Kathy R., Uptown

Over the past few months, I have gained weight and feel sluggish all the time. My hair is more brittle than usual and I just feel “off.” A friend recommended having my thyroid checked. What do you recommend?

Dear Kathy,
Your friend is correct. When a patient complains of weight gain, feeling sluggish and changes in hair texture, my first step is to check her thyroid, because symptoms like these can be an indication that something might be going on with the thyroid, such as hypothyroidism. I order a TSH with a Reflex Free T4, a test used to identify hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. It is also important to take a multi-vitamin because many of us just don’t eat as healthy as we could.

Dr. Stephen Champlin
OB/GYN
(504) 454-0606
East Jefferson General Hospital