DISEASE AND SURGERY – TAKE CARE OF YOUR THYROID – TREATING HYPOTHYROIDISM; THYROID LUMPS AND TUMORS
Hypothyroidism is easily corrected by taking a daily tablet of T4 (from which the body can make T3). This treatment, taken indefinitely, can be prescribed by your regular doctor.
Most people with hypothyroidism feel well after two to three months of taking the pills.
Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of thyroid hormone and check your TSH levels every few weeks until the proper dosage is found.
Dosing requirements can change, so have your TSH levels checked about once a year.
caution: Thyroid pills should not be taken with iron supplements. Iron blocks the absorption of thyroid hormone.
Low levels of TSH generally mean hyperthyroidism. This condition can occasionally be caused by inflammation of the gland or too much iodine in the diet. But the most common cause is a hereditary condition known as Graves’ disease.
Graves’ usually strikes between age 20 and 40. Signs include swelling of the thyroid, weight loss, anxiety, hair loss, muscle weakness and a rapid heartbeat.
If you’re diagnosed with Graves’, your doctor will probably refer you to an endocrinologist for additional testing and treatment.
About one of every 25 people has one or more small nodules in their thyroid gland.
If a nodule is detected, your doctor should evaluate it further. Tests may include a TSH level, imaging studies (an ultrasound or a radioactive thyroid scan) and a thyroid biopsy. ‘
Nodules that prove to be cancerous should be surgically removed. Surgery is often combined with radioactive iodine, thyroid supplements and X rays or chemotherapy. Most cases of thyroid cancer can be cured via these means.
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