----------------------------------------------------------- New Message on Pituitary Chat
----------------------------------------------------------- From: PTResearcher2 Message 2 in Discussion Did you have any other labs done? You should have all your hormone levels checked when you have a pituitary tumor. It looks like you may have low thyroid levels (hypothyroidism) which can be treated with thyroid hormone supplements. http://www.pdrhealth.com/disease/disease-mono.aspx?contentFileName=BHG01EN15.xml&contentName=Hypothyroidism&contentId=81 Hypothyroidism Basics Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the level of the thyroid hormones in the body is abnormally low. The thyroid gland is the butterfly-shaped organ located at the base of the throat. It secretes two important hormonesT3 and T4that the body needs to function well. These hormones regulate how quickly the body converts the nutrients from oxygen and food into energy. Heart rate, weight, body temperature, alertness, and mood are among the many things affected by thyroid hormones. When then thyroid gland becomes underactive, thyroid hormone levels dip. Two other glandsthe hypothalamus and the pituitary glandwork together with the thyroid to regulate thyroid hormone levels. There are many things that can interfere with the functioning of all these organs, and, consequently, thyroid hormone levels. For example, the pituitary gland, located in the brain, is one of the master glands, and controls other glands in the body. It makes a hormone called thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which is involved in hypothyroidism. TSH instructs the thyroid gland to produce T3 and T4 when levels of those hormones are low. Likewise, if levels of T3 and T4 in the blood are too high, the pituitary gland turns off the thyroid gland. The hypothalamus gland, another master gland of the brain, is similarly involved in thyroid hormone levels, providing a feedback loop to keep levels in check. If either of these glands is not functioning properly, then hypothyroidism results. Causes Hashimotos thyroiditis is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. Hashimotos thyroiditis occurs when a persons own immune system attacks the thyroid gland, causing the gland to become inflamed initially, and then become underactive. Immune diseases can run in families, and are more common in women. Hashimotos thyroiditis is no exception, as it is particularly common in womenespecially as they age. The disease is also linked to other autoimmune diseases, such as diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. Hypothyroidism can develop when treatments to correct an overactive thyroid cause the gland to shut down. Undergoing surgery or receiving radioactive iodine treatment, which might be done to keep the thyroid from churning out too much thyroid hormone, can disable the gland. Radiation therapy for certain types of cancer also commonly disables the thyroid gland, causing hypothyroidism. Medications such as lithium (Eskalith, Lithane, Lithobid, Cibalith-S) and amiodarone (Cordarone), as well as surgery for throat cancer or Hodgkins disease, can produce hypothyroidism. Rarely, hypothyroidism stems from a problem with the pituitary gland. Pituitary tumors and other pituitary disorders can affect the hormonal chain of command that governs thyroid function, and result in underproduction of thyroid hormone. Not getting enough dietary iodine is another cause of hypothyroidism, but is not commonly seen in the U.S. Iodine is a trace element that is needed to make thyroid hormone. In this country, iodine-deficiency hypothyroidism is rare, thanks to the introduction of iodized salt in the 1920s. Symptoms The symptoms of an underactive thyroid gland are fairly general and common. They stem from a metabolic slow-down, and include such things as weight gain, constipation, fatigue, and depression. [Table 1] If you have suffered from constipation on and off for much of your life, chances are it is not because of your thyroid. However, if your symptoms start suddenly and last for more than a few weeks, consult your doctor. Likewise, gaining and losing a few pounds every once in a while is normal, but if you have been putting on weight for some time without having changed your diet or activity level, you might want to get your thyroid checked. Table 1. Symptoms of Hypothyroidism Fatigue Weight gain Constipation Hair loss Sensitivity to cold temperatures Depression Mental slowness, memory problems Reduced sex drive Heavy menstruation Muscle cramps Dry skin Numbness and tingling in hands and feet Risk Factors Hypothyroidism occurs most often in women over the age of 50. Ten times as many women as men have an underactive thyroid. Older women are especially vulnerable. An estimated 8% to 10% of women over the age of 50 have underactive thyroid glands. Women who have recently given birth are at risk for thyroid problems. Thyroid dysfunction complicates 5% to 9% of pregnancies, typically resulting in two to eight months of overactivity (hyperthyroidism) followed by two to eight months of underactivity (hypothyroidism). This is called post-partum thyroiditisit usually goes away on its own, but a quarter of women who have it develop a permanently underactive gland. A family history of thyroid problems increases the likelihood of hypothyroidism. People who have diabetes, anemia caused by failure to absorb vitamin B12 (pernicious anemia), or insufficiency of the adrenal glands are more prone to the problem. Having received prior radiation or x-ray treatments to the neck increases a person's risk for hypothyroidism. Many people who have hyperthyroidism get treated with thyroid irradiation. This makes them hypothyroid, and then they take medicine to normalize the thyroid level in their body. Diagnosis Hypothyroidism can be confirmed with simple blood tests to measure hormone levels. The conventional way to tell if your thyroid is sluggish is to measure the amount of T4 and TSH circulating in your blood. If your thyroid is clearly underproductive, your test will reveal a low level of T4 and a high level of TSH. If you are in the early stages of hypothyroidism, however, your test may show an elevated TSH level only. If Hashimotos thyroiditis is the cause of your thyroid dysfunction, your blood may contain antibodies directed toward the thyroid. If your hypothyroidism is caused by your pituitary gland, your blood tests will show a low level of T4 and a normal or low level of TSH. Once you are diagnosed with hypothyroidism, you will need regular testing to monitor your hormone levels, which may decline over time. Prevention and Screening Starting at age 35, you should get your thyroid checked every five years. Because thyroid problems are not always obvious, the American Thyroid Association (ATA) recommends routine screening for all adults. If you have a family history of thyroid problems or you have diabetes, pernicious anemia, or adrenal insufficiency, the ATA suggests getting screened even more frequently. There is no way to prevent hypothyroidism, but frequent screening can alert your doctor to the condition. Treatment Self Care Diet and other lifestyle measures can help to lessen the severity of hypothyroidism. Eat a low-fat, high-fiber diet. High cholesterol is one of the consequences of untreated hypothyroidism. Therefore, it is important to eat a diet that is low in fat and high in fiber to keep cholesterol down. Eat only cooked vegetables. Some experts argue that eating raw cruciferous vegetables interferes with thyroid hormone production because of a certain compound in raw vegetables that blocks a component of thyroid hormone. Cooking the vegetables inactivates this compound. Quit smoking. If you smoke, consider kicking the habit. One research team found that smoking significantly increased the risk of hypothyroidism. Drug Therapy Your doctor is the best source of information on the drug treatment choices available to you. Alternative Medicine Naturopathic physicians prescribe natural hormone replacement preparations (derived from animal thyroid glands), but they are not accepted by conventional practitioners. Natural preparations contain both forms of thyroid hormone in a ratio that mainstream medical doctors consider unacceptable. Natural thyroid hormone products are not regulated by the FDA, and therefore may vary from refill to refill. Special Circumstances In certain populations, such as the elderly and pregnant women, hormone replacement therapy dosage needs are different from those of typical adults. Geriatric patients may need half to two-thirds the amount of the standard adult dosage of thyroid hormone, whereas pregnant women may need twice the amount. Likewise, women who are taking estrogen replacement therapy may also need a higher dosage of thyroid hormone. People who suffer from chest pain or others types of heart disease usually start thyroid hormone replacement therapy with a very small dose and increase their dosage gradually under the supervision of their doctors. All dosage changes should be made by your doctor. Prognosis With medication to restore thyroid hormone levels, your symptoms should resolve. However, you will probably need to take medication for the rest of your life and will need to be monitored to see if dosage changes are necessary. It may take a couple of months to get your thyroid hormones levels back to normal. But once you have worked with your doctor to establish this, you should notice that your symptoms start going away. One study found that having even just a mildly underactive thyroid gland increased the risk of heart attack in a group of older women. This is because hypothyroidism raises levels of harmful blood fats like LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Having an unfavorable cholesterol profile can damage and narrow the arteries that serve your heart; this can lead to a heart attack or some other form of heart disease. Hypothyroidism has also been linked to depression. It is important to take your thyroid medication regularly. There are problems associated with not taking enough and taking too much thyroid hormone. If you do not take enough of the hormone, you may continue to experience symptoms such as muscle cramps or feeling slowed down. In addition, taking too little medication may lead to hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) as a result of excess cholesterol. Too much thyroid hormone, on the other hand, can lead to symptoms of hyperthyroidism such as nervousness and insomnia, as well as heart rhythm disorders and eventual loss of bone density. Thyroid underactivity compromises health in a variety of ways, and can even threaten life. Be sure to get your thyroid checked if you think you might have a problem. One study found that having even just a mildly underactive thyroid gland increased the risk of heart attack in a group of older women. This is because hypothyroidism raises levels of harmful blood fats like LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Having an unfavorable cholesterol profile can damage and narrow the arteries that serve your heart; this can lead to a heart attack or some other form of heart disease. Hypothyroidism has also been linked to depression. Follow-up After starting thyroid hormone replacement therapy, you will need to see your doctor every few months for a TSH test until levels are stabilized. Yearly visits are required after that. This can help your doctor determine whether the amount of thyroid hormone you are taking is right for you. Your doctor will keep adjusting the dose until your TSH falls within the normal range; this should not take more than a few months. After that, you will need to go back once a year to make sure the levels remain normal. ======================================= More information: http://www.medicinenet.com/hypothyroidism/article.htm http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hypothyroidism/DS00353 http://www.endocrineweb.com/hypo1.html http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/conditions/thyroid.html Lab Tests Online: http://www.labtestsonline.org/ FT4: http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/t4/test.html ----------------------------------------------------------- To stop getting this e-mail, or change how often it arrives, go to your E-mail Settings. http://groups.msn.com/PituitaryChat/_emailsettings.msnw Need help? If you've forgotten your password, please go to Passport Member Services. http://groups.msn.com/_passportredir.msnw?ppmprop=help For other questions or feedback, go to our Contact Us page. http://groups.msn.com/contact If you do not want to receive future e-mail from this MSN group, or if you received this message by mistake, please click the "Remove" link below. On the pre-addressed e-mail message that opens, simply click "Send". Your e-mail address will be deleted from this group's mailing list. mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
