Get Tested for Thyroid Disease and Properly Diagnosed

Most of the typical lists of signs and symptoms of a thyroid problem focus on weight changes, fatigue, depression, and neck/throat symptoms. But what were the signs and symptoms that you experienced that made you suspect something was wrong...that your thyroid might be involved? What were your top signs that you had a thyroid problem?

One of the more common questions of patients taking thyroid hormone replacement and antithyroid medications is why, every time they have blood tests done, their thyroid levels are fluctuating, often dramatically. Most often, the changes are seen in thyroid stimulating hormone TSH, T4 thyroxine, and T3 triiodothyronine. What could account for...

A look at the controversy over thyroid screening of pregnant women, based on the Guidelines of the American Thyroid Association for the Diagnosis and Management of Thyroid Disease During Pregnancy and Postpartum.

If you have a thyroid condition, you'll want to do everything you can to take good care of yourself, and do whatever possible to stay healthy, and on top of your condition. We often hear about the things that we should do, but here are ten things a thyroid patient should never do.

A Question and Answer Session with Baywatch Star and Thyroid Patient Advocate Gena Lee Nolin

A look at the 2011 Guidelines of the American Thyroid Association for the Diagnosis and Management of Thyroid Disease During Pregnancy and Postpartum

At most laboratories in the U.S., the "normal" TSH range still runs from approximately 5. to 5.0. But the concept of the normal reference range is now a raging controversy, and recommendationsto narrow the range made several years ago are still being resisted. How many people are actually hypothyroid, if the new, narrower range were adopted. The...

The Afirma Thyroid Analysis from Veracyte is a new testing process that can eliminate inconclusive or indeterminate results on thyroid nodules, and may help patients avoid unnecessary thyroid surgery.

Is your doctor, health care practitioner and/or testing laboratory using the older, outdated reference range for the thyroid stimulating hormone -- TSH -- test, or the narrower range recommended since since 2003? For six years, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists has recommended that the so-called normal or reference range for...

Individuals have different variations of thyroid function, around unique levels - or what they referred to as thyroid set points.

Thyroid patient Cindi S. wrote this letter to patient advocate Mary Shomon to help resolve the frustration she had after years of misdiagnosis by numerous doctors. Now, looking back after finally getting the diagnosis she needed, she shares her thoughts from the patient perspective.

Diagnosing thyroid disease is a process that can incorporate numerous factors, including clinical evaluation, blood tests, imaging tests, biopsies and other tests. In this article, you’ll learn more about the blood tests that are used as part of thyroid disease diagnosis and management.

Some patients need to be highly involved in their thyroid diagnosis and care, which is where self-tests and the ability to order your own tests can be critical tools for an empowered patient. The following is a look at some of the self-testing options for thyroid patients, including ZRT, Diagnos-Techs, Biosafe, and other tests.

A look at the changes to the thyroid test normal range recommended in 2002.

Practitioners sometimes use other diagnostic procedures and tests to identify thyroid dysfunction. The use of these tests is considered controversial to many mainstream practitioners. Some of these tests are, however, well-accepted and in use among alternative, integrative and holistic physicians.

Thyroid patients share their personal experiences with thyroid surgery / thyroidectomy, as well as fine needle aspiration / FNA biopsies of the thyroid gland.

Diagnosing thyroid disease is a process that can incorporate numerous factors, including clinical evaluation, blood tests, imaging tests, biopsies and other tests. This article provides an overview of the various diagnostic tests, evaluations and procedures that are used to identify and diagnose thyroid disease and conditions.

Diagnosing thyroid disease is a process that can incorporate numerous factors, including clinical evaluation, blood tests, imaging tests, biopsies, and other tests. In this article, you’ll learn more about the imaging tests that are used as part of thyroid disease diagnosis and management.

Diagnosing thyroid disease is a process that can incorporate numerous factors, including clinical evaluation, blood tests, imaging tests, biopsies, and other tests. Here, the thyroid-specific aspects of a clinical examination for thyroid disease are explored.

Mary Shomon takes a look at a study published in October 2006 that looked at whether people over 65 with borderline thyroid problems are more likely to suffer have depression, anxiety, and problems with memory or thinking than people with normal thyroid function.

As of late 2006, the nation's endocrinologists are still divided regarding the TSH reference range, a controversy that has implications for thyroid patients. One of the nation's most prominent endocrinologists, Dr. Jeffrey Garber, talks to patient advocate Mary Shomon regarding his thoughts about the TSH controversy, what the normal range should be, and what it means for patients.

What is the optimal TSH level for thyroid patients? Researchers have looked at the issue, and recommended a target level, especially for those who want to avoid heart disease risk factors. Mary Shomon explores the issue further.

Drs. Richard and Karilee Shames discuss the usefulness of saliva testing for hormonal evaluation of adrenal, thyroid and reproductive sex hormones.

Understanding the thyroid stimulating hormone -- TSH -- test, and what a normal result means, and how it's used to diagnose and manage hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.

The TRH Stimulation Test is a long-standing, highly sensitive test that measures the effectiveness of the thyroid in action, not just a static blood test. Dr. Raphael Kellman is hoping to revive interest in and use of this test to detect the millions of undiagnosed hypothyroid patients in America.

The ongoing controversy about what the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone -- TSH test -- levels are normal, and which are indicative of disease shows no signs of going away in late 2005. Experts have taken sides the battle, and the losers are the patients who don't get proper treatment. Explore this urgent controversy with Thyroid Guide Mary Shomon.

Does it matter what time you have your TSH test done, and do you need to fast before a TSH test? Mary Shomon takes a look at some research findings that help explore these questions.

An overview of the routine health screening tests you should be regularly getting as part of good preventive medical care.

A look at some key facts about thyroid disease that many patients -- and their doctors -- don't know.

Overview of information about thyroid disease, including diagnosis and treatment of hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, nodules, goiter, and thyroid cancer.

A look at what it means to have thyroid antibodies, and whether or not this calls for treatment

Chart that helps you interpret TSH levels and other lab values and whether they point to hypothyroidism.

Step-by-step guidelines on how to interpret your TSH blood test results.

How to know if your test results point to hypothyroidism.

How to know if your test results point to hyperthyroidism.

Step-by-step guidelines on how to tell if you are hyperthyroid.

Great article from the Journal of Naturopathic Medicine

Describes all lab, x-ray tests and what they mean, from Endocrineweb.

Step-by-step guidelines on how to perform a thyroid self-check.

A review of thyroid disease symptoms and risk factors, from thyroid guide and patient advocate Mary Shomon.