Dear Dr. Garner,
I’m at my wits’ end. I constantly feel nervous and moody. My hands shake. The other day I was in the grocery store, and I broke two large jars of mayonnaise. It was very embarrassing.
With all the shaking, I began to think I might have Parkinson’s disease. I sweat all the time, and my hair is falling out too. My clothes don’t fit me anymore, and I am beginning to feel self-conscious about my appearance. I’m only 30 years old.
I have been to my general doctor who tells me that it may be related to my thyroid. Does this sound right to you? I have two small children, and I am having a hard time caring for them. I frequently yell and feel regretful after the fact.
Could you please help me?
Hyperactive Thyroid
In Hollis
Dear Hyperactive,
I am sorry that you are having all of the problems that you have mentioned. From the way you describe your situation, it definitely could be a thyroid problem.
The thyroid is a gland that sits in the neck on either side of the windpipe. It makes hormones that circulate in the bloodstream. They are naturally called “thyroid hormones.”
The thyroid function is to control the metabolism of the body, such as how quickly you digest your foods, or use your cholesterol. When there is a malfunction of the thyroid gland, abnormal symptoms occur.
Symptoms may include weight loss, irregular heartbeat, increased appetite, shakiness and a general feeling of anxiety. Women normally have changes in their menstrual cycle, and patients with high thyroid levels generally do not like warm weather. They sleep with the windows open in the winter and use an air conditioner on high in the summer.
They often have trouble sleeping and yet have extreme tiredness. In older adults, there may be few, if any symptoms. The exact reason is not fully understood.
A finding that is also seen with hyperthyroidism is protruding or bulging of the eyes. You see all the white part of the eyeball because as it begins to protrude, the eyelids do not fully cover the eyes. There may be double vision, blurriness and even pain.
There are different causes of hyperthyroidism, but basically, it is due to overproduction of the thyroid hormones. Sometimes it is due to a tumor; other times it could be due to what is called “autoimmune disease.” In autoimmune disease, the body misinterprets the thyroid gland as an enemy and tries to destroy it. The thyroid gland becomes inflamed, which can cause an increase in circulating thyroid hormones.
With appropriate treatment, you can eliminate most of the problems that you describe. It is important to understand the cause to develop a treatment plan.
Some treatments involve medication, while others involve surgery or partial destruction of the gland with radioactive material.
Your doctor may order a nuclear medicine exam, including blood tests and a nuclear medicine test in which small amounts of radioactive iodine are injected into the bloodstream. The functioning of the thyroid is then evaluated.
A sonogram may be of use to evaluate the size of the gland as well as any tumors or benign nodules that might be present.
The key is to see a doctor as soon as possible. Treatment that is begun early is more effective, and you will have fewer permanent side effects.
I hope that this helps guide you and that you see your doctor soon. Together you can develop a plan to reduce the symptoms you are experiencing.
