What has caused my underactive thyroid.

[Mafia]

Even though i know my thyroid isn't working right....

What has caused it?

[Clutter]

Mafia,

90% of hypothyroidism is caused by autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto's). Your antibodies may have been tested when you were first diagnosed and your GP receptionist should be able to give you the result and range. If not, ask your GP to test thyroid antibodies to confirm or rule out Hashimoto's.

The other 10% is due to thyroidectomy, radioactive iodine ablatement (RAI) or is idiopathic (no known reason).

[greygoose]

Could be a number of things, could be iodine deficiency, could be endocrine disruptors in the air/water/food, could be hereditary, could be due to whiplash, or some other sort of accident.

The number one reason for hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroiditis - Hashimoto's disease. To know if you have that, you ned to get your antibodies tested : TPOab and TgAB. You can also get tested for iodine deficiency, but not on the NHS, I'm afraid, it would have to be private.

For people who Don't have Hashi's, they very rarely find out what caused their hypo. And doctors, to be honest, just aren't interested.

[Josiesmum]

From what I've read there can be multiple triggers for Hashimoto's including stress, physical or emotional trauma, gut dysbiosis, infections, food sensitivities, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, toxic metals etc. This is supposed to be a good book in helping to identify root causes:

thyroidpharmacist.com/book

[Rapunzel]

((((Mafia))))

Really does it matter ? For me it could have been stress stress and more stress, burning the candle at both ends, eating rubbish, not looking after myself and forging onwards ever onwards, being a stick thin adrenaline junkie, drinking a bottle of Scotch most weekends, consuming vast quantities of proscribed drugs and a good few prescribed ones, stopping smoking yada yada... It doesn't really matter.

Just stop it with the stress, try to find alternative ways to relax to the ones I used, don't skip breakfast lunch and dinner and don't blame yourself. Sh*t happens and it isn't always attributable to anything.

IMO

[MariLiz]

I think mine followed a prolonged period of stress and coming off HRT.

[jacrjacr]

adrenal fatigue can cause it..being under too much stress too long at a extreme level which has a domino effect using up your vitmamins minerals hormones etc , being estrogen dominant....too little progesterone and too little estrogen at the same time so out of balance, being deficient in your vitamins and minerals hence everything works together and you need each working even when on medication for optimal results........they effect your ft3 and ft4 level and how they convert etc.........so if you continuously test negative to antibodies, it may have been caused by one of these....or a combination....so eating healthy, low stress, and exercise very important .....and good digestion

[Mafia]

Thanks for all your replies