Thyroid Disease

Learn important thyroid conditions. Have informed conversations with your clinician.

About Thyroid Disease

An estimated 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease, yet up to 60 percent of those who have thyroid disease are unaware of their condition. Women are five to eight times more likely than men to have thyroid problems.

The thyroid hormone (made by the butterfly-shaped endocrine gland in the lower front of the neck) helps the body use energy, stay warm and keep the brain, heart, muscles, and other organs working as they should. Additionally, it is required for all metabolic activity, including healthy digestion, detoxification, and ovulation.

Thyroid Awareness shutterstock_365050112

What Are Typical Symptoms of Thyroid Issues?

Track Your Symptoms. Help Your Doctor Help You.

Symptoms

Hypothyroidism

Your Body Functions Slow

Most Common Condition:

Hashimoto's Thyroiditis

Enlarged thyroid

Dry, coarse hair

Loss of eyebrow hair

Fluid retention/puffy face

Slow heartbeat

Irregular / heavy periods

Heavy periods

Dry skin/cracked heels

Feeling cold all the time

Digestive issues, including SIBO, constipation

Fatigue

Brain fog

Depression

Forgetfulness

High cholesterol

Infertility

Hyperthyroidism

Your Body Functions Speed Up

Most Common Condition: Graves' Disease

Enlarged thyroid

Fine, brittle hair

Hair loss

Increased sweating

Rapid heartbeat

Less frequent periods

Lighter menstrual flow

Thinning of skin

Feeling hot all the time

Frequent bowel movements

Difficulty sleeping

Irritability

Nervousness

Hand tremors

Soft nails

Infertility

Getting your Thyroid Tested

Listen to what Dr Marc Sklar, Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine has to say about testing for thyroid function. It requires more than testing your TSH (and doctors disagree on what normal is).

Listen

What Should Your Doctor Test For?

Testing TSH alone often causes thyroid problems to be undiagnosed. This is a full panel of thyroid-related blood tests. (This list is specific to thyroid panel blood work.)

1.

TSH

2.

T3

3.

T4

4.

Free T3

5.

Free T4

6.

Reverse T3

7.

T3 Uptake

8.

TPO Antibodies

9.

Antithyroidglobulin antibodies

Conditions You May Have in Addition to

Thyroid Disease

Pernicious Anemia

Addison's Disease

Autoimmune Disease

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Type 1 Diabetes

Celiac Disease

Vitiligo

Epstein-Barr Virus

Lupus

About Hashimoto's Thyroiditis

There are no signs or symptoms that are unique to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Because the condition usually progresses very slowly over many years, people with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis may not have any symptoms early on, even when the characteristic thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibodies are detected in blood tests. TPO is an enzyme that plays a role in the production of thyroid hormones. If Hashimoto’s thyroiditis causes cell damage leading to low thyroid hormone levels, patients will eventually develop symptoms of hypothyroidism.

— American Thyroid Association

Thyroid Awareness

Check out our blog summarizing what you need to know about your thyroid.

Read

About Graves' Disease

Clues that your hyperthyroidism is caused by Graves’ disease are the presence of Graves’ eye disease and/or dermopathy (see above), a symmetrically enlarged thyroid gland and a history of other family members with thyroid or other autoimmune problems, including type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, pernicious anemia (due to lack of vitamin B12) or painless white patches on the skin known as vitiligo.

— American Thyroid Association

Find an Expert

The American Thyroid Association has a list of specialists, but as they caveat, these are doctors who have self-selected. However, it is a place to start. Remember, if you don't feel heard, continue to speak up and if needed, use your feet to find someone who will.

Treatments to Manage Your

Thyroid Condition

Educate yourself so you and your clinician can weigh the pros and cons to decide what's right for you. Note MDs and Naturopaths may differ in approach.

Hypothyroidism

1.

Levothyroxine. Natural T4 hormone and very common treatment for hypothyroidism, where it is recommended TSH checked every 6-8 weeks to determine appropriate dose, with annual monitoring suggested thereafter.

2.

Dessicated Thyroid. From a pig, this contains both T3 and T4 hormones. A common treatment for hypothyroidism.

3.

Valacyclovir or supplement monolaurin. For the treatment of Epstein-Barr virus, which may occur in those with a thyroid condition.

4.

Ashwagandha. Reduces inflammation and supports healthy production of thyroid hormone.

5.

Iodine. Helpful if you do not have thyroid antibodies. The dosage is critical to monitor with your doctor.

6.

Selenium. Reduces inflammation and thyroid antibodies, activates T3 and T4 and protects thyroid from iodine. Be cautious with the dose as too much is toxic.

7.

Gluten-Free Diet. This diet along with avoiding other inflammatory foods tends to aid in thyroid function.

8.

Gut Healing Diet. Try an elimination diet to determine your food triggers and ultimately heal your gut. Toxin removal is also a critical element.

Hyperthyroidism

1.

Beta Blockers. Considered important primary treatment for those with hyperthyroidism. While not impacting the thyroid hormone, they prevent symptoms associated with hyperthyroidism including slowing down your heart rate and reducing the symptoms of palpitations, shakes, and nervousness until one of the other forms of treatment has a chance to take effect.

2.

Methimazole (i.e., Tapazole) (although propylthiouracil [PTU] may be used in rare instances such as the first trimester of pregnancy). Prevents the thyroid gland from making too much thyroid hormone (thus for those with hyperthyroidism), but in some cases Radioactive Iodine Therapy (RIT) preferred.

3.

Surgery. Surgical removal of all or most of your thyroid gland can cure hyperthyroidism. After your thyroid gland is removed, the source of your hyperthyroidism is gone and you will become hypothyroid. Restoring thyroid hormone levels to normal requires once-a-day treatment with a thyroid hormone supplement.

4.

Valacyclovir or supplement monolaurin. For the treatment of Epstein-Barr virus, which may occur in those with a thyroid condition.

5.

Gluten-Free Diet. This diet along with avoiding other inflammatory foods tends to aid in thyroid function.

6.

Gut Healing Diet. Try an elimination diet to determine your food triggers and ultimately heal your gut. Toxin removal is also a critical element.

7.

Supplements & Thyroid Calming Herbs. Examples include bugleweed, motherwort, and lemon balm.

Sources: American Thyroid Association (ATA), Dr Izabella Wentz, Lara Briden, ND, author of The Period Repair Manual, Dr Amy Myers