Risk Factors for Hypothyroidism Pt 2 - Personal History of Thyroid Issues
According to the book Living Well with Hypothyroidism personal history of thyroid problems could stem from an issue after pregnancy or after an illness in which “transient” - temporary - thyroiditis or hypothyroidism can develop. Any past thyroid problems can put you at risk for hypothyroidism. Some folks are born without a thyroid which is known as congenital hypothyroidism.
You might be at risk if you may have developed a goiter or nodule that your doctor detected or if your blood work has ever come back borderline or on the high side of normal. Again I want to point out that when I was diagnosed my levels were over 11.0. I have no idea how I was functioning.
When I was being seen by a nurse practitioner, we had my levels checked and at the time - which was years and years ago - my numbers looked normal even though I didn’t feel normal. I did finally get out of the state of denial I was in and admit that maybe I was suffering from depression. I do have to wonder though if maybe all the hormonal adjustments my body was making with being on and off birth control, having at the time one functioning ovary and pre-cervical cancer cells clipped off my cervix twice could have contributed to the hypo. I was diagnosed with hypo before my hysterectomy but at that time I was experiencing pain in my left ovary and didn’t know until a sonogram in 2012 that I was once again having issues with cysts.
Other factors to consider is if you have had treatment for Grave’s, Hyperthyroidism, Goiter and Nodules. Graves disease is a disease of unknown origin characterized by hyperthyroidism (with a diffuse goiter). Other symptoms may include eyes that appear to be popping out of their sockets and warm, moist skin with a velvety feel. – Pg 237 of What Your Doctor May NOT Tell You About Hypothyroidism A Simple Plan for Extraordinary Results by Ken Blanchard, M.D., Ph.D with Marietta Abrams Brill. A Goiter is an enlargement of the thyroid glad for any reason. It may be generalized enlargement(diffuse) or asymmetric (nodular) This definition also comes from the same source.
Thyroid cancer surgery or treatment and pituitary tumors and pituitary disease, hypothalamic disorders could also create risk factors for hypothyroidism. Well okay once you have your thyroid removed due to cancer you become hypothyroid and will require treatment for the rest of your life. One of my friends had to have her thyroid removed and she has had to be on meds ever since.
If you want to read my first two posts on risk factors check out
Risk Factors for Hypothyroidism
Risk Factors for Hypothyroidism Part 1 - A Family History
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