Living with Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is a term that defines an under active thyroid. It is most commonly caused by an autoimmune condition called Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, in which antibodies and the body's white cells actually attack the thyroid.

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that resides in the front of the neck, below the larynx. The purpose of the thyroid is to take iodine and convert it into thyroid hormone, thyroxine and triiodothyronine; T4 and T3, respectively. These two hormones are those responsible for control of the metabolism; that is, converting oxygen and calories into energy. The thyroid gland has one of the body's most important responsibilities, and of that most people are unaware.

It is surprising that thyroid disorders are so often misdiagnosed, when one of the most prescribed medications in the United States is thyroid medication! Hypothyroidism is the most common, and occurs most often in women. Normally it develops in women over the age of 40, but I was only 22 when I was diagnosed, and should have been diagnosed much earlier.

I had been seeing a doctor since I was quite young due to irregular menstrual cycles. I would go months without having a period, and when I did, it would be very heavy and last a long time, sometimes up to six weeks! With a concern that shouldn't have been a burden at my young age, one that I would never have children, I began to see a fertility expert for a diagnosis and advice.

My doctor ran every test imaginable. Many were uncomfortable at best, and one was even a biopsy. He concluded that I had polycystic ovarian syndrome. This led him to conduct further blood tests which, finally, also revealed my thyroid disorder. (Polycystic ovarian syndrome and thyroid disorders are often found together within the same female patient.)

I had other symptoms of hypothyroidism, but had never been tested for it. It is a condition that is often overlooked, presumably, because the symptoms are common in so many other ailments.

The common symptoms of an under active thyroid include:

· Fatigue

· Weight gain or difficulty losing weight

· Dry hair or skin