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Hypothyroidism Symptoms

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Hypothyroidism Symptoms OR Why Am I So Flipping TIRED All The Time??

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The thyroid is a small, butterfly shaped gland in the neck. Even though it is small, it is VERY important. When you are not producing (or able to properly utilize) sufficient amounts of thyroid hormones, it affects every system in your body: cardiac, respiratory, endocrine, renal, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal... A wide array of seemingly unrelated signs and symptoms point to hypothyroidism as a cause.

Unfortunately, when a woman goes to her doctor and complains of weight gain, exhaustion, and inability to focus, doctors too often overlook the thyroid as a cause. Many things are written off to the aging process, or simply being too busy or overworked. Even worse, the doctor may suggest that it is all "in the patient's head" or that they need psychological help. Unfortunately, even the best counselor in the world cannot make your body produce and utilize thyroid hormones...

Table of Contents

  1. What's Happening to Me?
  2. Must Read!!
  3. Who Gets Hypothyroidism?
  4. Children and Teens
  5. More Must Read!!
  6. Depression and Hypothyroidism
  7. Twittering Hypothyroidism
  8. More Recommended Reading
  9. The Most Important Thing
  10. Reader Feedback
  11. Who Is Ella Halligan?
  12. Like to Write?

What's Happening to Me?

Signs and Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

  • Fatigue, sluggishness
  • Hair Loss
  • Muscle weakness
  • Weight gain or difficulty losing weight.
  • Coarse, dry, brittle hair and fingernails
  • Dry, rough pale skin
  • Cold intolerance/increased sensitivity to cold, low basal body temperature
  • Muscle aches and cramps, muscle tenderness, muscle stiffness
  • Constipation
  • Depression
  • Irritability
  • Memory loss, difficulty concentrating, impaired cognitive functioning, inattentiveness
  • Abnormal menstrual cycles, heavier than normal periods, lack of periods, irregular periods
  • Decreased libido
  • Puffy face
  • Hoarse voice
  • Elevated blood cholesterol levels
  • Pain, stiffness or swelling in joints
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Osteoporosis
  • Water retention
  • Bradycardia (a heart rate of less than 60 beats per minute), ECG that indicates low voltage signals, diminished cardiac output, decreased cardiac contractility, enlarged heart
  • Thinning of the outer third of the eyebrows. This is called the sign of Hertoghe.
  • Reactive (or after meal) hypoglycemia
  • Anemia
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Shortness of breath, slow and shallow respirations
  • Impaired renal function, decreased glomerular filtration rate
  • Decreased sense of taste and smell
  • Abdominal bloating
  • Thickened skin
  • Cold hands and feet
  • Infertility or recurrent miscarriage

Must Read!!

Living Well with Hypothyroidism: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You... That You Need to Know

As many as one in eight women have a thyroid condition. In Living Well with Hypothyroidism, Mary Shomon outlines the most common of these--too little thyroid hormones in the body. Weight gain, depression, fatigue, and what patients call "brain fog, Brillo hair, and prune skin" result. Because the symptoms of hypothyroidism mimic so many other conditions--chronic fatigue, PMS, clinical depression--it can be very tricky to diagnose, especially since patients with HMOs may not get the thorough testing they need.
Living Well with Hypothyroidism: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You... That You Need to Know (Revised Edition)

Living Well with Hypothyroidism: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You... That You Need to Know (Revised Edition)

by: Mary J. Shomon

Amazon Price: $7.96 (as of 06/01/2012)Buy Now
List Price: $15.99

Mary J. Shomon is the web's foremost authority on thyroid disorders. I have personally benefitted from her books and websites.

Who Gets Hypothyroidism?

Men are really given short shrift and aren't even given the requisite diagnostic tests in many instances to rule out thyroid disease because the medical profession thinks that this is strictly a woman's disorder. Moreover, I have seen teenagers and children who are acting out, who are written off as hyperactive, when they may be suffering from a thyroid disorder. -- Gary Null and Amy McDonald, The Food-Mood Connection

Children and Teens

Additional Signs and Symptoms of Hypothyroidism in the Pediatric Population

While most people think that hypothyroidism is a disorder of adult women, even infants and teenagers can have hypothyroidism. Infants born with no thyroid gland or a thyroid gland that doesn't work right may not have a lot of initial symptoms. My mother actually diagnosed my own congenital hypothyroidism by listening to my hoarse, high-pitched cry as a newborn. It took the doctor 3 months (and arm-twisting by my father) to be willing to test me. I have severe congenital hypothyroidism and if my mother hadn't pressed the issue, I would not be a healthy adult today... I would likely have severe physical and mental retardation. Thank you, mom!
  • Jaundice (yellowing of skin and whites of eyes.)
  • Frequent choking episodes
  • Tongue that is large and protruding
  • Puffy face
  • Trouble feeding
  • Constipation
  • Poor muscle tone
  • Excessive sleepiness
  • Poor growth, short stature
  • Delayed tooth development
  • Delayed puberty

More Must Read!!

The Thyroid Diet

The Thyroid Diet: Manage Your Metabolism for Lasting Weight Loss

The Thyroid Diet: Manage Your Metabolism for Lasting Weight Loss

by: Mary J. Shomon

Amazon Price: $4.05 (as of 06/01/2012)Buy Now
List Price: $15.99

Depression and Hypothyroidism

In one study of the elderly, "subclinical" hypothyroidism increased the risk of depression four times. Yet many doctors prescribe Prozac before taking a good hard look at the thyroid and treating those who don't yet have fullblown hypothyroidism. -- Mark Hyman, MD

More Recommended Reading

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Is Your Thyroid Making You Fat? The Doctor's 28-Day Diet That Tests Your Metabolism as You Lose Weight

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The Thyroid Hormone Breakthrough: Overcoming Sexual and Hormonal Problems at Every Age

The Thyroid Hormone Breakthrough: Overcoming Sexual and Hormonal Problems at Every Age

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If you're one of the millions of American women suffering from PMS, irregular periods, difficulty getting pregnant, low sex drive, postpartum depression, menopausal symptoms, or many other hormonal problems, what you may not realize is that thyroid disease could be the culprit. The Thyroid Hormone Breakthrough is a holistic guide to identifying and overcoming the connection between hormonal problems and the thyroid, which goes undiagnosed in more than 30 million women in the U.S. alone. It will...

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The Menopause Thyroid Solution: Overcome Menopause by Solving Your Hidden Thyroid Problems

The Menopause Thyroid Solution: Overcome Menopause by Solving Your Hidden Thyroid Problems

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From New York Times bestselling author and nationally recognized patient advocate Mary J. Shomon comes a groundbreaking guide to safely managing menopause through a better understanding of and better care for your thyroid.

If you're one of the forty million American women struggling through menopause, you probably know all about the symptoms of fatigue, weight gain, and depression. But what you may not know is that the drop in reproductive hormones frequently triggers a thyroid slowdown?a...

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Cholesterol Revitaliser: Insider Secrets to Revitalising Your Health and Lowering Your Cholesterol Naturally! by Stuart Brown

Cholesterol Revitaliser: Insider Secrets to Revitalising Your Health and Lowering Your Cholesterol Naturally! by Stuart Brown

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Important!

The Most Important Thing

Fight to get your symptoms checked. Your doctor may not think about hypothyroidism as the cause of your problems right away. My own husband was put through a series of very costly, very invasive cardiac tests for symptoms that turned out to be caused by his thyroid... not his heart.

Reader Feedback

What Else Do You Want to Know?

Help me help you... tell me what you want to know about hypothyroidism symptoms so that I can give you the best, most up-to-date and pertinent information possible. I love to hear from my readers!

  • mypotlpeople Apr 9, 2011 @ 8:53 am | delete
    My sister was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in her early twenties. It was hard for the doctor to believe she had this disorder so early. I did research about symptoms when she was first diagnosed but I couldn't find anything that listed all these symptoms. This is a great resource for the subject. It is very informative.
  • raphaelo Feb 1, 2011 @ 2:21 pm | delete
    It's so informative and useful lens. I've never known about hypothyroidism symptoms. It's just like my new knowledge. Thanks for sharing this great lens. Favorite and give you 5 healthy stars .. dear, EllaHalligan :) Have a wonderful times ;)
  • mulberry Jan 18, 2011 @ 5:57 am | delete
    Very useful information. I had a friend with this problem. After she was finally diagnosed she lost some major weight and seem to have much more energy.
  • awelldressedbullet Sep 26, 2010 @ 10:23 am | delete
    It is amazing how something so small can be the cause of so many problems. Great lens, I must admit, I never thought of men for this either.
  • LoKackl Sep 17, 2010 @ 9:47 am | delete
    Important topic. It is strange, isn't it, that hypothyroidism symptoms go unrecognized so often. Have joined your fans and Blessed by SquidAngel.
  • EllaHalligan Sep 25, 2010 @ 8:07 pm | delete
    Thank you! Yes, even with my background, I missed my own husband's symptoms of hypothyroidism... we thought he was having a heart attack! He ended up having two stress tests and a cardiac catheterization (majorly invasive procedure) before we found out it was his thyroid. (Granted, his brother died young of a heart attack, so naturally everyone's mind went there first).
  • stacy_mcdaniel Aug 11, 2010 @ 9:11 am | delete
    I have been taking thyroid medicine for about twelve years. I have alot of these symptoms. Being tired all the time is probably the worst one. Good information here.
  • EllaHalligan Sep 25, 2010 @ 8:07 pm | delete
    My least favorite symptom is the hair thinning... Ugh... Luckily I have a lot of hair so the only person who notices is me, but it drives me nuts.
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