While uncontrolled hypothyroidism can be debilitating, controlled hypothyroidism is a treatable condition that typically does not affect someone's ability to work or live. It generally takes far less than 12 months to get Hashimoto's thyroiditis under control.
Rarely, severe untreated hypothyroidism may lead to myxedema coma, an extreme form of hypothyroidism in which the body's functions slow to a life-threatening point. Myxedema coma requires immediate medical treatment.
Although most thyroid diseases are chronic and often debilitating, they are treatable.
In rare cases, untreated hypothyroidism can cause myxedema coma. This is a condition in which your body's functions slow down to the point that it becomes life-threatening. During pregnancy, hypothyroidism can cause complications, such as premature birth, high blood pressure in pregnancy, and miscarriage.
Hypothyroidism and Social Security
You can suffer from a variety of thyroid gland disorders, and many of them can have a major negative impact on your life. If a thyroid disorder has rendered you disabled to work, you could be eligible to receive Social Security Disability.
If you have a thyroid disorder that is affecting your ability to perform daily tasks and causing you to miss work, you may be able to file a long-term disability (LTD) claim to cover your income.
So, even subtle fluctuations in your thyroid can contribute to some big changes in your body. And that's why living with a thyroid condition like hypothyroidism can be challenging on a daily — and even hourly — basis.
Myxedema coma refers to the state of severe, life-threatening, and decompensated hypothyroidism in which thyroid hormone levels are dangerously low. The diagnosis appears to be more common in elderly women with long-standing preexisting hypothyroidism.
If you are being treated for hypothyroidism, call your provider if: You develop chest pain or rapid heartbeat. Your symptoms get worse or do not improve with treatment. You develop new symptoms.
Or they may not know they have hypothyroidism. In this case, the condition can gradually become more severe and potentially cause a range of complications.
Many symptoms of psychological dysfunction have been described with hypothyroidism. Those symptoms most commonly related to thyroid deficiency include forgetfulness, fatigue, mental slowness, inattention, and emotional lability. The predominant affective disorder experienced is depression.
The afternoon crash means your blood sugar has dropped too low for your brain and body to function normally, causing you to become drowsy, mentally foggy, tired, and unmotivated. Unstable blood sugar is notorious for making it difficult to manage an autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto's hypothyroidism.
Hypothyroidism affects everyone differently. The type and severity of symptoms vary from person to person. Some people with hypothyroidism find that their symptoms do not greatly inhibit their ability to work. Others may find it difficult to keep up with the demands of the workplace.
Overt hypothyroidism or full-blown disease
The end-stage of Hashimoto's is when your thyroid has become so damaged that you no longer have enough thyroid hormones and have to go on medication.
The most severe form of hypothyroidism is myxedema, a medical emergency. Hypothyroidism can be caused by a problem with the thyroid itself (primary), or by the malfunction of the pituitary gland or hypothalamus (secondary).
Persistent nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain can be caused by hypothyroidism.
In very rare cases, a severe underactive thyroid may lead to a life-threatening condition called myxoedema coma. This is where the thyroid hormone levels become very low, causing symptoms such as confusion, hypothermia and drowsiness. Myxoedema coma requires emergency treatment in hospital.
When should I go to the emergency room? If you're experiencing symptoms of thyroid storm such as a high fever and a rapid heart rate, get to the nearest emergency room as soon as possible. Thyroid storm is a serious and life-threatening medical condition. Luckily, it's rare and treatable.
Too much iodine can make hypothyroidism worse in people who already have the condition. In some parts of the world, it's common for people not to get enough iodine in their diets. The addition of iodine to table salt has almost eliminated this problem in the United States.
Abnormal thyroid function has health consequences for the general public. Patients with hypothyroidism have an increased risk of cardiovascular abnormalities, such as accelerated atherosclerosis [2].
You may feel nervous, moody, weak, or tired. Your hands may shake, your heart may beat fast, or you may have problems breathing. You may be sweaty or have warm, red, itchy skin. You may have more bowel movements than usual.
Hypothyroidism can be caused by the autoimmune disorder Hashimoto thyroiditis, irradiation or surgical removal of the thyroid gland, and medications that reduce thyroid hormone levels. Anyone can develop hypothyroidism, but people ages 50 years and above are at greater risk, and women are at higher risk than men.
Ideally, if you are on the proper dose of thyroid hormone replacement medication, you should feel back to “normal” with no residual symptoms in a couple of month, Dr. Nadeem says. But there are certain steps you can try on top of taking your medication to help relieve hypothyroidism symptoms.