Misdiagnosis of Thyroid Disease

Many times, people who suffer from a thyroid imbalance are misdiagnosed. If you suspect you may have a thyroid condition, write down all of your symptoms, and discuss them in detail with your doctor.

Emotional States

• Stress, anxiety, fatigue and depression often mask a thyroid condition. If you're experiencing these symptoms, your doctor may assume they're due to your job, family life or busy lifestyle. According to The Thyroid Solution by Dr. Ridha Arem, it may not occur to your doctor that these emotional issues are the cause instead of the condition.

Miscommunication

• If you suspect you have a thyroid condition, it's important that you document all of your symptoms, and relay this information to your doctor. Many patients themselves assume their symptoms are common or unimportant, and, therefore, fail to communicate these symptoms to their doctor. Don't discount anything; tell your doctor.

Range of Symptoms

• Because the range of symptoms of thyroid disease is so wide--depression, weight gain, hair loss, skin changes, rapid heart rate--your doctor may not pinpoint the thyroid as the cause. Instead, your doctor may focus on the symptoms and treat them without considering a connection to your thyroid.

Gynecological

• According to The Thyroid Solution, some of the symptoms of a thyroid imbalance are of a gynecological nature, such as menstrual problems. This can be falsely attributed to hormonal changes instead of thyroid disease.

Lack of Exposure

• If you suffer from hyperthyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, it could be your doctor hasn't come across this before. Living Well with Graves' Disease and Hyperthyroidism by Mary J. Shomon states that general practitioners don't generally deal with many people who are hyperthyroid, and they may not stay up-to-date with diagnostic techniques. Ask for a referral to an endocrinologist.