Your doctor will usually diagnose hypothyroidism on the basis of signs and symptoms, followed by laboratory tests for thyroid hormone levels. WHAT YOU CAN DO The most important thing you can do is to follow your doctor's treatment recommendations. After symptoms have resolved, thyroid hormone levels may not return to normal for many months. Primary hypothyroidism typically requires long-term treatment, but some cases are transient. Many people require lifelong medication for hypothyroidism.
Continued monitoring is important to determine if further treatment is necessary.
Symptom-free patients receiving a fixed, regular dose of levothyroxine should be checked annually to confirm that TSH levels are still within the normal limits. Most cases of hypothyroidism can be satisfactorily treated with lifelong T4 treatments. If you take synthetic thyroid hormone supplements, it is important to be alert to symptoms of thyroid hormone toxicity. Rapid pulse Palpitations Excessive sweating Heat intolerance Nervousness. If you experience any of these symptoms, seek emergency treatment right away.