Hypothyroidism Symptoms

Hypothyroidism can often go untreated and unnoticed to due the wide variety of symptoms that can occur at even the slightest imbalance of thyroid hormone.

You see, the thyroid is a very delicate, butterfly shaped organ at the base of your neck. The reason that the symptoms very so much with thyroid disease is because the thyroid regulates an incredible amount of bodily functions- fertility, body temperature and metabolism to name a few.

My personal symptoms include having a fuzzy brain or thoughts, inability to concentrate, constant exhaustion (even after sleeping), migraine headaches, inability to lose weight despite a healthy diet and exercise, constant inflammation of joints and aches in my upper back especially, and hair loss. I also have varying degrees of bouts with depression.

Other people experience a vast variety of symptoms:

• Inability to stave off infection
• Depression
• Constant chills
• Irregular menstruation
• Lack of libido
• Mood swings
• Weight gain
• High cholesterol
• Lowered ability of senses to operate (ie: visual, hearing, touch, taste, smell)
• Slow recovery after illness
• Constant aches and pains
• Hair loss
• Inability to lose weight
• Infertility
• Lack of stamina, even with day to day things

You're also more likely to have hypothyroidism if you or a blood relative has had any autoimmune diseases. For instance, my great grandmother had rheumatoid arthritis, which definitely could be a factor as to why I have possibly autoimmune thyroid and hypothyroidism. There are also many physical signs that can demonstrate low thyroid, as well.

• Dry, rough elbows
• Brittle, thinning hair
• Muscle weakness
• Swelling of limbs
• Decreased reflexes
• Decreased ability to think and react
• Slow pulse
• Low blood pressure

Of course, on top of these lists there are far more symptoms and these barely scratch the surface. If you or someone you love has experienced any of these symptoms, you may want to suggest, or go to your physician yourself, and request a TSH test. I didn't know what was wrong with me for a long, long time and thought I was seriously ill. I thought I might have fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, and while those have been shown to have relation to thyroid function, I finally figured out it was my thyroid (or it being attacked or it being sluggish!) that was the culprit.