Check-up looks at the Thyroid gland this week
Over the past 18 months I've put on nearly two stone despite the fact that I'm not eating any more than I used to. I know I should try to exercise more but I don't have the energy. In addition, I'm cold all the time and I don't seem to be able to motivate myself to lose the weight.
You've mentioned several symptoms that may point to you having a problem with your thyroid gland. Weight gain, lack of energy and feeling the cold can all be signs of an underactive thyroid. The thyroid gland is a bow tie-shaped gland that lies in the neck wrapped around the windpipe just below the Adam's apple. It produces the hormone thyroxine which regulates the body's metabolism, helping the body convert oxygen and calories into energy. A lack of it can cause weight gain, tiredness and sensitivity to the cold. It can also result in sluggishness, dry skin, thinning hair, and heavy, longer menstrual periods. The condition, which affects two in every 100 women (and two in every 1,000 men) can be the result of an autoimmune disorder, where the body's immune system attacks the thyroid gland. It can also develop following treatment for hyperthyroidism, a condition where the gland produces too much thyroxine.
Now that you mention it my hair has got very thin and my skin has become much drier over time. Is there a test I can have to check my thyroid levels?
Symptoms of hypothyroidism tend to develop insidiously and it can often take some time to recognise them for what they are. You should make an appointment to see your GP and discuss your symptoms with her. She will arrange for a simple blood test that measures the level of thyroid-produced hormone in your body. Although in most cases it is an accurate means of confirming the diagnosis, some people can have a normal blood test result and still have symptoms of hypothyroidism.
Can it be treated?
The condition is easily and safely treated with a synthetic form of the thyroid hormone called levothyroxine. You will be started on a low dose and will need regular blood tests to monitor the drug level in your blood. This monitoring allows the dose to be adjusted to suit your particular needs. Even when the initial blood tests are negative for hypothyroidism, many doctors treat the clinical symptoms with levothyroxine, monitoring the symptoms closely for their response to treatment.