Comment from: Paula, 45-54 Female (Patient)Published: August 05
My major symptom for Hashimoto's thyroiditis was extreme tiredness. I always had tons of energy, but I found myself taking two-hour naps each day of the weekend. I was probably mildly depressed as well because I was always so sleepy and lost my “energizer bunny” personality. My secondary symptoms were dry hair and nails. I was 43 when I was diagnosed. I'm 49 now.
I dropped my daughter off at school and fell asleep only to wake up right before it was time to pick her up! This happened three days in a row. The fourth day I was in the doctor's office. I knew this was not normal: Most people have enough energy to make it through the day. I found out that Hashimoto's thyroiditis in my family all over the place. I've been struggling with it for years and didn't know. With three pregnancies, my thyroid was wacky afterward, but I just didn't know that at the time. I thought maybe it was my hormones adjusting.
I also had muscle cramping, chest pain that landed me in emergency room, a muscle ache in my arm pit area, and aching finger joints as if I had carpal tunnel syndrome. Depression was mild, but it was there. I also felt as if I were in a mental fog. I could not recall names, or titles of books, or authors. I could not concentrate and wondered why I felt so foggy. The only way to focus was with caffeine, but it would wear off right away. Now that I'm on Synthroid, my symptoms are all starting to fade, thankfully. I did gain 20 pounds, which have not come off yet but hopefully with some time and work, I can shed it.
I experienced extreme depression, fatigue, and muscle cramps. I was just diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. My treatment is to take supplemental dose (30 mg) of Armour Thyroid each day and we'll check things in a month. I ended up at a neuropsychiatrist because, though I was extremely depressed, I knew it had to be physical. He ran 20 labs and diagnosed me. My primary doctor, who I've gone to for years, ran only the basic thyroid and iron tests but nothing more and wouldn't have detected it. So ... for two years I have been searching. It does matter who you go to. This doctor did say that many times endocrinologists will not prescribe anything for the Hashimoto's but that he has found that just a small dose will make the autoimmune attack stop.
Comment from: 35-44 Female (Patient)Published: August 13
I had extreme fatigue, hair loss, constipation, swelling of knees and ankles, hip pain, and dry, brittle nails. I complained to many different doctors. (Many suspected depression, age, being female.) My gyno suspected something was wrong with my thyroid, so I was sent to endocrinology. Even after tests confirmed Hashimoto's thyroiditis, my primary care physician couldn't believe I had it with normal TSH levels! I went undiagnosed for eight years.
Comment from: gggirl64, 35-44 Female (Patient)Published: August 11
I was just diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis this week, but the symptom that led me back to the doctor was a dry, non-productive cough. I have had chest pain so bad that it radiated into my jaw. I thought it was a heart attack, and I went through the heart tests just to be on the safe side. I had a sonogram of the thyroid, and that is how they detected my thyroiditis. My other symptoms are extreme tiredness, heavy periods, muscle aches, mild mood swings, and that's just the beginning.
Comment from: 19-24 Female (Patient)Published: August 05
I was extremely tired; I couldn't even function. My skin was extremely dry all the time along with dry hair. I had extreme depression, and my weight fluctuated constantly.
Comment from: 35-44 Female (Patient)Published: August 01
I'm a 43 year-old-female diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. My symptoms: major facial swelling, under eye bags, a drooping upper eyelid, weight gain (approximately 15 pounds), major depression, and fatigue. My cholesterol level has increased, even with the 100 mcg of Levothroid I'm now taking.
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Suggested Reading on Hashimoto's Thyroiditis by Our Doctors
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My major symptom for Hashimoto's thyroiditis was extreme tiredness. I always had tons of energy, but I found myself taking two-hour naps each day of the weekend. I was probably mildly depressed as well because I was always so sleepy and lost my “energizer bunny” personality. My secondary symptoms were dry hair and nails. I was 43 when I was diagnosed. I'm 49 now.
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