Subacute Thyroiditus, what am in for?

[Carol1234]

I was just diagnosed with Subacute Thyroiditus. I am getting a lot of conflicting and vague information. I was told it might just "run its course" -could be weeks or months. I was also told that it may trigger periods (of unknown length) of hypo and hyper as the thyroid heals. My Dr. also mentioned the possibility of scarring which could lead to permanent damage and lifelong problems.
In the meantime, I am in considerable pain with a swolen throat, earaches, headaches, fatigue...ect.
Can someone tell me what I might be in for? How long to expect tis to last? side affects? long term affects?. Also, is there any natural supplements that assist the thyroid? I read something about Selenium, any real life stories? Are there foods that help or hurt?
Thank for any help out there. This forum has been very helpful as I learn more about this condition.

[msfergy]

Thats what I am talking about! I am about to have my left lobe taken out for a forsure diagnose to all this. The endo i was seeing just kept telling me its just thyroiditis, uped my synthroid and said I should be better in a month, also was put on hydrocortisone for my adrenal gland which started crashing. Well that was in May and I still am not the same person, I turned myself over to a intern doc, but I still dont know if this surgery will help but it may be best so we know what the cause really is. I have high antibodies and have since 2005 so I found out, and high antibodies with my nodual and goiter means I could have hashis/hypo. I want to try selenium, nobody has told me to take it and since surgery is monday i dont think i better mess with things now, also I beleive I need natural t3 added but i have to wait.  ughhhhhhhhhh

[simplyme989]

I have been diagnosed with autoimmune thyroiditis.  I had this diagnosis 10 years ago and now it is back.  I normally feel terrible every day all day.  Fatigue, forgetfulness joint pain etc...  In july I had blood work which confirmed  was in the hyper part of the disease and was prescribed beta blockers for the terrible palpitations.  I do have the antibodies and my endocrinologist said I am now in  the hypo part but I dont know how much more I can take with the way I feel.  No treatment just wait until it goes back to normal, but until then I am suffering horrible and have not been normal for years.  Always tired.  My Doc said I was depressed, but this is not the case.  I need some sort of treatment.  If a person has the antibodies do they not get treated???  And if no treatment how can one go on with a normal life??

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Subacute Thyroiditis is not usually associated with thyroid antibodies, so selenium is less likely to help (in contrast to potential help in post-partum, silent and chronic (hashi) thyroiditis).  Subacute, however, is thought to be a viral-type trigger and often occurs a few weeks after an upper respiratory infection.

This does run its course and treatment is "supportive" -- ie, treat the symptoms....so for the heart/nerves we use beta-blockers (atenolol or propanolol most commonly) and for the pain we use ibuprofen (up to 600mg 3x/day with meals) OR steroids (ie, prednisone) if the ibuprofen (or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory) is not helping enough.

The hyper course is usually 4-8 weeks long then is followed by a hypothyroidism period which if severe sometimes requires levothyroxine type treatment.  85% or more of patients fully recover and do not need long-term treatment.  If thyroid antibodies are present, the chance of recovery is less.

[kitcurious]

Selenium may be somewhat helpful for decreasing antibodies in people with autoimmune thyroid disease.