I have so many symptoms of hypothyroidism but I am only fifteen. Is it possible that I could have this? NO I AM NOT PREGNANT!
- Nausea in the morning
- Never feel rested, even after a long night's sleep
- Heart sometimes misses beats, or "flip flops"
- Cold hands and feet
- Short term memory loss, difficulty concentrating
- Gain weight easily
- Poor response to exercising
- Irritability
- Headaches
- Intestinal problems
If you do suspect I have this, how is it diagnosed?
- Nausea in the morning
- Never feel rested, even after a long night's sleep
- Heart sometimes misses beats, or "flip flops"
- Cold hands and feet
- Short term memory loss, difficulty concentrating
- Gain weight easily
- Poor response to exercising
- Irritability
- Headaches
- Intestinal problems
If you do suspect I have this, how is it diagnosed?
-
The usual manner is a TRH (Thyroid realeasing hormone) test. It has been argued in some quarters that this test is inneffective. The most precise work up would include a test of serum Free t4 (thyroxine), t3 (triiodothyronine) and rT3 (reverse triiodothyronine, an inactive t3 variant, (hard to get this test done)).
Hpa axis abnomalities should be ruled out via a ACTH test ( adrenocorticotrophic hormone) suppression test, if the thyroid tests come back normal.
Do you get mildly 'depressed' a day or two after exercise? Are your cognitive, temperature and intestinal problems, increased a day or two after exercise? If so you may be developing something along the chronic fatigue syndrome spectrum, if the TRH comes back normal but the ACTH test shows 'mild' abnormalities.
With a history of familial Hypothyroidism though, it's most likely that's what it is. If that is the case I would suggest you push for armour thyroid (or a T4/T3 combination) right from the get go instead of levothyroxine (which you will probably be prescribed).
Rest, relax and NO more exercise at the moment, if you feel this way, it's stressing your system. Concentrate on keeping your body relaxed, ensure your sleeping pattern is not irregular. Get a full blood work up, especially iron. Don't drink alcohol, it stresses your body. Have you any pain, shoulders neck etc... ? see above.
Hope this helps, but relax as best you can, don't push yourself, this includes worrying and intense concentration...
best of luck.
Hpa axis abnomalities should be ruled out via a ACTH test ( adrenocorticotrophic hormone) suppression test, if the thyroid tests come back normal.
Do you get mildly 'depressed' a day or two after exercise? Are your cognitive, temperature and intestinal problems, increased a day or two after exercise? If so you may be developing something along the chronic fatigue syndrome spectrum, if the TRH comes back normal but the ACTH test shows 'mild' abnormalities.
With a history of familial Hypothyroidism though, it's most likely that's what it is. If that is the case I would suggest you push for armour thyroid (or a T4/T3 combination) right from the get go instead of levothyroxine (which you will probably be prescribed).
Rest, relax and NO more exercise at the moment, if you feel this way, it's stressing your system. Concentrate on keeping your body relaxed, ensure your sleeping pattern is not irregular. Get a full blood work up, especially iron. Don't drink alcohol, it stresses your body. Have you any pain, shoulders neck etc... ? see above.
Hope this helps, but relax as best you can, don't push yourself, this includes worrying and intense concentration...
best of luck.
-
Get a blood test.
If your TSH is really high, or if your T4 is really low-- you have hypothyroidism. There are several things that can cause hypothyroiditis one of which is Hoshimoto's disease (fairly common) where your body produces enough antibodies to thyroid tissue that your immune system damages it-- and may eventually destroy it. The treatment is thyroid replacement medication. It's one pill a day of levothyroxine. If you have a family history, you probably will be diagnosed accordingly.
If your TSH is really high, or if your T4 is really low-- you have hypothyroidism. There are several things that can cause hypothyroiditis one of which is Hoshimoto's disease (fairly common) where your body produces enough antibodies to thyroid tissue that your immune system damages it-- and may eventually destroy it. The treatment is thyroid replacement medication. It's one pill a day of levothyroxine. If you have a family history, you probably will be diagnosed accordingly.