Fatigue. Brain fog. Weight changes. Feeling cold all the time. Constipation. Hair changes. Low mood.
These symptoms can have many causes, but for some people, thyroid dysfunction may be part of the picture.
The thyroid is a small gland in the neck that produces hormones involved in metabolism, energy regulation, temperature, cardiovascular function, digestion, and many other processes throughout the body. When thyroid hormone production is inadequate, the condition is known as hypothyroidism.
Symptoms can vary considerably and may include:
The important thing to understand is that none of these symptoms is specific to hypothyroidism.
Iron deficiency, anemia, menopause, sleep disorders, nutritional deficiencies, medications, depression, metabolic conditions, and many other issues can cause similar symptoms. That’s why symptoms and laboratory results need to be interpreted together.
TSH stands for thyroid-stimulating hormone.
It is produced by the pituitary gland and essentially acts as a signal telling the thyroid how much hormone to produce. TSH is an important and useful thyroid test, but it isn’t actually a thyroid hormone itself. For many patients, TSH is the first laboratory test ordered when thyroid dysfunction is suspected.
Depending on your symptoms, history, previous results, and clinical situation, a more comprehensive thyroid evaluation may include:
Other laboratory testing may also be appropriate depending on the clinical picture.
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system targets thyroid tissue.
Over time, this can impair the thyroid’s ability to produce adequate thyroid hormone and lead to hypothyroidism. However, having thyroid antibodies and having hypothyroidism are not exactly the same thing. Some people have detectable thyroid antibodies while their thyroid hormone production remains adequate. This is one reason thyroid results need to be interpreted in context rather than looking at one number in isolation.
This is where the conversation needs nuance.
A laboratory value within a reference range does not automatically prove that your symptoms are thyroid-related or that they aren’t. Persistent symptoms deserve evaluation. That may mean looking more closely at thyroid function in the appropriate clinical setting, but it also means considering other explanations rather than assuming every symptom is caused by the thyroid.
At NOVEL, our thyroid care model is informed by the Modern Thyroid approach, incorporating symptoms, health history, comprehensive thyroid testing, and other factors that may influence thyroid function and how you feel.
Co-founder Danielle LeVeck, DNP, ACNPC-AG, CCNS, has completed advanced training in the Modern Thyroid approach and helped develop NOVEL’s model of thyroid care.
When thyroid hormone treatment is clinically appropriate, options may include:
Treatment should be individualized and monitored with both laboratory testing and clinical follow-up. Nutritional deficiencies, medications, supplements, gastrointestinal conditions, and other health factors may also need to be considered depending on the patient.
Maybe, but symptoms alone can’t answer that question.
The better question is:
Still experiencing symptoms despite being told your thyroid is “normal”?
Explore NOVEL’s Thyroid Health services to learn more about our comprehensive approach to thyroid evaluation and treatment.
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