Want to find out about under active thyroid?

Question

My friend was told she had an under active thyroid all she was told was that it should be 6 her's is 16 we are puzzled I have tried to find out on internet blood results and what they are, any info or a website would be great Thanks

Answer 1

www.thyroidmanager.org is a resonable site. It is maintained by Doctors so is reputable. It may be a bit technical however. I understand about underactive thyroid or hypothyroidism as it is called. I was diagnosed with a thyroid lump and my levels swing between under and over active.

Because my levels swing, my moods.... sensitivity to temperature and sleep patterns also swing. I have trouble putting on weight and eat like a horse!!!

I am not on medication, my decision was to just put up with it for a while and see if it stabilises (which mine did) as the medications would be lifelong and also have side effects.

Good luck. There are many websites that are good... Medscape I find really good.

Answer 2

Hypothyroidism is an under active thyroid

Hypothyroidism is a meddical problems that things such as vitamins, herbal suppliments, diet, exercise etc can NOT help and will NOT make this condition miraculously go away..... There are no special foods to eat or not eat.... However, I do strongly advise that you WATCH what you eat and start or continue to exercise, because weight gain do to hypothyroidism will probably NOT miraculously go away even though you start a thyroid hormone medication like Synthroid etc.... The thyroid contols the metabolism of the body along with other endocrine glands and when there is a problem, the bodies metabolism is all messed up and unfortunately SOME of the thyroid hormone replacement suppliments carry side effects simular to the thyroid disease itself such as WEIGHT GAIN.... So, eat a PROPER DIET and exercise....

I also suggest that your doctor try to find the cause for your hypothyroidism.... Some times hypothyroidism just simply happens.... But other times it is due to a mass or nodule or cyst on the thyroid gland or pituitary gland... Other times it is due to an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto's Disease.... Your doctor should do a thyroid antibodies blood test to be sure this is NOT Hashimoto's Disease because this could also indicate that you may have other autoimmune problems that are undiagnosed....

Answer 3

I have always had an underactive thyroid, and have been taking thyroxine for about 20 years now. Unusually I don't put on weight, but I think that's down to metabolism. The symptoms I had at the beginning were - extreme tiredness (sometimes I would sleep twice during the day) and lethargy. Now I get by with a little cat nap, whenever I sit still for more that 30 mins.

Answer 4

I have put a great thyroid website below. It should answer most of her questions. There's a message board in that forum if she needs to ask any thyroid questions.

Answer 5

Thyroid disease is one of the most common health problems we face today. From a practical standpoint, there are many ways to approach this issue. Learn here https://tr.im/P97xH

Hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid, is a very common problem, and there are many reasons for this, including drinking chlorinated and fluoridated water, and eating brominated flour.

Chlorine, fluoride, and bromine are all in the same family as iodine, and can displace iodine in your thyroid gland.

Secondly, many people simply aren't getting enough iodine in their diet to begin with. The amount you get from iodized salt is just barely enough to prevent you from getting a goiter.

Answer 6

According to what I've found with a Google search, this number's "normal" range can vary, and it sounds like 6 is considered normal by some labs. Please see my source information for more details. Your friend should definitely ask her doctor for more information too.

Answer 7

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Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
Published by BUPA's Health Information Team
February 2004

Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones. This tends to slow down the body's functions. Symptoms include tiredness, constipation and sensitivity to the cold.

Approximately 1 in 50 women and 1 in 1000 men will develop symptoms of hypothyroidism at some stage in their lives. Once diagnosed, treatment is usually straightforward.

The thyroid gland
The thyroid gland is found in the neck. It lies in front of the wind-pipe (trachea), above the level of the collar-bones and measures approximately 2 by 4 cm. It secretes hormones, which are chemicals produced by the body to help regulate how cells, and the organs made up of groups of cells, work. Hormones are sometimes called chemical messengers.

The thyroid hormones are thyroxine (also called T4 because it contains four iodine atoms) and triiodothyronine (also called T3 because it contains three iodine atoms). These are released into the blood stream.

T3 speeds up the body's metabolism by encouraging the cells, in the muscles or the skin for instance, to work faster or to grow. Most of the T3 in the blood is converted from T4.

Over- and underactive thyroid
In hypothyroidism, the thyroid is under active, with too little of the thyroid hormones being released. In contrast, hyperthyroidism occurs when there is over-production of T3 and T4, causing the body's metabolism to "speed up". This results in symptoms such as anxiety and feeling hot, even in cool weather. For more information, please see the separate BUPA factsheet Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism).

Hormone production
The production of T3 and T4 is regulated by another hormone called TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone or thyrotropin) which is made in the pituitary gland (found in the brain). A normal level of TSH is one of the indicators that the thyroid system is working properly.

Causes of hypothyroidism
Iodine insufficiency
The chemical element iodine is a major component of thyroid hormones. Worldwide, a deficiency of iodine in the diet is the leading cause of hypothyroidism. This is much less common in the UK because iodine is contained in salt, which has iodine added to it during manufacture.

Autoimmune hypothyroidism
In the UK, and other countries where the amount of iodine in the diet is adequate, the main cause of hypothyroidism is "autoimmune hypothyroidism".

Antibodies are proteins designed to defend the body from foreign organisms, such as bacteria and viruses. In autoimmune diseases, antibodies attack the body itself. In autoimmune hypothyroidism, antibodies destroy thyroid gland cells preventing the gland from being able to release normal amounts of thyroid hormones.

A condition known as Hashimoto's thyroiditis is associated with autoimmune hypothyroidism. It results in a goitre, a swelling of the thyroid gland, that is visible as a lump on the neck. With no goitre the condition may be called atrophic thyroiditis or primary myxoedema.

Treatment for hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism is the result of an overactive thyroid gland (see separate BUPA factsheet). Treatments for hyperthyroidism, such as surgery or treatment with radioactive iodine or other antithyroid drugs can often result in hypothyroidism.

Other causes:
Congenital hypothyroidism (a condition babies are born with) happens when the thyroid gland fails to develop properly or does not produce adequate thyroid hormones. All babies in the UK are screened for this when the baby is 6-8 days old with a blood sample taken from a prick on the heel. With treatment, babies with congenital hypothyroidism develop normally.

Inflammation of the thyroid gland (thyroiditis) due to infection can lead to hypothyroidism. Also, disorders of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, both of which are involved in the overall regulation and production of thyroid hormones, can lead to hypothyroidism.

Risk factors for hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is more common in older people.
Women are more likely to be affected than men.
Autoimmune hypothyroidism is more likely in those who have other conditions resulting from an autoimmune disorder such as type 1 diabetes mellitus, vitiligo and Addison's disease.
Some medicines can affect the normal functioning of the thyroid gland. These include lithium carbonate (for bipolar disorder) and amiodarone (for heart rhythm abnormalities).
Symptoms of hypothyroidism
The symptoms of hypothyroidism can initially be very mild and develop slowly. It is possible to have some of these symptoms before the amount of thyroid hormone drops below normal.

This type of mild hypothyroidism is called subclinical hypothyroidism. People affected need to be monitored by their doctor, who will watch out for further symptoms.

The symptoms of hypothyroidism relate to a general "slowing down" of the body's functions. They include:

feeling tired and sleeping excessively
easily feeling the cold
dry and thickened skin
coarse, thinning hair and eyebrows and brittle nails
sore muscles, slow movements and weakness
depression and problems with memory and concentration
weight gain
constipation
fertility problems and increased risk of miscarriage
heavy, irregular or prolonged menstrual periods
There may also be swelling of the thyroid gland in the neck - a goitre.

Occasionally, a thyroid problem, such as thyroiditis, can resolve on its own without the need for treatment. However in general, if hypothyroidism is not treated, the symptoms slowly get worse and it becomes more and more difficult to function normally.

Diagnosis of hypothyroidism
Many of the above symptoms can be caused by conditions other than underactive thyroid. However, anyone who experiences these symptoms should consult their GP. A doctor will usually discuss symptoms, perform a physical examination and then request some blood tests if he or she suspects hypothyroidism.

The first step in diagnosing hypothyroidism is to measure TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone).

When the thyroid gland is not producing enough thyroid hormone, the TSH level is raised. When this abnormality is found, T4 (thyroxine) is also measured, and in autoimmune hypothyroidism or hypothyroidism due to treatment of hyperthyroidism, T4 is low.

When levels of TSH and thyroid hormones are difficult to interpret, other causes of hypothyroidism may be suspected.

The diagnosis of autoimmune hypothyroidism is usually confirmed by the presence of particular antibodies in the blood.

Other blood tests or further investigations may also be needed. These could include an ECG (heart tracing) or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to examine the nature and extent of a goitre.

Treatment
Thyroxine (T4) can be given in tablet form. The body is able to convert this to T3 just as it would if the thyroid gland were producing the thyroxine normally. It can take some time to get the dose right. It is usual to start with a low dose, building up gradually every six weeks and adjusting the dose according to TSH levels.

People usually feel much better once they are taking thyroxine. Side-effects are unusual because a missing hormone is simply being replaced. However, if too much replacement thyroxine is given, symptoms of an overactive thyroid may be experienced.

People with subclinical hypothyroidism may not have any treatment, though doctors vary in their approach. Some prefer to offer treatment. Others recommend frequent monitoring to see whether overt hypothyroidism (with symptoms) does develop.

Once the correct dose of thyroxine replacement has been established, it is usual to have annual checks of TSH.

Pregnancy and hypothyroidism
The functioning of the thyroid gland can change during pregnancy. In the first half of pregnancy it is normal for the total amount of thyroid hormone to be slightly increased.

Women with hypothyroidism need more frequent checks during pregnancy, as their thyroxine requirements tend to increase.

Five percent of women have a mild problem with the thyroid three to six months after delivery. This has an autoimmune cause and can cause hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. Although it rarely needs treatment it does mean that thyroid problems are more likely in later life.

Further information
British Thyroid Foundation
0870 7707933
http://www.btf-thyroid.org