It seems as if we all know someone who has been diagnosed with thyroid disease. When you talk to them, they all share a few of the same symptoms. People who have been diagnosed with thyroid disease may experience several of the following symptoms:
difficulty losing or gaining weight (depending on the condition)
fertility issues
difficulty regulating body temperature
irregular periods
difficulty swallowing
fatigue
dry skin
depression
slowed heart rate
menstrual irregularities
irritable bowels
I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis when I was 17 years old. The reason I was diagnosed was because I was experiencing weight gain, fatigue and irritable bowels. My Mom had suspected a thyroid issue and suggested that I get tested. At the time, I had just graduated high school and was focused on starting college. I was young and thyroid disease sounded like something old people got (oh, to be young again). My Mom had been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s and I only heard about it through her, so I figured it was a genetic disease and I would just have it the rest of my life. No big deal.
We went to the endocrinologist and I was tested using 5 markers to determine the health of my thyroid. Once my results indicated that I had Hashimoto’s, I was prescribed medication and sent on my way. I was told, “You’ll be on this the rest of your life and there’s nothing you can do to make it better.” Um, okay..
Fast forward several years, I started to feel like my thyroid disease was becoming harder to ignore. The weight kept piling on, my skin was getting worse, my PMS was interfering with my daily life, and I was constantly tired. Years prior, I had accepted this to be my new normal. I thought, “This is just how life is. Get over it.”
I am so glad I didn’t just get over it. I’ve come a long way from my 17 year old self. I’ve become an advocate for myself and others. I am an educator and coach. I decided that life isn’t meant to be lived in a tired, depressed, overweight state. You can read about my path here.
My advice to those who suspect that they have thyroid disease is to get properly tested. Most primary care physicians will not do a complete thyroid panel which is detrimental in getting the proper care in a timely manner. In order to get an idea of how your thyroid is functioning, you want to look at these 5 markers (the latter being antibodies tested for Hashimoto’s):
TSH
Free T3
Free T4
Reverse T3
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOAb)
Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TgAB)
Recommended ranges you want to see these values are below. Please note that healthy ranges differ from doctor to doctor; however, I’ve learned from working with my own nutrition coach and functional endocrinologist that we should keep our range very narrow when looking at the function of the body. Here are some suggestions:
TSH: 1-2 uIUi/mL (some gynecologists would argue for <1 if trying to conceive)
Free T3: >3.2 pg/mL
Free T4: >1.1 ng/dL
Reverse T3: 9-27 ng/dL
TPOAb: <35
TgAB: <40
*You want your antibodies as low as possible*
Don’t give up and don’t back down. Get properly tested and find a practitioner and coach who can help you live your life rather than being controlled by your thyroid disease.