Hypo-what's your worst symptom?

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Replies

  • islandmonkey
    islandmonkey Posts: 546 Member
    In 2002 the AACE had issued a public document indicating that the new range for TSH (for everyone, not just those on meds) was .3-3.0. Interestingly it seems like that document is now gone??

    I would ask your doctor to test your free T3 and free T4, as TSH doesn't tell the whole story.
  • katoato
    katoato Posts: 26 Member
    They've sadly retracted that stance. If you look at the latest set of guidelines, I believe it's something like a TSH over 10 needs mandatory treatment, and a TSH over 5 should be treated at the doctor's discretion (IIRC, something similar to this). Huge step back IMHO.
  • islandmonkey
    islandmonkey Posts: 546 Member
    They've sadly retracted that stance. If you look at the latest set of guidelines, I believe it's something like a TSH over 10 needs mandatory treatment, and a TSH over 5 should be treated at the doctor's discretion (IIRC, something similar to this). Huge step back IMHO.

    Ah, that's right - that whole publication is just terrifying and sets us back decades. :(
  • firstsip
    firstsip Posts: 8,399 Member
    They've sadly retracted that stance. If you look at the latest set of guidelines, I believe it's something like a TSH over 10 needs mandatory treatment, and a TSH over 5 should be treated at the doctor's discretion (IIRC, something similar to this). Huge step back IMHO.

    Woah, that's news to me. I always toot my horn about my endo because he's a "big deal" in the community (he took me on as a special case as a kid, in fact)... and he still treats by the .3-3.00 stance, and he's amazing because he's also a very much "treat you by how you feel" endo.
  • DebraYvonne
    DebraYvonne Posts: 632 Member
    I usually have no sympotoms but the worst I have in the past few years is no energy/fatigue. I am a high energy person and when my thyroid is off, I get very tired.
  • Vertigo, Forgetfulness (I will be driving and totally forget how I got there or where I'm going), weight, mega dry skin, Irritable at even the littlest thing
  • FindingTam
    FindingTam Posts: 7 Member
    WOW! I feel so very blessed!! After reading so very many of these posts, I know I am blessed!! I have a few light symptoms but nothing like what I've read that some of you suffer. I'm so sorry that you all suffer these many complications!!

    I do suffer slight weight gain, slight mood swings, fatigue or lack of energy, dry skin and increase of facial hair (which I hate), but these are light symptoms compared to a lot that I have read.

    I'll keep this "Group" in my thoughts and prayers.
  • MsMelissaG
    MsMelissaG Posts: 48 Member
    Fatigue
    Joint Problems
    Vertigo
    Lack of weight loss
    Sometimes I get terrible night sweats but sometimes I'm freezing during the day

    :frown:
  • emstethem
    emstethem Posts: 263 Member
    Ug...well...my symptoms have switched up...now my worst symptom is the fact that my right eye looks like it wants to pop out of my head...thyroid eye disease... :( On a lighter note, the constipation is no longer an issue... :(
  • emstethem
    emstethem Posts: 263 Member
    To those that suffer or have suffered hair loss, is there anything to treat it? Has anyone had substantial hair loss and then found something to diminish it? Would Armour over Levothyroxine, for example, make an impact on the hair loss?

    regarding hair loss, i have thick hair and a lot of it. i lose a lot of hair on a daily basis, but because i have so much it's not noticeable. I started taking Biotin 1000mcg on a daily basis and have noticed that I do not lose as much hair and that my nails also have been growing stronger.

    Maybe this might help for those that are suffering brittle nails and/or hair loss.

    You can order Nioxin hair systems from Amazon.com that will treat the hair loss as well and may help to correct the problem. talk to your stylist. :)
  • brain fog, lack of concentration, insomnia. For constipation I take 2 chelated magnesium tablets twice a day, helps tremendously! I also drink alot of water as well.
  • SwimSoccerTaxi
    SwimSoccerTaxi Posts: 98 Member
    I use diet and vitamins to help with many of the challenging symptoms of hypothyroidism. Best bet is to do things as natural as possible as chemicals make it harder for the body to do what it needs to. Vitamin B Complex is a MUST for oxygenating the blood (helps with symptoms of exhaustion). Vitamin B12, Vitamin D and D3 (something most of us in North America should take), Vitamin E, and Zinc. I DO NOT clean my home with chemicals (I use ENJO products) and I make my own laundry soap with products that our grandparents used (again, no chemicals). Sadly though, I have found nothing that helps with the cold other then summer! I LOVE the heat! I do take medication but I'm on the lowest dose and my Dr. encourages me to continue combating symptoms chemical/drug free. Good luck to all.....its a tough disorder but I hope you find some relief!:smile:
  • Debilitating fatigue, brain fog, constant cold, even in the summer time and the hair loss. I take 10,000mcg of biotin and am in the market for a new D3 as that is essential with hashi's. And to be real honest, depression and lack of libido :-(
  • Dlacenere
    Dlacenere Posts: 198 Member
    I don't know where I've been living, but I've had vertigo for years and never realized it had to do with thyroid (probably my own fault, because I never brought it up to the doctor/thought it wasn't... that abnormal?).

    So I guess I'd say: vertigo, difficulty losing weight, and sparsity of hair IN MY EYEBROWS.

    It's very vain, and I'm lucky that my hair is so thick that, if anything, my hair looks better with this constant "thinning"... but my eyebrows are such an embarrassment for me. (my profile pic is with them heavily filled in by a professional...)

    Whoaaaaaa - I have had situational vertigo for some time now and had no idea it was related!!! Second that on the eyebrows too!
  • dalexander82
    dalexander82 Posts: 111 Member
    You all have named everything that I HATE about this disease, I went to the doctor yesterday and they are increasing my meds once again..Wish me luck, SIGH!!! :frown:
  • christinekry
    christinekry Posts: 86 Member
    I don't know where I've been living, but I've had vertigo for years and never realized it had to do with thyroid (probably my own fault, because I never brought it up to the doctor/thought it wasn't... that abnormal?).

    So I guess I'd say: vertigo, difficulty losing weight, and sparsity of hair IN MY EYEBROWS.

    It's very vain, and I'm lucky that my hair is so thick that, if anything, my hair looks better with this constant "thinning"... but my eyebrows are such an embarrassment for me. (my profile pic is with them heavily filled in by a professional...)

    Whoaaaaaa - I have had situational vertigo for some time now and had no idea it was related!!! Second that on the eyebrows too!

    I had idea about the eyebrows. Mine are super thin too. hmm
  • islandmonkey
    islandmonkey Posts: 546 Member

    So I guess I'd say: vertigo, difficulty losing weight, and sparsity of hair IN MY EYEBROWS.

    It's very vain, and I'm lucky that my hair is so thick that, if anything, my hair looks better with this constant "thinning"... but my eyebrows are such an embarrassment for me. (my profile pic is with them heavily filled in by a professional...)

    Whoaaaaaa - I have had situational vertigo for some time now and had no idea it was related!!! Second that on the eyebrows too!

    I had idea about the eyebrows. Mine are super thin too. hmm


    It's generally a loss of hair on the outer 1/3 of your eyebrows that is classic thyroid symptom (hypo or hyper).
  • Right now, getting comfortable enough to sleep is the worst. ( thyroid is tender and it hurts when the pillow touches it).
    When my numbers are off light sensitivity is a dead give away. If I eat too much sodium( iodine) I will get a hyper dump and those are the worst ..tremor, loss of strength across the shoulders.

    I did not spend much time hypo but it was made worse because my iron was really low and the symptoms over lap.
  • Hlthy4Good
    Hlthy4Good Posts: 15 Member
    I also use Biotin and find it helps with hair loss. I am not great at remembering to take vitamins, and I can tell when I haven't taken the Biotin because of all the hair in the shower drain.
  • Hlthy4Good
    Hlthy4Good Posts: 15 Member
    Difficulty losing weight is by far my worst symptom. I exercise and eat well and the scale just doesn't move. I have to admit, that gets frustrating and I "slack off" on my good habits. It's so hard to measure and weigh all my food and make healthy choices (whole wheat pasta, fruits, veggies, salads, etc) when the results are only slightly better than if I were to eat out at restaurants and drink beer :-) I must say, the extra weight has such a negative impact on me and my quality of life - low self confidence, I often avoid social situations especially reunion-type ones.

    I also suffer from hair loss, exhaustion (I rarely make it past 9pm), mood swings.

    That said, yesterday the doctor switched me to Armour and doubled my dose. My bloodwork was fine, but because I am so symptomatic still, he is trying this to see if it makes a difference. I have read some good things about this drug on MFP so I am hoping this is what I need to get back on track. I wish us all luck!!
  • FUELERDUDE
    FUELERDUDE Posts: 150 Member
    Hmmmm, where to start?

    I would say my worst symptom is that of mood swings/overly emotional. It has affects on my personal and professional life and is very hard to try to keep under control. Being a guy, this kind of makes me feel like I am an outcast among other guys.

    A close second has been the ease with which I can put on weight.

    Third place would be the mental fog. I sometimes feel as if I am a man in his 60's or later due to this.

    Other issues I have are dry skin, fatigue, always thirsty, a low heart rate (Before meds my heart would stop beating for 10-15 seconds if I was very relaxed, and normal resting hear rate was 49 bpm.), and a slow metabolism.
  • for2day
    for2day Posts: 209 Member
    Fatigue and vertigo is probably my worse complaint and then I would have to say weight loss and hair loss - although I have found one thing for my hair that works for me and even my beautician, who has been doing my hair forever, told me that whatever I am using, don't stop. I have always had baby fine hair and losing it was a nightmare and very depressing for me, but I tried a product last year, just for giggles to see if it did what it claimed - and for me IT HAS! I have hair again. So, please no giggles, but I tried the product WEN and I tried the Almond mint one first and that one dried my hair out, so I then tried the pomegranate one and WOW! Like I said, I have hair and have for over a year! Now, that is something that worked for me and it may be worth a try to see if it may work for you. I would suggest a small bottle first, to see which one works. And no, I don't work for them, I just saw it and I was so desperate for anything at that point in my life and it worked. :))
  • kpharte
    kpharte Posts: 8
    I get crazy muscle cramps from the simplest of tasks (reaching to wash my back in the shower, bending down to tie my shoe). I would have to wait about 10 minutes and massage that muscle for it to go away. My Dr. told me that it would go away once my thyroid is more level (I've just started taking synthroid a month ago).

    Weight gain/weight loss is also an issue and dry skin. I already have eczema patches, but my skin sucks up all the lotion I put on it. It's annoying!
  • Southernb3lle
    Southernb3lle Posts: 862 Member
    Fatigue and brain fog

    DRY SKIN
  • Windi38
    Windi38 Posts: 164 Member
    I hadn't any idea that vertigo was associated with hypothyroidism! I do get that sometimes when I'm crouched or kneeling, and then stand up, everything will go black for a second or three. Wonder if that's the same. It's annoying, but not debilitating.

    I think my biggest issue is my non-existent metabolism and lack of energy. I just don't have any focus. I'm trying to start a business and I just cannot seem to get myself to actually DO anything some days. I wouldn't call it fatigue, it's not like I'm too tired to do anything. It's more like this complete and total lack of desire. I know I'm not actually a lazy person, but it's beyond frustrating to not have any desire to do anything. Not even stuff I used to love to do. I just.......don't care. And I hate that.

    annoyances would be losing hair and my nails being so brittle and easily broken.

    I never had an issue with the cold, thankfully. and the dry skin isn't so much of an issue now as it used to be.


    I was diagnosed in Sept of 2012, so it's been only six months since I've been on medicine. My doctor told me it would be AT LEAST six months before I started seeing any type of symptom relief.

    If nothing else, I hope that I will soon want to actually join the world again, if you know what I mean. I used to have all sorts of energy, and was full of life, and I want that back!!
  • charm_quark
    charm_quark Posts: 315 Member
    A month ago I had significant numbness and tiggling at my left foot. This continued for about a week with no pattern. Some days was so intense, I couldn't walk. Or better say, I could walk but didn't feel my foot for several minutes.
    I didn't go to doctor, cause it happened just 5-6 times in the week and then stopped.
    Today... I went with my mother in law to her surgeon, where she had a post-surgery appoitment. The doctor was explaining to us about the lymph nodes of the neck and why they get swollen by different triggers (from flu... to cancer). Then he looked at me (it was the first time we met and I was sitting at least 2.5 meters away from him) and told me: "as an example, your.s might be from your thyroid issues. You have some, don't you?". I was socked... cause I thought I didn't have any external sign of my hypothyroism. I couldn't ask him what he saw, cause my mother in law has more serious issues to deal with and we were discussing them.
    The point is that I'm a bit concerned. The last year, my labs are great. I have done them twice, after gaining about 20 pounds (the last year I'm only gaining, even if I eat around 1500-1800 cals per day). When I came back home I looked to the mirror.
    I don't see nothing. Just a little eye puffiness but that's all. Then with my hands I began checking my neck.2-3 small nobes (I feel them about 1-2 cm) all over (one on the left, two at the back of my head). And then googled hypothyroid symptoms, and found the numbness and the tiggling, and the weight gaining, and the eye-puffness. And then remembered that the last year these lymph nodes got swalloen 2-3 times and became painfull and when I was about to call my doctor for an appoitment I was waiking up normal. So I still can't get it. My labs are EXCELLENT.
    I think it's time for my endo... just wanted to ask you,
    Do you have swollen lymph nodes?
  • bradthemedic
    bradthemedic Posts: 623 Member
    Vertigo, brain fog, extreme fatigue, and visceral fat retention.
  • kitchen0nfire
    kitchen0nfire Posts: 22 Member
    My bp likes to have fun going up and down whenever it pleases.... I've fainted a couple of times already :/
  • fparkyr
    fparkyr Posts: 5
    Insomnia's troublesome for me, but weight gain and lack of energy are just as bad.

    Although I do notice that my nails are softer than most and often chip or flake.
  • Syriene
    Syriene Posts: 238
    Although many of my symptoms are from adrenal fatigue, which I'm being treated for now & finding a huge difference.

    I think that has contributed a lot to my problem too, but haven't been on the meds long enough to notice a big difference yet *fingers crossed*

    I think the exhaustion (even after not doing much) and the moodiness were the worst for me. Looking back on it now, I bet there are a lot of people out there who thought I was mad at them when I really wasn't.