and T4 hormones. However, medical professionals have not perfected a way to eliminate the "perfect" amount of the thyroid. -
Surgical Removal
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The thyroid gland can be surgically removed. This is a fairly simple procedure. During the surgery, all or part of the thyroid gland will be removed. This procedure has improved dramatically in the last decade, and though patients often have general anesthesia for the surgery, most are released within 24 hours. In some cases, surgeons may opt for local anesthesia, if working on only part of the gland.
The risk with this surgery is damage to the area surrounding the thyroid, though the incidence of this is very low.
The biggest negative to undergoing this surgery is that it is likely to result in hypothyroidism, which results in the patient being put on thyroid medication.
Radioactive Iodine
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A non-invasive option for thyroid removal is a radioactive iodine treatment. Patients take a dose of radioactive iodine, which is then absorbed by the thyroid (the only part of the body that will absorb iodine) and the thyroid is then slowly killed off. This is the most widely used treatment for hyperthyroidism. The procedure is simple and completely painless, and the radioactivity leaves the body in just a few days. It takes about 4 to 8 weeks for the thyroid to be killed off or reduced. Unfortunately, just as with the surgical option, patients may end up with an underactive thyroid.
Drug Therapy
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In some cases, physicians may recommend drug therapy. The most common medications are methimazole and propylthiouracil. Both of these medications are blockers that prevent the thyroid from producing hormones. This treatment, while completely non-invasive, is less effective than surgery or radioactive iodine, because it doesn't take care of the underlying problem. The medications can block the creation of hormones; however, if a patient chooses to stop taking the medications, symptoms may reappear.
Side effects of these medications include itching, rashes and, in rare cases, fevers.
Hypoactive Thyroid
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If you've had surgery or a radioactive iodine treatment, chances are, you will develop hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid. In this situation, the thyroid does not produce enough T3 and/or T4 hormone, and you will be left feeling sluggish, will be likely to gain weight and may feel unmotivated. Physicians expect this response after these treatments, so after the thyroid has been reduced or eliminated, patients are started on what will become a lifelong regimen of thyroid-replacement hormones. The most common brand-name medications are Synthroid and Levoxyl, both which are tiny pills that are taken daily. There are no side effects with either.
Once a patient is diagnosed as hypothyroid, the physician will begin experimenting with varying doses of the new medication. It can take up to a year to find the right dosage.
Warnings
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If you feel that you may have hyperthyroidism, it is important to seek treatment, because the condition can cause irregular heartbeat, missed menstrual periods and increased bowel movements. Each of these symptoms could lead to bigger problems. In addition, women should avoid getting pregnant if they are diagnosed with hyperthyroidism.
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