What is Hashimoto's Disease?
Hashimoto's disease is a condition in which the immune system attacks the thyroid gland, causing inflammation and interfering with its ability to produce thyroid hormones resulting in hypothyroidism. Hashimoto’s disease primarily affects middle-aged women, though it can also occur in men and women of any age, as well as in children. It tends to run in families, and researchers are currently working on identifying the gene that causes the disease.
What are the symptoms of untreated Hashimoto’s disease?
There might not be any signs or symptoms of Hashimoto's disease at first, and it typically progresses slowly over the years. You may notice a swelling at the front of your throat caused by the inflamed, enlarged thyroid. Other symptoms of untreated Hashimoto’s disease (aka. hypothyroidism) might include:
- Weight gain
- Fatigue and sluggishness
- Brain fog
- Cold intolerance
- Joint and muscle pain
- Constipation, or fewer than three bowel movements a week
- Pale, dry skin or dry, thinning hair
- Heavy or irregular menstrual periods and problems becoming pregnant
- Allergies
- Depression
How is Hashimoto's disease treated?
If there's no evidence of hormone deficiency, and your thyroid is functioning as it should, Dr. Isaacs may suggest a wait-and-see approach. Euthyroid Hashimoto's thyroiditis is where thyroid antibodies are elevated but thyroid hormones are normal and may never need treatment. However, if thyroid hormone levels are low (hypothyroidism), treatment usually consists of replacement therapy with thyroid hormones, as well as regular monitoring through thyroid blood tests and symptom evaluations.
There is a variety of medication options for thyroid replacement therapy, including:
- Branded levothyroxine (Synthroid®, Levoxyl®, Tirosint®)
- Generic levothyroxine
- Desiccated porcine thyroid (Armour® Thyroid, Nature-Throid®, NP Thyroid®, custom-compounded products)
- Compounded thyroid hormone (T4 with or without T3 or sustained-release T3)
- Cytomel (liothyronine)
Each time thyroid medication is changed, it takes six to eight weeks for your hormone levels to stabilize. With thyroid treatment, it’s important to monitor dosage closely, because overtreatment can result in other conditions, such as bone loss, dementia, or heart rhythm disorders.
To learn more about diagnosis and management of Hashimoto’s disease, hypothyroidism, or other thyroid disorders, call Atlanta Endocrine Associates or send us an email.
