THYROID DISEASE

Read and learn more about symptoms of underactive thyroid. For more, visit the Thyroid Disease website ThyroidDiseaseWiki.com.

Q: Underactive thyroid symptoms?
My mom has an overactive thyroid- and I think I have an Underactive thyroid…..I always feel sluggish, hungry and I’m always bloated, I have also gained some weight recently.. Are there any other symptoms with an underactive thyroid? I going to a doctor next week but I would like to get a little bit of info about it.

Thanks

A: Being anxious and even depressed can sometimes be a symptom of an underactive thyroid for some people (an example only but I have read about this and talked to others who have had similar symptoms).

I am also including the link to a site that may help you find even more information:

http://thyroid.about.com

Q: Will my underactive thyroid symptoms go away once I start my meds?
I have a VERY LOW underactive thyroid (according to my doctor it is terribly low).

I have really bad symptoms like everything with me is wrong, my hair falls out like no tomorrow, just chunks at a time, and its like dead straw hair. my muscles are super weak, if I write two sentences my arms will start to ache, I recently gained 30 pounds (when I was eating less and exercising more, my doctor says its cause my metabolism is so slow from my underactive thyroid thats why I am gaining weight), I get really bad shortness in breathe, pale, poor memory, swollen hands and feet, Hoarseness or deepening of the voice, brittle thin nails, bad immune system, heavy periods, joint pain, EVERYTHING! it causes soo many problems, ecspecially with the horsey throat and the dry hair falling out soo much, weight gain, swollen fingers and muscle soreness there my main big problems..
they are truly ruining my life, I am starting my meds next week, are my symptoms going to gradually go away (I really hope so) or am I going to have them all my life. Pleaseee people help me and answer me my mind is baffled with these questions, I need a clear answers.

Thank you soo much, GOD BLESS!

A: It may take a couple of weeks, but you will definitely feel much better. Most of the time, the doctor will start you on an estimated dose then draw your blood level in a week or two, then adjust your dose until they get it just right. Be patient; you will be fine.

Q: what r the symptoms of an underactive thyroid?
I have been extremely tired for the past week and have dry and sore eyes. are these symptoms.. going to ring my doc tomorrow and try and get appt.

A: Not much there to suggest thyroid disease. Most doctors would not investigate tiredness present for any less than 4 weeks in the absence of any more significant symptoms.

Q: What are your thyroid symptoms?
I’ve read all the literature and some other questions, but I want to know YOUR symptoms of an over or underactive thyroid. What do you experience? I think mine is low, but I haven’t had it checked yet. What do you say to the doctor if it is a low normal and they don’t think you need meds, but you know it just ain’t workin’ for you? “Give me some freakin’ drugs!”?
Holy crap! That low temperature thing is totally me! Who knew?!

A: I know exactly what you’re talking about.

You know you aren’t feeling right. You just KNOW it’s probably your thyroid, because according to all the literature, and everyone you talk to, your symptoms and the way you just “feel” match a diagnosis of thyroid deficiency perfectly.

BUT… you go into your doc’s office, he draws blood. You ask him to be sure to check both T3 and T4. Reluctantly he says okay, acting like the patient shouldn’t be making suggestions like that. So the results come back, and what a surprise, they are within “normal limits.” Am I right?

So, here’s what worked for me. First, I came upon this website for Dr. Wilson’s Temperature Syndrome. This is a naturopath, I think, who presents compelling evidence that people with otherwise normal thyroid blood results, but who have lower than normal body temperature, can be helped with his particular thyroid therapy. It’s the real deal, and it works.

I went to my doctor, told her the situation, explained why I thought I might be a candidate for this therapy, and she went ahead and gave me cytomel. It is a pre-thyroid hormone, or something like that. Look it up to be sure I’m not giving you incorrect information about the cytomel. Anyhoo, it has worked wonders for me.

My symptoms (and on the Wilson website you’ll be surprised how many of them there are!), have almost completely subsided. We started at 50 micrograms (mcg), and I am at 150 mcg right now, and expect that’s where I’ll stay.

She told me that the main possible side effect is osteoporosis from the cytomel. However, I am going to have the bone density scans done as time goes by. I’m being careful about the calcium content of my diet, and I do weight bearing exercise to try and keep my bones pointing in the right direction.

Check out the Wilson’s Temperature Syndrome website, and see what you find out. If your doctor says no, try a different doctor.

I am very lucky with mine, in that she recently graduated and is still loving her profession. She is also open to new possibilities and new ideas. Try a young doctor if your current one isn’t doing it for you.

Good luck, and keep pushing for this. It just might work for you, and if it does, you’ll wonder where the real you has been hiding! Your body should have the proper hormones to feel and function right!

Incidently, my symptoms included extreme fatigue, uncaring or unwilling to move through the day, constipation, body aches, being cold or chilly a lot, feeling kind of “foggy”, losing words when I was talking… I KNEW the word I wanted to say, but couldn’t recall what it was… things like that. Once I was driving and all of a sudden just panicked because I thought I was going the wrong way on a 1 way road. Totally not the way it was, but I was confused and frightened. Only happened once, but it felt like just a severe mental fog setting in briefly. Nothing even similar to that has happened since I started on the cytomel. All the symptoms have lifted, and the lack of fogginess and having some energy (not an abnormal amount, just a NORMAL amount), feels great!

Hang in there, and keep trying. Check out cytomel on the net and learn about it so that when you talk with your doctor, you will be informed and ready to champion your cause. It’s your body, make sure that whatever doctor you have knows that is how you feel!

Q: symptoms of overactive and underactive thyroid?
i think i may have an overactive thyroid but dont know what the symptoms are! can anyone please help explain what symptoms might occur with an underactive thyroid and an overactive thyroid please?
im mainly asking because my moods havent been good lately, i thought maybe my pill had been the problem but ive been on it for 4 years and ive only just become moody lol
also, excessive hair i thought was down to an overactive thyroid…is that right?

A: overactive thyroid

you will sweat a lot
weight loss over a few months
your eyeballs may be popping out.
you might have palpitations
your palms will be warm and sweaty
you will feel anxious and jittery.
high pulse

underactive thyroid ( opposite to evrythin thats there in overactive)

mostly it will be unexplained weight gain..
lethargy… you might not feel like doing stuff u used to..
cold palms and soles..

Q: I think i have underactive thyroid?
I have all the symptoms of underactive thyroid, but my blood test come back as normal. Although it does not show up in my blood, can I still have it?
Even though the blood test come back as okay, i still think i have it as i got ALL the symtoms of underactive thyroid and its not just a temporary thing, i have had it a while and its getting worse and worse and i know in myself that it isn’t right.

A: No the blood test was telling the truth!

Q: Is an underactive thyroid if left untreated harmful?
I have had symptoms of an underactive thyroid for almost 2 years now (tiredness, rapid weight gain, feeling cold and then hot, numb toes and arms etc) is it harmful if left untreated? Also is there any pills I can buy over the counter (in the UK) that can help regulate my thyroid? Thanks

A: Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) is a condition in which your thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough of certain important hormones.

Women, especially those older than 50, are more likely to have hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism upsets the normal balance of chemical reactions in your body. It seldom causes symptoms in the early stages, but over time, untreated hypothyroidism can cause a number of health problems, such as obesity, joint pain, infertility and heart disease.

The good news is that accurate thyroid function tests are available to diagnose hypothyroidism, and treatment of hypothyroidism with synthetic thyroid hormone is usually simple, safe and effective once the proper dosage is established.

You will need to see a doctor who will determine how much thyroid hormone you will need. This medication is very inexpensive but you will need to be tested by your doctor from time to time.

Q: Question on med Levothyroxine for underactive thyroid?
I was told by my doctor recently that I have an underactive thyroid (never had that before I am 44) so he put me on Levothyroxine. Once a day 0.100MG. I am wondering if anyone has any good or bad news on this drug or personal experience and their symptoms of an underactive thyroid because I feel okay. (Aside from being tired). Thanks.

A: Many women become low thyroid as they get older.

I was diagnosed with low thyroid when I went in for a physical before getting pregnant. I was 39 years old and was unaware of any symptoms. As far as drugs and side effects go, levothyroxine is much better than most pharmaceuticals.

However, some people don’t do all that well with levothyroxine, and since it is the standard drug for docs to prescribe with low thyroid, if you are one of the people who doesn’t do well on it, you may have a tough road ahead to get someone to do the tests and experimenting you will need to get the right medicine and the right dose.

As time went on I did feel very tired, even on the drug, and had other symptoms as well (shortness of breath, confused thinking, hard to lose weight). The symptoms can be very subtle – so subtle that you don’t notice them until you feel better due to drugs or whatever, then you say “wow, I feel like myself again. I didn’t even notice how bad I was feeling.”

A great website for info is http://thyroid.about.com

Q: underactive thyroid………………?
i have had blood tests and says im on borderline of an underactive thyroid i feel so lifeless im getting deppressed and these are symptoms of underactive thyroid this is my second lot of tests ive had as well but the doctor wont give me anything to help it does anyone have any advice on what to do please

A: Underactive thyroid needs to be treated with medication so that your body gets the thyroiud hormones it needs – there is NO other way.
Your symptoms are clearly thyroid related and if your doctor won’t treat you, you need a new doctor who knows whatr they’re doing or an endocrinologost who is experienced in treat the thyroid.
When you say borderline, you need to find out exactly what your levels (test results) are? You are ENTITLED to this information, The do some research. If they are over 3 or 4 and certainly over 5, then you NEED treatment and the doctor need sto be reminded that refusal to treat IS a problem.

Q: Started a vegan diet about two months ago, I have recently had symptoms of an underactive thyroid?
I started eating a vegan diet about 3 months ago. In the last 2 weeks, I’m freezing all of the time (I live in the Arizona, so it’s not exactly cold), my skin has gotten drier, always sleepy, sore muscles for no reason. I’m on the thin side, but I always have been.

could it be soy milk inhibiting my thyroid? I drink about a glass or two a day.
I am well-versed in nutrition. For the first two weeks of eating, I anally documented everything I ate and changed my diet accordingly to meet dietary needs.
and that’s how I started drinking soy milk – for calcium and B12, the two nutrients I was lacking.

A: First of all, do not attempt to self-diagnose a problem. This should be done by a doctor. You could go down a list of symptoms and it could match almost anything. You may have an infection for all you know.

Are you not using iodized salt? If you have an iodine deficiency, this could cause thyroid problems http://www.vegfamily.com/dietician/1006a.htm Salt has been iodized in the US for the better part of the past century for all people– including meat eaters. If you don’t use it, you need to get a bit of iodine in your diet somewhere– about 150 mcg. http://veganhealth.org/articles/iodine/

I’m going to assume, because of your thin condition, that you do not eat a whole lot of food. Is that a correct assumption? Do you have any kind of eating disorder? Make sure you eat enough food to maintain a healthy weight, and meet your nutritional needs– such as getting enough iron, calcium, and other micronutrients. Iron is especially important for females who have their monthly period, because you lose iron when you bleed. If you are female and you’re of menstruating age, you need more iron than a male. Vegetarians may also need a bit more iron from plant sources because it is nonheme. http://veganhealth.org/articles/iron/

You also want to be sure you’re eating vitamin B12 daily in either a supplement or in fortified foods in addition to eating a healthy diet. Here’s an excellent website on vegetarian and vegan nutrition http://www.vrg.org/

edit: The reason I mentioned iodine was because you asked about soy and thyroid. The American Dietetic Association stated, “Foods such as soybeans, cruciferous vegetables, and sweet potatoes contain natural goitrogens. These foods have not been associated with thyroid insufficiency in healthy people provided iodine intake is adequate (They cited Messina M, Redmond G. Effects of soy protein and soybean isoflavones on thyroid function in healthy adults and hypothyroid patients: a review of the relevant literature. Thyroid. 2006;16:249-258.).” http://www.eatright.org/ada/files/VegetarianPositionFINAL.pdf If your iodine is fine, this research indicates that it’s not the soy that would cause a thyroid problem.

Q: Is one of the symptom of thyroid disease excessive saliva/slober in the trachea/throat?
Are the symptoms of an overactive thyroid gland excessive slober in the trachea/throat?
or is that a symptom of an underactive thyroid gland??
which one?

A: No, that is not a symptom of thyroid disease.

Q: What are the symptoms of a thyroid diorder in a child age 9?
My daughter’s tyroid seem enlarged and I was curious if she may have an underactive thyroid. She had gained weight in the last year.
And what causes thyroid problems

A: o poor memory and concentration
o tiredness & fatigue
o depression
o irritability
o weight gain
o muscle weakness and cramps
o intolerance to cold weather
o deteriorating or slowing growth rate
o constipation
o dry, coarse, itchy skin
o brittle hair
o a croaky, hoarse voice
o slow reflexes
o slow heart rate
o delayed as well as precocious sexual development
o high cholesterol levels
o girls may suffer from increased menstrual flow

NB: children and adolescents with under activity of the thyroid may have almost no symptoms or signs other than weight gain or slowing growth.

Q: Just diagnosed with fibromyalgia but had all the symptoms for hypothyroidism but blood work was normal ????
I had alot of the symptoms for underactive thyroid so I went to the dr. but all the blood work came back normal, at least what they consider normal. They ran a few more tests checking for arthritis and lupus but they were normal also so the dr. said he felt I had fibromyalgia and put me on cyclobenzaprine. Has anyone had the same thing happen to them.

A: For some reason that doctors don’t understand, there is a connection between hypothyroidism and fibromyalgia. In fact some studies say 15% of people diagnosed with hypothyroidism will develop fibromyalgia. Did you see a rheumatologist? Fibromyalgia is very difficult to diagnose and is normally only diagnosed by a rheumatolgist by taking a complete history and a physical exam checking for 18 tender areas called trigger points. If your doctor isn’t a specialist, I would be suspicious about that diagnosis, especially if he didn’t check you for these tender spots. It’s not something that can be diagnosed simply by ruling other things out. That being said, I’d see a specialist for sure, because the cause of fibromyalgia is unknown and has no known cure and there are lots of diseases that are MISdiagnosed as fibro. You may actually have something more treatable. Look into Lyme disease, which is also often misdiagnosed as fibro. I have both hypothyroidism and fibromyalgia but since I’m in the medical field I have a hard time with not knowing the cause of fibromyalgia. I’ve done lots of research and find that there are a lot of closely related diseases often misdiagnosed as fibro such as Lyme, chronic fatigue syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and adult growth hormone deficiency. I guess my point is that it’s hard to live with something with no known cause or cure, so see the specialists, ask lots of questions, and try to find out if it could be something else. Good luck!

Q: what are the symptoms of underactive and/or overactive thyroid?

A: Hypothyroidism- patient is slow with a slow pulse, cold course skin, course facial features, tends to gain weight, may retain fluid especially in the legs. and may get memory loss and occasionally psychiatric disturbance. May develop diffuse enlargement of the thyroid.

Hyperthyroidism- patient is fidgety and anxious, fast pulse, sweaty hot skin and may lose weight. Patient may also develop protruding staring eyes, which may precede the other symptoms. May develop nodular enlargement of the thyroid.

Q: what are the symptoms of an over/underactive thyroid gland?

A: Overactive – loosing weight, heart palpitations, shaking hands, heat intolerance, greasy hair / acne, bulging eyes, gritty eyes – basically your body overworking because its got too much thyroid hormone in your blood. These are the symptoms I had before treatment.

Underactive – putting on weight or unable to loose any weight, feeling the cold, dry skin, headaches, pins and needles, tiredness – the opposite of overactive, in that your body does not have enough thyroid hormone. These are the symptoms I have now that I’ve gone the opposite end of the scale due to RAI treatment.