Having an underactive thyroid can affect everything from your energy to metabolism, mood, body temperature, weight, and other everyday functions. The symptoms can also develop slowly and make it harder for people to immediately connect them to a thyroid problem. Instead of guessing what’s wrong, RCMC Medical Center offers underactive thyroid treatment in Banning.
Our team approaches every patient with empathy and care and helps get to the source of the problem instead of just treating your symptoms. Here’s how to recognize your symptoms, get tested, and decide if treatment is the right step for you.
What Are the Symptoms of an Underactive Thyroid?
There are different types of thyroid problems, including hypothyroidism. This means your thyroid isn’t producing enough thyroid hormone and can cause symptoms that overlap with other health issues:
- Fatigue
- Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
- Feeling cold
- Dry skin
- Constipation
- Brain fog and difficulty concentrating
- Muscle aches or weakness
- Changes in your hair, like thinning or feeling more dry, coarse, or brittle
- Mood changes
Although these could be good indicators that you have an underactive thyroid, symptoms alone can’t confirm whether or not you have hypothyroidism.
What Causes an Underactive Thyroid?
A family history can increase your risk of developing an underactive thyroid. Hashimoto’s disease and other autoimmune thyroid disease is also one of the common causes we see. If you’ve had previous thyroid surgery, radiation treatment, or are on radiation treatment, let us know. In rare cases, it could even be a pituitary gland problem. Once we do testing and figure out the cause, we can guide you towards the right treatment options.
How Is an Underactive Thyroid Diagnosed?
When you come to us with a thyroid problem, we talk through your symptoms, medical history, and any medications. Although a thorough evaluation is needed, blood testing is really the key. We’ll order lab work to check on your TSH levels and may recommend looking at your Free T4 for additional clues. Running thyroid antibody testing can also look for Hashimoto’s and autoimmune causes that could be affecting your thyroid.
How Is an Underactive Thyroid Treated?
There are different treatments for an underactive thyroid, but it usually means hormone replacement therapy.
Levothyroxine or a synthetic T4 is the standard treatment for most patients and is shown to be effective. Of course, medication and dosage aren’t going to be the same for everyone and also depend on:
- Age
- Weight
- Current thyroid levels
- Severity
- Other health conditions
- Medications
Any treatment option is always prescribed and monitored through our medical providers. We can also make adjustments depending on the results and how well you respond to treatment.
Can Thyroid Treatment Help With Weight Gain and Fatigue?
Fatigue and weight changes could have nothing to do with your thyroid, but are also common symptoms of an underactive thyroid. Restoring your thyroid hormone to a more appropriate level could also improve your symptoms that could be caused by hypothyroidism. Regardless of your weight challenges, thyroid medication isn’t a weight-loss drug. Your weight gain could have multiple causes, which is why we focus on medically supervised health and weight management.
Get Underactive Thyroid Treatment in Banning
If you suspect you have a thyroid issue and want relief, we can help. Our team at RCMC Medical Center offers underactive thyroid treatment in Banning with medical evaluation, testing, and treatment based on individual needs. We help you get answers instead of continuing to guess whether or not fatigue, weight changes, or other symptoms are thyroid-related.
Schedule your consultation for your underactive thyroid at RCMC Medical Center today.
Underactive Thyroid FAQs
What is the most common treatment for an underactive thyroid?
The most common treatment for an underactive thyroid is levothyroxine, a synthetic form of the thyroid hormone T4. It replaces hormone that the thyroid is no longer producing in sufficient amounts. The appropriate dosage depends on the individual and may need to be adjusted based on blood test results and symptoms. ([American Thyroid Association][2])
How do I know if I have an underactive thyroid?
Possible signs of an underactive thyroid include fatigue, unexplained weight gain, feeling unusually cold, constipation, dry skin, muscle weakness, hair changes, and difficulty concentrating. Because these symptoms can have many other causes, blood testing is needed to determine whether hypothyroidism is responsible. ([NIDDK][6])
What blood tests are used to diagnose an underactive thyroid?
A TSH test is usually the first blood test used to evaluate thyroid function. Depending on the results, our providers at RCMC Medical Center may order free T4 and thyroid antibody tests. High TSH levels can indicate that the thyroid isn’t producing enough thyroid hormone.
Can an underactive thyroid make it harder to lose weight?
Yes, thyroid hormones help regulate how your body uses energy, so hypothyroidism can contribute to weight gain or trouble managing your weight. Keep in mind that thyroid problems are only one possible cause of weight changes, and you will need testing to determine whether or not there’s a problem with thyroid function.
How often should thyroid levels be checked after starting treatment?
Thyroid levels are usually checked a few weeks after treatment starts or any medication dose changes. The American Thyroid Association recommends checking your TSH about 6 to 10 weeks after a thyroxine dose adjustment. Once your provider gets the right dose, testing is usually needed periodically to make sure levels remain stable.