Hypothyroid symptoms

[Truth42]

Hi,

I'm putting together a comprehensive listing of hypothyroid symptoms. I'd be really grateful to hear yours, however large or small.

Thanks in advance.

Ian

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Good to see you back, Ian. How are you doing?

Have you seen the main Thyroid UK website and its list of signs and symptoms?

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

I can vouch for quite a few of them!

Will, hopefully, answer with a more personal list later.

Rod

[Truth42 in reply to helvella]

Hi Rod. Still trying to find a way to achieve a return to normality, I'm afraid. Thanks for asking. How are you?

This list is very useful. I've decided to put together an idiot's guide to hypo. Some sort of animated presentation. This will help.

Thanks,

Ian

[Hidden]

Before I was diagnosed I felt like I was in a fog, people would talk to me but it just didn't seem to sink in what they were saying. I also had bouts of sickness which would just come on out of the blue.

[Truth42 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Wednesday.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Truth42]

My first symptom was a hoarse voice, dismissed by GP. I just became more and more unwell (I couldn't give a definite symptom) and around 3 years later finally diagnosed by a first-aider who thought I may have a thyroid gland problem.

Consultants, A&E cardiac dept, or GP's never took a thyroid gland blood test.

[Coastwalker]

Tail bone pain Truth42,

Doc said it wasn't connected with my Hypothyroidism, (can be very painful at times, it affects both sides of bum intermittently or if unlucky both, legs and hips too) After vit D and other blood tests Doc put me on what she called a high dose of vit D3 1000iu, some members on here said 1000iu wasn't a high dose, next test Doc said I was slightly under with my VitD still but still Doc was not going to give me a higher dose, again said I was already on a high dose, I felt my body was asking for more so I bought some, I now take 5000iu Vitd3, the day after I upped my vitD3 dose my tail bone pain felt better, 2 days later it disappeared alltogether, however 2 weeks later it must have levelled out and I get a few pains, but not as bad as the (sciatica type,) pains I had before so not sure whether to take a higher vitD3 dose or wait to ask Doc for my Levo to be upped due to other slight pains which have also crept back.

[twintastic in reply to Coastwalker]

Hi Coastwalker,

I am not sure if I am allowed to mention brand names but I use Better You DLux 3000 Vitamin D oral spray. It is sprayed under the tongue and I believe the body absorbs it faster. My body does not absorb nutrients properly from food or tablets, so sprays are, for me, the best choice.

My vitamin D was severely low and I was advised I to take 8/9000iu daily. I also get pain in my bum (both sides) and sciatica type pain throughout my body, especially bad across my shoulders, chest and arms (right down to fingers) at the moment.

I cannot take pain killers due to liver problems, but have started to use magnesium oil which is meant to be good for muscles, bones etc and which I also have low levels of. My energy level did increase for a little while after a magnesium infusion. Have you had yours checked?

All the best,

Mel x

[Coastwalker in reply to twintastic]

Hi Twintastic/Mel, thank you, will keep in mind the Vit D3 spray (and other spays too,) it makes good sense if you have trouble with absorbing which I might have.

Yes, I have been tested for VitD, it was low, Doc prescribed 1000iu vitD3, next vitD test I was still slightly low again, but Doc said she wouldn't prescribe any more vitD3 as it was already a very high dose. I then decided to buy my own vit D3 5000iu + added with k2. after two days my tailbone pain was more bearable and the sciatica pain disapeared thank goodness.

[humanbean]

1) Headaches, particularly first thing in the morning.

2) Increasing deafness.

3) Swollen/enlarged tongue with scalloped edges which caused me to have problems talking and also caused mouth ulcers where my tongue rubbed against my teeth.

4) Eyes seemed to have dropped back into my skull, probably due to oedema around the eyes.

5) Puffy face and puffy ankles.

6) Insufficient stomach acid causing lots of indigestion-type pain.

7) I actually have/had chronic diarrhoea, which is the opposite to most hypo people.

8) Problems with candida.

9) High cortisol - again the opposite of most hypo people.

10) Severe brain fog - inability to think, to plan, to concentrate and to remember.

11) Painful joints and muscular pain.

12) Reduced appetite.

13) Palpitations

14) Chest/heart pain

15) Periods of very fast heart rate

16) High(ish) blood pressure

17) Several times as a result of no 13 - 16 I've been checked out to see if I'm having a heart attack - hasn't happened so far.

Edit : I knew I would forget things.

18) Air hunger

19) Dreadful fatigue and un-refreshing sleep.

20) For years I suffered from insomnia, and I very rarely dream or remember my dreams. The few that I did remember were almost always nightmares.

[Truth42 in reply to humanbean]

Jesus guys, this is shitty isn't it? It's only when you see these symptoms written down that you realise how bad things really are. It's definitely a condition/disease that has slipped beneath the radar. Only fellow sufferers truly know what one goes through.

[Clutter in reply to Truth42]

Hi Ian, Check out hypothyroidmom.com Dana lists 300+ hypo symptoms.

My own symptoms pre surgery:

Palpitations.

Shortness of breath.

Dizziness to point of fainting/collapsing.

Carpal tunnel (left hand).

Parasthesia in hands.

Internal tremors.

Dry, flaky skin (face, arms & lower legs).

Neck, shoulder & back pain (head to heavy for neck).

Facial pain in & around left eye/cheekbone/temple.

13kg weight loss in 10 months (BMI 16). Diarrhoea.

Lack of appetite.

Globus sensation.

Hair loss.

Fatigue (unrefreshed after sleep).

Difficulty waking (eye lag for up to an hour after waking, 'hungover' up to 1½ hours after waking).

Slurred speech.

Brain fog, loss of memory, lack of concentration.

Irritation & inability to control temper.

Inability to handle stressful situations.

Inability to tolerate heat and cold.

Extremities cold.

Post surgery, in addition to above I've GAINED:

Possible fibromyalgia diagnosis (upper arms, neck & shoulders).

Joint pain (Hips, knees & elbows).

Possible COPD diagnosis (awaiting results of lung function test but think this is incorrect).

Also recently tested VitD & folate deficient. Low/normal B12. High/abnormal ferritin.

I think I have some issues with Levo as many of the symptoms above ceased completely when I stopped taking T4 for 2 months & went hypo for 4 weeks as a detox. Despite TSH rising to 107.50 I felt 'weller' than I'd been since becoming ill in 2010.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[daddysgirltx in reply to Clutter]

These symptoms sounds exactly like mine. What type of surgery did you have? I just take meds

[Clutter in reply to daddysgirltx]

Daddysgirltx,

I'm fairly sure the symptoms were due to autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto's) as my thyroid levels were euthyroid.

I had a thyroidectomy as I had thyroid cancer which is asymptomatic.

[lola1956 in reply to Truth42]

My very first symptoms were feet and hands frozen could never get warm even in summer..also my memory was gone and I would lose track mid sentence.....I could sit in a trance like state for 20 minutes. ...weight gain and couldnt lose it ...falling asleep all the time ...the list goes on im afraid

[OrangeGirl in reply to humanbean]

Please add extremely heavy menstrual cycles, the outer third of my eyebrows fell out, extremely dry, flaky and often itchy skin and tinnitus to the list being compiled.

[Duchy82]

My symptoms were:

Severe headaches

Extreme tiredness i would come home from work and just have a sleep on the sofa and my husband couldn't wake me still feeling tired after 12hrs of sleeping

Feeling really cold heating on 21, tshirt, jumper and blanket and still shivering.

Pins and needles in extremities

Weight gain

No appetite

Brain fog and so severe i can't remember some things from that first year or so, there are real gaps

Raised cholesterol eventhough i ate pretty low fat no butter etc

Low in range b12

Very emotional

Constant infections i have taken a ridiculous amount of abiotics for chest infections and tonsilitis

After treatment these are mostly gone i stil get the headaches and pins and needles occasionally but i can keep them at bay with exercise and unfortunately never lost the really cold hands.

[bethhub in reply to Duchy82]

I know this is an old thread, but I'm hoping someone can help. My tsh is 6.106. I'm having tingling in extremities and loose bowl movements. Is this normal with hypothyroidism?

[Duchy82 in reply to bethhub]

Pins and needles are pretty common and lose bowel movements can be a sign too (although less common than constipation). A TSH of 6.106 would indicate hypothyroidism but unfortunately they have changed the cutoff to 10 I believe. The thyroid uk website has an extensive list of symptoms.

If you want some good advice where many peole will see your question it may be worth starting your own post. (There are people on the forum far more knowledgeable than me).

[Hidden]

Hi Ian, here are my symptoms

Tinnitus

Brain fog

Heavy feeling in eyes

Headaches

Migraines

Pain in back of my sides

Pains in knees, hips, legs and ankles

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Heavy periods - sometimes flooding through an absorbent pad

Short periods

Early periods

Constipation

Cold intolerance

Frequent cold sore outbreaks

Acne around the time of my period

Dry skin

Itchy skin

Nausea

Fatigue

Thick feeling in throat

High blood pressure

Frequent attacks of Raynaud's

Frequent UTIs

Stuffy nose upon waking

Puffy under-eye areas - sort of rectified by applying foundation and concealer.

Dark circles under eyes

Sensitive scalp

Hoarse voice (sometimes)

Tingling in hands, arms and legs

Fine, flyaway hair (always had it)

Hope this helps

Jo xxx

[Karispitit]

My biggest symptoms for the past ten years (although like others I had many) was weight gain and not being able to think clearly. I would also come out with different words to what I had in my mind. I couldn't walk very far as I was so weak and breathless and when I was out and about (which wasn't often) I was always looking for somewhere to sit down. Shop assistants used to give me dirty looks as I was so desperate to sit down I used to sit on their shop displays. I just couldn't help it.

My body used to feel as if it was going to burst.I would feel my skin everywhere expanding as if it was trying to tear. My whole body and face blew up so large with odema that even my family used to make jokes about me and I had to wear shoes that were several sizes bigger.

For the past 3 months I have been on T3 alone ( T4 and NDT just made me worse) and I have lost all my odema and I have also lost over two stone. I also have a lot of clarity of thought back again. I definitely feel I am getting better. I had to self medicate in the end as I was not able to find anyone medically to help me.

[Sampydoodle in reply to Karispitit]

Hi,you say you had to self medicate.!

My GP says I have depression and should seek help thru counselling. My symptoms seem to relate to hypo but bloods came back normal except ferritin. GP prescribed ferrous fumarate over 2mnth ago but hasn't helped so far.i also hav low B12 although in range which he won't treat and says no GP will. Would I possibly be able to self medicate with T3? I have read it can be a good mood lifter in depression as well as treating the thyroid issues of fatigue,weight gain,lack of concentration, memory problems,muscle aches,migraine,joint pain,constipation,heavy irregular periods,hair loss,dry skin etc.etc.

Can u buy meds without prescription cos there's no chance of getting one?

If so how do you know what dose to take?

Any info would be really helpful.

Thanks.

[humanbean in reply to Sampydoodle]

If you have low B12 and low iron, no thyroid medication will work well for you. Your ferritin needs to be at least 70 and preferably a bit higher.

If your doctor won't treat your B12 then the most efficient supplement you can buy is "sublingual methylcobalamin". Search on Amazon, check out the reviews of the various brands, then shop around for your chosen brand.

Cobalamin is the "official" name for vitamin B12 and it comes in various forms. Methylcobalamin is the best one - and sublingual versions (i.e. pills go under the tongue and slowly dissolve) are the best also.

For a good response to thyroid medication the things you need to have at optimal levels (not just in range) are : iron/ferritin, folate, vitamin B12, magnesium, zinc, copper, vitamin D. There may be others but those are the ones I can remember.

It is also a good idea to take a selenium supplement.

Ask your doctor for printouts of all your blood tests including reference ranges, and ask for these from now on every time you have blood tests. Take notes of symptoms at the time of the blood tests. (The results are useless without the reference ranges, by the way.)

Good luck!

[lucylocks]

Hi Ian

My symptoms were before treatment were

Extreme fatigue

Could'nt get up in morning even after 11 hours sleep

Burning type itch

forgetfulness

feeling down in the dumps

Anxiety

lethargy.

Eyebrows and eyelashes thinning

Body hair thinning

Dry hair

Constipation

tingling in hands and feet

breathlessness

since starting levothyroxine

found out I had really Vit D (level 22)

low folate low B12 (in bottom of range)

Still really tired

still get the itching

still constipated but occasional diarrehia

still tingling in hands and feet

still the breathlessness

eyebrows getting thinner

hair getting dryer

still get the anxiety

Still get odd days feeling down

Either levo not working or still not on right dose

Taking 100mcg alternate 125mcg

Best wishes browny

[lucylocks in reply to lucylocks]

Sorry forgot, also get bursitis in hip in bed and wake up with hand numb

[Truth42 in reply to lucylocks]

Thanks again everybody. Really appreciated. It's a horrible thing to have.

[Clarebear]

Mine included:

Anxiety

Vertigo

Feeling spaced out

Head feeling too heavy for neck to support

Carpal tunnel

Insomnia and fatigue

Panic attacks

Feeling like cold water was being poured over my head

Headaches

Dark vision

Tingling hands, feet and top of head

All much better now thankfully I am we'll medicated on NDT

[bekkie]

Hi,

My symptoms include

Extreme tiredness

Swollen legs

Depression

constipation

Inability to concentrate

Lack of libido

Have just joined this site and its great to see Im not alone. I never realised until I was diagnosed how awful an underactive thyroid could make you feel. Thought I was going mad!!

Bekkie

[happychick]

hi i was in a fog and lost feeling in both hands which took me to gp the blood results showed an alarm but had to have bloods taken for every two months for 6months but was started on levo 25mg now on 50mg and got to have more bloods next wk just recovering from carpol tunnel op on one hand . you don't know how bad you feel untill things get better getting headaches but put it down to lambrini i had a patch of red dry skin below my knee came back every summer ,urine output changed heavy periods hope this will help and memory loss.cu also my brother has thyroid problems and my auntie.

[Tigerhenry]

The replies and the symtoms listed match my Statement of Disability . This morning I have a preliminary hearing with my former employer , claiming discrimination , my deepest concern is that despite taking medication , support supplements , the fluctuating symptoms , will prevent me from gaining full time employment again .... If only my former employer had taken some notice ....

[Hidden]

Ok I have only been diagnosed about 8 months so I will put my main ones down.

I first got a cough like I am constantly trrying to clear my throat at the time I smoked so thought it was a smokers cough, now I have given up smoking for over a year and I am still trying to clear my throat, normally in the mornings mostly afterward or during the coughing attack it makes me sick and then I am left breathless for about 10 -15 mins.

I feel that there is a lump constantly in my throat.

I have gained two sizes up to a 16 now (I am heartbroken about this, shopping for clothes is so hard for me to do) I have removed the mirror from my bedroom as I cant bear to see how much I have gained.

Tiredness that you would not believe.(Well that I could not believe at the time.....obviously you guy believe me...lol)

Blurred Vision and Eye strain

Migraines from Hell (lasting for weeks)

Indigesion that was driving me crazy and keeping me awake. (Gave up eating Caffine completely, so nothing but caffine free coke or fruit tea for the last 6 months, no chocolate, no alcohol and no cheese. Result no Migraines.)

Also because I was a coffee lover, when the caffine went so did the milk, indigesion is a lot better so now drinking lactose free milk and is much better.

Fat Ankles - Water Retention Joy

Periods that have a mind of there own (Just had one after missing two right when I was away on a two day conference, spent half my time in a loo.) I think this happened because I had a period of a few months where my doctor would not up my dose.

Itchy Eyes / Dry Eyes

Carpel Tunnel Symdrome in both arms.

Lack of feeling in my left arm ( Noticing some weakness opening jars etc)

Pain in hip groin area(occasional)

Back Pain alway thought the cause was a car crash I had ( but now I think the car crash caused the hashi's which caused the back pain because I did not have it while in hospital (not sure though))

Freezing cold (just installed new central heating as my old could not keep up with my demand.) Mainly in legs.

Hot Feet when walking arround (Not sure if symptom but sometimes my feet feel like they are on fire and can go right up my legs, it not painful but still a strange sensation.)

Brain Fog and lack of concentration was really bad before diagnosis

Very Bad Memory so bad my hairdresser is gone mad with me, i remember appointments in the morning and by the time of the appointment I have forgotten completely about it.

My Bowels also can be one way or the other not nice.

Most of my symptoms are still current even though on 125mg. Have appointment with Doctor end of Jan. She will be pleased to see me NOT. Ho Hum on with life....

[Dramlouie]

I now believe it started after having my two children 17 months apart and not properly recovering afterwards.

My stomach didn't go back to previous size, went to gym and the instructor said I should go on a diet, I wouldn't get rid of it by exercising. In the end I paid £7000 for a abdominoplasty as people kept thinking I was pregnant, couldn't get it done on NHS.

Went to doctor with back pain, I couldn't pick the children up without intense backache, the told me what do you expect after having two children!

My hair started falling out, I was told it was normal after having children.

I was always croaky and clearing my throat, it drove me mad. Some days I had a deep voice.

Had very dry flaky skin.

Losing leg and arm hair, eyelashes falling out. Pubic hair diminishes.

Kept forgetting what I was going to say. Couldn't get the words out, knew what I wanted to say yet the words alluded me.

The hips started aching, knees, back, hands, neck, just everything ached, doctor prescribed Ibuprofen.

Putting on weight gradually, told to lose weight as will help the joints.

At this point I was practically eating nothing, just kids left overs, no sweets, no sugar yet my weight was creeping up.

Tinnitus, was given sound things to wear in the ears, no improvement, tinnitus is ongoing.

Palpitations, anxiety, depression, kept going to doctor in tears, told it was stress from husband, we are now separated.

No sex drive, didn't help matters between myself and husband, husband moved out of bedroom, finally he had an affair and left me.

Tired, kept falling asleep at my desk. No help when went to doctor.

Dry skin, weakness in muscles.

Pains in my legs, in my muscles, saw a rheumatologist privately costing £200, he told me I wasn't bad enough and to go back to see him when I was worse!

No blood test for vitamin or mineral deficiency or thyroid was given despite me saying that my mother has hypothyroid.

Still have anxiety palpitations, belching.

Summer 2013 given a thyroid blood test, in October told I was Hypothyroid and given 50mcg Levothyroxine.

January 2014 had a heart attack. Angiogram was clear, echocardiogram was clear, MRI scan showed a very small junction where the cardiologist things a blood clot could have got caught. By the time I had the angiogram as they kept forgetting me, 3 days later they said it had dissolved.

Started Costochondritis which gave me more anxiety thinking I was going to have another heart attack any minute.

March 2014 I was still not feeling right and the doctor would not test vitamins or minerals, I had to pay for a private blood test which came back with very low zinc and bottom range magnesium despite taking vitamin and mineral supplements.

My thyroid was reduced to 25mcg Levothyroxine which I am on today.

I am now going through Dr P who says I have Adrenal Fatigue and I am still having treatment.

My children are now 16 and 17 and I am still not feeling much better.

Went to doctor for a vitamin and mineral blood test privately and told I was fine and to forget it and get on with my life.

No.......... I know when I am not feeling well, I just want to get my Vits and Mins tested to make sure I am not overdoing the supplements or if I am still low in some.

Fuzzy thinking, can't work things out, instructions are a blur.

Yesterday feeling well and full of energy, but today feeling yuck as didn't sleep well and woken early like every morning early by bird scarers. Don't help stress levels early morning as I wake up stressed. Then go to bed after falling asleep in front of tv, then can't get to sleep and lie awake for several hours.

I think thyroid should be tested every year along with mineral and vitamin levels, it would save years of illness before it costs the NHS thousands due to serious problems. My heart attack must have cost them thousands of pounds. I don't have heart disease in the family.

[Piret]

I didn't read all the answers so maybe some of them have already been mentioned. But anyway here goes.I have Hashimoto's which came out after I had my first child at 27, but I have a feeling it was planning its attack for years before. A few years previously, I had a 6-month bout of throat pain where I would lose my voice constantly if I talked too much and my whole neck was aching, all tests were normal at the time and it remained 'unexplained'.I guess I had an episode of thyroiditis.

After my child I was hyperactive for a while, and now it's settled into hypo.

-Feeling cold (but if I move around and do anything at all, I'm straight away boiling)

-extreme fatigue

-throat pain for 18 months now, that hasn't resolved by levothyroxine ( ENT thought I have reflux but tests didn't show it, now I'm due to have endoscopy)

-stomach pain, especially when eating gluten, so I'm trying not to ( my celiac test was negative)

-swollen stomach, no exercise makes any difference

-constipation

-pressure in ears and ringing, started exactly at the time I transitioned from hyper to hypo

-frequent headaches

-thrush

-short cycle and very light periods (usually it's the other way in hypo)

-brain fog, memory loss and trouble concentrating, also hard to construct sentences sometimes

-dry hair, weak nails

-more acne

-depression and very bad mood swings

-rage, like really extreme and overwhelming so I want to break things and hit people

- no sex drive

- I had low vitamin D, which I resolved with the oral spray, but didn't feel any better from that

I don't know if all these symptoms are from the hashimotos, but that is the only thing I have been diagnosed with. I have now got a growing lymph node in the back of my neck, I don't know if they are related but I'm having a scan for it and really dreading it's something more serious......

This disease sucks and sometimes I almost wish I had something more serious but more specific and treatable wrong with me, cause it's like fighting with an invisible monster!!!

[Amymontanez in reply to Piret]

These are my symptoms too. I also suffer from headaches and tailbone pain, but I didn't realize these can be symptoms of my hypothyroidism too.