It’s important to understand there are many hypothyroid symptoms which may go unrecognized. Just because a person has a normal TSH level, they may still have hypothyroidism. Many patients, including myself, have suffered with hypothyroidism even with normal TSH levels. Since TSH may be an unreliable measure of hypothyroidism, its important to look at hypothyroid symptoms.
A good doctor will look at hypothyroid symptoms as well as certain lab tests to diagnose hypothyroidism. Once a patient is on the right treatment, their hypothyroid symptoms should improve considerably.
Here is a list of hypothyroid symptoms collected from patients and advocates 1 2. Hypothyroid symptoms can vary from person to person, therefore not all symptoms apply to everyone. If you have many of the symptoms, especially low body temperature, consult a good doctor.
Body Temperature and Metabolism
- Low body temperature (below 98.2-98.4 at 3pm)
- Easily gain weight
- Difficulty losing weight
- Difficulty tolerating cold
- Feeling cold when others are comfortable
- Cold hands and feet
- Raised body temperature
Energy, Motivation, and Exercise
- Fatigue or loss of energy
- Feeling tired even after a full nights sleep
- Sleeping more than average
- Less stamina than others
- Less energy than others
- Nodding off easily
- Requires naps in the afternoon
- Exhaustion
- Difficulty working a full-time job
- Inability to stand on feet for long periods
- Complete lack of motivation
- Long recovery period after any activity
- Inability to hold children for very long
- Arms feeling like dead weights after activity
- Bizarre and debilitating reaction to exercise
- Slowing to a snail’s pace when walking up slight grade
Mood and Mental Focus
- Depression
- Feeling uninterested in life
- Seasonal blues
- Memory loss
- Fuzzy-thinking
- Difficulty following conversations
- Brain fog
- Anxiety
- Headaches and migraines
- Less ability to cope in relationships
- Difficulty concentrating
- Forgetfulness
- Irritability
- Intolerance of others
Digestion
- Candida
- Lactose intolerance
- Inability to eat in the mornings
- No appetite
- Constipation
- Colitis
- Extreme hunger, especially at nighttime
- Nausea
Hair, Skin and Nails
- Irregular periods
- Dry skin, brittle nails
- Brittle hair, itchy scalp
- Hair loss, thinning hair
- Bumps on legs
- Breakout on chest and arms
- Hives
- Thinning outer eyebrows, or no eyebrows
- No hair growth, breaks faster than it grows
- Broken/peeling fingernails
Hormones
- PMS moodiness, bloating, heavy periods, and cramps
- Irregular periods
- Reduced sex drive or no sex drive
- Fertility issues including lack of ovulation
- Inability to get pregnant
- Miscarriages
Endocrine
- Puffy face, around eyes, neck, wrists and/or hands
- Hoarse voice
- Bruising or blood clotting problems
- Elevated levels of LDL cholesterol
- Heightened risk of heart disease
- Swollen lymph glands
Other
- Asthma or allergies that suddenly appear or get worse
- Persistent cold sores
- Sleep apnea which can be associated with low cortisol
- Air hunger which feels like you can’t get enough air
- Osteoporosis
- Joint and muscle pain
- Handwriting nearly illegible
- Internal itching in ears
- Ringing in ears
- Fluid retention
- Swollen legs that prevent walking
- Low blood pressure issues
- High blood pressure issues
- Varicose veins
- Tightness in throat
- Plantar fascitis
- Cold gluteus maximus