Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism are both autoimmune problems.

When a person is hyperthyroid (They usually have Grave's disease), their
thyroids produce too much hormone.  The Free T4 and Free T3 rise to abnormal
rates and the TSH (the pituitary response to the amount of thyroid in the
body) drops to below .03 or less.   This disease often presents with a
multinodular goiter with several hot nodules.  Hot nodules produce too much
thyroid hormone.

The person may or may not lose weight, be unable to sleep and develop
tachicardia (fast heart beat).  There are three conventional  (AMA acceptable
not always good ) threeour methods of treating hyperthyroidism, removal of
most or all  of the thyroid gland and then supplementing thyroid hormone for
the rest of the person's life, RAI killing the thyroid gland with Radioactive
Iodine and supplementing for the rest of the person's life or 3, chemically
suppressing the thyroid which can cause suppression of the entire immune
system.   Some doctors will start with the least invasive and if that does
not work insist on the more invasive methods.

Hypothyroidism also called Hashimoto's hypothyroidism.  The person's entire
system begins to slow down, their immune system is not as strong, they may
gain a great deal of weight or just some weight.  They tend to lose their
appetites.  Muscle aches, fibroneuralgia and carpal tunnel syndrome are
common.  Also is loss of hair on the head, eyebrows, underarms and genitals.
Extreme exhaustion the need to sleep for long periods of time and still
feeling exhausted when they get up.

Hypothyroidism also is determined by the same tests that Hyperthyroidism is.
 Usually the TSH is elevated.  It may not always be high it could be slightly
elevated.  The best tests besides the patient's history would be Free T3 and
Free T4 which probably if not abnormally low are in the lowerst quadrant of
normal.

Hypothyroidism also is treated by life-long hormone replacement.

If the thyroid is destroyed or stops working, the patient should watch their
Free T3 tests.  There are many times the body stops converting T4 (especially
artificial T4 such as Levoxyl and Synthroid) into T3.

I hope this helps.

Gail K




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