***This post is part of a series I am doing because it's Thyroid Health Awareness Month. I am not a physician, nurse, or anything like that. I am a woman who's had to learn a lot about her thyroid in the past year. My almost-lawyer-husband would be so proud that I'm including the following: I am not liable for this information nor for the decisions you make based upon what I post. My hope is to teach people some basic thyroid information but if you have real concerns talk to your doctor!***
Where is your thyroid?
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What is your thyroid?
The thyroid is a gland. "The thyroid produces two hormones, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), which regulate how the body uses and stores energy. Thyroid function is controlled by a gland located just below the brain, known as the pituitary. The pituitary produces thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), which stimulates the thyroid to produce T3 and T4." (source: www.uptodate.com/patient, search- thyroid)
Why is your thyroid important?
Well, if you want to feel good--have energy (but not too much!), live without mood swings, and maintain proper weight--then you want your thyroid functioning properly. When a thyroid is over active it is called Hyperthyroidism, and if it is severe enough then it is Graves disease. When a thyroid is under active it is called Hypothyroidism. I have experienced both.
When my thyroid was first removed I was severely hypothyroid because I didn't have a thyroid (duh). I now have to take Synthroid every day for the rest of my life. Synthroid is just like it sounds- synthetic thyroid medicine. Eventually we found a good dose of medicine for me. Before this dose was found, hypothyroidism ruled my life. It Is Miserable. My hair fell out, I gained weight, I was depressed, I had no energy, I itched all over, and my periods were very heavy/painful. In a later post I will discuss more about Hypothyroidism.
Now, my doctor actually keeps me very close to Hyperthyroidism because he is suppressing my body for the first 5 years after cancer. He wants my dose of thyroid medicine to be so high that my pituitary gland has no reason to make TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) and thereby possibly grow cancerous thyroid cells. Hyperthyroidism, for me, causes hot flashes, anxiety, and a large appetite. Basically, I am a little buzzed when I take my medicine correctly (to clarify- thyroid meds are fickle. They have to be taken with a full glass (or two) of water and you can't eat at least 1/2 hour before and 1/2 hour after; you also can't take certain supplements within four hours of taking thyroid medicine). In a later post I will discuss more about Hyperthyroidism and how it is a hard disease for some people.
Well, if you want to feel good--have energy (but not too much!), live without mood swings, and maintain proper weight--then you want your thyroid functioning properly. When a thyroid is over active it is called Hyperthyroidism, and if it is severe enough then it is Graves disease. When a thyroid is under active it is called Hypothyroidism. I have experienced both.
When my thyroid was first removed I was severely hypothyroid because I didn't have a thyroid (duh). I now have to take Synthroid every day for the rest of my life. Synthroid is just like it sounds- synthetic thyroid medicine. Eventually we found a good dose of medicine for me. Before this dose was found, hypothyroidism ruled my life. It Is Miserable. My hair fell out, I gained weight, I was depressed, I had no energy, I itched all over, and my periods were very heavy/painful. In a later post I will discuss more about Hypothyroidism.
Now, my doctor actually keeps me very close to Hyperthyroidism because he is suppressing my body for the first 5 years after cancer. He wants my dose of thyroid medicine to be so high that my pituitary gland has no reason to make TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) and thereby possibly grow cancerous thyroid cells. Hyperthyroidism, for me, causes hot flashes, anxiety, and a large appetite. Basically, I am a little buzzed when I take my medicine correctly (to clarify- thyroid meds are fickle. They have to be taken with a full glass (or two) of water and you can't eat at least 1/2 hour before and 1/2 hour after; you also can't take certain supplements within four hours of taking thyroid medicine). In a later post I will discuss more about Hyperthyroidism and how it is a hard disease for some people.
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Please let me know what specific questions you have!
Up Coming Posts:
Hypothyroidism (with a guest post!)
Hyperthyroidism
Thyroid Nodules
Thyroid Cancer Early Detection
1 comments:
Thanks Sarah! The information you are providing is very interesting and helpful! :-)
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