antibodies to the protein thyroid peroxidase (TPO), as this is common for people with the illness.
In the event that the antibody test is negative, the doctor may go further to order an ultrasound of your thyroid. The ultrasound will give a more accurate picture of the size of your thyroid as well as any other abnormalities related to Hashimoto’s disease.
How Hashimoto’s Disease Is Treated
Since the disease is a chronic one, doctors focus on alleviating the symptoms. To this end, they will develop a program that tackles your hypothyroidism.
In some cases, the hormone levels are not low enough to require treatment so your doctor will only continue to monitor your levels until something needs to be done.
For those who need an intervention, the typical treatment is T-4 hormone replacement therapy, where you’re given a synthetic hormone that mimics the role of T-4.
This replacement hormone will break down to T-3 in the system and your body will operate as if it has a fully functional thyroid. While this is generally enough for many people with the disease, there are a few cases where T-3 replacement therapy is also needed to effectively regulate the body’s systems.
When you’re being treated, it’s likely that the dosage of your medication will be adjusted over time to ensure that it’s still working well. This means that your doctor will check your hormone levels regularly.
There can also be complications from Hashimoto’s disease if the treatment isn’t working properly so it’s common for doctors to perform other tests on your general health. A few of these complications include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and heart failure.
It’s hard to say how common Hashimoto’s disease is, but it’s certain that most of those who have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism may have the autoimmune disease to blame. If you recognize any of the symptoms here, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor as soon as possible.