8 symptoms of Hypothyroidism and how it affected my life

My journey with the yoga lifestyle started with discovering my thyroid disease. Most of us are no strangers to a little bit of fatigue now and then, a few pounds we wouldn’t mind losing, the occasional irregular period, or feeling blue for no reason. But when I was having these problems regularly, I did some blood tests, and the diagnosis was hypothyroidism. The best way to solve this kind of disease is to change your lifestyle, but that is not easy when you have a big family and a full-time job. Yoga is how I try to cover this part of recovery. I take pills regularly and, for now, luckily, still the smallest dosage. I am sure that yoga and changing my diet keeps this under control.

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So, let’s see what hypothyroidism is and which symptoms you must consider about your thyroid.
The thyroid gland It is a small but mighty gland in butterfly shape that commands our body. It releases thyroid hormones, which control every tissue in our body. That is why there is a variety of symptoms connected to this disease. It is associated with a small gland in our head, the hypophysis gland, which releases a hormone that gives an impulse to the thyroid gland how much hormone it should produce. Sometimes, the thyroid has a low level of hormones, so the hypophysis gives thyroid signals to create more, and this is the first sign that something is wrong. The hormone is TSH. Usually, this is when doctors make more blood tests and ultrasound checks. Unfortunately, this might be too late. A person can have problems years before TSH increases. That is why I wanted to share with you my experience.

Here are 8 common signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism.

Feeling tired

One of the most common symptoms of hypothyroidism is feeling tired. Thyroid hormone controls energy balance and influences your state of awakening or sleep.
My first sign was experiencing physical exhaustion and reduced activity. I was low motivated and feeling mentally tired.
And at the same time, very nervous. I got help on time, so I did not experience insomnia. After a long time of imbalanced hormone levels, body functions get mixed up. In the morning, when you have to get up, you feel like you would never leave your bed, and at night, when it is bedtime, you are awake and can’t sleep. In an extended period, the body gets exhausted.

2. Hair loss

After tiredness, hair loss is the second most common symptom of thyroid disorder. Fatigue was the most explicit sign; luckily, it was the first thing that improved since taking the pills. I was sad in what state my hair was. I thought it would never grow again, and I was wrong. 7 days after I started to intake pills, I went to my hairdresser. She told me that the new hair is growing. You can imagine my happiness. I also use Mane `n Tail shampoo and conditioner, giving my hair exceptional shine.

3.Slow metabolism and gaining weight

is a prevalent symptom. Low-thyroid individuals are moving less, and they’re also signalling their muscles, fat tissue and livers to save energy and calories.
When thyroid levels are low, metabolism switches modes. It no longer burns calories for growth and activity, and the amount of energy you use at rest or your basal metabolism decreases. As a result, your body tries to store more calories from the diet as fat.

Because of low thyroid hormone levels, I gained weight. In fact, I was eating less because my appetite decreased, and I still did not lose weight. Because of my slow metabolism, my cholesterol was high for years, and since I started taking pills for my thyroid, it lowered.

4.Irregular and heavy periods

Irregular periods and heavy menstrual bleeding can be linked to hypothyroidism. Period problems caused me a lot of discomfort. My troubles started during the summer, and I live by the sea. So, I had periods for half of the summer and could not go to the beach with my children. I was feeling dizzy and worn out. I calculated from 90 days of hot summer days, 45 I had a period. I visited my gynaecologist several times for these troubles. Still, then, I did not have the hypothyroidism diagnosed. If you experience this kind of problem, I suggest you see the gynaecologist whether you have doubts about your thyroid or not because it could be something else.

5.Trouble Concentrating or Remembering

I always forgot what my children told me I had to do, and it was really frustrating. I am a person who is organised and always remembers my tasks, and this was a significant issue for me. It was as if I had fog in my mind all day. I was angry with myself. I tried to write everything I had to do to avoid forgetting something important. Mobile phones are a great help; you can put reminders that pop out.

6.Feeling down or depressed

Connected with trouble remembering was decreasing my self-confidence. I was feeling down. I did not experience depression. Many people get misdiagnosed with depression, and in fact, they have a thyroid problem. I suggest talking to your doctor if you feel depressed. After childbirth, hormones are in a significant imbalance and can cause hypothyroidism connected to postpartum depression.
Sex life can also be affected. Low desire can be connected to low levels of thyroid hormones.

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7.Weakness and aches in joints

It was a symptom that scared me a little. It is because my mother and my grandmother (daughter and mother) have a disease that affects joints. It is arthritis. And thyroid disease attacks you where you are most vulnerable. My hand and finger joints would hurt me even if I did nothing. I did not have strength in my hands. I had difficulties even to open a new bottle. But it got better since I took the pills. My joints are more vulnerable, but only when I lift heavy things; they don’t hurt me in other ways.

8.Feeling cold

It is a symptom that I am coping with all the time. Pills did not help me with this. When I did not have thyroid issues, I felt cold more than the people I lived and worked with. But when problems started, I noticed feeling colder than normal.
Let’s see how the low level of thyroid hormones provokes this state.
Heat is a product of burning calories. While sitting, you’re also consuming a small number of calories. When you are experiencing hypothyroidism, your basal metabolic rate decreases, lowering the amount of heat you produce.
That’s why low thyroid hormone levels cause you to feel colder than others around you.

These were my symptoms; there are many more, like dry and itchy skin, constipation, neck swelling, snoring or hoarse voice.
My next post will be related to Hashimoto autoimmune condition because it is the disease often connected with hypothyroidism.

I hope this was a helpful article. I try to live a full life regardless of my condition. If you have the same problems as me, I encourage you to find pleasure in life doing things that you like. For me, it is reading books that I have neglected for years, and it calms me and gives me joy.

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