Functional medicine physician Dr. Jill Carnahan shares the top 16 symptoms of hypothyroid and 10 tips to help. It’s a pleasure to include Jill at Hypothyroid Mom.
Written by Jill C. Carnahan, MD, ABFM, ABIHM, IFMCP
Your thyroid plays a part in nearly every metabolic process and when the thyroid isn’t working you won’t feel well! This small gland has an average weight of 16.4 grams in the adult. Shaped like a butterfly, it lies low on the front of the neck and below your Adam’s apple and in front of the windpipe. When the thyroid is its normal size, you can’t even feel it.
The thyroid secretes several hormones, collectively called thyroid hormones. The main hormone is thyroxine, also called T4, but there are others, including T3 and even lesser known T1 and T2. It requires adequate selenium, iodine, zinc, B vitamins and antioxidants for optimal function. Thyroid hormones act throughout the body, influencing metabolism, growth and development, and body temperature. During infancy and childhood, adequate thyroid hormone is crucial for brain development. Unfortunately, the thyroid gland is uniquely sensitive to drugs and environmental chemicals which may affect proper function.
More than 10 percent of the general population in the United States, and 20 percent of women over the age of 60, have subclinical hypothyroidism. But only a small percentage of these people are being treated. It is important to ask your doctor to check you thyroid function if you feel that you are having symptoms.
Often, at first, you barely notice the symptoms of hypothyroidism, such as fatigue and weight gain. You might simply attribute them to getting older. But as your metabolism continues to slow, you may develop more obvious signs and symptoms.
Top 16 symptoms of hypothyroid
- Fatigue
- Increased sensitivity to cold
- Constipation
- Dry skin
- Unexplained weight gain
- Puffy face
- Hoarseness
- Muscle weakness
- Elevated blood cholesterol level
- Muscle aches and pain
- Pain, stiffness or swelling in your joints
- Heavier than normal or irregular menstrual periods
- Thinning hair
- Slower heart rate
- Depressed mood
- Impaired memory
Checklist of symptoms that may indicate you are hypothyroid
____ My facial skin looks or feels thinner
____ My muscles feel weak, particularly the upper arms and thighs
____ I am having difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep
____ I feel fatigued, exhausted all the time
____ I frequently require more than 8 hours of sleep at night
____ I feel better if I am able to take an afternoon nap every day
____ I am unable to tolerate exercise
____ I have less stamina or energy than others
____ My hair is coarse and dry, breaking, brittle, falling out
____ My skin is coarse, dry, scaly, thin
____ My eyebrows are thinning, especially the outer 1/3
____ I frequently struggle with constipation or hard stools
____ I am always colder than others around me
____ I typically wear a sweater, even in the summer
____ I am having more breakouts or acne
____ I have pains, aches in joints, hands and feet
____ I experience numbness or tingling in my hands & fingers
____ I am having irregular periods (women)
____ I am having trouble maintaining erection (men)
____ I am having trouble conceiving a baby
____ I have had one or more miscarriages
____ I feel depressed most of the time
____ I feel restless, or anxious
____ I have puffiness and swelling around the eyes and face
____ My moods change easily
____ I have difficulty concentrating or focusing
____ I have more feelings of sadness
____ I seem to be losing interest in normal daily activities
____ I’m more forgetful lately
____ My hair is falling out
____ I can’t seem to remember things
____ I have no sex drive
____ I am getting more frequent infections, that last longer
____ My eyes feel gritty and dry
____ My eyes feel sensitive to light
____ I am having difficulty swallowing or feeling a lump in my throat
____ I have a hoarse or gravely voice
____ I have tinnitus (ringing in ears)
____ I feel some lightheadedness or dizziness
____ I have severe menstrual cramps
Other conditions that may be associated with thyroid dysfunction
- Infertility or frequent miscarriage
- Acne
- High cholesterol
- Irregular periods
- Low libido
- Fluid retention
- Difficulty swallowing
- Respiratory difficulties
- Iron-deficiency
- Glaucoma
- Frequent headaches
Family history that suggests you could have a higher risk for hypothyroidism
- Celiac Disease or gluten intolerance
- Goiter
- Prematurely gray hair
- Type 1 Diabetes
- Autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, sarcoidosis, Sjogren’s, etc.)
- Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Elevated cholesterol levels
10 tips to support a healthy thyroid
Always consult with your healthcare practitioner before using supplements included at Hypothyroid Mom.
- Eliminate gluten from your diet! One in three patient’s with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis are sensitive to gluten.
- Selenium is essential to a healthy thyroid and the first thing I recommend for those with autoimmune thyroiditis or Hashimoto’s. Get 200mcg of selenium in this supplement by Pure Encapsulations.
- Wild caught fish, like salmon, supply ample omega-3 fatty acids which are essential for optimal thyroid function. If you don’t eat fish frequently, you can supplement with a high quality Omega3 supplement, like Nordic Naturals ProOmega 2000.
- Get plenty of sunlight to optimize your vitamin D levels and take 1000-2000IU daily of Vitamin D3, like Thorne Research Vitamin D Liquid.
- Herbs that support adrenal health include ashwaganda, rhodiola, holy basil and other adrenal adaptogens. One of my favorite formulas is Gaia Herbs Adrenal Health Daily Support.
- Dandelion greens, carrots, spinach, kale, Swiss chard, collard greens, and sweet potatoes are all rich sources of essential Vitamin A. I feel that goitrogens in moderation or sauteed, cooked or steamed are not a problem. The only caution is those who are using raw greens in large quantities for smoothies or juices, which can be a problem. There are so many benefits to these foods that, even in the case of hypothyroid, I would not recommend avoiding them entirely.
- Use organic coconut oil in your cooking — it’s great for high heat cooking and sautéing many different meats and vegetables.
- Filter your air! Add high quality air filters around your home that removes dust, pollen, pet dander, smoke, viruses, bacteria, mold, and dangerous volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The invisible toxins in your air could be the underlying factors contributing to headaches, coughing, wheezing, sneezing, dry mouth, runny nose, insomnia, snoring, allergies, and asthma attacks.
- Find daily ways to detox, like using an infrared sauna. Check that the sauna has been tested to ensure it emits low levels of EMF (electromagnetic fields) such as the saunas by Sunlighten. Other ways to help your body detoxify from chemical exposures (petrochemicals, PCBs, pesticides, and mercury) include taking epsom salt baths and adding chlorella, parsley, or cilantro to your daily smoothie.
- Work on lowering stress levels through daily gratitude, prayer, meditation, yoga, deep breathing!
Environmental toxins may be poisoning your thyroid
Many environmental factors have the potential to impact thyroid function. Some of these factors include:
- Potassium perchlorate, which inhibits iodine uptake by the thyroid, is used in rocket propellant, fireworks, and automobile airbags. Potassium perchlorate is stable in the environment and contaminates water throughout the United States. Newborns and infants are most susceptible to this inhibitory effect on iodine transport. The thiocyanates in cigarette smoke can have effects similar to potassium perchlorate.
- Isoflavones (phytoestrogens), found in soy proteins, are thyroid peroxidase inhibitors.
- Pesticides induce glucuronidation of T4 and reduce T4 half-life.
- Polychlorinated biphenyls are industrial chemicals that were banned in 1975 but still are routinely detected in the environment. They have been shown to reduce T4 levels in animals and are neurotoxic. Their effect varies because of partial agonist effect at the thyroid hormone receptor and their varied chemical structure.
- Bisphenol A—used in plastics, as resins for coating food cans, and as dental sealants—antagonizes T3 activation of the thyroid hormone b-receptor in rats, causing a thyroid hormone resistance–like syndrome.
- Keep your home free from these and other toxic chemicals.
A prescription for hypothyroid
If you are truly hypothyroid, no amount of nutritional supplementation will replace your abnormally low levels of thyroid hormone. Ask your doctor to do comprehensive thyroid lab testing including: TSH, free T4, free T3, total T4, total T3, reverse T3, thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOs), and thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb). An ultrasound to evaluate the appearance of the thyroid is necessary if you are experiencing symptoms of enlarged thyroid or nodules.
Common drug options for thyroid replacement include:
T4 preparations
Synthroid
Levoxyl
levothyroxine
Tirosint
T4/T3 preparations
Nature-Throid
Armour
WP Thyroid
ERFA Thyroid
T3 only preparations
Cytomel
About Jill Carnahan, MD, ABFM, ABIHM, IFMCP
Dr. Jill Carnahan uses functional medicine to help you find answers to the cause of your illness and the nutritional and biochemical imbalances that may be making you feel ill. Functional medicine is personalized medicine that deals with root cause of disease instead of just treating symptoms. Dr. Jill will search for underlying triggers that are contributing to your illness through cutting edge lab testing and tailor the intervention to your specific needs as an individual. Dr. Carnahan’s office Flatiron Functional Medicine is located in Boulder, Colorado.
READ NEXT: 300 Hypothyroidism Symptoms: Count How Many You Have
About Dana Trentini
Every morning I put iodine on a tissue and wipe it under each breast and across my thyroid. As the iodine is absorbed by my body; I feel much better through the day. I tried it at night, but then I could not sleep. Mine is 10%. I’m not an MD, but this has really helped me.
The ashwaganda that I was taking made my thyroid problem worse. So I’m not sure how you can call it a thyroid support. I have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and have not had a problem until taking the ashwaganda. Last TSH 26.32. Their normal high 4.5. T4- 0.95, their range 0.82 to 1.77, from November last year.
I don’t know why Ashwaganda was mentioned? I don’t have a thyroid (cancer 2008) Ashwaganda speeds up your heart. It is supposed to give you energy. So many people do not understand the symptoms we have and how they exhaust us. Bet you were losing hair and putting on weight with that TSH number. Hope you have remained stable.
Alll the way at the bottom this says if you have a thyroid condition and it’s not working no amount of diet and exercise will fix it. I found this out the hard way both spending a huge amount of money on a naturopath, supplements, and exercise. I was actually in the best physical looking shape of my life. I ate healthy and ran. I tried the all natural way and I got worse and worse. Lab results as proof and all. I do believe that eating right and following some kind of protocol will help but I do not believe it to be a cure all. Be careful what you put in your body and be cautious who you listen to!
CAN hypothyroidism cause diabeties medication to not work? I am currently on metformin 2-2x a day and glimiperide4-1xa day.
Hi, my name is Valerie. I am originally fom England and trained as a nurse and midwife in the early sixties. I worked in Bermuda where I met my husband, so have lived in the US since then.
About the early nineties my husband tranferred to New Hampshire doing research in the Ocean Science Depatment. I applied for a NH license and was refused. I was told I had to take State Boards and do Foreign Nurse evaluation again. I had at the time four US state licenses, and letters of recommendation.The whole experience cause me great stress, plus I have inherited Bi-polar depression. I moved back to Maryland leaving my husband in New Hampshire. Following this I had a bad riding accident where I fractured a vertabrae.
I had bad experience with Doctors, who following the accident where they repaired my vertabrae I was continually being told there was nothing they could do, even though I was in pain
This has been going on for fourteen years and during that I developed a low thyroid situation. One doctor did put me on Tirosint 100+ and I felt great. Even though during my visit with her I told her I wasn’t trying to be a pain, to which she relied’you are’.
A chirpractor that I was seeing put me on Standard Process Drenamin, which helps with my tiredness.
Eighteen months ago I moved to Williamsburg and now I am with another Doctor who has reduced my Tirosint to 88mcq.It seems this is their magic number. I am back to feeling
lousy again and at present I am armed with info to take to my next appointment.
My blood results are not good showing low TSH and T3.
I will be 78, this month and I am not your usual ‘old lady’. I’ve done Trekking in Nepal, taking care of animals in a Lion Park in South Africa and Elephants in Sri Lanka. All in the last ten years.
Typically being a very experience nurse, Postpartem, NICU and Infertility, I am not Doctors’ favorite patient.
I would love suggestions but definitely I need someone who will listen. I believe in alternative medicine which is the way I was trained. Signs and symptom are key.
Thank you for reading my ramblings.
Valerie,
Have been dealing with hypothyroidism for 30 years but kept it under control with T4. About 6 years ago was bitten by 3 ticks & it’s been difficult to get things stabilized since then. I live on the East Coast (Delaware) & tick-borne infections are what flipped the switch in my body. It really trashed my immune system and adrenals. Have spoke with countless people who were diagnosed with “chronic fatigue syndrome” and “fibromyalgia” who later tested positive for lyme or other co-infections (the testing isnt reliable with many false negatives for lyme & the co-infections are hard to test for). Had to take T3 for awhile since I wasn’t converting T4 to T3 (possibly due to HPA issues). Am also an experienced nurse & many docs don’t believe in tick-borne illnesses so I had to travel to Maryland to get help for lyme and co-infections. Not sure if this could be contributing to your issues. If you go on some of they lyme support group websites, there’s lots of info so you can see if you have other symptoms. Mainstream docs don’t believe lyme/co-infections exist after treating with the standard 3 weeks of doxy (as I was) & testing is hit or miss. It might be worth finding an experienced lyme literate doctor since you have traveled extensively in the past 10 years & have lived in the Eastern U.S.
One of the first things I experienced on this journey (with ticks) was that my thyroid became poorly controlled. I had chronic fatigue & pain, looked like I had Cushing’s Syndrome, had chronic flu-like symptoms, began having panic attacks and a multitude of symptoms which later progressed into seizures. Like you, I was trying to find answers but my docs weren’t listening. Most lyme literate professionals are extremely thorough; they also use alternative medicine, test for parasites, heavy metals, etc.
Not saying this is what you have, but it may be worth the time to check some lyme/co-infection websites. Like you, I was very active and traveled. Now I am lucky to get out of bed each day.
I hope you’re feeling better soon.
Lynda, I feel so inspired by your life.
You may not see this but try selenium (methyl kind) vitamin A, 10,000 iu. D3 5,000, seafood with iodine,
Do you have a multivitamin you recommend?
I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and Hashimotos about 3 1/2 years ago at the age of 43. I’ve only ever been given levothyroxine, with dosage being increased every 6 months to what i currently take now at 125mg. It seems as though my health just keeps getting worse every day. I’m depressed over the weight gain, fatigue, and continuous chronic pain. I’ve turned into a hermit because i rarely leave my house except for grocery shopping and Dr appointmen ts. I so desperately want to feel better, have the energy to play with my grandchildren, and even go out to eat with my family without feeling like I’m going to have a panic attack. Can someone please provide some advice on something i can do to begin feeling better?
100 mg Armor Thyroid works a LOT better for me than synthetic thyroid ever have…
Due to cancer they took my thyroid out now I have low thyroid I was on 135 why would they lowere my Meds to 125 if I have low thyroid
Not sure if you will see this ? It is now March 2021
I had a thyroidectomy Feb 2008. Hypothyroidism is a nightmare! I had knee surgery, bled through my tissues, lucky me ended up with COVID 1 mo after knee surgery. My TSH jumped to 25.23! It’s supposed to be 0.9. My weight is up16 lbs, fatigued, bran fog, itchy puffy eyes, depressed…too many issues. I am going to get a Thyroid panel every 3 mo now. I am tired of losing hair and having to chop it off.
Anytime you get sick, lose wt, gain wt (more than 5 lbs) surgery, trauma…get a thyroid panel. Remember symptoms come on slowly. Certain foods mess up the absorption of Levothyroxine. It takes months to get your TSH regulated!
Look up the list of foods to avoid on the Internet. Breads will mess up your numbers!
Hope this helps.
Help… my thyroid has been tested the last 6 years and numbers for down every year. It dropped 5 full points in 8 months. The weight gain is killing me and my tendons. They first said lupus then meds for 6 months and poof no lupus. Still smh. But my levels are .66 and lower. I feel so bad all the time. And I scared of meds. I need to know he right ones that will give me my energy back and remove this weight. Fast…..
Hi everyone
Just after a bit of advice really. I recently had a blood screening as part of a wellness check and it picked up that my TSH was high, my T4 was low and my triglycerides were high (really unusual as I eat a very healthy diet!). I found this out when I saw a doctor, prior to my blood result appointment, because I felt soooo ill with what I thought were early menopause symptoms – weight gain, hair loss, massive fatigue (I honestly struggle keeping my eyes open at times when I’m at work!) headaches, dizziness, tingling hands, joint ache etc. I’ve also thought for years that I’m starting with early onset of dementia as my brain goes so slowly at times and I struggle to remember the most simple words! Since the doctor told me about my blood levels and I’ve researched hypothyroidism everything has fallen into place and I think I’ve suffered for a lot longer than I initially thought. I know this seems wrong but I feel relieved that there’s something actually wrong and I’m not totally broken – I’ve just turned 40 and thought I was ready for the knackers yard! I have two young children and it was a depressing thought that I might feel like this forever and never have the energy to play with them. My husband has been wonderful and has been so patient with me – honestly, I’ve been a cow at times when all I want to do is lay down, have a nap or go to bed early. It can’t have been much fun for the kids either and I know I’ve snapped at them. I still feel so rotten and have been told I need to wait 4-6 weeks for a further blood test to double check the readings. I just want to feel normal again 🙁 surely the current readings and symptoms indicate a problem! I know it won’t be a quick fix but knowing help is potentially on the horizon is now really frustrating.
Thanks for listening 🙂
Kale and collards on the “To Eat” list- they are considered cruciferous and are on goitrogenic lists cited by most other sources. ?.
Hi BBC, This is Dana Trentini from Hypothyroid Mom. There is much controversy over cruciferous vegetables for thyroid health. The issue is high doses of raw goitrogens in particular. I had one woman contact me who was drinking 2 shakes a day full of raw kale and noticed her symptoms worsened and that was a high dose. I personally eat cruciferous vegetables for their many benefits but I watch my dose and whenever possible cook them to reduce the goitrogenic effect. I hope that helps.
How long should you wait after taking anabiotic’s and Cortizone or steroid pack and shot for hives before i get blood work to test for thyroid levels
I am on antibiotics now for a terrible sinus infection how long should I wait to get blood work
I have been having problems for a long time.Low Libido,constipation,Tiredness,and many more symptoms.Dr just put me on levothyroxine low dose for 3 months and then will do blood tests and go from there.Does anyone know how long it will take to notice a difference and is this medication for life?
HI, 3 years ago i went trough a radiation treatment around my neck because of oral cancer.
My THC was mildly elevated since then, but i felt tired always, not long ago my joints started hurting, burning everywhere in my body, sometimes my toes, hips, knees, alternating.Does anyone experienced these symptoms?
I took Synthroid for a month, only 25 mcg, it helped with the tiredness but not with joint pain.
How long you have taken Synthroid before you see any changes in your condition?
Hi I am on 15 mg of Armour last time I had my thyroid checked it was either around a 6 or 7. Lately I have been feeling really tired today I felt like I was going to have a panic attack at work. Feel weak and not into it. I stopped my Zoloft because that gave me issues plus my muscles hurt all over and my right hand the carpal tunnel feels worse in that hand do you think I should raise my Armour to another 15 feeling like I have heart burn too in my chest
Yes, that is a beginning dose.
I’m hypothyroid, diagnosed in 2005, from my first dose of synthroid I became hyper. I was hyper, hypo for years. Then last year Graves symptoms with eyes and all. Been off meds since then. Now mildly hypo, but, if I try taking thyroid meds, any brand I get hyper. So, my Endo doctor says stay off the meds. I live with mild hypo. My T3 is normal range. I wish I could regulate this, but the only way they say is thyroidectomy. My Endo says she would not recommend because if I do not tolerate the meds I’ll die. I am doing all natural stuff, juicing, natural gluten free diet. Still not back to in range.
How could this 3 year old article have so many recent comments?
Hi John, This is Dana Trentini from Hypothyroid Mom. While this article was written 3 years ago it’s so great that it ranks high on Google when people search for hypothyroidism symptoms so that would explain ongoing comments here. Plus it’s still relevant even if it is 3 years old.
I have all but 6 of those symptoms and yet my doctor does the “thyroid “test and it comes fine so she won’t do anything else about it! What do I do? I’m 48 weight 245. I’ve had 5 strokes and a Brain bleed when I was 38. I got back all my functions just have the normal brain problems with strokes. I’m tired! I hurt, I’m weak, I’m sick of being this way.
Not all endocrinologists stay n top of their work. There are not enough dbl blind tests of the thyroid because thyroid issues are low on the list for research.
I had tests for a year. Constantly tired. Finally I grew a tumor to the left of my thyroid. My blood test never showed cancer. A thyroidectomy was done. I have struggled for years with my TSH being stable. 5 lbs + – can change your Levothyroxine mcg.
Do your own research. Look for results in Europe too. Find another Endo and get help.
My wife hypothyroidism for few years now.she is always tired .she sleeps 9-10 hours a day.she works full time.she takes levrothorince.she also takes vitamin d vitamicc vitamin b 12 and selenium.
She has little or no libido.I don’t know what else to do.
I wasn’t my old wife back.
Help
Philip – get her off that drug. Get her on WP Thyroid when it becomes available again. In the meantime, get her on either NP Thyroid or Nature-Throid. World of difference.
Big dietary changes may be needed: wheat, all unsaturated oils – bad.
Has anyone ever taken nature throid or armour without seeing a doctor, and ordering it online somehow? I live in a rural area, am on Medicaid, which limits my scope of doctors. The ones I have seen wont even listen to my symptoms and will only trust TSH levels, which I am waiting on. And they dismiss me as soon as they hear “thyroid”. Thyroid issues run in all women in my family, and I suspect it has been the source of my problems for around 10 years.I cant pay to see a naturopatb or progressive doctor now, but I am so desperate to get on t3/t4 meds.
I have been taking Armour Thyroid for years but it is by prescription. Taking it completely changed my life. I would recommend it to anyone. You don’t get T3 from Synthroid and a lot of people need and increase in T3. Good Luck!
You might try this product https://www.healthysupplements.net/Eco-Thyro-by-Professional-health-Products-p/194.htm. My functional medicine doctor put my son on it. He says it is a really low dose thyroid. It helped my son tremendously.
Hi everyone. I got tested and mine is .08. Feel nasty many signs from the list. I hate not being able to sleep and being tried all the times. Out of money so going back to the doctor is not possible right now. I am trying to find the correct amt to feel alive again.
Wish me luck next month I should have enough money to go to the doctor
Hello, I’m so glad I found this group. I just found out that my thyroid functions are low, which is also considered hypothyroidism. I’m kind of relieved to know the reason of my misery- haven’t been able to have a good night sleep for months, no energy what so ever, skin rash, heavy breathing and etc. My results say <0.01 mIU/L. Anyone know what kind of treatment I should expect for these type of results?
Hi! Thank you for this informative article! I’m a 30 year old women who has been struggling for 2 years with dry brittle hair/ hair loss, heavy periods, weak immune system and more recently depression. I was diagnosed on Wed by an endocrinologist with hypothyroidism. My doctor put me on a low dosage of synthroid and I am already feeling more energized and less depressed. I’m wondering how long it will take before my hair grows back and gets strong again? Although all of my symptoms are stressful I have to admit losing my hair has been the hardest part. Thanks in advance for any feedback !!! Also will the supplements listed in the article help with my hair? My dermatologist has me on the hair health supplements Biotin and Zinc for a year but I haven’t seen any improvement.
I’ve just been diagnosed with Hypotyhroid & I’m now on .5gr NP Thyroid. I’m scared that’s too much for 100lbs. My Thyroid is a 1
I was put on Synthroid after a TSH that was slightly elevated. I have more symptoms of hyPER thyroid than hypo, AND at the time of the test, my hormones were super wonky (I had been through early menopause 3 years earlier, went to see doc when I suddenly had a 30-day menstrual period with terrible cramps- it went away as suddenly as it showed up) I have noticed fatigue but my resting heart rate has been 100bpm on good day, and I am terrified that this medicine which seems to have more side effects than things that are good for me will not help my heart, and there is so much heart disease in my family history. I gained weight suddenly that I can not lose, have noticed more hair loss, but this all seems a bit much. Like “killing an ant with an atom bomb”. I wish there were a magic pill that would take this weight off and give me back my thick hair, but I am just so concerned about my heart and any anxiety.
Is it true that once you start synthroid, you always have to take it? I wish I could sit and talk with my doc but am afraid he will yell at me for not taking meds. 🙁 I wake up anxious about this every day. I just don’t check many boxes for hypothyroid and I already have chronic migraine and Fibromyalgia. I don’t have space for more. 🙁 Help?
Hi Sarah,
Fact #1: No doctor will get mad at you for noticing symptoms and trying to educate yourself.
Fact#2: No you do NOT have to take synthroid forever, unless your thyroid has been completely removed or irreversibly destroyed. In fact, thyroid function can fluctuate like any other organ in the body, and when prescribing thyroid hormones, doctors usually adjust the dose according to your need by checking your symptoms and your lab tests. People need various amounts of the medication to function normally, and even one single body may need a different amount than what it needed before.
Fact#3: HypEr thyroidism can be as bad as hypO, even if you induce it by medicine. It can affect your heart, bowels and your bones as well. Therefore:
Fact #4: please GO SEE YOUR DOCTOR ASAP. Doctors are trained to help, and will not judge you.
All the best
I would tell everyone to keep searching for a doctor that will actually listen to you & how you feel, along with your blood tests. My thyroid doesn’t work at all, it was “nuked” when I was 18, also made me sterile & enter menopause in my twenty’s. Seeing another new doc tomorrow, do we will see what happens.
Connie, I am so sorry you have been through so much, that is awful. It is a terrible thing to not be able to have kids, I know that.
Have you found a good doctor? Finding one who has time or will make time to really listen seems to be key. Hard to know where to start though. I wish you the absolute best!
Go to Stop The Thyroid Madness.com website. You will learn a lot. TSH doesn’t really tell you much. You need a full thyroid panel.
My TSH was checked at 0.98…is that low? I have so many symptoms including extreme fatigue, my memory is becoming non-existent, and my hair is thinking all over my body. The Dr said it was within normal range.
Thinning. I meant to say thinning, not thinking.
TSH (thyroid STIMULATING hormone) doesn’t actually check your thyroid… please have your doctor check your T3/T4 levels
I have rather a large number of signs of hypothyroidism. I have no functioning thyroid at all. My physician has recently reduced my dosage of thyroxin and I have had nothing but trouble since then. I do not know whether she is testing for all of you feel necessary. My physician only tells me my thyroid level is too high–12, whatever that means.
as she is a graduate of Harvard school of medicine and is head if the internal medicine department she does not like to be questioned. I wish I could print this to show her on this Monday appointment.
I have been told mind was “fine” for years at .450, I finally went to a doctor who listened and I’m feeling better in just days!! Normal is from .300 to 5.0. I would think that 12 Really IS too high.
I just got tested. Mine in 71.9. Yes I typed that correctly. and its supposed to be below 0.9 !!!!!
I’ve been tested every year and no one had ever said anything until I pushed.
Mine is 96 now.
thank you
No disrespect to your physician but you can always get a second opinion you never know a new doctor May treat you differently doesn’t mean you have to get rid of your current position but perhaps other physicians may have other treatment plans that’s my suggestion
This makes me so mad! I don’t care here this snob wet to school, you pay her for a service, right? That means she works for YOU! And it is in the path she took to be a doctor, so you demand attention and care!! If you are scared like I tend to be, take a brave friend or family member with you!
great reply