Thyroid UK - Hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism. This is when the thyroid produces less thyroid hormone than it should which causes the metabolism to run too slow. It may also be called Hashimoto's disease. The main causes of an underactive thyroid are: Hashimoto's disease - an autoimmune disease where the antibodies may first stimulate the thyroid, and then destroy it. Pituitary or hypothalamic failure, causing secondary hypothyroidism. Genetic dysfunction - the thyroid may be dysfunctional at birth, or is programmed to fail at some time in adult life (a predisposition). Environmental challenges or deficiencies - chemicals and some foods and drinks can cause problems for the thyroid. Previous thyroid surgery or radioactive iodine treatment. Treatment for hyperthyroidism. Inability to absorb synthetic thyroxine adequately. Lack of conversion from T4 to T3. Receptor resistance. If you can't live longer, live deeper. 18th May 2017 Yesterday was a good Marsden Wednesday predominately because we made it to the canteen in time for lunch (first. Port Manteaux churns out silly new words when you feed it an idea or two. Enter a word (or two) above and you'll get back a bunch of portmanteaux created by jamming. Female bodybuilding is gaining popularity as women around the world are seeking effective diet and training advice. UK-Muscle has an active group of female body. The clinical names for an overactive thyroid gland are: hyperthyroidism (excess of thyroid) and thyrotoxicosis (poisoning by the thyroid). The main causes of an. Hypothyroidism is mostly seen in women between the ages of 4. It often occurs during the menopausal years and symptoms are often ignored during the early stages by both patients and doctors if the patient is at this age. The Association of Clinical Biochemistry, the British Thyroid Association and the British Thyroid Foundation state in the 'UK Guidelines for the Use of Thyroid Function Tests', . Many areas of the UK only do the TSH test but if all the thyroid tests are done i. TSH, FT4, FT3 and thyroid antibodies, then a true picture may be seen. Guidelines for the Use of thyroid Function Tests. The 'UK Guidelines for the Use of Thyroid Function Tests' state that although a TSH test may be cost effective for a wide range of clinical purposes it may be inappropriate in patients being tested for the first time, and in some specific clinical settings. They also say that both tests should be done in rare situations such as central hypothyroidism, end- organ thyroid hormone resistance and TSH- secreting pituitary adenomas. The Guidelines also state, . Empty weight: 430 pounds 1: Gross weight: 1,000 pounds: Wingspan: 31 feet: Wing area: 170 square feet: Length: 18.2 feet: Height: 7.8 feet: Kit type: Assembly kit. However, patients are very rarely referred to an endocrinologist for hypothyroidism as it is considered that the GP can deal with treatment. There is controversy in regard to when a patient is classed as hypothyroid and whether they should be treated or not. In America and some other European countries, they have reduced the TSH level to 2. The 'UK Guidelines for the Use of Thyroid Function Tests' state that, . Physicians may wish to consider the suitability of a therapeutic trial of thyroxine on an individual patient basis. If measured, serum T3 will also be normal. Repeat the thyroid function tests in two or three months in case the abnormality represents a resolving thyroiditis. But if it persists then antibodies to thyroid peroxidase should be measured. If these are positive – indicative of underlying autoimmune thyroid disease – the patient should be considered to have the mildest form of hypothyroidism. In the absence of symptoms some would simply recommend annual thyroid function tests until serum TSH is over 1. U/l or symptoms such as tiredness and weight gain develop. WebMD experts and contributors provide answers to your health questions.But a more pragmatic approach is to recognise that the thyroid failure is likely to become worse and try to nip things in the bud rather than risk loss to follow- up. Most patients will feel well in that circumstance. But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum- free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 2. This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1. There are brands of tablets that are lactose free or that don't have certain ingredients in them. Armour, Nature- Throid, Westhroid and Erfa: This is the treatment that used to be given before levothyroxine came onto the market. Somepeople find that they don't become well unless they are treated with NDT. NDT is not now available in the UK but there are brands available from America and Canada. Erfa is a brand of NDT that is licensed in Canada which your doctor may prefer to prescribe. Although there is evidence that levothyroxine is equal in efficacy to NDT and there are some studies that have found some patients do better on Armour thyroid, there are many doctors who do not like the idea of prescribing NDT. You need to be aware that smoking is not helping your thyroid. Levothyroxine should be taken every day with water on an empty stomach and food should not be eaten for at least 3. It is usually taken in the morning but some people find it is better taken at night. There are quite a few things that can interfere with levothyroxine such as foods, beverages and drugs. The main things to watch out for are: Foods: Goitrogenic foods can act like an antithyroid drug in disabling the thyroid function. They prevent the thyroid from using available iodine. However, if eaten in moderation, you should not have a problem. You may need to take it easy for a while until the correct dosage is achieved. You will need to have your thyroid tested on an annual basis once you become balanced. It's a good idea to keep a diary and include test results, the amount of thyroid medication and any symptoms you have on a scale of 1- 1. If you have Hashimoto's disease, which is an autoimmune disease, it's possible that you may get other autoimmune diseases such as pernicious anaemia, diabetes, lupus etc. It might therefore be an idea to have periodic tests for these conditions too. The body needs various vitamins and minerals to enable the thyroid to work properly. It may therefore be a good idea to have other tests such as B1. There has been a lot of research recently on vitamin D so testing for this vitamin might also be a good idea. If you have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, as long as you are not deficient in vitamins and minerals, you are on the thyroid medication that is best for you and the correct dosage of the thyroid medication that is best for you, you should, hopefully, see great improvement in your health. Last updated: 1. 0. Stories from author ukresearcher. Irresistible Impulse. By ukresearcher . I was living a tranquil life of real contentment, married for over ten years to Louise, my soul mate, with two adorable kids (nine and seven) and in a job that brought home a comfortable income without taxing my capabilities overmuch. From the start we believed that having a mother at home was more important than exotic foreign holidays but since the children both started school, Louise has helped out in the village shop, on a part time basis during the week supplemented by every other Saturday morning. Our only real friends were Jerry and Davina. They lived just over three miles away in a much larger house than we could afford and they also had a couple of children roughly the same ages as ours. It was Jerry who was my friend originally. Twelve years ago we started together as young hopefuls in the same insurance office. Quite naturally we spent lunch hours and other off duty time together during the day but as we were both courting seriously at the time, evening socialising was not part of the friendship. I married first with Jerry as best man and when they tied the knot six months later, I returned the favour. They became parents first - Davina was well pregnant at the wedding and her condition was the only reason that her parents had consented to the match. There was no doubt that Davina had married beneath her for she came from a moneyed background. But although she brought with her enough wealth to provide a lifestyle to which Jerry rapidly became accustomed, I have no doubt that had her parents regarded her husband with fewer reservations, there was far more that they could have done for the couple. My name is Toby. I thought that I'd mention that and get the laughter over with before I continue the story. I reckon that when I was born my parents must have been going through an old fashioned Bulldog Drummond phase because there is no genealogical precedent and I can think of no other logical reason for the name. I can't deny that I would have preferred Vance or Brett but, apart from initial introductions, I have grown quite at home with the name - the diminutive 'Tobe' has quite an affectionate ring to it. Soon after his marriage, Jerry left the insurance firm where we both worked and moved to a rival organisation a couple of blocks down the road. Over the intervening years, a different environment, greater ambition and (although I hate to say it) more ability have allowed him to rise until he now holds a position equivalent to that of my current immediate boss. Even though we worked in different buildings the friendship continued with us meeting most lunchtimes to either dine or play squash. That game gives a fair indication of his character because he was driven to win. I enjoyed the game but was willing to push myself only so far and no further so he generally left the court with the winners laurels - though my very rare victories did give me a great feeling of satisfaction. Jerry is a bigger man than I, nicely topping six feet he can give me three inches and about twenty pounds. He is also a big womaniser. Blessed with a surfeit of charm he uses it to the full and seems to have developed an almost magic touch. Even while still engaged I know that he had flings with three different girls and in the months after the wedding when a bad pregnancy limited his marital sex he was like a tomcat on the prowl. He didn't change - that was just the way he was. I was never sure if Davina knew - at times I was convinced that she must at least have suspicions. The incredible speed with which he worked on women was impressive. Some months before the point at which my story starts, we were lunching at our usual restaurant when an exceptionally attractive woman sat at a table near us. Jerry immediately enthused, . When she left he jumped up to follow, saying to me, . Very, very tasty - I'm afraid that you won't be seeing me many lunchtimes next week. We never actually went on holiday together (although it was often suggested) largely due to the fact that our pocket was nowhere as deep as theirs. Nevertheless we spent a lot of time at each other's houses; the kids often slept over and during the summer there were frequent very enjoyable day out excursions as a group to local places of interest. One summer Friday night all four children had been invited to a birthday party thrown by a mutual school friend. This was in the nearest town and comprised a meal in Mc. Donald's followed by a session of laser warfare. Louise and I had driven to the venue to collect our two. I parked right outside the door while she went in to find them leaving me waiting by the car. After a couple of minutes, Jerry wandered up, indicating where he had left his vehicle at the far side of the car park. At that moment all four kids erupted out of the hall door and of one accord, in a flurry of excitement, ran across and piled into my car. I was about to try extricating the two who did not belong when Jerry suggested, . In the unlikely event of you being back first, make sure to get the kettle on. Driving out of the car park, in the rear view mirror, I saw Jerry share my wife's load of rucksacks and jackets as they walked to his car. After two or three miles he had caught up for I spotted him a couple of vehicles behind me but when we got to the road that leads past the pike, he indicated and turned off. I should explain that 'The Pike' is the local name for a large hill. We actually live on the opposite side of the hill to the town and the main road that skirts the base is roughly twelve miles. There are narrow country lanes that cross the hill, (one leading to the pike itself, a local beauty spot with an incredible view). The shortest route is only seven miles and can be marginally quicker than the main road but if stuck behind one of the ubiquitous farm vehicles the journey time is easily doubled and more. I smiled when I saw him detour - it was typical of Jerry that he would be determined to get back first without being crass enough to race on the main road. When I pulled into my drive I was quietly pleased to see no sign of Jerry's car. I gave the kids crisps and coke and watched them disperse to PC, Playstation and the hammocks in the garden. With three mugs set out and the kettle boiled, I was actually delighted when the missing pair had not turned up after twenty minutes. Up until three quarters of an hour I was still chuckling to myself at the picture of Jerry fuming behind a hay wagon with a shed load but from then on I began to get more and more concerned. From an hour and a half onwards I was ringing my wife's mobile every few minutes and making regular trips to gaze down the road in the direction from which they should appear. It was almost at the two and a half hours after my arrival that they finally turned up. Jerry acted completely unconcerned but Louise had the grace to look upset. I did suggest that he might like to ring Davina in case she was also worried but he said she would quite expect them to have stayed at our house for a while.? I could have come out - for that matter you could have rung the garage. I tried your number several times but you didn't answer. I've been meaning to charge it for a day or two. We had a late meal, got the children to bed and relaxed in front of the TV for what was left of the evening. At bedtime, I was actually in the bathroom when I heard my wife's mobile phone ring. Hurrying through my ablutions, I went into the bedroom to find Louise pushing the receiver back into her handbag. The bloody phone really startled me going off just now. No more was said just then but after we got into bed, Louise remembered, . It was about three weeks since we had such an occasion and I was always more than happy to see Davina. The evening proceeded pleasantly with all the usual banter until after we had finished the steaks when I happened to ask, . Davina did not seem to think it at all funny. In fact her whole face seemed to close down. The immediate atmosphere was partially broken by Louise jumping up and disappearing into the kitchen, saying loudly that she was going to prepare the sweet, then only a minute later Jerry mumbled something about helping and dashed off after her. It was all so sudden that I was almost on the point of making a remark to that effect but one glance at Davina's face discouraged me. So we sat there in stolid silence taking care to avoid each other's eyes, with me desperately hoping the other two would be back with the pudding soon, if only for something to talk about. The trouble was that they did not come back. The hands on the clock crept slowly round, five minutes, ten minutes, fifteen, twenty. At this point Davina slammed the knife that she had been fidgeting with down hard on the table and glaring at me demanded, . As the length of their absence had grown I had grown more and more uneasy until at that point I desperately did not want to go into the kitchen for fear of what I might walk in on. Luckily I was saved from taking action because at that moment, Jerry walked in carrying the pudding flamboyantly one handed above his head, with Louise following bringing the jugs of sauce and cream. As she was serving, my wife said something about having forgotten to leave the gas on low heat while we ate the first course and this simple explanation filled me with guilt about my unworthy suspicions. Considering the time it had taken, that culinary concoction was far below her usual standard but that was not the reason the evening broke up almost immediately after the meal. Disappointed by the loss of the usual pleasant conversation, in bed I decided to make the most of our early night by indulging in a bit of conjugal rights. Louise seemed almost reluctant at first but then switched completely and clung to me with desperate passion. It was an odd evening altogether. Sunday we went out to spend most of the day by a river.
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