Read an article about “Underactive Thyroid” by Robert Thompson MD. At the end of the article there was a symptom checker checklist, thought it was worth posting.
The article states if you have one or more of these symptoms, talk with your doctor.
- Fatigue, even after a good night’s sleep, or afternoon fatigue.
- Weight gain for no apparent reason or difficulty losing weight.
- Feeling cold, even when the temperature is comfortable. Cold hands and feet.
- Difficulty concentrating; foggy thinking.
- Frequent constipation.
- Muscle aches, tenderness, and stiffness; carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Dry, brittle hair.
- Hair loss. Loss of the lateral one-third of eyebrows or the thinning of eyebrows and lashes.
- Dry, waxy skin; heel calluses, dry patches on the elbows.
- Deep, hoarse voice.
- Slow pulse.
- Low sex drive.
- Potency or fertility problems; menstrual irregularity.
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of your throat that produces metabolism-regulating hormones. The pituitary gland produces thyroid-stimulating hormone (THS) which, in turn, produces T4 and T3. The thyroid uses iodine from the diet to make T3 and T4 hormone.
Primary Hypothyroidism is simply a deficiency in iodine. The thyroid isn’t creating enough of the thyroid hormones. Hashimoto’s Disease is an auto-immune disorder where the body’s immune system actually attacks the thyroid and renders it inactive.
While there is no substitute for an in-depth lab testing, tracking your basal temperature for several days in a row is an easy test you can perform at home. Basal body temperature (BBT), take your temperature at same time every morning before getting out of bed, using an mercury thermometer (not a digital thermometer). Place under tongue for at least 5 minutes every morning. Write down results. Normal BBT for most healthy adults ranges from 97.8* to 98.2*F. If your consistently lower than 97.8*F you may have an underactive thyroid.
