Why would I have hypothyroidism with no family history of it?

[Jtk11]

Male, 25. No one in my family has it.

[Lalatoot]

There is no history of thyroid problems in my family either. I have not got antibodies. So it happens.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Jtk11

Why not? It has to start somewhere.

Nobody in my family had any form of thyroid disease, I was the first at age 25. No antibodies.

My mother's brother developed hyperthyroidism a few years later.

My mother followed with hypothyroidism even later, in her 60s. No antibodies.

No rhyme nor reason. It just happens.

[Buddy195 Administrator]

I’m the only one with a thyroid condition in my family but other family members have other auto immune conditions

[Hidden]

I'm the first in my family too. I was 34 on diagnosis but can see I had symptoms from at least 28.

It's got to begin with someone.

[Hidden]

I am the first in my family to have it

I was diagnosed last month

Family has very large history of diabetes so I thought I had that after years of fatigue

Tested negative for that and ended up with under active thyroid

[SlowDragon Administrator]

As per at least 2 previous posts you need FULL thyroid and vitamin testing

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Many reasons for hypothyroidism

But so far your results don’t show anything conclusive

[Jtk11 in reply to SlowDragon]

I'm in process of switching GPs it's difficult due to covid.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Jtk11]

GP unlikely to do further testing looking at previous results

TSH of 6.62. Range is 0.27 - 4.20 & free T4 is 21.

[Jtk11 in reply to SlowDragon]

How would I get the full thyroid test then

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Jtk11]

I gave you links to full private testing in previous posts

Eg see first reply here

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Jtk11 in reply to SlowDragon]

Can I use letsgetchecked.com it does full thyroid panel testing like medicheck

[RedApple Administrator in reply to Jtk11]

Jtk11, Yes you could. But it would be nice if you used the labs that SlowDragon suggested because those labs contribute to Thyroid UK, the charity that this forum is linked to. thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Jtk11]

Prices at Lets get checked seem to be much higher than the ones we recommend ......or at least I couldn’t find a complete test that includes all necessary tests

Eg

TSH Ft4 and Ft3 - £59

TPO and TG thyroid antibodies- £79

Iron and Ferritin- £79

Vitamin D, folate and B12 - £119

Let’s get checked- Total cost = £336

Medichecks- TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 plus both TPO and TG antibodies, vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12. = £79

Let’s get checked is cheap for Covid Antibodies testing to see if have had Covid

[jrbarnes]

Only one in my family as well, suspect I had it from my teens and found out at 27. My boyfriend was also 27 when he found out he had hypo. The only time my symptoms went away is when I worked on a cruise ship in Hawaii. I attribute that to the loads of walking and time out in the sun and ocean so I might suggest you make sure your Vit D is optimal and take to walking for exercise. There's a lot of theories out there as to why it happens.

[Jazzw]

Because hypothyroidism isn’t hereditary. There can be a tendency to develop autoimmune thyroiditis but it doesn’t seem to be an absolute given that people who develop autoimmune thyroiditis will definitely develop hypothyroidism.

And sometimes it can be caused by pituitary dysfunction—perhaps caused by a tiny (and usually benign tumour on the pituitary gland) or by a pituitary gland that’s been damaged by a head injury or whiplash. (Sheehan Syndrome sometimes occurs in cases of extreme blood loss),

Plus hypothyroidism may be nothing to do with autoimmune thyroiditis or pituitary dysfunction and can be caused by congenital defects (for example, someone may be born with an usually small thyroid) or by environmental factors, like exposure to high levels of chemicals or radiation.

[MichelleHarris]

None in mine either x

[penny]

I wouldn’t know if anyone in my family had thyroid disorders; they may have without being diagnosed but I don’t spend much time with any of them to have a guess. As so many go undiagnosed and treated it would be quite possible.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Quite a number of members have, over the years, pointed their fingers at their thyroid issues starting with or after an infection. Often a viral illness.

That would obviously be a cause which is not overtly genetic.

However, it is possible that some genetic combination makes people more likely to get a viral disease, or more likely for a viral disease to affect their thyroid.

There also appears to be a tendency for a hyperthyroid mother to have hypothyroid offspring. And vice versa.

Also, worldwide, iodine deficiency is still the major cause of hypothyroidism.