Autoimmune thyroiditis. The most terrible thing. What to expect? Signs and Symptoms

Autoimmune thyroiditis is one of the most common diseases in Russia, especially in regions remote from the sea. But not everyone realizes that his thyroid gland is not working at full strength: it can be detected only by passing a special laboratory analysis. And therapists give direction to this analysis not so often, without seeing it necessary. The fact is that the symptomatic picture of the disease is so vague that even an experienced doctor first of all will presume the presence of other, non-endocrine pathologies.

AIT - what is it?

When our immune system begins to attack the cells of its own organism, such a process is called autoimmune. In the body gets a virus that penetrates inside the cell and stays there, and the antibodies of our immunity do not have to "get" the virus out of the cell to destroy it, in the arsenal of their capabilities only the destruction of the cell along with the "enemy."

Viruses in the thyroid gland fall very often. The organ located on the front surface of the neck serves as a specific filter for the air we breathe, so all pathogenic organisms enter the thyroid tissue. Of course, not every person immediately after this will get thyroiditis, for this hereditary predisposition is needed, but considering how many people are already sick with this pathology, one can be sure that almost everyone has a relative with this autoimmune disease.

When cells of immunity attack an organ as a target, they damage it, after which it will scar - it is gradually covered with a replacement tissue, as it happens in a disease called autoimmune thyroiditis. The most terrible thing that can be expected is that the organ will heal completely and stop producing hormones. Fortunately, all these hormones are already in the synthetic version in the form of tablets, which will need to be taken as part of substitution therapy.

Symptoms

When a person hears the name of a diagnosis that sounds impressive, it seems to him that the disease is very dangerous. And he begins to look for information on the topic "Autoimmune thyroiditis." The worst thing to expect is the symptoms of the disease, as some think, because they, at first glance, really make you tense. But it is important to remember that for most people the diagnosis is a complete surprise, that is, they did not even suspect that they were sick. Therefore, the symptoms of AIT, of course, there are, and their list is wide, but to live a full life together with them is quite real.

And this is the main problem of such a pathology as autoimmune thyroiditis. The worst thing is that you can wait for signs of the disease endlessly, and they will not appear until the function of the thyroid gland completely disappears.

To list all the symptoms does not make sense, because the thyroid gland produces homons that participate absolutely in all systems of the body. When the organ is damaged, the amount of the hormone in the blood becomes smaller and all organs suffer. But only those systems that were initially problematic are clearly signaling this.

If a person has a weak nervous system, AIT will reward him with asthenia, irritability and drowsiness, a person with a weak digestive system will suffer from constipation and diarrhea and so on.

Therefore, when it comes to the diagnosis of "autoimmune thyroiditis," the most terrible thing to expect is that clinical manifestations will not allow you to quickly diagnose yourself by contacting the right doctor. In most cases, a person will rationalize all the symptoms, explaining them with a temperament or external factors.

Diagnostics

When a person gets to see an endocrinologist, the question of diagnosing is only in two laboratory blood tests:

1. First, it is blood for the maintenance of the thyroid hormone in the blood (T4) and the hormone of the pituitary (TTG), which interacts with the thyroid gland, and the production of these hormones is always interrelated: if TSH decreases, T4 rises and vice versa.
2. Secondly, it is an analysis of the presence of antibodies to thyroid tissue cells.

If the tests detect both the presence of antibodies, and an increase in the level of TSH, a diagnosis is made of "autoimmune thyroiditis." The worst thing to expect is that the diagnosis led to a definitive diagnosis, and now it will be necessary to be treated for life, unless, of course, science devises other methods to replace substitution therapy.

Treatment

When the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormone, the treatment is only to give it in the form of a pill. For this, there are preparations on the pharmaceutical market:

• "L-thyroxine";
• Eutirox.

The drugs are available in different dosages: 25, 50, 75, 100, 150 μg. The doctor prescribes treatment with the smallest dosage, gradually increasing and determining the dose that a person will drink constantly throughout his life. Therefore, with the diagnosis of "autoimmune thyroiditis," the worst thing to expect is the need to take the drug on an empty stomach every morning, regardless of the circumstances. But in fact, patients quickly become accustomed to this.

Dosage adjustment

Of course, once-only dosage will not be preserved for life, since the organ (thyroid gland) continues to disintegrate under the influence of antibodies and will produce less and less natural hormone. In addition, fluctuations in hormone levels can be influenced by factors such as weight and even climate change.

Therefore, at least once every six months, it is necessary to take an analysis determining the amount of TSH and T4 to understand whether it is necessary to raise the dosage of the drug or reduce it. In any case, the dose change should not exceed 25 mcg in 14 days. With properly selected treatment, a person will not experience any unpleasant symptoms of such a disease as autoimmune thyroiditis. The most terrible thing to expect: treatment will require regular blood donation, and therefore, visits to the clinic and patience in the queues at the treatment room.

Prevention

If someone from close relatives suffers from AIT disease, the likelihood of getting sick is also high, especially the pathology is transmitted from mother to daughter. Completely eliminate the risk of the disease is impossible, but the maximum delay in the onset of the development of pathology is real. For this, you need to take iodine preparations, for example "Jodomarin", according to the instructions. Endocrinologists claim that taking iodine and regular rest on the seashore can increase the level of thyroid protective forces from antibodies and adjust the work of immunity.

In addition, it is important to avoid factors that can provoke the development of the disease:

• Contraindicated work or living in an environmentally unfavorable region, for example, a person who has a high risk of AIT, do not get a job at a gas station;
• It is important to avoid stress, not only emotional, but also physical, for example, climate change;
• It is important to protect yourself from colds that make immunity aggressive, and especially to monitor the absence of foci of chronic infection in the nasopharynx.

In such simple ways you can save yourself from the risk of getting sick with such a pathology as autoimmune thyroiditis. The most terrible thing to expect: prevention may seem to the person not serious, because it includes a list of simple recommendations for a healthy lifestyle. And in this case the person, not observing the recommendations, probably will face the disease.

Weight gain

According to the majority of patients who were diagnosed with an "autoimmune thyroiditis," the worst thing to expect is manifestations in the form of a set of weight that will be uncontrollable and impetuous, because the doctor offers to drink hormones!

In fact, the metabolism with thyroid hormone deficiency really slows down, and a person can gain weight. But the drugs of substitution therapy normalize the level of the hormone, so with a properly selected dosage, the metabolism of a person with AIT is the same as that of any other person. In order to protect oneself from weight gain, it is enough simply to "spur" the metabolism, feeding often, in small portions.

There is a share of the probability of gaining excess weight not due to fat mass, but due to the accumulation of lymph. Therefore, endocrinologists advise their patients to monitor the amount of fluid used. You need to drink 1.2-2 liters of fluid a day, and from the habit of drinking tea is not from thirst, but from boredom will have to give up. And this is with the diagnosis of "autoimmune thyroiditis," the most terrible thing to expect from the sphere of prohibitions, because otherwise the life of a person with AIT is no different from that of a healthy person.

AIT and pregnancy

Today, AIT is increasingly diagnosed to young girls, although earlier, according to statistics, the disease was diagnosed at the age of 40-45 years. But "all the diseases", not only endocrine pathologies, "get younger".

Often, young girls think that when diagnosed as an "autoimmune thyroiditis," the worst thing to expect is infertility. But this idea is fundamentally wrong, because with compensated AIT-euthyroidism, a woman is completely fertile and can have children. However, before that she will have to visit the family planning office, report her illness, so that the doctor has consulted her how to change the dosage of the substitution therapy from the first weeks of pregnancy.

AIT and life expectancy

Most people think when they put absolutely any diagnosis, including "autoimmune thyroiditis," the worst thing to expect is a reduction in life. In fact, thyroid hormone is recommended in many countries after a certain age, even without diagnosed AIT, to prolong life and preserve youth.