Who knew that little butterfly-shaped thyroid gland at the base of our necks could affect our lives so completely? Don’t underestimate the power of that little gland. It is the master control center for the metabolic functions of every single cell in your body. Therefore it has the power to disrupt every part of your body and to produce profound changes in every aspect of your life. Scientific research links hypothyroidism to heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, gall bladder disease, liver disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s. The Thyroid Federation International estimates there are up to 300 million people worldwide experiencing thyroid dysfunction, yet over half are presumed to be unaware of their condition. Despite research connecting an underactive thyroid to some of the deadliest diseases of our time, the hypothyroidism epidemic sweeping across the globe has gone largely unrecognized by the mainstream medical community. Are you sure you are ready for this long pathetic list of symptoms?

One of my readers contacted me with the following question. The question was so important that it had me thinking and thinking about how best to address it. Thank you Yipsy for contacting me. Yes chronic urticaria (hives) is one of the hundreds of potential hypothyroidism symptoms. I hope this post answers your question.

Hi Dana – 6 months ago, I started having hives every night. Blood tests and research on web have not yielded any help. I read some of the info on your blog. After google thyroid and hive, I found some potential linkage between my condition and Thyroid. I appreciate if you can share symptoms that link to Hypothyroid on your website so that people know what to look for. Thank you for raising the awareness. Article from About.com Allergies: “Got Hives? Get your thyroid checked!” http://allergies.about.com/b/2007/10/02/got-hives-get-your-thyroid-checked.htm

Best,

Yipsy

My hope is that this post finds the millions of people worldwide who are not aware of their condition. They are suffering from multiple health complications but they have no clue their thyroid is to blame. Their doctors are prescribing medication after medication for illnesses that could be treated by addressing the underlying hypothyroidism. It is a tragedy.

Then there are those who have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism and treated with thyroid replacement medication, however they still suffer from many of the symptoms on this list. Their doctors have no idea the real reason for their ill health is the improperly treated hypothyroidism. They too are being prescribed multiple medications for conditions that could be treated by proper thyroid treatment. Others are mistakenly considered hypochondriacs and prescribed sleeping pills and anti-depressants by their doctors. Others are told their symptoms are just part of normal aging and shrugged off as unimportant. Doctors are relying solely on laboratory tests for diagnosis, not investigating fully the patient’s medical history, symptoms, family history and thorough physical exams. Does this sound like you? It may be time to change doctors.

I have struggled an uphill battle for proper diagnosis and treatment. Read my story “Have you suffered a miscarriage? Your thyroid could be to blame“. When I miscarried my baby unnecessarily to hypothyroidism due to my doctors’ lack of awareness, the Warrior Mom came out of me. Don’t mess with my babies! I have spent 3 years intensely researching hypothyroidism and searching for the top thyroid health professionals. You bet I will warn women everywhere about the dangers of hypothyroidism.

The following individuals and organizations are some of the top thyroid health experts in the world. They are all included on my Hypothyroid Mom Top Thyroid Resources page for the amazing resources they provide hypothyroid sufferers. My list of 300+ symptoms is a compilation of their lists of hypothyroid symptoms along with additional symptoms I have found in my research.

Thank you to Dr. Mark Starr for the comprehensive list of hypothyroidism symptoms in his book Hypothyroidism Type 2: The Epidemic. Thank you to thyroid pioneer Dr. Broda Barnes for his thorough description of symptoms in the legendary bookHypothyroidism: The Unsuspected Illness.  Thank you to thyroid patient advocate Mary Shomon for her extensive list of hypothyroidism symptoms in her books Living Well with Hypothyroidism: What Your Doctor Doesn’t Tell You…That You Need to Know and The Thyroid Hormone Breakthrough. Thank you Janie Bowthorpe for your Long and Pathetic List of Symptoms. Thank you also to Thyroid Patient Advocacy UK and Thyroid UK for providing great resources.

Every person will present with a different combination of symptoms. The severity of each person’s hypothyroidism will also determine the severity and number of symptoms they experience. Untreated hypothyroidism worsens with age with worsening symptoms. Don’t be led to believe that symptoms from this list are not connected to hypothyroidism, because they may be in your case, even if your doctor doesn’t know it.

I would love to hear from you in my comments box at the bottom “Speak Your Mind”. The more we share with one another, the more we know we are not alone.

Do you suffer from any of these symptoms?

Are you prescribed medications for symptoms listed below? Are you sure your doctor is aware of the connection of these symptoms to hypothyroidism?

Are you being treated with thyroid replacement medication but still suffering symptoms?

Do you have a family history of thyroid disease, heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune disease, cancer and/or Alzheimer’s? Please read on.

The Unbelievably Long List of Hypothyroidism Symptoms

Energy Level and Sleep:

• Chronic fatigue
• Less stamina than others
• Long recovery period after any activity
• Inability to concentrate
• Sleep apnea
• Snoring
• Insomnia
• Need naps in the afternoon
• Weakness
• Wake feeling tired
• Frequently oversleep

Weight:

• Weight gain
• Inability to lose weight
• Ascites (abdominal fluid accumulation)
• Metabolic Syndrome
• Weight loss
• Anorexia
• Heightened appetite
• Diminished appetite
• Obesity

Body Temperature:

• Cold extremities
• Cold sweats
• Night sweats
• Heat intolerance
• Cold intolerance
• Internal shivering
• Hypothermia
• Cold hands
• Clammy palms
• Cold feet
• Excessive perspiration
• Little perspiration
• Low basal body temperature (below 97.8 degrees Fahrenheit)

Slowness:

• Slow movements
• Slowed Achilles reflex
• Diminished reflexes
• Slow speech

Infections:

• Frequent infections
• Chronic illness
• Low immune system
• Frequent colds
• Frequent flus
• Susceptibility to bronchitis
• Hard time recovering from infections
• Recurrent sinus infections
• Recurrent skin infections
• Recurrent ear infections
• Recurrent nose infections
• Recurrent throat infections
• Candida (yeast)
• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
• Repeated urinary tract infections
• Upper respiratory tract infections

Related Autoimmune or Endocrine Diseases:

• Hashimoto’s Disease
• Graves’ Disease
• Celiac disease
• Type 1 Diabetes
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Insulin Resistance
• Addison’s disease
• Cushing’s disease
• Pernicious Anemia
• Premature ovarian decline
• Premature ovarian failure
• Alopecia
• Reynaud’s syndrome
• Sjögren’s syndrome
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Multiple sclerosis
• Sarcoidosis
• Scleroderma
• Vitiligo
• Psoriasis

Swelling and Thickened Skin of:

• Eyes
• Face
• Lips
• Neck
• Hands
• Arms
• Legs
• Feet
• Ankles
• Lymphedema
• Lipodema

Mouth and Throat:

• Difficulty swallowing
• Sensation of lump in throat
• Sensation of pressure on throat
• Pain and tenderness in neck and/or thyroid area
• Goiter
• Thyroid nodule
• Burning sensation in throat
• Sore throats
• Swollen tongue
• Choking fits
• Distorted sense of taste (Dysgeusia)
• Salt cravings
• Sweet cravings
• Speech problems
• Dry mouth
• Halitosis (bad breath)
• Propensity for cavities
• Propensity for gum disease
• Low, husky, hoarse voice
• Bleeding gums
• Receding gums
• Irritated gums
• Swollen gums
• Persistent teeth clenching
• TMJ

Ears:

• Oversensitive hearing
• Noises in ears (hissing, ringing)
• Deafness
• Tinnitus
• Internal itching of ears
• Dry, scaly ear canal
• Excess earwax
• Vertigo

Eyes:

• Poor focusing
• Double vision
• Dry eyes
• Gritty eyes
• Achy eyes
• Blurred vision
• Drooping eyelids
• Sensitive to light
• Frequent tics in the eyes
• Spasms of the eyelids
• Bulging of the eyeballs
• Red inflamed eyes
• Dark rings under eyes
• Puffiness around the eyes
• Rapidly shifting gaze making you feel dizzy
• Problems with night vision
• Glaucoma
• Cataracts

Hair:

• Hair loss
• Dry hair
• Frizzy hair
• Brittle hair
• Coarse hair
• Finer hair
• Premature baldness
• Premature gray hair
• Change in hair texture
• Body hair loss
• Eyelash loss
• Facial hair in women
• Thinning or loss of outside third of eyebrows

Nails:

• Brittle
• Pale
• Soft
• Yellowish
• Ridged
• Striated
• Thickened
• Ingrown toenails

Skin:

• Dry skin
• Dry itchy scalp
• Flaky skin
• Cracked heels
• Coarse patches
• Yellowish or amber tint to their skin
• Dry mucous membranes
• Pale skin
• Pale lips
• Boils
• Pigmentation in skin creases
• Rashes
• Skin tags
• Dermographia (wheals)
• Eczema
• Impetigo
• Cellulitis
• Easy bruising
• Tendency to form blood clots
• Slow wound healing
• Hemophilia
• Bumps on legs
• Acne
• Breakout on chest and arms
• Raynaud’s Phenomenon (discoloration of digits)
• Chronic itching
• Varicose veins
• Premature aging
• Parchment-like fine wrinkles
• Red butterfly patch over cheeks and nose
• Absence or diminished perspiration
• Moles and warty growths
• Lichen Sclerosus
• Vitiligo
• Allergies
• Hives

Numbness and Tingling:

• Legs
• Feet
• Arms
• Hands
• Back
• Face

Pain:

• Migraines
• Chronic headaches
• Chronic back and loin pain
• Wrist pain
• Muscles and joint pain
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (hands or forearms)
• Tarsal Tunnel syndrome (legs)
• Joint stiffness
• Tendonitis
• Heel spur
• Plantar fasciitis
• Arthritis
• Gout
• Painful soles of feet
• Muscle cramps
• Aching bones
• Aching muscles
• Joint pain
• TMJ
• Fibromyalgia

Digestion:

• Constipation
• Hemorrhoids
• Hard stools
• Loss of appetite
• Food allergy
• Food sensitivity
• Alcohol intolerance
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Lactose intolerance
• Celiac Disease
• Gluten Sensitivity/Intolerance
• Colitis
• Abdominal distention
• Weight gain in abdominal area
• Protruding abdomen in children
• Diverticulosis
• Excess gas
• Flatulence
• Nausea
• Ulcers
• Acid Reflux
• Excessive belching
• GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)

Menstrual Disorders:

• Cessation of periods (amenorrhoea)
• Scanty (light) periods (oligomenorrhoea)
• Heavy periods (menorrhagia)
• Irregular periods
• Very short cycles
• Very long cycles
• Severe cramping
• Failure to ovulate
• Constant bleeding
• Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
• Premenstrual tension (PMT)
• Extreme bloating and water retention
• Premature or delayed puberty
• Premature or delayed menopause
• Difficult menopause
• Hysterectomy
• Endometriosis
• Ovarian fibroids
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Reproductive Disorders and Pregnancy:

• Infertility
• Miscarriage
• Still birth
• In vitro fertilization failure
• Donor egg failure
• Abnormal estrogen levels
• Abnormal progesterone levels
• Abnormal testosterone levels
• Drop in sperm count
• Erectile dysfunction
• Loss of libido
• Sexual dysfunction
• Vaginal dryness
• Painful sex
• Breasts leaking milk (but not lactating or breastfeeding)
• Fibrocystic breast disease
• Maternal anemia
• Gestational diabetes
• Pre-eclampsia
• Placental abruption
• Postpartum hemorrhage
• Prolonged labor
• Inability to dilate
• Poor wound healing
• Pain in and around c-section scar
• Difficulty breast-feeding
• Low breast milk supply
• Premature birth
• Low birth weight
• Long gestation
• High birth weight
• Newborn with deficits in intellectual development
• Newborns with jaundice
• Autism
• ADD/ADHD
• Birth defects

Emotional:

• Tension
• Irritability
• Wanting to be solitary
• Mood swings
• Anxiety
• Personality changes
• Feelings of resentment
• Jumpy
• Easily startled
• Lack of confidence
• Nervousness

Other Related Conditions:

• Adrenal Fatigue
• Anemia
• Hyponatremia (low blood sodium)
• Lack of coordination
• Clumsiness
• Tendency to fall
• Dizziness
• Fainting episodes
• Vertigo
• Tremor
• Growth disturbances in children
• Chronic allergies
• Chemical sensitivities
• Restless Leg Syndrome
• Rhabdomyolysis (destruction of skeletal muscle)
• Scoliosis
• Osteoporosis
• Hernia

Brain:

• Depression
• Panic attacks
• Memory loss
• Confusion
• Brain fog
• Mental sluggishness
• Poor concentration
• Noises and/or voices in head
• Hallucinations
• Delusions
• Mania
• Phobias
• Obsessions
• Alcohol & substance abuse
• Rage
• Loss of drive
• Personality disorders
• Schizophrenia
• Postpartum Depression
• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
• Nightmares
• Bipolar
• Suicide
• ADHD
• Dementia
• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Parkinson’s Disease

Kidney and Bladder:

• Albuminuria (protein in urine)
• Urinary incontinence
• Frequent need to urinate
• Decreased output of urine
• Interstitial cystitis (chronic bladder problems)
• Urinary incontinence while sleeping
• Kidney stones
• Recurrent kidney infections
• Recurrent bladder infections
• Irritable bladder syndrome
• Chronic kidney failure

Gallbladder:

• Gallbladder Disease
• Gallstones

Liver:

• Liver tenderness and enlargement
• Congestion of the liver
• Elevated liver enzymes
• Hypoglycemia

Lungs:

• Asthma
• Bronchitis
• Emphysema
• Difficulty breathing
• Air hunger
• Pleural effusion (fluid around the lung)
• Shortness of breath
• Tightness in chest
• Pneumonia

Heart:

• High blood pressure
• Low blood pressure
• Slow/weak pulse (under 60 bpm)
• Fast pulse (over 90 bpm at rest)
• Arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)
• Skipped beats
• Heart flutters
• Heart palpitations
• Chest pain
• High cholesterol
• High triglycerides
• High LDL (“bad”) cholesterol
• Mitral Valve Prolapse
• Atherosclerosis
• Coronary Artery Disease
• Elevated C-Reactive Protein
• Fibrillations
• Plaque buildup
• Fluid retention
• Poor circulation
• Enlarged heart
• Congestive Heart Failure
• Stroke
• Heart Attack

Cancer:

• Skin Cancer
• Thyroid Cancer
• Prostate Cancer
• Endocrine Cancers
• Lung Cancer
• Breast Cancer

I told you it would be an unbelievably long list. Were you ready for that?

Source: http://hypothyroidmom.com/300-hypothyroidism-symptoms-yes-really/