This One Small Organ Affects Everything

[@thedayb4tomorrow]

"when something goes wrong with your thyroid, it makes it everybody's problem" Yeah, had a French teacher back in school. Just really not very nice. At some point she got thyroid surgery. When she came back she was basically a different person.

[@acattagite448]

got a mom with problematic thyroid. suffice it to say, i didn’t have a great childhood

[@SA-pi3zm]

@@acattagite448well hopefully you have a super awesome adulthood

[@katherineheasley6196]

I had hyperthyroidism as a teen, and I was a complete mess. Once it was destroyed and I got my hormones re-balanced with levothyroxine, my teachers and friends said I was a completely different person. It really messes with your brain.

[@acattagite448]

@@SA-pi3zm thank you!

[@Macachee]

Nice! Did she get it completely removed or just a part of it?

[@giraffles]

I saw the thumbnail and let out an anguished scream-- I've had thyroid cancer twice and know it all too well 😂 it really messes EVERYTHING up when your thyroid isn't working right!! edit: thank you for all the well wishes, y'all are too sweet! 🥺💖💖💖 and to make the bigots in the comments mad, I'm afab but not a woman, hope that doesn't make your brain melt too badly. 😂😂

[@methyleneblue_]

i hope you’re doing better now 🤍

[@giraffles]

​@@methyleneblue_ I am doing much better, thank you so much! 💖💖💖 modern medicine is fantastic! and like, not that you *want* to get cancer, but it's a pretty chill one compared to many others 😂

[@fernandocordova7909]

I'm glad to hear that you're doing alright. I'm currently in remission and the ever changing medication and fatigue is exhausting.

[@KandyLamb]

@@fernandocordova7909 Same, It's been over 5 years since my thyroidectomy and we're still trying to balance the T4 and T3. Good luck to you and @giraffles.

[@methyleneblue_]

@@giraffles i’m so glad to know you’re doing much better!!

[@bozobarr]

Hashimoto's Thyroiditis person here. The goiter and inability to swallow water easily were the clues. Blood work? Perfect. If my doctor only looked at blood work, I'd have been even more screwed. Thankfully, ultrasound was ordered and they found my body eating my thyroid. Don't know what triggered it, but it helped explain my insane joint pain and exhaustion from exercising (that's always fun trying to tell your loved ones and therapist that, no, exercise makes me feel even crappier - not that getting fatter makes me feel less crappy)...weeeeeeeee

[@stolenrelic]

A lot of the time a viral infection triggers it. Usually, you get some minor respiratory thing and the immune system gets confused so a few months later the thyroid is broken because the immune system thinks this whole time it's been fighting the good fight when really it's been friendly fire.

[@jaxs616]

I'm on the other end, kind of. Graves, but we couldn't get it under control so I had my thyroid irradiated. But yeah my endo is actually amazing and actually pays attention to clinical presentation (so many DON'T) and tbh she's the reason I've held on and keep trying to stabilize.

[@ZedaZ80]

When I was a kid, my mother told me I probably had the same thyroid issue as my aunt, based on how I was developing compared to the rest of the family. Anyway, my thyroid level was perfect, so clearly nothing to be concerned about 😅 (I do believe my results are accurate, I was just extremely active so a 7000 cal meal used to be sufficient, and now I have a normal metabolism and eat too much).

[@AddersOtter]

That one was fun for me. I wasn't feeling too many symptoms, except I had been going to the gym, and I realized I couldn't push myself anymore. My doctor had me go through like 3 or 4 rounds of bloodwork for all kinds of things before he saw an antibody count through the roof for something thyroid related that screamed "hashimotos". I'm working a physical job for the first time in a while and I've noticed I'm tired a lot after it. And this is stuff that in my teens or early 20s wouldn't have been any problem at all.

[@angelcollina]

I’m having some trouble. I feel like there’s something off, but I’ve had thyroid tests and the doctors report that “it’s in the normal range.” But I don’t know what else to ask for cause I’m not a doctor and don’t know this stuff. But no one I talk to wants to research more into it because “it’s in the normal range” 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@purplemicrodot58]

Mixed Thyroid Disorder here, Graves and Hashimotos simultaneously. Just finding a good, available endocrinologist is the greatest challenge.

[@polyesterShark]

100%. It's pretty f'd when a doctor goes "you're having trouble breathing and swallowing from neck tumors? Let's check back in a year without treatment 🙂"

[@razzlethorn]

This is US healthcare in a nutshell. Our politicians argue we can’t nationalize health care because it will lead to long wait times and poor service if available at all in your area, when the reality is we are already experiencing long wait times and poor service combined with both financial and logistical inaccessibility. It’s a failed system being propped up by our corporate hospital industry and their lobbyists.

[@AppleGameification]

the endocrinologist that i went to cost me $300 for a 15 minute appointment lol (other brands are available)

[@misssniperella]

Today i learned that you can have both at the same time, I only just learned a year or 2 ago from my Endo that I could develop Hashimoto's later on.

[@MisterCynic18]

Bruh I've spent the last week just trying to find one that takes my insurance 💀

[@RAMBO14001]

This episode couldn't have been more relatable and informative, greatly answering all the small questions i had in my head about this matter; my mom had this genetic problem with her Thyroid leading the doctors to have to remove it all together, and since then she has been experiencing most of these problems mentioned all too accurately prescribed, weight and hair lose, inability to eat properly, anxiety etc.. worst part is she's trying her best to hide it all while struggling with all the house shores.. it really breaks my heart all these years having to cope with this 💔 I don't wish this upon anybody.

[@vincenttrigg4521]

Wait... it can also cause hair loss and inability to eat properly???

[@billbucktube]

Yes, very low thyroid, very high thyroid are easily diagnosed via the standard thyroid tests. HOWEVER, there is a high T4 and a low T3 (and probably other things) that give you subclinical hypothyroidism. When you talk to your GP they will dismiss it as, "All your tests are within range." Despite feeling sluggish, amotivated, can't lose weight, etc. It is crazy making.

[@piddlydiddly]

yep, I went years and years as "subclinical hypo", it took me gaining about 80lbs and finally having antibodies in their hundreds, diagnosed with MDD and a TSH of 17 to be diagnosed and medicated.

[@genghis_connie]

Same. The “range” is a guide, not a rule. I was prescribed meds for hypothyroid twice (animal and manufactured). I can’t tolerate them Ugh.

[@jaxs616]

This was me. Didn't get diagnosed until it broke my body because they didn't even tell me the first time I was subclinical. I understand why they do that, but I'd been having generalized "health issues" (really not feeling good and having to drop down to part-time at work) for years prior to that. Mystery solved ig lol.

[@jaxs616]

​@@piddlydiddly😢 People just don't take this seriously enough. I'm so glad they made this video.

[@jaxs616]

​@@genghis_connieYup! When I found out those numbers are based on an average and NOT scientific evidence showing that those numbers are healthiest, I about hit the floor in shock.

[@lindabedwall]

For me it took many years to find out about my Thyroid Disorder, 5-8 years or so. I was lucky to meet an doctor who sat me down for a real talk, instead or ordering the usual vitamin check blood work. My hunger went down, my joints doesn't hurt, my depression went down. My life changed!

[@jaxs616]

Very happy for you!! Hope I join you there someday. ❤ 😊

[@lindabedwall]

@@jaxs616 it's not perfect but it works. Life is a struggle with an stupid Thyroid. :P

[@Windmelodie]

Had a similar thing here. Took me until I was 30 to have my hypothyroidism diagnosed by a doctor who finally took me seriously and didn't tell me to just "exercise and eat healthier" (my former GP even told me to stop looking for excuses instead of actually looking for the thing causing my issues - I had been gaining weight uncontrollably since age 14). In my case, it was my Gynocologist, who also treated me for PCOS and Insulin Resistance (since, again, no one took me seriously enough). I wish doctors would take symptoms such as unwanted weight gain and lethargy/lack of energy more seriously, especially in already overweight patients. It's so easy to blame it on lack of discipline that actual illnesses are just ruled out from the get go. Counter my experiences with that of my younger sister, who was slim until she gained a few kilos for unknown reasons. Examination, bloodwork, referral and BOOM, diagnosis: Hashimoto. It took her a month to get properly diagnosed. It took me 30 years.

[@SayNoToGod]

​@lindabedwall what did the 'real talk' provide? Specific eating plan? Specific medication? Habits? Etc. Please drop suggestions TY 😊

[@lindabedwall]

@@SayNoToGod The real talk. It was quite unusual for me, the sat me down, looked at me and said "Tell me everything that bothers you." -Everything? -Everything! So I explained my issues with mental health, tired, sleep, depression, ADHD My training that hurts my joints, how I'm freezing and that my hunger actually hurts. How I'm not able to hold on to jobs for some reason. Anxiety with hospitals and trust issues. I guess it's an good thing to just write down everything that bothers you, be short with your explanation and be open and honest if you worry about Hospitals or treatments.

[@GingerBread1004]

My partner found out he has Graves disease in May when he ended up in the ER with his heart in AFib. That tiny little organ does not mess around.

[@sophiejones3554]

aww, I hope he's on his way to recovery now❤

[@OGAngie]

Ugh, this happened to me in February! I was out of work for 4 months and the sickest I've been in my life.

[@kathyjohnson2043]

I am a thyroid cancer survivor. Get your thyroid checked annually and pay attention to the shape of your neck.

[@nariu7times328]

Me too! Please take care.

[@badfairy9554]

I am finding it very hard to eat and drink now. Food gets stuck and then water will not go down.

[@kathyjohnson2043]

@@badfairy9554 time to get checked out regardless of what might be the cause.

[@BB-pn2qv]

Got a nodule in mine, I have to check every few years…

[@badfairy9554]

@@BB-pn2qv sorry to hear that.

[@zaheela]

I had malignant thyroid cancer when I was in my 20s and was forced to get it entirely removed and I can confirm, it made everything in my body go absolutely bonkers…. I also remember that one time when a stupid, well known “doctor” on tv gave the suggestion for people to take thyroid meds for weight lost… and I went on a RANT… ugh…

[@jaxs616]

"Absolutely bonkers" is an apt description 😂 What TV doctor said that?!?! 😮

[@vincenttrigg4521]

How have you been since you've had it removed? My sister has extreme thyroid problems but they won't remove it but I wonder if it would actually help or make things worse.

[@shellym79]

Took 10 years, me switching doctors and then lying to my new doctor to get the proper blood tests and finally a referral to an endocrinologist who said my "thyroid is trash and it probably started 10 years ago." I had every single symptom including no periods. I was told over and over it was my weight. I said i only eat 1500 calories already they said exercise more i literally couldn't. I couldn't breath thanks to iron deficiency and pernicious anemia and everything hurt all the time. Doctor's act like this disease is no big deal they don't care.

[@IC161]

I have hyperthyroidism and it affects so many minor aspects of my life. However, there is one especially serious side effect that was not mentioned in this video which is hypokalemia, or low potassium level. This can cause muscle cramps, increase heart rate, and in serious cases, total leg paralysis. My doctor also mentioned that this disease is more prevalent in female patients so it might manifest differently in males.

[@jaxs616]

It's wild going from "everything's fine" to "everything's broken" because of one little body part. 😮

[@Near_Void]

i have hypothyroidism. itll be with me until i die

[@Memento_Mori_Morals]

​@@Near_Voidsame.. hormones for life.

[@Near_Void]

@@Memento_Mori_Morals 150mg of levothyroxine sodium, per day, for life I wouldve been bankrupt several times over by now if i was in the us

[@sebas11tian]

My doctor took several months to link my paralysis attacks with this. It was a bit like waking up being a bug laying on its back.

[@mickmash13]

My family has a history of low & high thyroid. My mom had Graves disease (treated with radioactive iodine), and I have low thyroid myself. Getting diagnosed for low thyroid involved blood testing, getting an initial perscription for synthetic thyroid hormone, then blood testing & adjusting medication dosage every few weeks until the doctor is happy with where the thyroid levels are at.

[@StandAloneSoul]

They are my favorite explanator for scishow videos :)

[@nerdynanny]

I got Stage 3 Hashimoto's-- this video felt VERY relevant. Sharing it with friends so they can be educated on how bad that condition can be.

[@misssniperella]

Let me tell you Hyperthyroidism is not fun at all. I was diagnosed with Graves' Disease when I was 16, I would constantly be in agonizing hunger, and eat nearly anything I could get my hands on, and still lose weight. It got so bad that my family had to hide food from me just so I didn't eat it all. Luckily after treatment for about 2 years it went into remission, and has been till now, 33.

[@g.d.2059]

Same, except I had NO appetite, and lost so much weight. I took medication for 5 years until remission too. My mom refused surgery.

[@S3lkie-Gutz]

oh my god you are me, i’m currently getting tested for it(they have to do my bloodwork at my home because i’m a difficult flight risk patient that needs sedation) at the moment. i joked with my mom that if i start treatment for graves’ disease im gonna buy myself a geiger or doppler counter to measure how radioactive i am during the radioactive iodine treatment so that’s gonna be fun

[@jaxs616]

The hiding food thing broke my heart. 😢 I'm sorry you went through that. Hyperthyroidism is ******* miserable.

[@jaxs616]

​@@S3lkie-Gutz😂😂😂 my partner works in physics so he has one at work and absolutely brought it home to do just that! It was hilarious. I was very radioactive day 1. I had to stay at my parents so my pets didn't wind up with destroyed thyroids. I also wasn't allowed to travel on public transportation. 😅

[@pimpmastert4980]

What was your treatment and what were your most felt changes???

[@gmrbowden2133]

Hashimoto's here. I fought doctor after doctor for 15 years and could not get a single one of them to test my iodine levels! I kept telling them I suspected iodine deficiency and they insisted that was a third world country issue and it doesn't happen here in 'Merca!!! Finally got a doctor to test my iodine.... I was deficient!!!!! Even this video is insisting that it doesn't happen here in America cuz apparently American soil was blessed by baby Jesus and we're just too good for that.... 😡 AMERICAN DOCTORS NEED TO START TESTING OUR IODINE LEVELS!!!!

[@jaxs616]

I dont have much, because of graves lol, but wanted to give back. Thanks so much. ❤

[@hereticartist574]

Would be great if SciShow devoted an episode to C-PTSD (Complex PTSD, AKA childhood trauma) and how it affects physical and mental health because this issue affects many, many people.

[@LoveAllLight369]

Interestingly enough one of the organs affected the most by this is ………the thyroid. I know from personal experience! ❤

[@algebrainz5989]

Idk, the way they advocated ABA in their autism video has me thinking they would recommend the most traumatizing method possible for addressing PTSD

[@hereticartist574]

@@LoveAllLight369 Same. Hashimoto’s since 1995. That’s why I added the comment.

[@LoveAllLight369]

@@hereticartist574 💙

[@vlmellody51]

I had Hashimoto's with Primary Hyperparathyroidism. There were benign tumors all over my throat, necessitating removal of my thyroid, 2 1/2 parathyroids, and part of my larynx. When my thyroid hormone gets out of balance, I end up in the hospital, not knowing who or where I am.

[@myp3tmonster]

I had thyroid cancer 7 years ago, had a complete thyroidectomy, at the time I knew nothing about my thyroid, the cancer is rare and even rarer in my case being male. It was very scary at first but I was assured it was super treatable. Hopefully anyone reading this with thyroid issues is taking care of themselves ❤

[@wilmaroles4375]

Hard to do when a lot of doctors do not understand the problem any better than the average person. I am a 19 years thyroid cancer survivor

[@vincenttrigg4521]

Congrats on surviving it dude!

[@vincenttrigg4521]

​@wilmaroles4375 congrats on surviving it as well!

[@ElectronFieldPulse]

So, if you don’t take thyroxin do you just become too tired to even get out of bed? Can you feel the thyroxin wearing off because you start to get more tired? What happens if you try to run or do demanding physical activities if you haven’t taken thyroxin?

[@Sezstu]

I had 2 cats who developed hyperthyroidism in old age, which is relatively common. One died because we didn't figure it out in time, the other had radiation treatment and lived 4 more years.

[@vincenttrigg4521]

How do you know it's developing in a cat? Our household has 3 cats and the youngest is 8 and a half years old, the others have to be at least 4 years older so I have concern for them

[@CritterKeeper01]

@@vincenttrigg4521 Symptoms are usually vomiting, diarrhea, and/or weight loss. If you've got a cat who usually hacks up a hairball every couple of months, and you realize they've doing it more like every week or two lately, that may be enough to warrant bloodwork!

[@jaxs616]

Crying BC I've been trying to stabilize after graves diagnosis 6.5yrs ago and have been out of work because it fails anytime I try. So many people just go "I dont know what that does" when I say I have thyroid hormone instability. Too much hormone, even a tiny bit, is poison to me and gives me very severe muscle pain and weakness. And that's just one aspect of this. Thank you. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@deadiemeyers1661]

I am so sorry you are dealing with this. It stinks. 🙁

[@jaxs616]

​@@deadiemeyers1661❤❤❤

[@zombieowen]

Considering how complicated our bodies are and what we do to them, it's amazing they work as well as they do.

[@TomsBackyardWorkshop]

If you suspect you have a thyroid problem make sure your Dr tests T4, T3 and TSH. Often Dr's only test T3 and 4 and you can still have a problem if your 3 and 4 levels are normal. Mine went undetected for decades until I got TSH levels checked.

[@CritterKeeper01]

That's weird, because the impression that I got from my doctor was that checking TSH was more of a standard of care than checking T3/T4 was!

[@flawedmind]

I don’t know what the standard is, but I always end up getting my TSH and T4 tested during routine lab work. (edit to add: I have hypothyroidism being treated with levothyroxine.)

[@goose9201]

i was diagnosed with hashimoto’s thyroiditis at 7 years old! my main symptoms are thinner hair, trouble regulating my body temperature/cold intolerance, tiredness, enlarged thyroid, and the comorbid major depressive disorder. but when i was a kid it was found through behavioral issues 🤔

[@nariu7times328]

Will this be a series, to explain all of our organs? That would be - awesome.

[@sebas11tian]

I discovered how important it was when I started to wake up unable to move. My doctor took half a year to figure out I was experiencing thyrotoxic hypokalemic paralysis.

[@ernmalleyscrub]

Just had a thyroid operation recently. Great to see all this information so clearly discussed. Savanah is always great.

[@Benni777]

I’ve lived with hypothyroidism my whole life. I was born with a genetic disorder that made me more likely to have hypo than if I had not. Personally, the fatigue symptom is an understatement. It’s EXHAUSTING! That just NEEDS to be cleared up, bc this type of exhaustion cannot be explained, unless you know what I’m talking about. It’s honestly debilitating and disabling some days. And, for me, it also causes pretty bad dry mouth, brittle nails and dry skin, and extreme depression. I’ve been on levothyroxine my whole life, as a result, but again, it’s just something I’ve learned to cope with, along with my other myriad of health conditions. Actually NOT having hypo seems weird to me, if that makes sense. If you also have hypo, I feel you! If you have hyper or another thyroid condition, I hope you get the treatments that you need as well and are living a good life despite these crappy symptoms. Let’s beat these butterfly effect symptoms together! 💪🏻☺️

[@matthewtoohey4103]

This episode on the thyroid was cool, because for a small organ the thyroid has massive impact. Could you do an episode on the thymus please? I was stunned to learn how much the thymus shrinks between childhood and adulthood.

[@icyjonny]

I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer a month ago and had my thyroid removed completely! glad to get more information on the thyroid.

[@LostCooper2020]

This is the first video I've been able to find that can make sense. And I've had thyroid for many years. I'm under active diverge, but now I just got dinosaurs with Hashimoto's. Thank you for the video. Because I have looked for once that put it in English that I can understand and I like this. Thank you so much for the information. It is helping me be able to help my daughter. That is going through issues. I'm trying to figure out if she has this. Thank you again jenny

[@n4b1k1]

OMG. I know so well! I was diagnosed with Graves' Disease many years ago. It gave me tachycardia, increased appetite, no concentration. I never got the bulging eyes, but it was awful.

[@jaxs616]

I'm glad you're doing better! These symptoms are debilitating fs

[@PrateekVarshney_PV]

Finally an educational video and not a news video!! Tysm

[@Clock_Man_2763]

Immune system at times: *”Your free trial of life has ended”*

[@Chihi101]

The instant relief I felt when I got my entire thyroid chopped out! My god! I had manic symptoms with my Graves’ so it took me years to realise I wasn’t just growing insane and lazy, so surgery was they way to go, and I’m not exaggerating when I say I was feeling and thinking so much better from the next day…

[@lynxthebeast3471]

I had my thyroid removed in 2020 due to my Graves Disease, and it has improved my life a lot! Very happy to see some representation for it :))

[@jaxs616]

I has mine irradiated in 2019! Radioactive club hehe. I'm still not stable, but it's SO much better than before that. I was so sick at first that I was bedridden for months with horrible symptoms.

[@ayanator3051]

Same here! Full removal was the easiest solution. And now I got a cool scar across my throat 😎

[@knockeledup]

@@jaxs616Fellow radioactive iodine member! Mom and sister also have Graves disease.

[@CritterKeeper01]

@@ayanator3051 Should be even cooler if the reboot of "Highlander" is a hit! "Yeah, the sword *almost* got me!"

[@NezuChan]

Childhood with undiagnosed hypothyroidism really was not fun. It took me years to be properly diagnosed as all the symptoms were attributed to other things. The fatigue was the worst for me. I could sleep for days and never feel rested.

[@Star_sweeper]

I have type 1 diabetes and Hashimoto’s. It took me two years to get a Hashimoto’s diagnosis despite being told about half of all AFAB people with type 1 will develop Hashimoto’s! The doctors just kept telling me to lose weight… but I couldn’t because my thyroid was shot!!

[@loganl3746]

I have a friend with hyperthyroidism and it took wayyyy too long for the docs to diagnose and treat it, partically because they didnt want her to gain weight :/ But she's doing much better now with meds! She has such a healthy glow to her skin now and much more energy :)

[@psycobasschick]

Family history of Grave's disease (hyperthyroid disorder), Hashimoto's (hypothyroidism) and even thyroid cancer (my aunt even had hers grow back after a complete removal). My thyroid numbers just finally started to resemble the symptoms I was feeling for most of my life. Most recently (before I started medication), I could barely get myself out of bed in the morning and my ADHD meds basically didn't work. My mom managed to get both Grave's and Hashimoto's, while her siblings all have one or the other. It sucks feeling like you're going crazy and no one believes you

[@guardianyuki]

I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism in my late 20s and treated with radioactive ablation. Been living with hypothyroidism for the past 10+ years. Wish this video was around back then to help make some sense of my symptoms but thankfully, I had a doctor who saw the indicators and got me the treatment I needed. Very informative!

[@jackzimmer6553]

Was diagnosed with hypopituitarism in the late ‘60s. Since the pituitary is the master endocrine gland it caused hypothyroidism along with decreased function of all other endocrine glands. I’ve been on thyroid medicine ever since this was discovered.

[@ShapeDoppelganger]

I may recall this wrong but I heard that the thyroid is one key link between marine life evolution to our evolution, since the sea has plenty iodine fish have developed this gland to make some hormones but on dry land it's kinda hard to get iodine, so we are left with this kinda bizarre organ that is always at risk to have no material to make it's hormones.

[@matthewb3113]

It is the chemicals produced, especially T3, in the endocrine system that affects everything. The thyroid is just one part. My issue is less with the thyroid and more with the conversion of T4 to T3. Ever since I was prescribed liothyronine my life has been transformed.

[@jaxs616]

😊🎉

[@wolfiesara]

Thank-you for putting this information out there. I grew up in the Goiter-belt - the area around the Great Lakes, and knew several people with this problem when I was a child. It really steams me now, because I've seen quite a few cooking show and demonstration "chefs" in recent years tell people not to eat idodized salt - because they say "it tastes bad and isn't necessary for a healthy diet" and usually while trying to sell a product. It makes me wonder how they're not getting charged for giving out medical advice without a license.

[@StashiaMass]

Thank you for this episode. Though never encountered such an issue, it is a reminder to be grateful for the good health we have.

[@Tarnel13]

I actually just had a hemithyriodectimy yesterday due to a goiter and this definitely helped me better understand how this all works and what to watch out for. Thank you for this!

[@mbryson2899]

I was in my late 20s when I was diagnosed with Graves Disease. I had become twitchy and irritable, and had astonishingly bad mood swings. My resting pulse was around 130 bpm, and I went from a perfect 145 pounds to an almost skeletal 113 pounds in less than a year. My thyroid was doing its best to kill me (and perhaps others through my bad temper). My options were surgical removal or radioactive iodine treatment. I chose the latter. Unfortunately for me the iodine treatment only killed off _most_ of my thyroid. It took over a year to balance my synthetic thyroid dosage with the natural bits of what was left in order to reasonably regulate what was left of my thyroid. That was decades ago, but my family can definitely tell when I miss a synthroid dose...I become the perfect example of irritability and aggression. I feel it too, but sometimes feeling isn't noticing and acting upon. One part of me detests being governed by on e little pill per day, but most of me is grateful.

[@jaxs616]

Early 30s for me, RA treatment, as well. I'm still not ok 6.5 yrs later, but much better than when I had a thyroid.

[@gabrielleperson4794]

I was diagnosed with thyroid issues (Graves, Hashimotos, etc.) around 2008. Even got the radioactive iodine. Permanent hypothyroidism now. My younger sister died last year. Autopsy revealed an enlarged heart and thyroid issues. Antivax mom is sure it's because sister took the COVID vaccine. I think it was the undiagnosed thyroid issues. She had a massive heart attack. She was 45. During my years of figuring it out, I had bouts of shakiness and spasming. Any muscle can spasm. I yawned and spasmed the base of my tongue. I was diagnosed and treated. Sister was not. Sad. Get tested if you have strange symptoms. Maybe get tested anyway.

[@zerwas2ky]

Thanks for this great introduction into thyroid issues. The animation and explanation at the beginning was excellent. I would love it if the pace of SciShow videos would be a tiny bit slower with pauses at the right moments to digest the information.

[@magsimags]

it's not the same but you could try slowing the speed down to 0.75. unfortunately fast spoken videos are everywhere on youtube

[@zerwas2ky]

@@magsimags Thanks for the suggestion! I actually listen at 2x, for me personally, it's mostly about the rhythm. It's a monotonous flow of information the way SciShow does it.

[@magsimags]

@@zerwas2ky I know what you mean. I find it hard to pay attention to it cause it's so fast and monotonous. My brain would naturally tune it out so I have to fight to pick up any information

[@zerwas2ky]

@@magsimags Yes, you’ve put it way better than I could!

[@kevinhagberg1648]

I was diagnosed around 15 with hypothyroid. I took 50MCG of Synthroid for 12 years and it seemed to help. When I lost my job and insurance at 27 I stopped taking it because it was $75 a month. I decided to clean up my diet and exercise more often. its been 7 years, Im 34 and I have never felt better. Went to new doctor for a new job recently and got all kinds of test, blood work and no mention of my thyroid. Makes me wonder what happened lol

[@silentsmurf]

I’ve been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism for about 20 years and I’ve had a couple times where my doctor had me try stop taking my medication since it was already a low dosage, but the levels would go up again after a year or so and I’d be back on the medication

[@kevinhagberg1648]

@@silentsmurf Its been about a year since my last visit. I will set an appoinment and ask specifically about my thyroid.

[@wanderingjana891]

I get hyperthyroidism symptoms but I actually have hypothyroidism. Even the doctor was confused.

[@isabelab6851]

I thought I was the only one!

[@BliffleSplick]

Sometimes it also fluctuates wildly so one test will show low, the next will show high, so getting the right meds is extra challenging

[@k.h.6991]

I had that on the wrong version of the thyroid meds. So if you're already on something, switching brands is worth a try.

[@roberthiltz2741]

It’s funny, I thought I knew a lot about thyroid issues because of many loved ones explaining their experiences… but this video opened my eyes to all of the different symptoms and diagnosis situations that I had yet to encounter. Thank you as always for the information!

[@baa0325]

Then there’s the even more obscure parathyroid glands. These are four tiny glands, one for each lobe of the thyroid. They regulate calcium levels in the body. They can also malfunction, as I discovered a few years ago. So now I’m short one parathyroid, but the scar on my neck is minimal.

[@michaelslater8667]

I just had a parathyroidectomy a few weeks ago myself..i was waiting for them to mention the parathyroid glands

[@b.c.9358]

I had hyperthyroidism due to stress and my anxiety went through the roof, along with my heart rate and metabolism. My body started eating itself.

[@fishnsyd]

I have to have a thyroid ultrasound in 3 days, perfect timing to learn more about this little bugger.

[@abunk8691]

Got a friend with mixed thyroid disorder whose family has a history of thyroid problems. Friend has the weight gain, swollen thyroid, depression, immune system problems among the mentioned symptoms in this video. They gone for a doctors consultation and unless it can be controlled with medication they'll have to have their thyroid removed. Weird that for a smaller part of the body it can mess things up real bad and my friend lost a sister from thyroid cancer.

[@sueanndisanto]

I like this new narrator! Thank you!!

[@alwaysfabulous9965]

I have hyperthyroidism/graves disease thanks for the refresher ~

[@sabrelion8426]

I love the new animations in this video!

[@pantheo9457]

my thyroid started going hyper a few months ago. honestly only came up due to a blood test that i get every year cause of other issues, but the one distinct symptom that ive never experienced before was crazy anger issues - i would get so angry so easily. kind of broke my desk after slamming my fist on it when i got really mad at something at work lol. literally never slammed my fist on anything ever before in my life. im about two months on meds for hyperthyroidism now, stabilised as far as blood results suggest, and the difference in the emotional regulation is crazy. looking back i cant believe how different i feel. freaking thyroid, man. such a small organ, but it can affect so much.

[@jaxs616]

I was diagnosed with bipolar and "anger issues." Years later, nope, was just Graves the whole time. When I'm more in-range, I don't have any emotional instability. None.

[@charliebrown1184]

Unfortunately, I am all too familiar with the spectacular myriad of chaos this organ can cause when it goes wrong!

[@jaxs616]

Saaaaame, fam. ❤

[@chesh1rek1tten]

My bf has Hashimoto.. glad to learn more about this

[@feralbluee]

cahrazy shirt. you look great in it. i have absolutely no idea why, but you are one of my favorite scishow people. :) you make things very clear and understandable and have an “up” delivery. ( up as opposed to feeling down. i don’t know a word that conveys the same cloud of meaning. Blame it on my being a 60’s person. 💙 ✌️:)

[@MJWPub]

Is it a mystery, to most doctors who keep prescribing anti-depressants (which reduce T3 & T4) without checking Thyroid! Thank you for the video, now to get my doctor to watch it!

[@EmilMToft]

Will you provide a link to a scientific/validated site or product resume showing consensus regarding your statement "antidepressants (which reduce T3 & T4)? Thanks in advance

[@Michael18599]

@@EmilMToft Certain SSRIs have been shown to reduce T3 and T4 levels: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19583486/

[@Sniperboy5551]

@EmilMToft “ T4 level has been reported to decrease by 11.2%” Clinical Neuropharmacology, (Lai, Xu, et al., 2016) It’s quite rare, but well-documented.

[@MJWPub]

@@EmilMToft check data for each medication. some like Mirtazapine have specific warnings like hypothyroxinaemia. or ask a pharmacist.

[@EmilMToft]

@@Sniperboy5551 By which branch of antidepressant, NaSSA, TCA, SNRI, SSRI? Is the mechanism described so there's talk of a causation or correlation? In general, more people with severe depression aren't as active, they don't have a diet that's as varied as people without the diagnosis. - so many variables can be part of the cause for the reduction in thyroid gland function and not medication. How can it be ruled out that the disease itself isn't the reason behind the reduction? In addition to your source which is unavailable to me, the fact that there's talk of a reduction in T4 might not even show up as physical symptoms, since T4 is far less active/reactive than T3.

[@theletters9623]

I have hashimotos and hoo boy let me tell you the fatigue is no joke, without synthetic thyroid hormones I will sleep 12 hours total every day, 10 hours at night, 2 hour nap in the afternoon. And of course still feel tired all the time

[@katiekatie25]

I got diagnosed with graves last year at 22 years old. It’s turned my life completely upside down. I’m always uncomfortable, always tired, always hot. Right now I’m hypo because of medication and basically sleep all day. When I was hyper all I did was eat all day. I was passing out from the high heart rate. I let it go on way too long without treatment because I kept telling myself nothing was wrong and I was out of breath because I was over weight. If you think something is wrong please don’t wait like I did. I was miserable for months and was putting my life at risk. This disease absolutely sucks and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.

[@TakeShotAction]

Underactive Thyroid (Hypothyroidism) for me. I went crazy during my late teens and early 20's and I believe that was a major contributor to that. We're not eating the correct diet or getting any sunlight, we need to have more low carb high fat foods and consume animal based products regularly. No more bread, oats, noodles, soda etc. The fibre is just giving us the runs and isn't being digested either.

[@shuga1313]

OMG ! I've just recently been diagnosed with hyperparathyroidism and will be having surgery soon . It's crazy how this video pops up as soon as my husband and I were just talking about it 😳

[@macabrony861]

Had a late diagnosis of hypothyroidism after being verbally abused for my inability to keep up in HS. Had blood tests regularly but UMass put down that I had a miscarriage without consulting my family even though I'm ace & had never been sexually active. Took a different office to finally get the help I needed. Turned out to be genetic. I've recently started recovering from the effects of falling through the cracks like that.

[@macabrony861]

To make it worse I'd been prescribed antidepressants before my thyroid was checked and then my psychiatrist unintentionally gaslight me cause my meds weren't helping.

[@Fortemois]

had good ol thyroid cancer for a while. took me to move to another state to get it diagnosed, the previous state thought it was simply hashimoto's and didnt look further. current doctors were a lot more curious thank goodness

[@veryberry39]

Subclinical hypothyroidism here! This has been going on for over a decade of my life, if not longer. Some doctors want to treat it, others don't. My TSH levels are constantly waffling, but I finally went back on Synthroid a month ago...and I hate this stuff so much, lol. It's not even because it DOES anything bad, but you can't take ANYTHING with it. I'm also iron deficient, but I have to wait 4 hours before I can take that. And I have to wait half an hour before eating. Having to try remembering the timing of all my meds and supplements is a huge pain in the ass, especially when I'm not even seeing results from the Synthroid, lol. Bodies are so annoying.

[@SayNoToGod]

Try liothyronine 👍

[@CritterKeeper01]

I used to put my thyroid pill in a cap on my bedside table, and set my alarm for an hour before I had to be up. I'd wake up, take my pill, and go back to sleep! When my main alarm went off an hour later, I could eat right away if I wanted, and most of the time I'd be waking up on my own around the time the alarm went off. Only reason I don't do it that way any more is that I don't usually eat breakfast before work now, I drink a protein drink (from my dietician, so no comments please) after I'm at work and it's been over an hour since I took the pill.

[@ashleeminnow8453]

Currently having hypothyroidism and nodules that could be cancer and need to be biopsied, so I super appreciate this video. I've been doing so much research on the thyroid since diagnosis but I don't retain information as well as I do from Scishow videos.

[@EnoShadow-Walker]

My thyroid was out of wack. I started taking kelp supplements and within 3 bottles the inflammation and weight disappeared quickly

[@razzar508]

I was diagnosed with Hashimotos Thyroiditis at 7. Was hyperthyroid presenting. Anorexic and anxious. After meds i am now hypo presenting. Luckly i am considered curvy and not just fat now lol. I'm 30 and I'm so tired.

[@gordol66]

I no longer have to worry about thyroid disease. Mine already tried to kill me and was completely removed, along with several lymph notes in the same area due to Stage 3 thyroid cancer.

[@encanta411]

My mom had thyroid cancer, did an iodine radiation treatment, she had her thyroid removed, and now has to take daily life saving medication for the rest of her life. It’s crazy how she discovered she had a thyroid condition: at her dentist cleaning appointment! The dentist was feeling her glands by her throat and didn’t like how the glands felt and recommended she talk to her doctor about it!!

[@betsyphillips6649]

Yep. Mine is broken…happened postpartum. Took forever for Dr to figure out. Numbers were so off I should have been in a coma. Hashimoto’s. Thank goodness for education like your video and for medication!

[@mhyzon1]

I got diagnosed with graves 4 years ago. All of the symptoms (anxiety, trouble sleeping, irritability) are just my normal ADHD brain plus, you know, a world wide pandemic. The only reason it was caught was I lost 30lbs in 3 months (quarterly checkins with my doc for my ADHD stimulants). After much bloodwork and endocrinologist visits, got on a thyroid suppressing medication and I’m in remission. The physicist in me kinda wishes I got radioiodine therapy, but it’s usually less used these days. After medication, they usually go to surgery. With modern lartheroscopic surgery, the risks are lower than radiation

[@bbbenj]

Thank you 👍

[@starrydreamer]

Got diagnosed with thyroid cancer by my GP when I had a cold! When checking my glands, she felt something unusual and 6 months later I had a thyroidectomy.

[@KomodoSoup]

Thanks for the great video 😊 Could you make one for Narcolepsy and cataplexy?

[@TJtheBee]

Hypothyroidism here! I just about fainted in my second year of uni and had to go to the hospital, get blood tests, etc. What they originally thought was just stress, improved immensely when I started thyroid medication. I've been stable on it for several years now, although I get it checked every once in a while, mostly because A) you're supposed to and B) I'm doing the bloodwork anyway.

[@caia1574]

I was diagnosed with Graves disease right after being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes because my heart rate wasn't going down as well as it should be after beginning insulin treatment. Had it removed a bit later but in the meantime it was quite the journey trying to stabilize it

[@JenFoxworth]

When yer thyroid doctor tells you yer just tired because you have kids, your TSH lvls are fine, and you can't stay awake more then a few hours each day, it's time for a new doctor. And after that it's hard to find one that actually will listen. Man. I've had Hashimoto's my whole life, I'm nearly 40, and they still can't get it right.

[@jaxs616]

Nearly 40 with graves and post-ablative hypothyroidism and a great endo and we still can't get it under control. Infuriating.

[@ashy969]

Sadly, many doctors only check TSH and call it a day... while they should check for Free T4 and antibodies as well... My sister ended up in the hospital before they checked these and then they diagnosed her with Grave's... And I already got the diagnosis for Hashimoto's years before so they could have suspected... But women are frequently dismissed with all kind of stuff. My mother was dismissed 3 times with a lump in her left breast. When her nipple sank in they diagnosed her with stage 4 cancer. My friend's dad went with suspision of testicle cancer (a pinhead sized lump) and he got rushed tests and all...

[@kathyjohnson2043]

@@JenFoxworth yes! Never hesitate about trying a different doctor

[@dg-hughes]

A specific thyroid doctor? I wish I had that. My doctor said you need pills I got them and that was it. Ten years now and I'm not really myself just a zombie.

[@kathyjohnson2043]

@@dg-hughes find an endocrinologist that isn't just a diabetic specialist

[@IDreamOfCrafting]

Just got diagnosed with hypothyroidism, but I thought and feared for 2 days, it was cancer. I've been so sick though for over a week. Glad I went into my doctor when I did because I had no idea anything was wrong. Thought I just had a stomach bug.

[@caluhmg]

I recently was diagnosed with hypothyroidism but have a handful of symptoms that align with hyperthyroidism! (Weight loss, sensitivity to heat, racing heart, you name it) It’s crazy how weird it manifests in some people.

[@TomasBruno-ww6tg]

On the topic of this video, in Argentina all salt must be iodized by law to prevent iodine defficiency. It works so well as a control measure that I didn't even remember it was a thing until I saw this video, and I'm a Biochemist that has done many diagnostics on this. Regulation works and rocks sometimes

[@curtishoffmann6956]

I live in Japan, and had what I thought might be an iodine deficiency in my diet. Tried asking a doctor about it, and it was really hard to get across what I was trying to say. Took a long time for the doctor to catch on, and she eventually admitted that Japan doesn't do much about iodized salt. The main source of dietary iodine is seaweed, but you have to eat a lot of it per week. Just by chance, I found a shop that had a discount sale on Doritos. Looks like they use the American ingredient list, but there's nothing on the packaging showing iodine levels. Got a blood test recently and it supposedly didn't show any abnormalities. But now, I have a medical justification to snack on Doritos occasionally.

[@buddyholly4672]

I'm pretty sure they don't put iodine in the salt of commercial snacks. Iodized table salt is mostly for home cooking.

[@curtishoffmann6956]

@@buddyholly4672 That may be true. All I know is that the symptoms, including joint pain and a swelling at the side of the neck near where the thyroid should be, subsided only after trying a couple small bags of Doritos.

[@SayNoToGod]

​@@curtishoffmann6956 woah

[@BobSmith-tm2kj]

I've had recent hair loss not related to male pattern baldness. I also have a family history of hypothyroidism. They didn't catch anything last time I asked but I'm definitely gonna have them check again given the changes

[@Libratarot]

UGH. When are we getting tricorders to just scan us and tell us what is wrong and maybe the best course of treatment for us?

[@batman_2004]

I wish no one get Graves disease. It makes your body thin, eye bulging, weak and so much more. And it never goes away.. 😢

[@Echo81Rumple83]

my mom had surgery for her parathyroid issue. it was making her exhausted before the procedure, but she had to wait for the pandemic to not suck so badly first (she also retired the same year aforementioned plague started).

[@osian4182]

My body disagreed with the Thyroid's importance and decided to not develop one. I seem to manage okay purely on levothyroxine (225mcg), but I do wonder how things would be if I had one.

[@jaxs616]

Friend of mine was born without one, as well! 😮 I have Graves.

[@cosmicmutant33]

A lot of thyrodisms symptoms are very similar to cushing syndrome and disease where the issue is more on the (or pituitary level or adrenal glands). But almost all the same symptoms because of the inbalance in hormone levels with cortisol and ACTH in particular.

[@cosmicmutant33]

Ps I have cushings disease with a pituitary tumor that produced to much acth

[@Rewnbry]

I’ve had Hashimoto’s hypothroidism since I was about 14/15. I had 2 pretty bad sinus infections back to back and kicked my immune system into overdrive. It’s been over 10 years now. It was rough at the beginning but has since been fairly stable. It’s not the worst chronic condition but definitely still not fun!

[@IceNinja189]

I have hypothyroidism. As I aged it slowly creeped up on me. Five years ago I had most of my symptoms but not strong enough to be noticed and my blood tests werent abnormal. Because I knew my mother also had problems i insisted on getting checked again a year ago. Since getting medication my life has improved so much. I can get up without fighting for my life, actually participate in school and not fall asleep for 3 hours everytime i get home. Not only my mental health has improved drastically but also my physical. Most people just thought i was weak because i was bad at anything sports and literally feelt like i was dying everytime i did. Now I am on par with most people of my age and also lost a lot of weight.

[@colddogs]

i was diagnosed with hashimoto’s thyroiditis at 40

[@TwoNote]

Joined the club late last year, still can't get the meds right as it fluctuates

[@emmasprague5465]

same, got it super early at 17 😔

[@SayNoToGod]

Kelp!

[@LDiamondz]

Calling the thyroid gland the Little Master of Chaos was spot on! It ruined my life.