Hmm interesting, I looked at this topic cause a girl I work with has a definite goiter n wears thermals in summer, which to me is insane, but she won't go to dr as her mum is needing an op on her thyroid which has 3 growths but isn't cancerous. I had one growth 20 yrs ago which I only noticed cause I couldn't wear anything near my neck without feeling strangled n it turned out to be a cell that went nuts n filled up with puss n blood n got it drained 3 times over 3 months before they 'aspirated' or sealed it, tho it filled up before that worked! Haven't had any issues since but have been tested a few times n it was never cancerous but this article makes me want to get it checked tho I only have 2 or 3 of the symptoms, does it count if u have always had a symptom? Or is it just if they started later on? - 4/19/2013   7:41:49 AM

Good information to follow up with my doctor. - 4/13/2013   10:41:58 PM

Dr. Atkins always said that most obese people had a thyroid problem but it doesn't show up on the standard test. Lots of what he wrote about is now coming out to have been very true. - 4/9/2013   2:57:30 PM

Several years ago I switched to a new doctor because my old one moved and I didn't like the drive. When I first met the new dr I said you don't need to check my thyroid cause it sticks out. I didn't know that when he did routine blood work for new patient the thyroid was included. 2 days later he called and said I have graves disease and the numbers were almost off the charts. He immediately gave me medicine because there are only 2 endo doctors in my city there was a 3 month wait to see endo dr. They ended up giving me radioactive iodine which has totally messed up my body. Don't let anyone give it to you. I have appointment to have ultra sound done next week because i'm having difficulty swallowing and chocking on food and water. I am praying everything turns out okay - 4/4/2013   10:48:01 PM

If you suspect you have a thyroid issue, it is best to see a thyroid specialist. TSH results can be borderline normal, but you may still have an issue. You should also have the following tested: fT3, fT4 & TPO. Free Triiodothyronine (fT3) Measures the level of active thyroid hormone T3, Free Thyroxine (fT4)Thyroxine is the main thyroid hormone produced by the thyroid, Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody (TPO) (autoimmune thyroiditis). These are different than T3 & T4. Hope that helps!

- 3/21/2013   1:48:56 PM

Thank you everyone for your comments! I've had my thyroid tested several times, and my results were always "normal." Several years ago I had extreme fatigue and my doctors couldn't find anything wrong with me. I discovered that I am highly gluten sensitive (can't technically say I'm Celiacs, as my doctors didn't test properly and I'm never going back on gluten to re-test), and have been GF for almost three years with great results. I still have every single one of the 'hidden' symptoms from this article, but no where near the intensity that I did before going GF. It seems like I need to look deeper at my thyroid. - 3/14/2013   3:54:05 PM

We all have thyroid problems, but you never see a diet just for it. When you have this medical problem it is hard to lose weight. Wish it wasn't. - 3/11/2013   12:24:35 PM

I have hypothyroidism and have been on levrothyroxine since i was pregnant with my first child. Recently, i have been having muscle cramps that strike without warning in my feet, hands, stomach, etc. I have never thought it could be my hypothyroidism causing it, but have to wonder now. Anyone else with this problem? If so, have you been able to get relief? - 3/11/2013   6:55:45 AM

I would like to make/stress a few points, but first, my story. I had hyper for 3 years, during which time the disease nearly killed me twice. Then I had I-131 therapy to essentially kill off my thyroid. I was in remission for 4 years. Then I went hypo, which I was warned would eventually happen, as we naturally lose thyroid function as we age. I have been hypo for 19 years. First and foremost, if you suspect you might have thyroid trouble, see an endocrinologist, an expert in their field. My specialist is the only reason I am here today. Make sure they give you both blood tests--T3 and T4 are together in one test, TSH is another. Many docs will only run one test, demand both. Next, every endocrinologist I have ever seen has said this: A Thyroid Condition Does Not Make You Fat. It makes it very easy to gain weight, and makes it very hard to lose. I was still overweight when I was hyper, but I was eating 7000 cals a day just to survive, I was always hungry, and my stomach growled constantly. I have been thin and hypo, but it's very hard, and requires constant vigilance, but it can be done. Next: My levels are perfect, but I still have symptoms. Some just never go away, but all have a much lesser effect, more of an annoyance, really. The reason docs are not real quick to prescribe meds is because regardless of whether they are for hypo or hyper, they have nasty side effects if you get too much, and the meds are slow to work, and slow to leave your system, so you are stuck feeling awful until they can run more tests and adjust the dose. If you are on Synthroid (levothyroxine) and are taking the generic, and not feeling as good as you should, ask your doc to let you try the name brand for 6 months or so. The specialist that saved my life preferred it because in her experience, their pills had more consistent doses. Name brand is really expensive, but I must admit I did notice a difference in how I felt when I went to the generic. Not a huge difference, but some. Also, as stated in the article, thyroid symptoms mirror the symptoms of a lot of other diseases, so keep your doctor looking for answers if your levels come back just fine. You know your body best. If your doc won't listen to you, find one that will. - 3/9/2013   9:01:13 PM

I was misdiagnoses with Fibromyalgia for two years, when I really had a thyroid problem. I have hashimoto's hypothyroidism, which is an auto-immune disease where my body attacks the thyroid hormones. My doctors ignored my slightly elevated TSH because my T3 and T4 were normal. Eventually, I found a doctor who tested my thyroid antibodies- which were sky-high. A month after the replacement hormone, I got my life back.

Before my true diagnosis, I was in constant pain. I could sleep for 12 hours and still be tired. I stopped sweating and was freezing from September to May. Looking back, I had all the classic symptoms- but in severe ways. BTW- I am only 25 and my symptoms started when I was 20. - 3/9/2013   11:42:33 AM

I noticed the article gave no symptoms of hyperthyroid. That can be very dangerous. Florence Griffith-Joyner died as a result of hyperthyroid (Graves disease). Weight loss (without really changing up eating or exercise), tremors in the hands, heart palpitations are a few of the symptoms. I was diagnosed as hyperthyroid and saw an endocrinologist for about a year. My levels are normal now, thanks to some meds, but the doctors always run a routine thyroid check. - 3/9/2013   8:46:49 AM

This may have been mentioned already but natural supplements are available. I take levothyroxine from my pharmacy for T4 replacement but alternate with a natural thyroid to get the T3 also. I do much better having the T3 in addition. It is not in the synthetic pills supplied by pharmacies. I get my natural thyroid from Swanson online. - 3/9/2013   7:22:58 AM

When I was in my 20's, I was told by my internist, dentist, GYN,and endocrinologist that I had a large goiter and eventually my thyroid would need help. They said it was like a factory working overtime until it can work no longer.i was given a test to see if I had thyroid cancer which was negative. I have had most of those symptoms for thirty years. Since I moved to FL ten years ago, I am told I have no goiter. Can it disappear? - 3/8/2013   11:59:52 PM

I would be wary of the Low Normal test results.Twelve years ago I had a doctor who wouldn't help me for that, but another Alternative Doctor did hair testing and said it was more accurate. He said that at times the blood levels are not an indicator of what is in your Thyroid tissue. He treated me and most of my symptoms improved. I am still on Throid, but I use Armour Thyroid which is natural, as well as a generic Cytomel. Both these low doses seem to work well for me.
- 3/8/2013   8:36:44 PM

I have hypothyroidism and have been taking levothyroxine for well over a decade. It's helped me out a lot. But my sister-in-law started taking levothyroxine and it seemed she then got dementia. She stopped taking the medication and some things got better, but she really did need synthetic thyroid. It took a lot of tries to get her medication correct - so just be prepared to work with your doctor or specialist.

Taking thyroid is interesting. Most medications are recommended to be taken when you have something to eat. Thyroid is the opposite. They recommend you take it on an empty stomach - four hours after you last ate. And preferably hours before you eat again, although that can vary. I've started to take my pill during the middle of the night and that works well for me. I wonder what works well for others?? - 3/8/2013   6:10:31 PM

I have experienced both. Lost weight, became hyper, could not sleep, nervous. Then see a Dr and after some treatment gave me the "Iodine cocktail" that disolves the thyroid. Then had to take thyroid replacement.........synthroid ...I get regular blood work and good to go now - 3/8/2013   3:04:16 PM

Thank you for posting this blog. It was very informative. - 3/8/2013   2:27:08 PM

I have all but one of the symptoms above. Blood test came back with the TSH level in the low normal range. Doctors won't help me...I am so tired of feeling this way! I am pre-diabetic and my father and all 3 brothers are diabetic. I have to wonder why doctors don't err on the side of caution and just try treating the thyroid for a trial period and let's see what happens! - 3/8/2013   2:12:20 PM

I was diagnosed with thyroid disease about 10 years ago after seeking out a specialist on my own since my primary doc said nothing was wrong. 3 years ago at a check up with my endocronologist they discovered nodules on my thyroid. After a biopsy came back inconclusive I had the left side of my thyroid removed. Post surgery lab results came back that I had cancer. Thankfully it had not spread and was removed early enough before causing any damage. I'm now in the process of scheduling the remainder of my thyroid to be removed, it also now has nodules and I am NOT going to mess around with it any longer.
There are so many common symptoms that can be linked to Thyroid disease that get overlooked by a General Practitioner. My advice to anyone out there who really suspects that something is going on with their thyroid is to see a specialist! No matter how great your GP is they are not trained to identify some of the more minute detials that may indicate there is a problem. - 3/8/2013   1:25:58 PM

Thank you for reminding me that it is important to follow through when medical test results do not concur with physical symptoms. I have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism since my high school years. There was a period of time when I discontinued Levothyroxine and the outcome was let's say, miserable. I had no idea that hypothyroidism could have such wide reaching effects. Difficult when symptoms mirror so many other health problems. In my case, it was a little bit of this and that, and a whole lot thyroid problems. We must continue to advocate for ourselves! - 3/8/2013   1:07:47 PM

I have several symtoms of hypthroidism but since my tests come back within the normal range, the condition has been dismissed by my Doctor, I took an article in a magazine to her which suggested that the free T, T4, and reverse T3 tests to identify type 2 hypothroidism but she sais the lab would not run these tests if the regular tests were normal? She even dismissed a supplement for the throid which was mentioned in the article. Where do I go from here? - 3/8/2013   12:42:40 PM

I was just diagnosed with hyperthyroid. I haven't gone to an endocrinologist as of yet but I'm hoping for a good one. I experience a lot of these symptoms and my doctor has me on high blood pressure pills. I'm leaning towards getting an integrative medicine doctor or naturalpathic doctor because they seem to address the underlying causes instead of just given you a drug to take. It's mostly something that is causing the thyroid to respond like it is. That is why some people still have symptoms after taking meds. - 3/8/2013   11:04:35 AM

My hypothyroid condition was missed for years, even after being tested for it. It wasn't until I went to an endocrinologist instead of seeing my regular GP that it was discovered. My TSH, T3 and T4 numbers were all within normal ranges, but on the very extreme ends of normal. My doctor told me that the ranges don't take into consideration a person's age and that my numbers would be fine for someone in their 60's, but were completely wrong for someone in their mid 20's. I have been taking levothyroxine for 7 years now and it has completely changed my life. I have energy again, I no longer suffer from depression, and I can get by on 8 hours of sleep like a normal person without having to take additional naps during the day. - 3/8/2013   11:02:28 AM

I am sharing my experience...I feel that think that the best doctor to treat every thyroid condition is an endocrinologist .I used to go to an Internist and really had a problem when I had shingles.My low throid flipped to high and he did not take care of me properly.My GYN told me to go to an endocrinologist.Discovered that the Internist had me on double the amount of Levothyroxine which kept me hungry all the time..Have been on correct amount and am doing great.Have lost about 18 lbs.Have hugh energy .Am walking my dog and working in the yard again. am 77 years young. - 3/8/2013   10:50:08 AM

I have been having alot of these same systoms for years, but my Doctor says I'm in the normal range. She says its from my fibromyalgia, but I just had an MRI done of my neck and they found some spot on my thyroid. Now I have to go get an ultra sound done. My mother's side of the family are all on thyroid medication. Even some of the small children. If it is my thyroid I hope some medication will help me feel better. I'm tired of feeling sick and tired. - 3/8/2013   10:22:56 AM

I'm on the other end of the spectrum here, with Graves Hyperthyroidism. Which was great when the weight was falling off of me (although the rest of the symptoms not so good). So as we fixed that problem, I put on weight and then some. I was convinced that I could not lose the weight as long as I was on the medicine, and that the medicine was pushing me closer to hypo.

Eventually, I got tired of waiting to get better, and started exercising -- and joined Spark. I now believe that my thyroid is well controlled, with medicine; I am able through diet and exercise to lose weight and be healthy; and previously I was using my condition as an excuse.

For some, it is easy to blame it on your thyroid. Being fit and proper weight takes work! Get out there and move, consider what you eat. You can do it, and spark can help.

But if you truly believe that you are having a problem, and your doctor is not hearing you (as many of the comments here suggest), you might want to try another doctor. An endocrinologist that specializes in thyroid would be best.

It is a complicated system that affects so much of our bodies, it is definitely worth it to get things in the right range and work with your doctor for a treatment that is best for you. - 3/8/2013   10:20:08 AM

Another thing that it is important to be aware of, is that if you are hypothyroid you are at much greater risk of developing diabetes than the general population, and especially if your father had diabetes. - 3/8/2013   8:52:52 AM

I had experienced many of these symptoms and was tested in November - but thyroid levels came out normal! A relief but at the same time frustrating because I just want to get back to normal. Working on some dietary changes now in the hopes that it will provide some relief. - 3/8/2013   8:39:58 AM

I have hypo - Armour thyroid meds work best for me - it is pig thyroid - also for constipation try putting a scoop of chia seeds in a bottle of water in the morning - shake as soon as you put them in - I also eat another scoop in my yogurt at lunch - it works when no amounts of fiber did - I have also learned that I can't eat over 950 tp 1000 calories a day to get the lbs off and I also workout everyday - 2 days with a trainer - I can't count those calories burned at the gym - get your mind in the right place cuz you can do everything right and still results are so slow - also I take meds morning and night so they stay in my system. Started at 228 - now at 177 - I figure I still have a couple of years to get to my goal! Good luck!
- 3/8/2013   8:30:57 AM

I was diagnosed about 14years ago with hypo. There's some dietary restrictions (soy, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, etc) that should be mentioned so if one is on medication, one isn't counter-acting what the medication is trying to do. - 3/8/2013   8:23:59 AM

I was diagnosed with hypo about 36 years ago. My father had it and both my sons were told to be tested when they reached 20. Both are on meds. My grandchildren are to be tested when they reach their teenage years as it seems to be getting diagnosed 10 years earlier than the previous generation. I was extremely cold....I was under a blanket with a hot water bottle and it was nearly 100' outside!.. and had a tingly feeling when I touched my shins. I was told I probably would never get proper feeling back in my big toes. I have been on meds ever since then. - 3/8/2013   7:56:21 AM

How ironic that this post comes this morning! My doctor just found a nodule on my thyroid, and I'm going to an endocrinologist for further testing. I'm not a doctor by any means, but I have so many of the symptoms listed above. I'll wait for the official diagnosis, of course, but it would explain a LOT of things that I've been experiencing lately. Thanks for sharing. - 3/8/2013   7:50:53 AM

I started taking a herbal thyroid supplement and the difference has been night and day. Even if your doctor says your thyroid is in the normal range it may be on the low end of that range and a herbal supplement may help. - 3/8/2013   7:43:23 AM

@IAMABIGFATLOSER...I had several nodules. They also caused problems swallowing and I could feel them pressing against my throat whenever I bent over. I couldn't wear turtlenecks because they were too tight. I was overweight, but not by a lot and probably nothing to do with my thyroid as it's something I've always struggled with, but that's what I attributed the uncomfortable feeling in my neck to. My hair was thinning, however. My thyroid levels were always were slightly out of the normal range. I have two sisters who had their thyroids removed...one overactive, one underactive. I didn't look forward to the surgery, but finally had my thyroid removed when it just became too uncomfortable. There is a less invasive type of surgery available, but because my nodules were so large they couldn't do that one. If I had had a better doctor from the start, that might have been an option. PS...it was my hairdresser who noticed my thinning hair and suggested I get my thyroid looked at, but my numbers were normal at that point. When I went for a physical a year or two after that my dr saw the goiter pretty much right away. I didn't even know it was there! - 3/8/2013   6:24:47 AM

I have several of the symptoms including hair loss but the doctors believe there's nothing wrong because the most recent test was in the normal range even though the two before that were both out of range. My mom and grandmother were on thyroid medicine for years because they both had problems. - 3/7/2013   7:30:19 PM

I have had a multi-nodular goiter for about 12 years. Had biospy back in 2001 and not cancerous. But my thyroid continues to grow. My levels have always been normal. Dr's say there isn't much to do until levels are off, but I am tired, have thinning hair and sometimes my thyroid is so big (it goes up and down) it presses on my throat. Was wondering if anyone knows anyone with similar experience that has advice. I have a very hard time losing weight, yet my dr said I will go overactive at some point. So confusing and frustrating. - 3/7/2013   3:59:21 PM

I have many of the symptoms, am on thyroid meds........I believe my weight gain has to be due to this. I am gaining while dieting and not doing anything different than when I was able to lose a few lbs a year ago! So discouraged from eating healthy and no results!! - 3/7/2013   3:46:33 PM

My mom and all her 6 sisters have Hypo. I have been tested and showed negative.
I have all the s/s. I have read many articles on it, and from working in the medical field have understood that you may carry the gene, and show s/s, but not be positive in your blood. - 3/7/2013   3:39:36 PM

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism about 5 years ago. I noticed it when my hair was falling out. Even with medication, I still suffer from all of these symptoms, though my blood work comes back normal. Does anyone else that has been diagnosed and treated still show symptoms? Thanks! - 3/7/2013   2:51:18 PM

They missed a symptom on their list hair falling out. I have been getting my thyroid checked since i was 20. I am now 37. I have all the symptoms and have had a goiter in the past. Strong family history of hypothyroidism. My test come back as i am fine. Very fustrating. Very hard to lose weight or maintain weight. Some days it's difficult to get out of bed. I keep chucking away and hope one day ill be my hyper active self again. Stay beautiful my friends. - 3/7/2013   12:37:26 PM

My dad's thyroid numbers were not out of range, but very close. Comparing bloodwork results, they noticed that the numbers were getting closer to the edge over the past couple of years, so they were able to convince the doctor that it was worth a shot, and now his numbers are getting back to mid-range and he is feeling better that way. We think my mom has been hypothyroid most of her life, but she cannot afford a doctor right now, so I am keeping an eye on my numbers when I have bloodwork done. - 3/7/2013   12:17:08 PM

I have 7 of the 11 mentioned symptoms. I am 30 now, but did have my thyroid tested when I was 21, and they said my thyriod was fine. But the fatigue is super annoying, I get 7-8 hours of sleep every night, but I always wake up tired and hit the snooze button for a hour every morning because I dont want to get up. I definitely have a lack of interest in tons of things that I use to do and enjoy. I am always freezing! It doesn't matter if its 80 degrees, if I'm in the shade, I'm cold. My fingers and toes are purple/blue-ish often from being cold too.

I'm now considering asking my dr. to recheck this when I go in for my physical. - 3/7/2013   12:00:45 PM

I have been going to the doctor for YEARS and haven't felt right or normal since I was 11 years old. The doctors always said "sounds like you have a thyroid problem." Then, after being slave to their blood tests would tell me everything was fine and in my head. Then, several years ago, I had a full body scan (the ones they tell you are a waste and not to get), and guess what they found? A thyroid FILLED with nodules, some of which were compound. I went to the endocrinologist for a workup up and biopsy (no cancer, thank God), and she put me on levothyroxin to keep the thyroid from producing its own so it might shrink. Meanwhile, in spite of the fact that the blood tests have NEVER shown my levels being off, she continues to use it as a marker and won't increase my meds, even though I have weight gain, fatigue, sensitivity to the cold, brain fog... Just know that doctors are absolutely reluctant to change their procedure even though it clearly doesn't work in every case. She said I must have had the problem from childhood because of how bad it is, and yet NOT ONE doctor found the problem. Had to be caught accidentally on a scan. - 3/7/2013   11:51:22 AM

My wife was diagnosed first. Her Hypothyroid was 'off the charts' (physically beyond the scale that they measure hypothyroidism) and was recalled by the lab to re-do the tests. It took YEARS to be diagnosed because she has a natural metabolism that keeps her fairly thin. It took a long time to get her thyroid managed and during that time we also discovered her intolerance to gluten. Once on a GF diet, the exhaustion we attributed to the hypothyroid was managed as well.

I was diagnosed with hypothyroid, our foster son was diagnosed during a regular exam, and our dog was diagnosed with hypothyroidism as well. WEIRD. - 3/7/2013   11:49:08 AM

I didn't have any symptoms. My gynecologist found it when doing normal blood tests during my yearly checkup. So make sure you are being tested for thyroid function even if you have no symptoms. Levothyroxine has kept me stable for 1.5 years now. - 3/7/2013   10:53:22 AM

Just as an aside, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 1993. I had no symptoms. I was "euthyroid", which is neither hypo-thyroid or hyper-thyroid. When I was at my gynecologist, she started her exam by palpating my neck - and found a nodule, and after several tests, it was found to be cancerous. I have taken synthroid ever since, and will for the rest of my life. Since my treatment I've had no further problems. - 3/7/2013   10:46:03 AM

It is so important for women especially those of us over 40 to get a thyroid check. Don't depend only on the TSH number either. If you feel there is something wrong make sure your doctor takes you seriously and do a full profile at least. I was hypothyroid for a number of years and the doctor always said to lose weight, get active, etc. I noticed the dry brittle hair and nails, the thinning hair, fluid retention in my feet,and then the extreme weight gain, brain fog and fatigue. Then two years ago I got lucky, and had recently changed doctors and had a long conversation with the new doctor (female). I told her how depressed I was and how I had gained 30 lbs in 6 months even though I was very active and how difficult thinking was becoming. I joked that I had early onset of alzhemiers. She said simply that it sounded like my thyroid was off and sent me for a test the same day. As soon as she got the results she called me in and gave me a prescription. (at that time it was Senthoid) We have been managing my condition even since, changing drugs and dosage until my tests read "normal" and we contine to monitor it every couple months. Get a good doctor and because the symptoms are so subtle, it is easy to say it is all in your head. Make sure that it is your head and not your thyriod because if it is the thyroid it can be treated. If it is in your head, well you may need another type of treatment and/ or doctor. lol - 3/7/2013   10:44:40 AM

I have been prescribed Levothyroxine for some time now but was not diagnosed with either of the conditions listed in this article. I am going to investigate this. - 3/7/2013   10:34:32 AM