Under Active Thyroid...?

Question

I went to the docs today with symptoms of extremely infrequent bowel movements, and unexplained weight gain. He has sent me for a blood test to rule out the above....what on earth is it? He said if I have it, I'll be on medication for the rest of my life? Is there no cure? I feel quite upset, because I thought it sounded like an old persons disorder...I'm only 26!!

What other symptoms are there? I'm trying to convince myself that it could be something else instead!

Answer 1

Weight gain, lethargic, you will be on pills for the rest of your life they are thyroxine, it's because your thyroid isn't producing enough thyroxine so you have to have it made up

Answer 2

Underactive thyroid is just what it sounds like--your thyroid, which regulates your rate of metabolism, has slowed down, and is not producing enough thyroid hormone to keep your metabolism up at the rate it should be. That's what causes the weight gain. You may have also noticed that your skin and hair have become courser, and your eyes might droop a little. The most common form of underactive thyroid is called Hashimoto's Disease, or Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, which is what I have. The most common medication for it is Synthroid, which is a small pill taken once daily. There are other medications, but I've been on this one for almost 25 years. It has no real side effects, but you will need to have occasional blood tests just to make sure the dose is correct (I'm on .1). And it's not an old person's disease at all--my doctor told me it typically starts when a person is in their early 20's. I was 19 when it was diagnosed.

Answer 3

Having an underactive thyroid gland is becoming more common. Many think its because of the added soy in our diets and the flouride in the water. Both fluoride and soy decrease thyroid hormone production.

To get diagnosed, you need to have the blood work in the morning. An afternoon test may not catch the condition. I know because this happened to me. TSH is the test they usually run. TSH is highest while we sleep, so you want to test first thing in the morning. By 2PM, the TSH is at its lowest point and that's why i could stop a diagnosis.

Find out exactly what your TSH is. Don't just accept normal or not normal. AACE changed the TSH range in 2003 to 0.3 to 3.0, however some labs like Quest still have the range at 0.3 to 5.5. That's why its important to know the number.

Other symptoms may include, fatigue, difficulty losing weight, depression, cold feet/hands, slow pulse, headaches, sensitivity to light, muscle and joint aches, decreased sex drive, ridged fingernails with no moons on fingers, low blood pressure, dry skin, and dry thinning hair

It's no big deal taking a pill every day. I've been doing for almost 7 years now. There are different medications, so if you don't feel well on one, there are others. Seeing you have the symptom of constipation, I'd suggest Armour. I had that symptom as well. On Levoxl, no relief from symtoms, but on Armour about 95% relief.

As far as the constipation, it can get worse in the winter when hypo. That's why I add almonds or walnuts to my cereal each morning. I also take 3 teaspoons of raw apple cider vinegar in ice tea before eating dinner.

Below is a good thyroid site.

Answer 4

Please do not get so worried! If your Doctor is testing you for an underactive Thyroid, it is not the end of the world. You will have to take a small pill for rest of your life, which is prescribed free on Prescription and all other medications will be free for you also.
You will feel a lot better once your doctor has found the correct dosage for you. If your tests prove positive, he will start you on Thyroxin and at a strength which he feels suitable for you. You will have to report to the doctor on how you are feeling and if you are not much better, he will increase the strength. It is a little bit of 'trial and error' for a short while, but once corrected, you will feel fine, should lose some of your excess weight and have more energy.
You will be checked each year by way of a blood test, just to see if you need to change the strength of your tablets.
I have been on Thyroxin now for 17yrs and have been feeling very much better for most of that time. Good luck with your tests and please don't worry.

Answer 5

ok your are 26 years old, dont be worried about it, it can be corrected! there is many symptoms with under active thyriod there is also an over active thyroid these are the two types out there.
under active symptoms could be cold hands/feet, depression, dry skin, loss of hair, aching joints, constipaton, headaches, fatigue in mornings.
It could easily be something else there are doing tests to rule this out.
To help your thyroid you can make sure you get enough iodine e.g seafood, keep up selenium levels by eating brown/green lentils, sunflower seeds, cashew nuts mushrooms etc... and exercise can keep a healthy thyroid!

I am only 19 and have had my thyroid removed the end of last year. They dont remove unless needed to, they tend to give you treatment. I have now got problems with calcium and confidence.
19 with a scar visable on the front of my neck where a mans adams apple would sit.

Its not the end of the world just wait and see what there say.

Answer 6

under active thyroid or hypothyroidism as it is known is not an old persons disorder. i know people who have it. my neighbour does and she is also only 26. my mum also has it. it is just when your thyroid gland which is situated at the front of the throat stops working efficiently causing your body to slow down its processes(hyperthyroidism is the opposite, when your thyroid goes into overdrive, which causes opposite symptoms). with hypothyroidism you may gain weight,feel fatigued and some people get feels of depression because it can give u a low mood. if the blood tests do confirm that u do have it dont worry. it will mean taking drugs for the rest of your life but this is to keep your thyroid working properly and helping the body have the right ratio of hormones.

Answer 7

As someone who has hypothyroidism I also know other people who have the condition. I was 'lucky' enough to have only the tiredness of the symptoms. But I do know people who have been hospitlised through it...

Signs of hypothyroidism include:

General tiredness
Excessive need of sleep
Increased awareness of the cold
The skin may become dry and thick and feels cold
The hair may begin to thin out become dry and coarse
Unusual loss of body hair – eyebrows may become sparse, and hair on forearms short and stubbly
Flaking, splitting nails
The voice may become hoarse or croaky
Constipation
Muscle weakness, cramps and aches; difficulty climbing stairs
Sore muscles
Pins and needles in the fingers and hands
In women of reproductive years the periods may become heavier and longer, but sometimes can prematurely stop
Fertility problems – failure to conceive, miscarriage.
Unexplained weight gain
Puffy face and bags under the eyes, change in facial appearance
Slow speech, movements and thoughts
Low mood, depression
Memory problems and lack of concentration
Slow heart beat and slightly raised blood pressure
Increased cholesterol
Anaemia
Hearing problems
Swelling at the front of the neck
Sensation of a lump in the throat
Although rare, in severe cases, unsteadiness on their feet, mental disturbance and even hallucinations may be experienced
Loss of libido / impotency

You will indeed be on medication for the rest of your life and you will need annual blood tests to ensure youe levels are correct

Don't worry though it can easily be controlled

Answer 8

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/JcqX2

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 9

Fear not!!!

If it is the above, it just means that your body is not producing the right amount of thyroxine. A hormone which regulates the body's internal activity/energy levels.

My husband has had it for many years and he leads a normal life ...for him anyway! He is in his fifties now but was first diagnosed in his thirties...

You will need to take a pill or two everyday to compensate and have regular blood tests to check the levels.

However if you are in the UK, you do get free prescriptions for life because of it.

Best of luck!

Answer 10

Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones

An under active thyroid usually manifests itself as a motabloism slowdown.

Symptoms include tiredness, constipation and sensitivity to the cold.

Causes of hypothyroidism are Iodine insufficiency & Autoimmune hypothyroidism

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.


On a personal note. A friend of mine was due to have an operation to have something in her thyriod tinkered with. She opted just to carry on with medication to avoid the nasty scars.

Answer 11

A few months ago, I was very sick, zero energy, freezing cold, depressed, weight gain, thought I was dying. I read every word of this Hypothyroidism Revolution program and followed all the advice. My life turned around the first week. I started to feel human again. Within weeks my energy came back and I felt like living again.

Get the entire hypothyroidism revolution system today? just choose the best option for you.