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Thyroid problems

The thyroid gland makes hormones that affect energy use, heart rate, temperature, bowels, muscles and mood. Underactivity, overactivity, inflammation, enlargement or a lump can cause a range of symptoms. Diagnosis requires blood tests and sometimes imaging; symptoms alone are not specific enough.

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The thyroid gland makes hormones that affect energy use, heart rate, temperature, bowels, muscles and mood. Underactivity, overactivity, inflammation, enlargement or a lump can cause a range of symptoms. Diagnosis requires blood tests and sometimes imaging; symptoms alone are not specific enough.

  • With an underactive thyroid: tiredness, feeling cold, dry skin, constipation, slow thinking, weight gain or a slow heart rate.
  • With an overactive thyroid: palpitations, feeling hot, sweating, trembling, weight loss, diarrhoea, restlessness or muscle weakness.
  • Take levothyroxine consistently in the same way, and discuss how far apart to take it from iron, calcium, stomach medicines and food with a pharmacist.
  • Do not stop or change thyroid medicine yourself; symptoms lag behind blood levels, and too high a dose can cause harm.
  • Make an appointment for a persistent combination of tiredness, difficulty tolerating heat or cold, weight changes, palpitations or neck swelling.
  • For urgent GP care outside normal opening hours, call HAP 9252. Call Ambulance 912 only for an immediately life-threatening situation.

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Further reading

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U
Underactive thyroidWith an underactive thyroid, the body produces too little thyroid hormone. Symptoms often develop gradually and are non-specific; blood tests confirm the diagnosis. Levothyroxine helps when treatment is needed, but the dose and monitoring must be tailored to the individual.
O
Overactive thyroidWith an overactive thyroid, there is too much thyroid hormone in the body. Palpitations, weight loss, trembling and heat intolerance are common, but the cause must be established through blood tests; high fever, severe agitation and a very fast heart rate can indicate a rare thyroid storm.
F
FibromyalgiaFibromyalgia is a real, long-term condition involving widespread pain, fatigue, unrefreshing sleep and often difficulty concentrating. The symptoms are not caused by inflammation or damage throughout the muscles or joints. The nervous system probably processes and regulates pain signals differently. Diagnosis is based on a conversation and physical examination; targeted tests are sometimes needed to find another or coexisting illness.