Posted: 23-Nov-2005 << BACK
Hepatitis C and the Thyroid Gland
Hypothyroidism is one of the possible 'extra-hepatic' complications of hepatitis c. If you have this condition you may want to help raise awareness by filling in this survey.
There are two conditions associated with HCV infection where the immune system can either attack or stimulate thyroid tissue: Overeractive thyroid production (hyperthyroidism) can cause insomnia, weight loss, palpitations and ankle swelling and underactive thyroid production (hypothyroidism) which can cause physical and mental sluggishness. With hepatitis C, as in the general population, thyroid autoimmune dysfunction is more common amongst women. Treatment can also trigger thyroid malfunction and so during treatment your thyroid function is checked regularly. Everyone with hepatitis C should be having at least annual thyroid function blood tests.
HYPOTHYROID PATIENT SURVEY
Thyroid Patient Advocacy -UK (TPA-UK) has recently put together the largest hypothyroid patients' survey ever to be carried out in the UK for sufferers of the disease. It is hoped the results of the survey will raise awareness of this debilitating illness, which can strike at any age and affects 1 in 4 of us, mainly women.
Symptoms include unexpected weight gain, hair loss on both head and body, infertility, extreme tiredness, mood swings, loss of libido, coldness, high cholesterol, memory loss, depression and dementia among many others. Because of the wide variety of symptoms experienced, the patient may be wrongly diagnosed, or thought to have other illnesses such as ME, Fibromyalgia (FM), menopause etc.
Some common and often undiagnosed symptoms and dangerous consequences of low thyroid include: serious mental problems, seizures, heart disease, diabetes including misdiagnosis and complications, constipation resulting in colon cancer, all female problems (due to high amounts of dangerous forms of oestrogen), including: tumours, fibroids, ovarian cysts, PMS, endometriosis, breast cancer, miscarriage, heavy periods and cramps, bladder problems leading to infections, and others....
If you wish to take part in the hypothyroid patients survey, you can now complete this online by visiting our website www.tpa-uk.org.uk where you will find more information about this condition. If you are unable to do that, you can contact hypothyroidpatientsurvey@tpa-uk.org.uk with your name and postal address, or telephone NSM Research direct on 01865 310073 and they will send you the survey form.
Sheila Turner
Thyroid Patient Advocate.
