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How it’s spotted

The amount of symptoms is overwhelming, isn’t it? But thyroid conditions can be easily diagnosed through blood and antibody tests.

People with Hashimoto’s disease will likely have high levels of thyroid stimulating hormone and low levels of the thyroid’s main hormone, thyroxine.The risks

Like any health condition, if left untreated Hashimoto’s disease can cause complications.

Your thyroid might become enlarged causing a large lump (a goiter) to form on your neck which might affect swallowing or breathing.

Irregular heartbeat, an enlarged heart and high cholesterol are also a risk. Plus, depression might present as an early symptom but get worse over time.

It can also cause fertility issues (an inability to ovulate or, in men, lowered sperm count) and irregular or excessive periods, and a risk of miscarriage or early birth of babies.

Here’s the scariest bit. If left untreated for too long, severe hypothyroidism can lead to myxedema. This life threatening condition begins with drowsiness and can lead to a coma.

Treatment

As soon as you’re diagnosed, treatment tends to be something called thyroid hormone replacement.

A synthetic hormone called levothyroxine, in tablet form, will keep your thyroid stable and tackle unpleasant symptoms.

You’ll need it for the rest of your life, and doctors will monitor your thyroid function and adjust medication to suit your needs.

‘My hands and feet are always like ice cubes’

Megan Davies, 27, from Wales was diagnosed with Hashimoto's in 2020.

“It took seven years of constant fatigue, weight gain and joint aches to finally be diagnosed. It felt like my symptoms were just “life” but I feel sad I waited so long to get checked out.

“I continue to live with various symptoms, including hair loss, brain fog and the inability to retain heat – my hands and feet are always like ice cubes.

“However, since being on hormone replacement tablets, my mood has brightened and I don’t suffer every day. I still get flare-ups, and I’m still trying to determine triggers for those, starting with food sensitivities. So far, I’ve cut out meat, gluten and dairy and walk lots to try to relieve stress.

“The most disheartening symptom of the condition is the weight gain, no matter how well I eat or push myself at the gym.”