Is it my thyroid?

I have many patients come in wondering if their thyroid is out of whack… they’ve noticed some weight gain, fatigue, slow bowel movements, dry skin, hair loss…   These can definitely be symptoms of hypothyroidism (and other things).

The only way to truly know is to do bloodwork!

The thyroid gland plays a large role in terms of energy and metabolism.  Thyroid concerns are quite common, affecting 1 in 8 women and 1 in 10 people in Canada.  You have very likely had your TSH tested before, this is the very basic screening test, it gives insight on the thyroid function but doesn’t tell the whole picture.  You can have a normal TSH and still have symptoms and concerns.  

T4→ T3  are the hormones the thyroid gland is producing.  Measuring these in conjunction with the TSH tells us more about the actual function.  

The other VERY important test is to look at thyroid antibodies:

TPO (thyroid peroxidase antibodies)

TG (thyroglobulin antibodies).  

The vast majority of thyroid concerns are actually caused by an autoimmune process called Hashimoto’s where the immune system is seeing the thyroid gland as foreign and causing damage to it overtime.   This autoimmune process will often begin years before we actually see the thyroid function decline, but knowing it’s there can allow us to put a plan in place to prevent the decline and to manage symptoms.

We most commonly see women develop thyroid concerns between 30-50 years, especially at times of hormonal transition (postpartum, perimenopause, postmenopause).  

Screening (especially during these times of hormonal change) is so valuable for us to be proactive, treat you effectively, and understand your symptoms better!