As you have seen in my (quite long) vlog above, I have shared an extensive list of the symptoms common to hypothyroidism. If you missed it, here is the full list:
Symptoms of Hypothyroidism
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Weight gain or increased difficulty losing weight
- Coarse, dry hair
- Dry, rough pale skin
- Hair loss
- Cold intolerance (you can’t tolerate cold temperatures like those around you)
- Muscle cramps and frequent muscle aches
- Constipation
- Depression
- Irritability
- Memory loss
- Abnormal menstrual cycles
- Decreased libido
What is missing from this list which I forgot to add to it is this too:
- Dry, brittle nails
Just like dry, brittle hair, nails are made from the same materials as hair. I am already born with thin nails (genetics from my mum) and suffering from hypothyroidism has made it worse. My nails break easily and it’s flaky. I have tried all the products out there claiming to help make your nails stronger but sadly they are temporary. I used to spend hours in the nail salon putting on acrylic nails then I moved on to gel nails. Yes, I get pretty and shiny nails for a 1.5 weeks at best but when it’s time to remove them, the ‘ugliness’ shows up again. So now, I have resigned to just having short nails, nicely trimmed and filed and whenever I feel like it (or have the time to, really!) I’ll cover it with a nice coat or two of good quality nail polish.
- Ulcers caused by tongue swelling
This is one symptom that’s very rarely written about in conventional medical list but spoken about a lot in patients’ forum. I get ulcers pretty much so often that it’s like my natural ‘dieting or weight loss’ path. I can’t eat and drink properly as it’s not just 1 or 2 that comes in one go, we are talking 4-5 at a time. I try my best to stay hydrated and to keep my liver clear (I rarely consume alcohol and eat as much organic and home cooked meals as often as possible) so the detoxification process can go on as normal.
Hypothyroidism affects more women than men and yet it’s also underdiagnosed. Many women think it’s part of the ageing process to have some of these symptoms and many are also ignored by the health professionals. You know your body best so please trust your instincts.
Just like I did mine and kept on looking for a sympathetic GP who will see that I was not just going crazy and making up an illness that wasn’t there, you too need to find someone who see that something is not right with your body.
I would love to hear of your story so please share how your journey has been.
If you want to read the story of how I came about to having this operation, read here: http://www.arnierozahkrogh.com/20110407_my-life-changing-day
For the next story of my recovery, read here: http://www.arnierozahkrogh.com/20110413_a-new-goddess-awakens-after-surgery