Hypothyroidism Treatment – Start at the Beginning
There are many causes for hypothyroidism. the most common cause being auto immune diseases such as hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Prior to any hypothyroidism treatment it must be determined what is causing your low thyroid condition.
I will once again start by restating the initial common symptoms and signs of an underactive thyroid.
Common symptoms of hypothyroidism:
• Fatigue which can at times causes you to be lethargic because all you want to do is sleep.
• Unexplained weight gain and difficulty losing weight
• Constipation
• Sluggishness
• Depression
• Memory loss, loss of mental cognition or difficulty concentrating (this is huge)
• Increased sensitivity to cold
• Pale, dry skin
• Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness
• Muscle weakness
• Heavier than normal menstrual periods
• Abnormal periods in general
• Brittle fingernails and hair or hair loss
The myth about hypothyroidism and weight gain:
Yes, when you have hypothyroidism you do gain weight however obesity is not one of the medical conditions caused by hypothyroidism.
On average, with proper hypothyroidism treatment, and if your hypothyroidism is brought under control and properly maintained, then you really shouldn’t gain more than 10 to 15 pounds. If you do gain more than this then you should probably re-examine your eating and exercise habits and figure out where the rest of the weight gain is coming from.
Doctors and Hypothyroidism Treatments
More than likely a primary care doctor will be the one that will initially test patients with hypothyroidism for and discover your hypothyroidism. From that point forward it’s usually the best idea to be treated by an endocrinologist because they generally specialize in treating thyroid disease and can recommend the best hypothyroidism treatment by properly measuring your hormone deficiency.
Check-ups
In order to determine what’s causing your thyroid dysfunction your endocrinologist will conduct blood tests to check your thyroid hormones and they should then conduct a physical examination as well.
During the physical examination the doctor will check the typical vitals, run through the list of symptoms with you asking if you are currently experiencing any of them and last move on to checking your fingernails, your hands and feet for possible bloating then they should feel around on the thyroid gland, with their fingers, checking for any abnormalities.
If they find any suspicious abnormalities on your thyroid gland then they should send you for an ultrasound in order to rule out the possibilities of nodules, goiter, thyroid cancer or any other thyroid disorders.
At first your check-ups should happen every 6-8 weeks until your medication is regulated and after that every 6-12 months for the rest of your life if you have permanent hypothyroidism.
Thyroid Medication
Once you have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism your doctor will prescribe a hormone replacement medication. Your medication is not something to fear. If you properly take your medication, it will help you to get back to functioning normally and is the main factor in any hypothyroidism treatment. One of the more commonly prescribed medications is levothyroxine.
The thing that you have to become and remain aware of is the fact that this medicine is a thyroid hormone replacement medication. It is a synthetic hormone meant to replace what the body is lacking in normal thyroid hormone production. Simply put it’s meant for when your thyroid gland can no longer produce enough thyroid hormone to function on a normal level.
When thyroid medication is not taken as directed it is then that it can cause problems with your health. It is not a diet pill and should never be thought of or treated as if it were.
Thyroid Dysfunction: Is Not Always an Issue With the Thyroid Gland
The thyroid gland is not the only gland that can cause hypothyroidism, it can also be caused by issues with the pituitary gland. Again your endocrinologist would be able to figure out if this is the case and set you up with an appropriate hypothyroidism treatment.
i would like to know the numbers for the thyroid.. with the t3-4 ,,my doctor says mine is fine but still gaining weight, he goes by 3 to 5 range and to me that is not correct, if it was i wouldnt be feeling like this at all ,,if someone could help me on this i would be thankful,,
Hi Carolyn,
I can honestly say that I have never paid much attention to my numbers. I usually leave that up to my doctor. But one thing that I can tell you from experience is that, well first I suffer from Hashimotos disease. This is a thyroid disease where the bodies immune system attacks the thyroid. With Hashimotos Your thyroid levels can definitely fluctuate. Many doctors will disagree with this but I am living proof of this. When I first started to experience multiple symptoms of this disease I had my initial blood tests done. The nurse practitioner told me that my thyroid levels were slightly elevated but not enough to medicate me. Within two to three weeks my symptoms grew progressively worse and my sister who also has Hashimotos told me about the fluctuations and that I needed to insist that they run the tests immediately.
Well the nurse practitioner told me that I was crazy and that there was no possible way that my thyroid levels would change over a couple of weeks and after I insisted that the tests be done again, she was shocked at the results and at the fact that I was right and I definitely needed to be put on thyroid medication. She had never seen such a dramatic change in thyroid levels over such a short period of time but will never question another person who asked for a re-check in that short a period of time again.
The best advice I can give to you is that if you notice your conditions worsening after your doctor tells you that you are fine, either get a second opinion or insist on having a re-check and don’t take no for an answer.
If your thyroid levels are still normal and you are experiencing weight gain and fatigue then have the doctor check for other things like over insulin production or anything else that they can think of.
Have just been diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I am totally exhausted. I have a hard time staying awake all day and when I get home from work I just crash. I have gained about 15 pounds and can’t lose any. My legs and back are hurting. Any advice would be appreciated. I am on Armour Thyroid.
I have been dealing with hypothyroid symptoms for the past 3 years. My family doctor checked my thyroid a few times over the years and said I was ok. Not until January did I think to ask what the numbers were. After seeing how much my levels have flucuated, my mother insisted I see an endocrinologist. Again I had blood tests taken and I was fine. Then I had blood tests taken a few weeks later and I had spiked again. A month later — significantly different and still high. The thing is, my antibodies are apparently fine. I’ve looked to see if this is normal for people who don’t have Hasimotos, but no one ever talks about this being possible without Hasimotos. Even my endocrinologist originally thought I just had a small case of thryoidist, but now doesn’t believe that’s the case. She’s also surprised my numbers are all over the place. And my thyroid looks fine. Have you heard of people without Hasimotos having their tsh level flucuate so much?
I have just found out that I have hashimotos diease. I have been on synthroid having it adjusted twice. I am post breast cancer and radiation therapy in the last year. I am concerned that my life will never get back to normal. I have more good days then bad, but still feel tired. I wake every morning with my eyes swollen shut and body aches. It is a major effort to get out of bed. I am not use to living life in the slow lane. How or what can I do to make this better. I have tried diet, (low carb) 4 weeks and never lost a pound. I have tired rest, I have taken the meds. and increased the exercise I get everyday. I am at home again from my job, because I do not have the energy or strength to make it to the car. First TSH was over 100 second was in the 60′s third was 17 something. They are increasing it slowly, but what am I to do in the mean time. If you can not work, then no money to pay the bills……
I agree with the issue of medical assistants/nurses/doctors that won’t listen to you when you are experiencing pain, discomfort and irregular/strange symptoms. Don’t be afraid to talk to their supervisor or the Hospital Director if they are being insensitive to your needs. I almost went into Myxedema Coma due to a doctor’s arrogance. I could have sued but I would prefer the problem to be addressed and treated and not make healthcare -more- expensive than it already is.
Sure, pre-authorizations for any tests/medicines/referrals are a sheer pain, yet that initiative will show you are serious about being healthy to your practicioner. If your primary doctor is blowing your medical inquiry off (especially if you are overweight and are being healthy with your diet/exercise), find another doctor PRONTO. You are the patient and also a customer. Demand mutual respect. If they cannot reciprocate, then leave and report them for any abuse. If you are level-headed, prepared and mindful, most doctors will be more than happy to help you. Just make sure you are willing to help yourself.
Thank you very much for your very informative input Anthony! Sometimes people are afraid to speak up and when it comes to your health and well being you seriously have to be able to speak up and get a second opinion if not from your own doctor then from another. But never give up where your health is concerned. Myxedema Coma is something that you want to avoid.
When you are first diagnosed with Hashimotos disease, it can take up to a year to regulate your medication. It did for me and it was explained to me that the reason for this was because my immune system was attacking and destroying my thyroid gland. Basically my thyroid gland was dieing. It’s a slow process first your body has to adjust to the medication and then the medication has to be adjusted as your thyroid gland and production depletes. You also have to make sure that you give your medication an hour to absorb it after you take it and that you haven’t eat for two hours before taking it because food in your digestive system can interfere with the hormone uptake into your system. It usually works best if you take your medication right when you get up then go about doing what ever you have to get done for the next hour before eating breakfast. This way you are also taking your medication around the same time each day.
Karina
I haven’t heard anything else but there are many things that could interfere with thyroid hormone production. Track your diet, figure out what you are eating around times that you are most fatigued or experiencing stronger symptoms. Has your Dr. ever checked to make sure that you don’t have any growths on your thyroid gland or issues with your pituitary gland? There are so many areas where thyroid issues are concerned that I can only make suggestions that you need to ask your Doctor to confirm. Stress can affect your thyroid levels.
Did your doctor put you on Armour Thyroid? How come you aren’t on Synthroid or Levothyroxine?
I have been struggling for over a year with this. I have talked to 3 Dr’s and 2 seemed to not care the other did and I had to change because of the area I moved too. The last Doctor I talked to said I don’t need to see an Endocrinologist because thyroid is not complicated! NOthing has changed in how I feel. I am very frustrated with this…I have so many ups and downs. Feeling good feeling bad! I am sick of it!!! I don’t and never have had a weight problem, also I have researched both hypo and hyper and have no symptoms of hypo! makes no since to me. Been on Synthroid for over a year now. Going on 2! NO changes and nobody listens to me…not sure what to do?
Katie,
I’m just curious as to why your doctors have you on Synthroid if you don’t have any symptoms of hypo. Also what are your ups and downs? And last do you need your doctor’s recommendation in order to go to an endo. The doctor that told you that you didn’t need to see and endocrinologist has a very typical attitude of many primary doctors. I personally would get more opinions and find a primary who will recommend an endocrinologist. It’s not as simple as this doctor is telling you because an endocrinologist will run more tests and body checks than simple blood work.
the best remedy for constipation is high fiber diet or psyllim husk capsules,::
i always get constipation because most of the time i do not eat enough dietary fibers “”
You should keep in mind that fiber isn’t enough. You should also be sure to include plenty of water in your diet.