Is there different types of hypothyroidism?

[Mitomie]

With what I read it sounds like there is.... I was told I had hypothyroidism and they put me on levo... (Which I was only on for a year then lost my insurance.... So I'm feeling really bad now)... And they didn't tell me anything else... I was 22 when they finally found my desese... Two years and I feel completely in the dark... Maybe my thyroid wasn't that bad and not to much of a big deal? BTW I'm pretty sure my lvl was 7.2... But that was two years ago...

[Clutter]

Mitomie, no, hypothyroidism just means you have low thyroid levels. There are different causes of hypothyroidism. Autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) accounts for 90%, and the remainder is congenital, iodiopathic, or due to surgery or RAI.

You should have annual thyroid tests at the minimum to check levels as dose periodically requires adjustment and it's good practice to ask for a copy of your results and ranges so you can keep an eye on your progress.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

[humanbean]

There are several different kinds of hypothyroidism :

1) Failure of the thyroid gland.

2) Problems with the pituitary - it can't produce enough TSH so the thyroid is not pushed to make enough thyroid hormone.

3) Problems with the hypothalamus - it can't produce enough TRH, so the pituitary doesn't get pushed to make enough TSH, and then the thyroid isn't pushed to make enough thyroid hormone.

4) Thyroid hormone resistance - there may be enough thyroid hormone but it doesn't get in to the cells as it should, leaving body tissues without enough thyroid hormone.

The only kind of hypothyroidism that doctors generally acknowledge is number 1 - and many of them only do that reluctantly. They'd rather "diagnose" depression or anxiety or fibromyalgia or CFS or ME than admit that the thyroid is causing problems.

[Mitomie in reply to humanbean]

So should I push to see what caused mind? Can it be found out? I've read some where that my ibs could of been the cause. I'm so lost and confused.

[Clutter in reply to Mitomie]

Mitomie, TSH >7.0 at diagnosis means you have primary hypothyroidism. Ask your doctor whether thyroid antibodies were tested, and if so, get the results and ranges and post them in a new question. If they weren't tested ask whether they can be.

Whether antibodies are negative or positive won't affect treatment which is usually Levothyroxine to replace low thyroid hormone, but adopting a gluten-free diet can be helpful when thyroid antibodies are positive.

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

[Mitomie in reply to Clutter]

Thank you I'm going to the doc next week hopefully....and I was thinking about calling my old doc (I moved to a new state) and getting my old results from her. Once I get some type of info I'll post it.