Hypothyroid

Signs & Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

• Tiredness
  
• Weight Gain
  
• Dry Skin
  
• Often feeling cold
  
• Coarse, dry hair or hair loss
  
• Hoarseness
  
• Constipation
• Yellowish skin
• Enlarged thyroid gland (goiter)
• Difficulty remembering things
• Decreased concentration
• Depression
• Irregular or heavy menstruation
• Infertility
• Muscle aches
• Muscles slow to relax
• Lack of coordination
• High cholesterol
• Slowed heartbeat
• Low body temperature

It is the inevitable consequence of removing most of one's thyroid gland, but the extreme opposite side of the spectrum can be quite a shock after being hyperthyroid for an extensive period of time. I really ought to have updated this section a long time ago, because it isn't easily fixed with a few pills; it never is. It takes a long time to find a happy balance, especially in cases when a whole organ is removed either surgically or chemically--or even after a long time of becoming increasingly hypothyroid. The body goes through healing for a whole year after the surgery or RAI, so this is the side of thyroiditis that you need patience for.

It is not easy being 'off balance', and one can often suffer from one or many of the side effects of hypothyroidism:

• weight gain


• hyper/hyposomnia


• diffuse loss of hair


• splitting finger/toe nails


• dry hair


• dry skin


• and depression among other things
  

Your TSH level of your thyroid diagnostics is not the only determining factor of your thyroid funtion test. If you're TSH is fine and you still feel miserable, make sure you are having your T3 and T4 accounted for with your TSH. If the TSH is balanced, it only suggests a euthyroid, or balanced, state. To base the assumption that you are euthyroid on the TSH level alone is not a proper evaluation. If your bloodwork is 'balanced' and you still aren't feeling any better, suggest seeing a dietician or taking T3 suppliment (Tri-Iodothyronine) to your endocrinologist and see what she/he thinks. I thoroughly encourage you to keep all paperwork from bloodtests and file them for reference later.

I used to find that my medication was never on the right spot, and I would still have 'hypo states'. It can be emotionally tiring, living on a swing. Make sure you have friends and family around to support you and continue to reassure you that things will get sorted.

January to July 2000:
After my surgery, I was able to get back in range of a normal thyroid level (euthyroid) within six months; it's usually about a year to get in target. I felt much better about things, although I was now taking levothyroxine for my thyroid levels and Rocaltrol for my calcium levels (which have been low since my surgery).

November 2000:
Since I moved, I had to leave my endocrinologist and GP behind, and I had to rely on a GP for testing my thyroid functioning. Unfortunately, I slumped back to underactive status in that adjustment period of my new environment, and I went back into a severe hypothyroid state. I put on over 20lbs. in a few months, even though my thyroxine doses were being increased; it wasn't an easy time, obviously. I remember going swimming for an hour or so, but by the time I'd get back to my home, I would be completely robbed of all energy. I slept a lot, yet I never felt "rested". I seemed to never get rid of my colds. I generally felt terrible.

June 2001:
My levothyroxine levels were increased up to 200mg at this point. I was feeling better than I did in autumn, but my levels were starting to verge on overactive status again, and although I wasn't feeling completely myself, my GP didn't want to increase my dosage any more for fear that I'd swing back to hyperthyroid. It was terribly frustrating.

March 2002:
My thyroid levels were held constant at the top range of the norms, yet I still was not feeling "normal". I hated being given the same lecture every time I spoke to a different GP. I was finally given a referral to see an endocrinologist at a local hospital. My new endocrinologist seemed to understand my situation better than my medical practise; he was also able to prescribe me to tri-iodothyronine, the other hormone that is produced by the thyroid gland that I have stopped producing due to my surgery, but obviously hadn't been replenished into my system. Unfortunately, it has a few side effects that only occur upon the first few weeks; for me it was severe headaches and one migrane. I was feeling better and more "normal" though, so I plugged on with the new pills to give them a fair chance.

July 2002:
I was pretty upset by now, because although I was feeling better on the T3 suppliment, my hair had thinned out a bit. My endocrinologist assured me that it was most likely due the the fact that hair falls out frequently when any change to thyroid levels occur, and that it would grow back. I decided I needed to be more patient with myself and give my body more time to adjust; I'm glad I did.