How to Recognize and Cope with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

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By dorigillman
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You can develop a goiter on your neck from Hashimoto's Thyroiditis

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is one of the most common diseases in the U.S. More women than men suffer from this malady. The disease develops when you are in-between the ages of 30 and 50. It is in the autoimmune family, which means that the immune system attacks instead of helps the thyroid. The thyroid controls your metabolism. You may not think of the thyroid as a major organ in your body, but something that controls your metabolism is pretty significant.

About three years ago, I noticed that I was tired all the time; my joints and muscles ached; I wasn’t comfortable until I actually fell asleep; I suffered from bouts of diarrhea; and I was very anxious. I am a middle-aged woman so I called my gynecologist and asked if these were perimenopausal symptoms. He advised that I get a blood test for that and for thyroid levels. When I received the results of the blood test, he told me that I had hypothyroidism and then sent me to an endocrinologist, a doctor who deals with issues of the thyroid. Here is how to cope with this situation.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

thyroid disease symptoms, endocrinologist, internist or gynecologist, synthroid

Step 1

Difficulty sleeping

Recognize the symptoms of hypothyroidism or an underactive thyroid. They include: depression, fatigue, modest weight gain, muscle aches and pains, cold intolerance, dry skin, a lump in the neck (or goiter), hair loss, puffy face, fertility problems, trouble swallowing, and hoarse voice. You may not experience these all at once and they may creep up on you over a period of time, but if you feel any combination of these, see your doctor immediately. Imagine my surprise when the doctor actually felt a tiny goiter forming in my neck! I had no idea!
Step 2

Get your blood tested

Get your blood tested. The most common indicator of thyroid disease is the TSH or thyroid stimulating level hormone. If it is high, you have hypothyroidism or an underactive thyroid and if it is too low, it is called hyperthyroidism or an overactive thyroid and your symptoms will be different. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is a condition of hyperthyroidism.
Step 3

Synthroid

Take levothyroxine, also known as synthroid, the thyroid hormone replacement drug to regulate your thyroid. My TSH level was not terribly high but high enough to cause my troubling symptoms. My doctor started me out on a low dose of synthroid, about 30mg a day. Synthroid must be taken on an empty stomach.

For the first 6 months, I had my blood tested each month for TSH and the doctor tweaked my dosage. You will continue to get your blood tested every one to three months for about a year and when you begin to stabilize, the blood tests will be less frequent.
Step 4

Know that there is NO CURE for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis but it can be controlled easily if you follow the doctor’s instructions.
Step 5

Ask your family if anyone has ever had Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. It commonly runs in families. I had to dig on my father’s side of the family, where no one in my father’s generation ever talked about ill health, to discover that it was in fact in my family history.

Comments

littlezelma said

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on 9/16/2009 Great information. I take my thyroid meds at about 4:30 every morning when the dog gets me up because she needs to go outside. It's a great way to insure I've absorbed the hormone well before my breakfast at a more reasonable hour. 5*

lee-lee said

on 6/8/2009 Thanks so much --- Good info ---

msknowalot said

on 5/29/2009 Good step by step on dealing with this condition.

kh1984 said

on 5/28/2009 Great article on recognizing and coping with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. My husband has thyroid problems and is currently taking Synthyroid.