The symptoms addressed in this article can also be those that require additional attention by the patient and treating doctor, if thyroid treatment alone does not satisfactorily alleviate them.
Fatigue
This symptom often not relieved satisfactorily in treated thyroid patients may be the number one problem affecting most patients. It is also a strong possibility that fatigue is associated with thyroid autoimmunity and not a result of abnormal thyroid hormone levels alone. In addition to Fibromyalgia being suspected in thyroid patients before they receive definitive diagnoses, they are also commonly suspected of having Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) before proper blood testing reveals thyroid abnormalities. Some patients after being well-treated and that have had all other possible causes of fatigue ruled-out, may receive a diagnosis of CFS being co-morbid with thyroid disease.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control now recognizes the fact that thyroid disease can co-exist with CFS and other medical studies believe autoimmune diseases of any kind may serve as a trigger for causing CFS. Things that can help patients who continue experiencing fatigue despite proper thyroid treatment, would include supplementing with Vitamins B5, B5, B6, B12, C and E, folic acid, CoQ10 and the herbal remedies called ginkgo biloba and ginseng. A patient should inform their doctor when taking any new supplements.
Weight Gain and Difficulty Losing
This problem symptom may be one of the most concerning and is probably second only to unrelieved fatigue. Weight gain is a very frustrating symptom and one thyroid patients have strong desire to see corrected through their treatments. This problem is more common in hypothyroid patients because hyperthyroidism typically causes weight loss rather than weight gain. Hyperthyroid patients however, do become hypothyroid if their case requires thyroid removal by surgical thyroidectomy or radioactive iodine ablation. It typically requires extra effort for treated hypothyroid patients to lose weight and to control it.
It is very important that hypothyroidism is adequately treated because under-treatment can contribute to weight problems from slowed metabolism and body fluid retention (myxedema). There are many diet plans available however, the keys to weight loss and control are reducing calorie intake, eating healthy foods, eliminating refined sugars as much as possible and exercising. The claims of magical diets or ones that take no effort are usually false and weight loss remedies containing stimulants can be unhealthy and dangerous in some cases.
Joint and Muscle Aches
Many thyroid patients report that their first symptoms of thyroid disease were rheumatic ones, meaning joint and muscles aches and stiffness. Some patients in fact were believed to be experiencing Fibromyalgia Syndrome before receiving definitive diagnoses of thyroid disorders. Unfortunately some patients retain a degree of rheumatic symptoms and according the medical research studies, this can be due to “thyroid autoimmunity”, meaning thyroid disease caused by auto-antibodies. These thyroid antibodies cause a degree of inflammation in the body which can settle in muscles and joints, causing mild to moderate aches and stiffness.
If rheumatic symptoms are severe and there is swelling or redness around joints, tests to detect or rule out Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) should be conducted. Autoimmune thyroid diseases place patients at higher risk for other autoimmune conditions, including RA. When these type symptoms are thyroid-related, making sure replacement hormone therapy is at the proper level is important and some medical research has shown that supplementing with the mineral selenium may also help lower auto-antibody activity. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs can also help reduce symptoms but these and any other drugs or supplements, should be approved by the patient’s treating doctor, as a precaution against their interferening with other treatments being administered.
Emotional Symptoms
This area of symptomology is also common in both hypothyroid and hyperthyroid disorders. Anxiety and/or depression can result from either type of thyroid hormone imbalance but medical research has also shown emotional disorders to be associated with the disease process itself (thyroid autoimmunity). Most cases of hypothyroidism in industrialized countries are caused by “Hashimoto’s thyroiditis” and most cases of hyperthyroidism are caused by Graves’ disease, which are the autoimmune diseases that are the root cause. The research studies have concluded that the auto-antibodies that characterize these diseases may be responsible for emotional symptoms and disorders rather than abnormal hormone levels alone.
Patients with unresolved emotional disorder symptoms may need the added benefit of psychiatric therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and/or medications. Prescription-medications that can help reduce anxiety and stress symptoms, include benzodiazepines (Xanax) and adrenergic receptor antagonists (buspirone). There are, daily-regimen anti-depressants that can also be effective when needed, such as SSRI drugs (Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft).
Natural supplements that have been reported to help relieve anxiety and depression symptoms include Bach's Rescue Remedy, Panicyl, St. John’s Wort, Valerian extract, GABA, SAMe and Passion Flower. Any non-prescription supplements a patient may take need to be reported to their doctor to make sure he finds no contraindications (risks) of adverse reactions by adding them to medical treatments that are already being administered.
Thyroid Disease Problem Symptoms-Suite101
Jim Lowrance - James M. (Jim) Lowrance has authored over 100 book and ebook publications since year 2004.
