The problem can absolutely develop over the years, especially if it is an immune system disorder (very likely if it's hereditary! my mom has it, and her father may've died in part from untreated, undiagnosed hypothyroid complications). Basically, your immune system attacks your thyroid over and over again, damaging it more and more. If you have Grave's, then your thyroid "bleeds" thyroid hormone when attacked (causing hyperthyroidism), until it's too damaged to produce any thyroid hormones anymore and you become hypothyroid. If you have Hashmoto's, then the immune system just kills it a little at a time (in 25-man raids, looking for Phat Lewt) and it slowly... stops... working... *thud*
So, my thyroid fanatic advice? Get tested again. Demand to see your test results, and since you have relatives with hypothyroidism, I would strongly suggest getting your antibodies tested at the same time. Even if your TSH is "fine," if you have antibodies, you are very likely to have problems in the future -- and might want to talk to an endocrinologist about whether it would be worthwhile to start supplementing your thyroid now. I believe there is some debate as to whether it helps slow or prevent the immune system's thyroid-trashing, to start treatment at "borderline" levels where antibodies are present.
Even if your TSH is fine, and your antibodies are low... I'd say get tested at least every few years, and keep a personal eye on what your TSH does. Family history and all that.
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Date: 2012-03-31 02:07 am (UTC)So, my thyroid fanatic advice? Get tested again. Demand to see your test results, and since you have relatives with hypothyroidism, I would strongly suggest getting your antibodies tested at the same time. Even if your TSH is "fine," if you have antibodies, you are very likely to have problems in the future -- and might want to talk to an endocrinologist about whether it would be worthwhile to start supplementing your thyroid now. I believe there is some debate as to whether it helps slow or prevent the immune system's thyroid-trashing, to start treatment at "borderline" levels where antibodies are present.
Even if your TSH is fine, and your antibodies are low... I'd say get tested at least every few years, and keep a personal eye on what your TSH does. Family history and all that.
Good luck, and I'm glad to have been informative!