What
are the symptoms of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis?
One
of the most noticeable symptoms of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
is goiter. Goiter is an enlargement of the thyroid gland.
As the thyroid begins to produce less hormones it attempts
to compensate and the thyroid gland enlarges. The thyroid
gland is found in the area of the neck. Therefore, goiter
will be appear as an enlarged bulging area in the neck.
Other
symptoms of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis include dry skin, brittle
nails, muscle stiffness, and fatigue. Women may experience
problems with their menstrual cycle. Because thyroid hormones
play a part in metabolism, the decrease in hormones will slow
the person's metabolism. She may notice a decrease in appetite,
weight gain, and constipation.
What
causes Hashimoto's Thyroiditis?
Hashimoto's
Thyroiditis is a type of autoimmune disease. It is unknown
why autoimmune diseases occur, but there is believed to be
a hereditary component. Although not completely understood,
the tendency for Hashimoto's Thyroiditis to run in families
has been noted. Having an existing autoimmune disease, such
as diabetes mellitus, puts a person at greater risk for developing
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.
How
will my doctor know if I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis?
Hypothyroidism
has a gradual onset with the symptoms developing over an extended
period of time. Your doctor will determine whether you have
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis by taking a thorough medical history
including any history of autoimmune disease in yourself or
any other family member, documenting onset of symptoms and
observing symptoms, and running lab work or other diagnostic
tests. She will check your thyroid hormone levels, in particular
TH, T4, and TSH. In hypothyroidism, there will be a decrease
in TH and T4 and an increase in TSH may be seen.
Treatment
for Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
Hashimoto's
Thyroiditis is treated with an oral medication such as Synthroid
or Levoxyl. This medication most likely will need to be taken
for the rest of one's life. Symptoms should resolve with medication.
Thyroid medications may need to be adjusted periodically.
They may interfere with other medications such as insulin
or cardiac medications so it is important to discuss this
and all medications with any of your treating doctors and
your pharmacist.
Additional Resources
American
Thyroid Association
Thyroid
Foundation of America
Thyroid
Foundation of Canada
