Hypothyroidism Case Study
Some differential diagnoses that ought to be considered for the patient include hypothyroidism and major depressive disorder. She presents with complaints of fatigue, increased sleeping, and weight gain and reports that she has had several instances of depression since she was 17. Such symptoms indicate a possibility of the presence of hypothyroidism. The condition results from the incapacity of the thyroid gland to produce hormones required in maintaining the normal body metabolism. It presents with fatigue, increased sensitivity to cold, increased sleeping, and weight gain (Alam et al., 2020). Since the patient presents with such symptoms, it is important to conduct diagnostic tests to confirm the presence of hypothyroidism. The patient is also likely to have a recursive major depressive disorder. She admits experiencing depression several times since she was 17. A major depressive disorder presents with sleep disturbances, mood irregularities, and unexplained physical problems such as fatigue and back pain (Vázquez et al., 2018, p. 756). Further diagnosis is required to confirm the presence of the condition.
A thyroid-stimulating hormone test would be performed to confirm the presence of hypothyroidism. The test involves measuring the concentration of thyroxine in the patient’s blood to determine the capacity of the thyroid gland to produce the required quantities of hormones needed to maintain body metabolism (Pirahanchi & Jialal, 2018). A treatment plan for the condition could involve administering the synthetic thyroid hormone levothyroxine to restore adequate hormone levels and reverse the signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism. Diagnostic procedures to confirm the presence of a major depressive disorder could include a complete blood count. Such a laboratory test helps to evaluate a patient’s overall health and allows for the detection of a wide range of disorders (Orum et al., 2018, p. 365). A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor could be administered to restore stability in the brain’s capacity to regulate moods and eventually alleviate symptoms of the disorder.
References
Alam, M. A., Quamri, M. A., Sofi, G., & Ansari, S. (2020). Update of hypothyroidism and its management in Unani medicine. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and Pharmacology. https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/jbcpp-2020-0121
Vázquez, G. H., Lolich, M., Cabrera, C., Jokic, R., Kolar, D., Tondo, L., & Baldessarini, R. J. (2018). Mixed symptoms in major depressive and bipolar disorders: A systematic review. Journal of affective disorders, 225, 756-760. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165032717310546
Pirahanchi, Y., & Jialal, I. (2018). Physiology, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). https://europepmc.org/article/med/29763025
Orum, M. H., Kara, M. Z., Egilmez, O. B., & Kalenderoglu, A. (2018). Complete blood count alterations due to the opioid use: what about the lymphocyte-related ratios, especially in monocyte to lymphocyte ratio and platelet to lymphocyte ratio?. Journal of immunoassay and immunochemistry, 39(4), 365-376. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15321819.2018.1460272
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