Thyroid Disorders
Full thyroid testing, a plain explanation of your results, and ongoing care to keep your dose right as your needs change.
What Are Thyroid Disorders?
Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck. It makes hormones that set the pace for much of your body, including energy use, heart rate, body temperature and digestion. When it makes too little or too much hormone, you can feel it almost everywhere.
An underactive thyroid, called hypothyroidism, slows things down. An overactive thyroid, called hyperthyroidism, speeds things up. Other thyroid problems include an enlarged gland and lumps called nodules. Many thyroid conditions develop slowly, and the early signs are easy to blame on stress, age or poor sleep.
Common Thyroid Symptoms
Symptoms depend on whether your thyroid is running slow or fast, and they often build gradually.
Fatigue or restlessness
A slow thyroid can leave you tired and sluggish, while a fast one can make you feel wired yet worn out.
Weight changes
Unexplained weight gain is common with an underactive thyroid, and weight loss with an overactive one.
Feeling too cold or too hot
Trouble handling temperature that others do not notice can point to the thyroid.
Hair and skin changes
Thinning hair, dry skin and brittle nails are frequent complaints.
Mood changes
Low mood, anxiety or irritability can all be linked to thyroid hormone levels.
Heart rate changes
A racing or pounding heartbeat may come from too much thyroid hormone.
Neck swelling
A visible bump or fullness in the front of the neck should be checked.
Causes and Risk Factors
Thyroid problems are more common in women and become more likely with age.
- Autoimmune conditions such as Hashimoto's or Graves' disease
- Family history of thyroid disease
- Recent pregnancy
- Past thyroid surgery or radiation to the neck
- Certain medicines
- Other autoimmune conditions, such as type 1 diabetes
How We Treat Thyroid Disorders
We look at more than a single number. Our providers order full thyroid panels, not just TSH, when your symptoms call for it, and the blood is drawn right in our office. Your provider then reviews the results with you, explains what they mean, and recommends a plan.
Most thyroid conditions need long-term follow-up. If you start medication, we recheck your levels at regular visits and adjust your dose as your body changes. When a nodule, an overactive thyroid or a hard-to-control case needs an endocrinologist or imaging, we refer you and stay involved.
- Full thyroid panels drawn in-house
- Diagnosis of underactive and overactive thyroid
- Medication management with regular dose checks
- Specialist referrals when your case needs one
When to See a Doctor
Book a visit if you have several of the symptoms above for more than a few weeks, or if you are already on thyroid medicine and do not feel right.
- Ongoing tiredness, weight changes or feeling cold or hot all the time
- A lump or swelling in your neck
- A fast or irregular heartbeat at rest
- You take thyroid medicine and have not had labs in the past year
Frequently Asked Questions
Can thyroid problems cause mood swings?
Yes. Both an underactive and an overactive thyroid can affect mood, causing low mood, anxiety or irritability. Checking your thyroid levels is a simple step when mood changes come with other symptoms.
Can hypothyroidism be treated without medication?
Some mild cases are watched with repeat labs instead of treated right away. When levels are clearly low, thyroid hormone medicine is the standard treatment, and your provider will explain why before starting.
Do you test more than TSH?
Yes. When your symptoms call for it, we run full thyroid panels rather than a single TSH value, so your results are understood in context.
Do I need an endocrinologist for my thyroid?
Many thyroid conditions are managed well in primary care. We refer you to an endocrinologist for nodules, hard-to-control cases or treatments that need a specialist.
How quickly can I be seen?
New patients can usually get an appointment within the same week. Call (727) 322-4227 or send a request online and our team will reach out within one business day.
Related Conditions
Treatments for Thyroid Disorders
We Accept Most Major Insurance Plans
Most major insurances accepted, please call our office to verify
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