Lesser Known Thyroid Disease Effects

I knew there was something wrong with me, but I didn't know what. I was exhausted all the time, sleeping as much as 15 hours a day. My weight was ballooning, my muscles ached constantly, and the overall effect was that I was becoming increasingly depressed. Finally, a blood test showed my thyroid was underactive, and I was prescribed synthetic hormones. Nearly a year later, I didn't feel much different and was still experiencing the same problems even though my TSH numbers had dropped from 12 to 9. Then, suddenly, within the next 30 days, my body shifted, and I realized a lot of the problems I had been experiencing were due to the thyroid imbalance, more than the doctor had told me were typical symptoms of underactive thyroid.

Hair

One of the biggest changes I had noticed was in my hair. Years ago, I occasionally needed to uses a clarifier to remove buildup from my hair, but I only needed it maybe once a week for best effect. As my thyroid weakened, I needed to use it more and more until I was using it daily and then needing to wash with it twice in order to avoid having a greasy feel to my hair after shampooing. Within two weeks of my thyroid returning to normal, I no longer needed to use clarifier at all. As it turns out, oily hair is one of the effects of underactive thyroid.

Perspiration

I also seemed to have a terrible time handling any kind of heat. The rest of my family would be comfortable, but I would be sitting in front of a fan or air conditioner, trying to cool down. I was embarrassed to go out in public, especially on hot days, because of the amount I would sweat. I assumed the intolerance to heat was an effect of my weight being so out of control. Later, however, I learned that excessive sweating, moist skin and constantly feeling hot are all signs of thyroid problems. Now that my numbers are normal, I can wear sweaters and am much more in tune with the temperatures that make my family comfortable, as well.

Menstruation

I also sometimes attributed the problems with heat to the effects of pre- or peri-menopause. Although I was 5-10 years away from the typical age of onset of menopause, the "hot flashes" together with the radical changes in my period made me think the problems were related to age. The flow became incredibly heavy, so much that it was affecting my daily life just as much as the extreme fatigue. Cramping also increased tremendously along with other PMS symptoms. Thyroid issues can cause all these effects, as well.

Get checked

If you are experiencing any of these problems, particularly if they cause disruption in your daily life, see your doctor. A simple blood test to check TSH level can establish if you have a thyroid disorder. Although you may need to take medication for the rest of your life and it may take a while to feel the effects of the medicine, the effects of having a working thyroid are well worth it.

References

"Thyroid Basics." Doug's Sounding Board. 7thsign.com.