THYROID DISEASE

Read and learn more about thyroiditis symptoms. For more, visit the Thyroid Disease website ThyroidDiseaseWiki.com.

Q: Can anyone help me with symptoms of thyroiditis?
My doctor is treating me for thyroiditis (very low TSH level), but I have other symptoms that are affecting my every day life. My symptoms have been occuring for over a month. They include, pain to touch my neck, pain when swallowing, low grade fever, jaw pain, night sweats and chills, confussion, mood swings (mostly mean and cry alot), muscle ache in legs. My endocrinologist says that this is self resolving but that it may take 3 to 4 months. I cannot go on like this much longer. What should I do? HELP!

A: Yep, those are the classic symptoms….aren’t they lovely?!? I also had…and still experience…muscle pain of unknown origin…that one is always special! All these symptoms will subside once you are on the proper medication. Please give it time. I know exactly what you are going through….you don’t know whether to cry or to beat the crap out of someone. This will pass…hang in there. I assume you are on some form of synthetic hormone (synthroid, levoxyl)….this is what will alleviate your symptoms.

Q: What diagnostic tests/physical symptoms diagnosed or made you think you may have lupus?
I am constantly developing mouth sores that look like thrush, get a rash on my cheeks when outside, and feel totally sick when I’m in the sun. Some times I itch like crazy, everywhere on my body. And I just can’t seem to get enough sleep. I have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis which is controlled with Armour thyroid. Do these symptoms sound like lupus? And how is it diagnosed?

A: It could be lupus. The sun combined with your other symptoms is the biggest tip off.

To diagnose lupus one needs to give a full medical history, clealry describe symptoms, have other disorders ruled out, and get a battery of lab tests. There is no single lab test that is definitive for lupus.

Hashimoto’s is also autoimmune. Autoimmunes often come in syndromes or overlap with one another.

Get a referral to a rheumatologist who is knowledgeable about lupus.

Learn more at www.lupus.org

I was diagnosed after being hauled off in an ambulance. I ignored the symptoms for far too long.

Q: What are the symptoms of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis?

A: Some patients with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis may have no symptoms. However, the common symptoms are fatigue, depression, sensitivity to cold, weight gain, forgetfulness, muscle weakness, puffy face, dry skin and hair, constipation, muscle cramps, and increased menstrual flow. Some patients have major swelling of the thyroid gland in the front of the neck, called goiter.

Q: any softer remedy to thyroiditis, inflamation due to medical treatment. ?
finally its its not hypothyroid but thyroiditis. inflamation of thyroid (due to an interferon treatment now ended)
If I dont act quickly with softer or alternative remedy I ll have to get on the hard and slippery slope of synthetic hormones, blood test says only problem is high TSH, T3 T4 are ok.
physical symptoms are real ennoying.
thanks to any sensible advice.

A: You need to be tested to see what is really going on with your body. The thyroid is part of the endocrine that is a system of complex relationships. When you have a problem with one of the endocrine organs, it affects ALL the others. The TSH hormone comes from your pituitary gland that gets it’s commands from the Hypothalamus gland that is part of the endocrine “feed back loop.” If you focus just on the thyroid gland, you are only focused on a symptom and this is what doctors and the medical profession is trained to do. Their answer will be to treat the thyroid because that is where the symptom is coming from, but that will not solve the problem, only put a band aide on and not get to the “root cause.” Your original problem, thyroiditis may be due to what is called Hashimoto’s disease. The medical people will tell you that it is not from infection, but inflammation. lol. The “itis” at the end of the word thyroiditis means “infection.” There are many things that can cause this problem. The so called “autoimmune” problem basically says that your body is producing antibodies that are attacking the thyroid tissue.

If you believe that your body would just start making antibodies for “some reason” and then attack your thyroid for “some reason” and that the only thing you can do is take hormones, you will not be fixing the “root cause” and you will have to live with the so called “side effects” of all this for the rest of your life.

Personally, I believe you need to find the “root cause” and make your body healthy. The thyroiditis was a “result” not “the” problem.

There are many things that can cause this problem and I suggest you find a good Certified Nutritional Therapist that understands QRA testing to find the source of infection(s) in your body. Once you find that, you can focus on making your body healthy. Most likely you are also very iodine deficient. If you are not allergic to iodine, I suggest you do a simple test to determine that. Get a bottle of “tincture of iodine” and paint a patch about 2″ x 3″ on your forearm or on your chest. Note the time of day. Watch it throughout the day and note the time when it disappears. It should be visible after 24 hours. If it is gone in a few hours, you are very deficient in iodine. This is very common now in the U.S. due to all the Fluoridation and fluoride products being sold. Fluorine depletes the body of iodine. When this happens, glands dependent upon iodine as it’s primary mineral will “ENLARGE.” The thyroid is one such gland. Also the thyroid absorbs heavy metals very well because it is a very soft gland. Mercury is a huge problem for it.

I would first look to your teeth for the primary source of the infection to your thyroid or any scars or traumas to your head area next. ALL amalgam fillings, root canals, and extractions or traumas to the teeth create huge infection problems for the body. Dentists are not your friend most of the time. Many of the chemicals they use, procedures cause many problems like this for the body.

good luck to you

Q: I was diagnosed with Hoshimoto’s thyroiditis, but told there was not any treatment necessary?
I have many of the symptoms, joint pain, unable to stand cold, headaches. The doctor says that all of my thyroid levels are normal, including my t4, so no treatment is necessary. My thyroidglobulin level was 346. That is what caused my diagnosis. She said that my tyroid will be fine.I feel tired all the time. I walk and eat right. Does anyone have a further suggestions as to how I might treat this from home or with natural remedies since I require no thyroid at this time.

A: Read this article it may help you. It depends on your levels as to whether it needs treatment or not.

http://www.useless-knowledge.com/1234/may/article378.html

Q: Why do i still have symptoms if my blood tests are “normal”?
I have been on thyroid replacement therapy since age 12 but still have hypersensitivity to cold, thin brittle nails and hair, dry skin and a really tough time losing weight? It seems as though the T4 is there but is not being utilized properly by the body. Im tired of being tired. Can Hashimotos Thyroiditis cause that?

A: I’ll bet you are on Synthroid or Levoxyl, right? Well, the reason you are sensitive to cold, have thin nails and hair, dry skin, hard time losing weight…is because those meds, and the use of the TSH lab, keep you hypo. They do MILLIONS of us. Synthroid and Levoxyl are T4-only meds. T4 is a storage hormone. But the body is NOT meant to live on a storage hormone alone. Thus, we stay hypo on them.

The solution is the find a doctor to put you desiccated thyroid like Armour or Naturethroid. They contain exactly what your own thyroid makes: T4, T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin. And do NOT dose the by the TSH, but by elimination of symptoms and getting your free T3 lab at the top of the range. They really work! Read this site: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com It will explain what is going on.

Q: I was diagnosed with thyroiditis 2 years ago and my thyroid level has not stabalized. What is going on?
Two years ago, after bloodwork my doctor diagnosed me with an overactive thyroid, but by the time I got to the doctor for a checkup my thyroid had dipped low. After a thyroid scan, I was diagnosed with thyroiditis. She said cases usually clear up in 8 months-1 year. I am currently on synthroid because my levels are usually low, but about 3 times a year I become hyperactive again, having symptoms at these times that affect my daily routines. While I do see my endochronologist frequently–has anyone had a similiar problem, or know of the alternatives so I, being a 21 year old, active female, don’t have to live with these crazy symptoms associated with thyroiditis? Thanks so much!!

A: my daughter too, and me…it turned out that while she is currently going through testing, I was finally diagnoised with hashimotos, which is named after the guy who discovered it. and it is the thyroid getting large and excreting too much and then shrinking down and then not excreting enough. heart palps on the high side and total loss of energy on the low side. You can ask your endocronologist to do a test for it (it is an antibody test-blood work again!) It is actually very common for this to not be diagnoised. I ended up with nodules and had to have my thyroid removed, and after the fact they discovered thyroid cancer. ( I was turning 50) there are 4 kinds and 95 percent of us have the first two kinds which have an incredibly high survival rate of 95%. I am not telling you that to scare you, but if you ever travel down that road, it is not as horrible as it sounds. ANYWAY, there are some great support groups for thyroid issues on the web with yahoo…I am in one for thyroidectomies and one for thyroid cancer….you could log into one and just read, you don’t have to post, and many people talk about hashimotos…just know that there are some real psuedo science sites out there that really are rediculous. If your synthroid is not controlling your hashimotos, eventually they may say you should have a thyroidectomy and remove it…I actually feel better now without it and just the synthroid. It sounds crazy to think that slitting your throat would be good for your health, but for me it was. The scar is about 2 to 3 inches long, in a natural crease in my neck and really does not show at all. (it stopped being pink by about 5 months). I believe my daughter is pretty much in the same boat as you and I have investigated alot about it. also, for future, you will have to be even more closely monitored when you decide to get pregnant. good luck

Q: I have hoshimoto’s thyroiditis and still have symptom’s after being on the right dose med. Can someone explain
I just looked up thyroid transplant and read “synthetic levothyroxine does not contain all the thyroid hormone precursors that the thyroid gland produces. While the full contributions of T0, T1, and T2 are unclear, research shows that T2 is necessary for the production of enzymes necessary for thyroid function. “
So doesn’t that mean that our meds are not replacing the thyroid function totally? I was since told I have fibromyalgia, but am thinking it’s my thyroid since ALL the symptoms are the same, YET I’m on the right dose of thyroid med for 20 years. Symptoms came about 12 years ago. Symptoms-total body aches, very dry skin, light sensitive, constipation, temperature body issues, weight gain. Does anyone have any opinions or advice or new advances in thyroid disease?
Oh I also have memory problems and low libido.
I used to go to an endo years ago and just went about a year ago and both times they just put me on the normal med and sent me on my way. They don’t seem to look into things too much. I also do have Anemia. I really don’t have sleep problems.
Thanks Deb for your response. I was diagnosised by a doctor that I had fibro even though I don’t have sleeping issues. This was actually by two different doctors. I also am very careful with my diet and have been tested for celiacs and don’t have a gluten issue.

A: I’m assuming that you are being treated by an endocrinologist. If not, I would make that change immediately. There’s more to treating thyroid than taking thyroid supplements. You have to monitor the functioning of other systems as well (e.g, hormones, iron absorption, etc.).

You may also want to rule out problems with sleep. Symptoms of fibromyalgia can also occur or made worse with sleep disorders (not uncommon with thyroid problems as well).

Q: Mixed symptoms (Thyroid)?
Ok.

When I was first diagnoised with thyroid problems, I was diagnoised with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis (hypothryoidism).

I have symptoms of it: dry skin, brittle nails, I’m constantly tired, I have memory problems, a large goiter, and I’ve always had weight problems.

However- I also have symptoms of hyperthyroidism.
Symptoms I have: I’m nervous, my hands shake, I sweat a lot, I’ve got a 50% chance of running to the bathroom after eating, my hair isn’t exactly what I would call fine, but it is soft, and it falls out.

So is it normal to have symptoms of both? Thank you.

A: A very important thing to bear in mind is that not every quirk of your body is necessarily connected to single thing. Different symptoms hit different people, and in addition to that hypothyroidism used to be called “the great imitator” because it has such a huge and general range of symptoms which could mean anything. Shaking, nervousness and hair loss are all hypOthyroid symptoms as well, and going to the bathroom a lot or sweating is probably for a whole host of possible other reasons, it’s not all about thyroid – diet, psychology, and lifestyle all have a part to play too.
It is absolutely impossible to have both hypo- and hyper- thyroidism at the same time, since they’re opposing disorders (i.e. one is too little and the other is too much) but it is very normal to have some symptoms which could be construed as meaning either, since the symptoms of both are very general.

Q: Why isnt there any treatment for HASHIMOTOS THYROIDITIS?
??????????????????????????????? i was told i ahve this 4 years ago and evenutally it will BURN off my thyroid gland and now i have symptoms of hypothyroid yet my tsh is normal WHAT DO I DO>????

A: First of all your disease is an autoimmune disease in which your own body is attcking the thyroid. i have a book called Women and Autoimmune Disease which I suggest you get and it is by Robert G Lahita MD. He says he treats Hashimotos by giving the patient lifelong thyroid hormone replacemnt such as Synthroid. If I understand what i read correctly he believes Hahimotos to be the first sign of more autoimmune disorder like Lupus. You need to see a doctor who knows what is going on. If you are not being treated in this manner you must seek another Rheumatologist because as I have said other autoimmune disorders ride alongside the obvious ones in some instances!

Q: is there anyone with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis who could give me more info about it?
I would be interested to know what symptoms this may cause.. I’ve recently had a lot of joint pain (hips, knees), tiredness, anemia, can barely get up the stairs sometimes- are these related to thyroid disease? I am taking thyroxin 100mcg daily.

A: Doing more research through the internet search engines will give you your answers.
It can make you tired ..no energy.
It can effect your memory.
It can make you get cold easier which is why you may have those joint aches, the body doesn’t regulate itself like it should. The brain is nor communicating signals correctly with the body.

Q: Tightness in throat and thyroiditis?
I have had a sore throat for a few weeks now. The doctors ruled out strep throat, mono, etc. Ear,nose and throat scoped me but said nothing was there. Anyway, it got worse last night, in the lower part of my throat, right by the trachea. It feels tight, swollen and difficult to swallow. It went to the ER, they did blood work and suggested it was a thyroid problem. The blood work came back fine, but they believe its irritated and the symptoms are there. I don’t have the over/under weight, hair falling out, etc. symptoms though. Just tired sometimes, tight/sore throat, difficult to swallow,sensitive to touch the throat area (thyroid location), somewhat moody, etc. I can’t wear a scarf or turtleneck because it hurts to touch. I have an appt with an endocrinologist next week. Anyone have these symptoms?

A: Your thyriod glands may be working fine, although you may have a goitre. This can press against your windpipe, giving the feeling of beeing unable to swallow something. Have your doctor check you out as it is very important that you get a diagnosis, even if the diagnosis is ‘everything is fine’.

Q: Hoshimoto Thyroiditis?
I was diagnosed with Hoshimoto Thyroiditis. I am taking 50mcg of Levothyroxin. I was feeling great but the past couple of weeks some of my old symptoms have returned. I know that with hoshimoto thyroiditis, antibodies attack the thyroid gland. Could that be the reasons that my symptoms have returned or do I need to have my levels checked to see if I need a higher dose of meds?

A: Hoshimoto Thyroiditis has been classified as an autoimmune disease but there is controversy surrounding this. In fact, most so called autoimmune diseases are actually a result of infection. In order for a doctor to prescribe a medication, you must first get a diagnosis. Since he diagnosed you with Hoshimoto’s, he is within his standard of care to prescribe thyroid medication.

This medication basically makes the thyroid useless and you will find that the medication has to be increased typically until you are receiving the maximum dosage. This typically lasts for the rest of your life.

There may or may not be, but most likely is a “root cause” that is making your thyroid slow down or it may simply not be getting the nutrients in your diet that is supplying the components it needs to make the hormones. You could have an endocrine issue that is generating the problem with your thyroid. To treat the symptom and not understand what is causing it, is typical of doctors today. It’s very easy for them to do this and relieves them of the difficulty in finding the true problem. You get a life sentence and they get a check.

The thing they don’t seem to tell you is that ALL drugs damage the body and it is labeled “side effects.” So instead of focusing on real health, you get “make believe health” and don’t get real resolution to the problem.

I have a particular interest in thyroid problems because I was once a victim of the doctor’s solution, drugs. My doctor told me that I would never be able to stop taking them once I started and that I would get very sick if I did stop. Well, he was wrong. I have been off the thyroid medications for over 1-1/2 years now and NO SYMPTOMS. It took a lot of understanding and work and several months, but my thyroid is working just fine now. I didn’t get the resolution through doctors because ALL of them I saw, including G.P.’s, endocrinologists, all said the same thing, “take the med’s.”

I discovered that an injury I had as a child on the back of my head and a deficiency of iodine was the root cause. I strongly suggest you get some help from people that understand nutrition and how the body works rather than some drug pushing, lazy person that may or may not even understand the whole picture.

A Certified Nutritional Therapist can test you for specific deficiencies and pin point organs that are not working well. They focus on health, not diagnosing sickness. Making your body healthy is primary. Your body has an innate intelligence that can go to work for you if you give it what it needs.

One very simple test I would do, if I were you, is determine if you have an iodine deficiency. You can do this in one day, yourself. Go to the pharmacy and buy a bottle of “Tincture of Iodine” and paint a 2″ x 3″ patch on your forearm. I would do this in the morning. Note the time of day on a piece of paper. Now watch it throughout the day. If it disappears before 24 hours, you are deficient. You need iodine to make the thyroid hormones. If you are deficient, how can you expect your thyroid to make the hormones? You can’t, simple as that. I find many people are deficient in iodine due to the large quantities of Fluorine we are being subjected too. Fluoride depletes the body of iodine. It’s now being put into many things; toothpaste, tap water, sodas, beer, etc.

Look at your teeth. Yes, any amalgam fillings, root canals done with modern dentistry, extractions, all lead to infections that deplete your body of minerals and also can reflex to the thyroid to slow it down!

good luck to you

Q: Hashimotos thyroiditis?
Just found out my dad has hashimotos thyroiditis. I know it’s genetic, but what are the chances of me having it? And if I do have it, what are the symptoms? I’m 18 and female

A: Hashimoto’s disease is about seven times more common in women than men. Although it often occurs in adolescent or young women, the disease more commonly appears between 40 and 60 years of age. Hashimoto’s disease tends to run in families. Scientists are working to identify the gene or genes that cause the disease to be passed from one generation to the next. Possible environmental influences are also being studied. For example, researchers have found that excess iodine consumption may inhibit thyroid hormone production in susceptible individuals. Certain drugs or viral infections may also contribute to autoimmune thyroid diseases.

People with other autoimmune disorders are more likely to develop Hashimoto’s disease and vice versa. These disorders include

1) Vitiligo, a condition in which some areas of the skin lose their natural color
2) Rheumatoid arthritis
3) Addison’s disease, in which the adrenal glands are damaged and cannot produce enough of certain critical hormones
4) Type 1 diabetes
5) Pernicious anemia, a type of anemia caused by inadequate vitamin B12 in the body.

Hashimoto’s disease does not have unique signs and symptoms. The disease typically progresses slowly over a number of years and causes chronic thyroid damage, leading to a drop in thyroid hormone levels in your blood. The signs and symptoms are mainly those of an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism).

The signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism vary widely, depending on the severity of hormone deficiency. At first, you may barely notice any symptoms, such as fatigue and sluggishness, or you may simply attribute them to getting older. But as the disease progresses, you may develop more obvious signs and symptoms. Signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism include:

> Fatigue and sluggishness
> Increased sensitivity to cold
> Constipation
> Pale, dry skin
> A puffy face
> Hoarse voice
> An elevated blood cholesterol level
> Unexplained weight gain – occurring infrequently and rarely more than 10 to 20 pounds, most of which is fluid
> Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness, especially in your shoulders and hips
> Pain and stiffness in your joints and swelling in your knees or the small joints in your hands and feet
> Muscle weakness, especially in your lower extremities
> Excessive or prolonged menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia)
> Depression

Without treatment, signs and symptoms gradually become more severe and your thyroid gland may become enlarged (goiter). In addition, you may become more forgetful, your thought processes may slow, or you may feel depressed.

Hope you got your answer.

Feel free to ask if you have any further querry.

Regards,
Dr. Zeeshan Chattha.

Q: postpartum thyroiditis anyone??
My daughter is 11 months old and I am having a lot of symptoms that are similar to thyroid disease. I am waiting for my lab results which are due next week. I just read about postpartum thyroiditis and learned that it usually corrects itself after a year plus…. Has anyone had this and can you describe your situation, treatment and outcome?
Thank you in advance!!
Oh yeah, I’m 41 years old…

A: I have not had this but I read about it, did you see the treatment that is suggested on several sites?

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft%3Aen-US&cx=disease_for_patients&q=+Postpartum+thyroiditis++treatment

I hope it helps.