ARE YOU ONE OF THE 30 MILLION women and 15 million men who have a chronic medical problem that is both under-diagnosed and under-treated? Are you suffering from vague symptoms that you think are normal parts of life, such as fatigue, feeling sluggish in the morning, and having trouble with your memory, concentration, or focus? Do you have dry skin or fluid retention? Is your sex drive not what it used to be? Are your hands and feet cold all the time? Is your hair thinning, your voice a little hoarse, your fingernails a little thick? Is your cholesterol high? Do you have trouble losing weight or have you gained weight recently?
Are you suffering from depression or anxiety?
Do you have really bad PMS or trouble getting pregnant?
Do you have muscle cramps and muscle pain or weakness?
Most of these symptoms aren’t severe enough to send you to the emergency room, but they do significantly affect your quality of life.
And most of us accept them as a normal part of our lives without really questioning them.
If you do go to see your doctor, he or she probably shrugs it off.
Yes, doctors are experts in acute illness. But they often fail miserably when it comes to addressing subtle changes in your body that affect the quality of your life.
According to conventional medicine, low sex drive is not necessarily a disease. Neither is a little dry skin or constipation or being tired most of the day.
But for you, those problems are significant.
So what causes them?
Often, they’re caused by a condition that goes undiagnosed in half of the 45 million people who have it.
It’s called hypothyroidism.
What is Hypothyroidism?
When you have hypothyroidism your overall metabolic gas pedal slows down because the master gland that controls it, your thyroid gland, is not functioning at full speed.
If your thyroid slows down, every other organ and system in your body slows down, including your brain, heart, gut, and muscles.
The thyroid hormone is like a master switch that turns on the genes that keep every cell running.
This is one of those gray areas in medicine, but doctors tend to think in black and white — you have it or you don’t, sort of like being pregnant.
Well, you can’t just be a little bit pregnant, but you can be just a little bit hypothyroid.
And it can have a dramatic effect on the quality of your life.
Yet most doctors don’t view it that way.
This problem is further compounded by the conventional belief that you can diagnose hypothyroidism only through one blood test, called TSH, and that you only qualify for treatment if your blood level is over 5.0.
Unfortunately, this view ignores a whole group of people who have what we call subclinical hypothyroidism. It is called that because doctors have a hard time diagnosing it.
Subclinical hypothyroidism may trigger many low-grade symptoms, such as fatigue, trouble losing weight, mild depression, constipation, and more. Yet it causes just slight changes in your blood tests. In fact, it often only shows up in tests that most doctors never perform.
Low thyroid function may seem subtle, but it can have serious consequences.
How Low Thyroid Function Affects Your Health
Hypothyroidism doesn’t just make you a little tired — it can lead to more serious problems, including heart attacks and diabetes.
I see this all the time in my medical practice: Patients come in with vague complaints that alone may not seem too significant.
But when you put them all together, they tell an important story.
I remember the story of one patient who was 73 years old. This woman came to see me because she had been to her doctor with complaints of fatigue, sluggishness, poor memory, slight depression, dry skin, constipation, and mild fluid retention.
Her doctor’s response?
“Well, what do you expect? You’re 73, and this is what 73 is supposed to feel like.”
But I just don’t believe that is true.
I believe that most of the symptoms of aging that we see are really symptoms of abnormal aging or dysfunction that is related to imbalances in our core body systems.
I have to be a medical detective to find clues where no one else is looking and put together a story about why a person is suffering. This gets them the answers and tools they need to get well.
In this case, we tested my patient for a number of things and found that she had a sluggish thyroid. She did not quite meet all the criteria of conventional medicine for hypothyroidism, but she had an autoimmune reaction that caused her thyroid to function poorly.
By simply replacing her missing thyroid hormone, supporting her nutrition, and implementing some simple lifestyle changes, she went from feeling old to feeling alert, energetic, and youthful — and all of her other symptoms cleared up.
I had another patient who was a 28-year-old woman who was chronically constipated. She thought it was normal to go to the bathroom every three or four days.
She also felt quite tired in the mornings and had trouble getting going. She needed coffee every morning. And at night she had trouble staying up and being with her friends and being an active 28-year-old woman.
She thought that this was just sort of a constitutional problem and that she was stuck living like that. No one had diagnosed her sluggish thyroid.
But as soon as we supported her nutrition and eliminated her food allergens (particularly gluten), which create inflammation and interfere with thyroid function, she felt better.
Her constipation resolved, she was energetic in the morning, did not need her coffee, and was able to stay up until 11:00 or 12:00 at night without any fatigue or limitations.
Who is Affected by Hypothyroidism?
This problem affects men and women of all ages.
And it is very common because of all the stressors in our environment, including toxins such as heavy metals and pesticides, nutritional deficiencies, and chronic stress, all of which interfere with our thyroid function.
It’s critical to understand that your thyroid is not just linked to energy and other symptoms that I described here.
It is the master metabolism hormone that controls the function and activity of almost every organ and cell in your body — so when it is sluggish or slow, everything slows down.
But there is good news …
There are clear ways to diagnose the problem as well as to treat it, with a comprehensive functional medicine approach.
The first step is to find out if you have any of the chronic symptoms of hypothyroidism or any of the diseases associated with hypothyroidism. Ask yourself if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Sluggishness in the morning
- Poor concentration and memory
- Low-grade depression
- Dry skin
- Hoarse voice
- Thinning hair
- Coarse hair
- Being very sensitive to cold and having cold hands and feet
- Low body temperature
- Muscle pain
- Weakness or cramps
- Low sex drive
- Fluid retention
- High cholesterol
After I have asked my patients about all these symptoms, I do a physical examination for clues to a low-functioning thyroid.
I check for a low body temperature. Anything lower than 97.6 degrees F may be a sign of hypothyroidism.
I might also find fluid retention, a thick tongue, swollen feet, swollen eyelids, an enlarged thyroid gland, excessive earwax, a dry mouth, coarse skin, low blood pressure, or decreased ankle reflexes. I might even find that the outer third of the eyebrows is gone.
These are all physical signs that can be put together along with other symptoms to form a story of what is causing the problem.
Once I have done that, I perform specific blood tests that give me a full picture of thyroid problems.
Then I design a nutritional, lifestyle, and supplement regimen and hormone replacement plan as needed to help people regain their health.
In another blog, I will discuss the major preventable — and mostly hidden — factors that slow your thyroid down. And I’ll tell you more about the special tests I use to diagnose thyroid problems, as well as how to specifically treat low thyroid function.
Now I’d like to hear from you…
Do you suffer from any of the signs and symptoms mentioned here?
Have you been told you have low thyroid function?
How has your doctor responded to your concerns?
Please let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment.
Please doctor Hyman I need your help, I have hypothyroid and bad stomack, I already wrote you but nobody answer. I need urgently to be under the proper treatment and I don’t know of any doctor in my area, I need to know how can I be treated? I am in great pain and suffereing a lote. thank you so much
Ruth Portillo
Thank you for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. Your question and constellation of symptoms represents a complex medical condition. Questions regarding conditions like these cannot be answered in a responsible manner via the Internet.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Dr. Hyman Staff
I have been feeling in a haze for more than a decade now, its hard to get up in the morning and so many other symptoms, but the most disturbing is that even though I Sam really smart, my brain fails me almost 89% of the time. It just never does what it expected and I’ve been searching for a reason, an answer, anything. I think this hypothyroidism is a good shot; your article named about 10things I suffer from. I appreciate you writing this. It is very detailed.
I am 20 years old and was just recently diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I got it from my mother, who has it as well. I went to my doc for a check up to get into school, and sure enough he noticed that the glands in my neck were amazingly swollen. Almost as if I was wearing a ring around my neck, under the skin. I had noticed this ring, for quite a few years as I used to get teased about it being fat. In all reality, it wasn’t. But, I had endured specific symptoms of hypothyroidism for a great deal of time. Included were: dry skin around my nails, as well as the rest of my body. At times i felt tired, sluggish and rather forgetful. I suffer severe fluid retention; eyes being constantly dry, dry mouth, and “down there”. It was bothersome for the most part. Also, I began to have a horse voice and I noticed my hair was thinning a lot more. I’m only 20! This should not be happening. My doc ran a blood panel and everything showed up fine except my cholesterol was a few points above average. (Another symptom). He continued to tell me the bad news.. My thyroid gland was barely working. I am now prescribed a daily dose of thyroxin for my so called disease. I haven’t found the correct dosage yet, so I still suffer from fluid retention and dryness. It sucks, but I’m glad I found it now so that I can make sure it doesn’t get too bad. hope this was informational!
Dear Dr.
I have been having the same problems for a while now. I visited a nearest doctor. He did recommend to have a blood test done for T4, T5 and Tsh. I am awaiting results but would like to know more about, how this is going to effect having a child.
Hello Sanjana,
Thank you for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. Your question cannot be answered in a responsible manner via the Internet, please consult your ob/gyn.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Dr. Hyman Staff
I think I have Hashimotos disease. I have all of the symptoms and now I was just diagnosed with Insulin resistance, arthritis and PCOS and I think I am developing vitiligo. I have white patches all over my skin. I have awful constipation that never goes away. My identical twin sister is experiencing this as well.
My older sister has Hashimotos , a goiter, rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. Shes 26 and shes had these since 15.
I am 18 and I’ve had these symptoms since 12 years old. Also when I got my lab results back, it said my TSH hormone was normal. The doctor didn’t give me any numbers though.
She told me that there is nothing wrong with my thyroid and put me on birth control and Metformin. I tried. Them one at a time for 6 months then together for 3 months. They both made me feel worse. And now I’ve been diagnosed with ADHD.( the same applies to my twin as well)
How do we get a diagnosis with normal TSH levels? It seems like doctors don’t want to listen after they see the lab results?
Are there any doctors in the New York City area?
Please help us!
Hi Erin,
Thank you for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. To locate a practitioner of functional medicine in your area see the “Find a Functional Medicine Practitioner” link at the Institute of Functional Medicine website: http://www.functionalmedicine.org/practitioner_search.aspx?id=117.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Dr. Hyman Staff
Erin,
Hashimoto’s is autoimmune and doctors think if you have one autoimmune disease you can have another and in your case, you already have vitiligo, which is autoimmune.
I also have Hashimoto’s and even with my perfect-almost hyperthyroid lab results, I felt hypothyroid and I made my doctor change my medication from T4 only to T4/T3. You can have symptoms even with good lab results. First of all, I would recommend you relax, try yoga or meditation. Also, change doctors immediately. Check your Vitamin D levels and take vitamins, B, D, C, selenium and please check your adrenals. Also, eat healthy, help your stomach process the food, you can have enzymes to help digestion. Stress literally destroyed my body and I am putting it back to pieces. I live in Mexico and I have struggled to find a doctor who will be willing to ask you questions instead of diagnosing for what they see and lab results. But I changed my life style: I learned to relax, I learn to eat healthy (my digestion improved with lactobacillus, enzymes and treating my candida), I took yoga, and lots and lots of vitamins specially D. I go under the sun whenever I can. I hope this helps you but please do something now. Take care.
I have only just discovered your blog and I would just like to say how helpful I have found it. I was diagnosed with Hashimotos in 2011 and it has not been a very easy time since then. My blood tests are now ‘optimal’ according to the endocrinologist but I still feel rubbish. Your posts have given me a lot to think about and I am very grateful for that. Thanks
I just turned 26 today and have been experiencing several symptoms noted above for the last 2 or so years. I feel “too young” to be experiencing fatigue and being sluggish every morning. I do have dry skin, trouble staying focused/concentrating during conversations with others, my hair is definitely thinning and my hands/feet are cold ALL of the time. I am now taking medication to help with constipation and muscle cramps/pains, and do experience bad PMS. I have also noticed a change in my body temperature; it is lower than the normal body temperature and was not like that when I was younger and have developed excessive earwax. With all of this being said, I do experience some depression and anxiety; but of course with all of these things constantly occurring, it is hard not to. I did experience a traumatic loss of a parent at the age of 22 while I was finishing my master’s and noticed these symptoms starting to occur maybe a couple years after when I also started working a very stressful job, as well as me losing 50+ lbs. over those couple of years (by choice). I had several tests run last year because I was also experiencing some hip/abdominal/groin pain I thought was due to running along with all of the other symptoms I was having. While I was happy that I had gone to several different doctors and was told by each that “everything looks fine and I’m as healthy as I should be” , I still have these everyday occurrence that I do not feel is right; but I go on with my everyday life and just chalk everything up to stress and being a part of life (even though I don’t always believe it, I feel crazy every time a doctor looks at me and says everything should be okay, so I live with the symptoms and try to deal with them). I don’t hope for “something to be wrong with me”; however, I feel that I am very young and have a whole future ahead of me I hope, and prefer not to live the rest of my life with some of these symptoms if I don’t have to! Any advice would be helpful Thanks!
HI Angela,
Thanks for sharing your story with us. For more info on how Dr Hyman approaches healing an imbalanced thyroid, please check out:
http://drhyman.com/blog/2010/05/20/a-7-step-plan-to-boost-your-low-thyroid-and-metabolis/
For more personalized nutrition advice, Dr Hyman’s nutrition coaching team would be happy to work with you on an individual level to help you reach your goals. To work with the nutrition coaching team please go to:http://www.bloodsugarsolution.com/nutrition-coaching/ OR call (800) 892-1443 to get started.
Wow. I found your website trying to figure out why my eyelids are so swollen I can hardly open my eyes. I could actually be a poster child for this and I will make another Doctor appointment next week! My mom and sister have thyroid issues. My doctor knows this and has never indicated that I have signs. Yet, I have been diagnosed with Reynaud’s, Constipation, Psoriasis, mild depression (This was based one my fatigue and the stress I deal with – 2 car accidents in 6 months + a mom with cancer + a spouse who cheated + a spouse with addiction problems + a child with learning issues). My body temperature has consistently been 1 degree lower for the past 10 years and, even though I diet and eat 1200 calories or less/day (including my caffeine habit), I am about 30 lbs overweight and nothing I do works to lose it. My thinning hair, poor concentration and low drive were attributed to stress from all the ‘stuff’ going on in my marriage. However, when you look at the big picture, I think I need to be tested for thyroid issues! Thanks for your clear article.
Hi I have celiac disease. My fingers turn white than black very painful I am tire all the time. I am over weight and I donot eat that much. But I am cold all the time I sleep with two long pants a long shirt and two jackets two socks and one winter h.at and I am still cold
Hi Betsey,
Thank you for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. Your question and constellation of symptoms represents a complex medical condition. Questions regarding conditions like these cannot be answered in a responsible manner via the Internet.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Dr. Hyman Staff
Hello! Last July my gyno doctor told me I had Auto immune thyroid disease. She did not put me on any meds but an over the counter pill. When I told her I was still feeling bad despite my levels being better she suggested I see the only Thyroid Specialist in my area. The specialist felt my thyroid said it was in fact enlarged, gave me a ultrasound to confirm. She took lots of blood and got back to me 2 days later saying my levels were perfect!! My question is how??? How can I have every Symptom under the sun that goes with Hypothyroidism (more like Hashimoto’s), how can my thyroid be enlarged, how can I have low levels one day and fine the next (off the over the counter pill for over a month), told its autoimmune and one doctor say yes I have a thyroid problem and the other “Specialist” say I’m great, perfect even? Please tell me what do you think and what should my next step be!?
Thank you, Amber, for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. Your question and constellation of symptoms represents a complex medical condition. Questions regarding conditions like these cannot be answered in a responsible manner via the Internet. To locate a practitioner of functional medicine in your area see the “Find a Functional Medicine Practitioner” link at the Institute of Functional Medicine website: http://www.functionalmedicine.org/practitioner_search.aspx?id=117.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Dr. Hyman Staff
Hi Dr Hyman,
Thank you for your very insightful and informative articles regarding Hypothyroidism. I have suspected that I have an under active thyroid for quite some time as I have been displaying a number of the symptoms, namely:
* Very dry skin (this has worsened significantly over the last 6 months),
* Weight gain / or difficulty loosing weight (despite exercising extremely hard, and eating a VERY clean gluten free diet. Most of my friend and family think I am crazy the amount I exercise, and the way I am so good with my eating),
* Tiredness first thing, and also in the afternoons (even if I have slept for 8-10 hours straight),
* Periods of poor concentration and memory at work,
* Periods of depression and low motivation (which is very out of character for me),
* Being very sensitive to cold and having VERY cold hands and feet,
* Muscle and joint pain (neck and shoulders),
* Fluid retention,
* High HDL cholesterol,
* Excess ear wax.
Unfortunately none of these symptoms seem to worry my GP at all, and despite numerous visits to my GP I have not had this seriously investigated. After reading your article I decided to take things into my own hands and book and pay for a private blood test to test my thyroid function yesterday. Here are the results:
THYROID PROFILE 2
TOTAL THYROXINE (T4): 56 nmol/L
THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE: 1.50 mIU/L
FREE THYROXINE 13.0 pmol/l
FREE T3 3.2 pmol/L
Thyroglobulin Antibody <10.0 IU/mL Method used for Anti-Tg: Roche Modular
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies 7.3 IU/mL Method used for Anti-TPO: Roche Modular
The doctors comments are as follows:
"These results appear to be normal, despite the borderline total Thyroxine level. The free Thyroxine is the 'active' component, so it is likely your thyroid function overall is normal – especially as the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone and T3 levels are normal, and moreover there is no evidence of thyroid antibodies."
Now I feel very confused, and if I am honest very dejected, as I was almost certain that the cause of my symptoms was Thyroid and thought that I was finally going to get to the bottom of it all and therefore be able to start treating it properly and get respite from the symptoms. But i would very much appreciate your thoughts on my results, and any advice you can give me.
Kind Regards
Thank you, Mrs. SCM, for your message and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. Your question and constellation of symptoms represents a complex medical condition. Questions regarding conditions like these cannot be answered in a responsible manner via the Internet.
To locate a practitioner of functional medicine in your area see the “Find a Functional Medicine Practitioner” link at the Institute of Functional Medicine website: http://www.functionalmedicine.org/practitioner_search.aspx?id=117.
If you would like information on becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center, please see “How to Become a Patient” at http://www.ultrawellnesscenter.com. This site is designed to give prospective patients a comprehensive source of information about The UltraWellness Center. You may also feel free to call The UltraWellness Center at (413) 637-9991.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Dr. Hyman Staff
I am a soon to be 40 year old man. The past year I have not experienced a restful night sleep. I am always tired.
My body aches, and people say o look tired. I thought this came with chasing after working and chasing after 2 kids.
I exercise regularly, and I can gain 4Lbs over a weekend if I don’t exercise.
This winter I could really feel the cold (unlike years in the past)
I don’t sweat as much as I used to when exercising.
I still have a strong sex appetite and my hair isn’t falling out.
Last week I got up in the middle of the night wend back to bed and I had a very strange Heart flutter that lasted 30seconds, I was afraid I was having a heart attack.
Went straight to my doctor and sent me for blood work and ECG.
I received a call saying he wants to see me about my Thyroid levels.
That appointment is tomorrow. A little worried but, hopefully a diagnosis and plan of treatment can help me feel more activate
Anyone else with similar issues?