When Do You See an Endocrinologist for Thyroiditis?

According to the American Thyroid Association, more than 12% of people in the United States develop a thyroid condition in their lifetime. Thyroiditis is the rare type affecting 1-2% of people and is prevalent in women with a family history of thyroid disease and those with diabetes Type 1 and 2. 

The good news is that this condition can be treated, especially when diagnosed early. Many people experience mood swings, hyperactivity, muscle weakness, and itchiness, and the first instinct is to visit a primary care doctor. 

Your physician will perform blood tests to determine the condition but may refer you to a specialist like the professionals at Associated Endocrinologist in Michigan for further diagnosis. If you’re wondering when the best time to see an endocrinologist is, read on to find out:

What is Thyroiditis?

Thyroiditis is a thyroid gland inflammation that causes an overproduction or underproduction of the thyroid hormone. The condition occurs in three phases:

• Thyrotoxic phase: This is the first stage of the disease, which causes the thyroid gland to inflame. As a result, the thyroid gland releases many thyroid hormones, leading to thyrotoxicosis.
• Euthyroid phase: This phase is temporary and happens after the first phase, just before there’s an underproduction of thyroid hormones. 
• Hypothyroid phase: An overproduction of the thyroid hormone over a short period leaves very few hormones in the gland for a release. Consequently, you develop hypothyroidism which may escalate to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis over time.

Types of Thyroiditis

There are various types of thyroiditis:

• Hashimoto’s thyroiditis: This condition develops when the immune system attacks the thyroid gland, making it swell and damaged. It’s the most common cause of hypothyroidism.
• Acute infectious thyroiditis: This is a rare type of thyroiditis caused by infectious bacteria.
• Postpartum thyroiditis: It’s a rare type of thyroiditis that develops a year after giving birth. The body produces antibodies that attack the thyroid gland.
• Radiation-induced thyroiditis: This type is caused by radiation therapy when treating certain cancers.

Symptoms of Thyroiditis

The symptoms vary based on the type of thyroiditis in the body. However, the most common symptoms for all kinds are:

• Fatigue
• Constipation
• Loss of sex drive
• Dry or scaly skin
• Irregular periods
• Muscle aches and weakness

When to See an Endocrinologist

Your primary care doctor will diagnose the condition and prescribe medication to manage the disease. However, you may need to visit an endocrinologist if you’ve been diagnosed with the disease and:

• You are expectant or trying to get pregnant: Pregnancy affects hormone levels significantly hence the need to see an endocrinologist who can prescribe healthy doses of thyroid hormone medication to avoid pregnancy complications.
• Have been diagnosed with an enlarged thyroid gland (goiter): The endocrinologist will help you determine why the gland is enlarged, and if there are no tumors.
• Developed a thyroid nodule: Sometimes, goiter manifests as a thyroid nodule or growth in the thyroid gland. If so, an endocrinologist is the most suited professional to diagnose the problem to identify the problem. They will perform scans to determine if it’s rare cancer or a result of hyperthyroidism.
• Have fluctuating levels of blood: Patients already diagnosed with hypothyroidism develop fluctuations in the blood. An endocrinologist can prescribe a treatment plan that stabilizes blood levels while on medication.

You may need to visit an endocrinologist if you’ve recently been diagnosed with thyroiditis. You can also see an endocrinologist if you’ve developed any of the conditions discussed.