Hypothyroidism
- Erin
- Jan 3, 2018
- 4 min read
Warning: This post will include several links, graphics and memes in order to give reference and illustrate different points.
As I've mentioned in previous posts, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism at a very young age and I've been dealing with the side effects since then.
According to the American Thyroid Association, "Hypothyroidism is an underactive thyroid gland. Hypothyroidism means that the thyroid gland can’t make enough thyroid hormone to keep the body running normally. People are hypothyroid if they have too little thyroid hormone in the blood." I have Congenital hypothyroidism, which is when a baby is born with hypothyroidism. My thyroid is present, but does not function.
Thyroid disease is a chronic and invisible disease.
I've covered several of the symptoms that I have dealt with over the years, but that was certainly not an exhaustive list. Truly, I'm uncertain if there is an exhaustive list in existence. The reason I say this is because the thyroid affects every part of the body.
The thyroid's hormones regulate vital body functions, including:
Breathing
Heart rate
Central and peripheral nervous systems
Body weight
Muscle strength
Menstrual cycles
Body temperature
Cholesterol levels
Much more! {Source: EndocrineWeb.com}
Due to this fact, any time the thyroid isn't functioning to full capacity, something in the body is suffering and causing a side effect.
What causes the thyroid to not produce enough TSH? So many things!
- Change of seasons
- Hormonal fluctuations*
- Pregnancy
- Herbs/Supplements/Drugs You Are Taking*
- A Change in Your Medication Dosage
- Potency Fluctuations in Your Medicine*
- Laboratory Changes [Different labs = different results]
- Timing of When and How You Take Your Pill
- Missing your medication too often
- Alterations in Light
- Nutrition
- Starvation and Fasting
- Physical and Emotional Stress*
- Illness*
- Lifestyle changes [job change, moving, sleep pattern, ect.]*
In other words, pretty much anything and everything can bring about a change in production of TSH. Fun, right? No, not really. In fact, it's pretty stinky, but it is what it is, I suppose.
A few notes on items from the list above:
*Yes, certain medications can affect the thyroid. One example is cough syrup/cough medications. Go ahead, look at the label, under Drug Facts it will say, "Ask a doctor before use if you have..." Thyroid disease is listed! Yup, that's right. My doctor in the past had told me it was okay to take half of a dose of cough medicine, but that really doesn't do much. I try not to take it, but sometimes, I just have to forgo the thyroid and take certain medications that react with my thyroid medication just to get through a day or night.
*Potency fluctuations in your medication - this, my friends is why I refuse to take a generic form of the medication! With a generic, you never know from which company the pharmacy is going to get the medication or if that particular medication is reliable. I always stick with the name brand, SYNTHROID® (levothyroxine sodium tablets, USP)! Is it more expensive? Yes, but the company gives me a coupon with their Breakfast club and no matter my insurance, I pay only $25 per month. Do I get flack from the pharmacy? Yes. Thankfully, my doctor is good about making sure to tell the pharmacy, "No substitutions." Why name brand only? I always know what I'm getting, my body is used to it and I know it's reliable in it's potency and effectiveness for each specific dose.
*Physical and Emotional Stress, Illness and Lifestyle changes are huge factors in TSH level changes.
Okay, so you've learned what affects TSH levels, now let's look at the side effects of levels that are not quite right whether it's under (Hypo - not enough TSH) or over (Hyper - too much TSH):
I know that might be hard to read, so I'll make lists too.
Symptoms of Hypothyroidism:
Trouble sleeping/Broken sleep
Tiredness and fatigue
Difficulty concentrating
Dry skin and hair
Depression
Mood swings
Sensitivity to cold/hot temperature - sweating
Low body temperature
Frequent, heavy periods
Joint and muscle pain
Forgetfulness - "Brain fog"
Constipation
Weight Gain
Tingling and numbness in extremities
Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism:
Anxiety
Breathlessness
Irritability or moodiness
Nervousness, hyperactivity
Sweating or sensitivity to high temperatures
Hand trembling (shaking)
Hair loss
Missed or light menstrual periods
Difficulty sleeping - insomnia
Fatigue
Itching - overall
I'd like to remind you that these lists are certainly not exhaustive and that any number of symptoms can appear either alone or several at a time.
Another thing to mention is that there is a range of "normal" TSH, T3 and T4 levels. Doctors often go by this "range" and say a person is fine based on numbers, but each person is different and will feel normal at a different place in this "range." We have to fight in order to get doctors to put us on a dose where WE feel normal and no just where the numbers say we're normal. Trust me, it's a fight!
Please excuse the bad word in this graphic. I truly apologize for it!
Don't get me wrong, I've had some good years. In fact there was a string of good years where I felt really well and "normal." I also had a great Endocrinologist at the time. Unfortunately, I moved too far to continue seeing that doctor. I now have a different one and feel like I'm starting the fight all over again.
Here's a few more graphics, illustrations and memes to help better understand:
It's a daily struggle, but God gives me what I need to get through and whether he heals me completely here, or in heaven, I believe I will one day have a fully functioning thyroid!
I am so thankful to God for putting people in my life who pray for me, put up with me and most of all, are there for me! My husband is a prime example of someone who is there for me, supports me, believes in me and loves me no matter what - mood swings and all! Praise God!
My husband and I have talked about this several times - I seriously have no idea what I would do without him. If God calls him home, God had better call me home very soon after or I will likely die of a broken heart! I love you, babe! <3
Comments