No matter how much you may already know about hypothyroidism, it's important to keep learning. The better you understand it, the better prepared you are to help manage it. Take a moment to learn more below.
What is hypothyroidism?
Hypothyroidism is a condition that occurs when the thyroid gland doesn’t make enough of the thyroid hormone called thyroxine (T4). This causes the body’s system to slow down and can lead to symptoms like fatigue, feeling cold, weight gain due to fluid retention, dry skin, and hair loss.
The thyroid produces T4 as a response to the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). TSH is produced by a small gland in the brain called the pituitary and can be measured by a blood test. This blood test, which measures both thyroid hormones and TSH, can be used to diagnose hypothyroidism. Let's take a closer look below.
TSH and a normally functioning thyroid
The pituitary gland sends out TSH, which tells the thyroid to produce hormones T4 and triiodothyronine (T3).
The thyroid continues to produce the T4 and T3 hormones, which helps regulate many important body functions.
This communication between the pituitary gland and the thyroid continues in a loop as thyroid hormone levels signal to your pituitary gland to produce less or more TSH.
TSH and an incorrectly functioning thyroid
The pituitary gland sends out TSH to the thyroid, but the thyroid is unable to produce enough thyroid hormones.
Because of the low levels of thyroid hormones, the pituitary gland sends out more TSH.
Despite the pituitary gland sending out more and more TSH, the thyroid continues to function incorrectly. This balance of high levels of TSH and low levels of thyroid hormones indicates hypothyroidism.
The Understanding and Managing Hypothyroidism guide below takes an even deeper dive into this condition, its causes, and how it's managed.
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Take your time exploring this overview of hypothyroidism symptoms. Do you experience any? If so, talk to your doctor. They may want to check your T4 or TSH levels using the test described below.
*This is not a comprehensive list of symptoms.
Because these symptoms may represent conditions other than hypothyroidism, be sure to talk to your doctor.
Helping your doctor understand your symptoms is vital to getting you the right diagnosis and treatment. Use this checklist to record any symptoms that your doctor should know about.
A TSH test is used to check the level of TSH in the blood. Your TSH level can indicate if your thyroid gland is working properly.
Once you have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism and your doctor has prescribed a treatment plan, it’s important to have your TSH tested periodically to determine if any adjustments need to be made to your dose or how you take your medication.
Facing hypothyroidism: Elisa’s story
Elisa shares her journey, from getting diagnosed to starting—and continuing—treatment with Synthroid, and living with hypothyroidism.
When I was growing up, I didn’t realize I had a problem. I just knew that there was an issue there. So when I was diagnosed and was reading about each of the symptoms, that’s when I really connected—the symptoms I had in high school and middle school were in fact symptoms and not the normalcy of most day-to-day people.
I was technically diagnosed in 2009 by a doctor that I went in just for a physical, and she had felt my neck and pulled back and was like, “Ma’am, your thyroid is swollen.” So although I was diagnosed then,
Living with hypothyroidism
and I went and I had just got blood work done, and they called me the next day and told me, I didn’t do anything about it until 2010.
If you are experiencing symptoms, talk to your doctor. Your doctor may decide to have your thyroid levels tested.
Part of the reason that I waited was lack of education. I took anatomy in high school and college, and I knew where the thyroid was, and I knew how to spell it. But beyond that, I knew nothing about its function.
I didn’t really understand that it was going to be a lifelong disease. I didn’t…it was so much to take on, that I had to take time to educate myself before I was willing to go back through the door at the doctor’s office and say, “You know, I’m ready to get on medication the rest of my life.”
It was hard to accept, is the bottom line.
UNDERSTANDING HYPOTHYROIDISM
The first doctor I saw did not explain to me what hypothyroidism is. She did tell me that I have hypothyroidism and that my thyroid was swollen. But she didn’t really go beyond that.
But the doctor that I did see a year later, he was extremely informative. He detailed extensively, what it meant, where the thyroid was. He even pulled out charts and showed me my blood work and showed, you know, “Here’s your range that you’re supposed to be in and here’s where you’re at.”
A TSH test can help determine if your thyroid levels are in range.
Once I learned what the disease was and what it entailed I didn’t feel as crazy as I had felt for so many years.
GETTING YOUR THYROID LEVELS IN BALANCE
He did explain each of the options for treatment. He went through and explained, branded versus generic. He explained how important it was to get on a regimen. He did recommend Synthroid. When I started Synthroid it was not a quick fix. That’s the best way to put it.
SYNTHROID is not for everyone. Talk to your doctor to determine which medication is right for you.
The doctor also explained that it’s going to take time to get your level, you know, within that range that it needs to be. It took me some time to get that level straightened out. And really finding out, you know, what’s going to work for me.
Your doctor will carefully monitor your thyroid levels regularly.
And once I got in range, I don’t want to say, like, everything’s perfect. But it was finally like that glaze came off and a light bulb came on and I felt for the first time in control.
When starting SYNTHROID, it may take time for you and your doctor to find the dose that works for you.
I would tell someone that’s just starting on Synthroid that once they’ve made that commitment to stick with it. And be willing to allow yourself to not be perfect. But remember that each day is a new day, and you need to make that commitment, and you have to be willing to do it.
Take SYNTHROID as your doctor prescribed.
A thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test is just one way to determine if you’re managing your hypothyroidism. What do you think, is this a myth or a fact?
Sorry, that's incorrect. This is a fact.
A TSH test is one way to measure how you’re doing. It’s also important to talk with your doctor about how you’re feeling and about any symptoms you’re experiencing.
See more myths vs facts
Correct! This is a fact.
See how Synthroid can help restore your thyroid hormone levels and manage hypothyroidism.
SYNTHROID® (levothyroxine sodium) tablets, for oral use is a prescription, man-made thyroid hormone that is used to treat a condition called hypothyroidism in adults and children, including infants. It is meant to replace a hormone that is usually made by your thyroid gland. Generally, thyroid replacement treatment is to be taken for life. SYNTHROID should not be used to treat noncancerous growths or enlargement of the thyroid in patients with normal iodine levels, or in cases of temporary hypothyroidism caused by inflammation of the thyroid gland (thyroiditis).
This is the most important safety information you should know about SYNTHROID. For more information, talk with your doctor.
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SYNTHROID® (levothyroxine sodium) tablets, for oral use is a prescription, man-made thyroid hormone that is used to treat a condition called hypothyroidism in adults and children, including infants. It is meant to
Thyroid hormones, including SYNTHROID, should not be used either alone or in combination with other drugs for the treatment of obesity or weight loss. In patients with normal thyroid levels, doses of SYNTHROID used daily for hormone replacement are not helpful for