Still, your thyroid hormone levels and medication doses may be unique.
This article discusses some things to keep in mind if you don’t have a thyroid gland.
This can cause underactivity that is worse than typical hypothyroidism.
Verywell / Emily Roberts
These conditions can cause poor thyroid function:
What Are the Symptoms of an Underactive Thyroid?
An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) happens when the thyroid gland doesnt produce enough hormones.
Most people with this condition have a thyroid gland.
These symptoms usually get better with treatment.
Symptoms do not always go away completely with medication.
Sometimes it’s crucial that you make other life changes.
Extra sleep, skin moisturizer, and heavy clothing can all help you cope with your symptoms.
This hormone tells your thyroid to make thyroid hormones.
High TSH means you need a higher dose of thyroid hormone replacement.
Even an underactive thyroid gland can sometimes produce thyroid hormone.
But the amount of hormone it makes can fluctuate unpredictably.
This can make it harder to maintain regular thyroid levels with medication.
If you do not have a functioning thyroid gland, you won’t have these fluctuations.
This makes it easier to keep your TSH levels where they should be with a consistent medication dose.
Medications After Thyroid Cancer Removal
Your situation is unique if your thyroid was removed because ofthyroid cancer.
Your doctor will give you “suppressive” levels ofthyroid hormone replacement medications.This is done to preventcancer recurrence.
Suppressive levels of medication keep your TSH levels low or even undetectable.
According to the waythyroid lab testsare usually interpreted, you would be considered hyperthyroid.
What Are the Long-term Side Effects of Thyroidectomy?
About 64% of people of people who have a thyroid lobectomy later develop hypothyroidism.
In most cases the hypothyroidism is mild, and normal thyroid function completely recovers within 12 months.
You may also have a thyroid gland that doesn’t function at all.
When you don’t have a thyroid, you will have symptoms of hypothyroidism.
These usually get better with thyroid hormone replacement treatment.
You may have an easier time finding the right medication dose because you won’t have fluctuating thyroid hormones.
This helps prevent the cancer from returning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they do.
Congenital hypothyroidism needs lifelong treatment, but it should not cause a shortened life expectancy overall.
Yes, people with hypothyroidism should limit or avoid soy.
Soy can interfere with thyroid medication.
Congenital hypothyroidism occurs in approximately 1 in 3,000-4,000 children.
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