I don’t know about you, but over time I have definitely learned to trust my intuition. For YEARS I knew something wasn’t right in my body despite countless doctors telling me everything was fine.
I was young, only 24 when I first started gaining weight despite no change in my diet and lifestyle. When I spoke to my doctor about this, he said it was just “part of getting older as a woman”. Ok, I thought this to be a reasonable response but didn’t woman’s bodies change more after childbirth and menopause? However when I started needing 4 blankets on my bed in the summertime, I knew that the weight wasn’t just do to “getting older”.
Plus, every time I looked in the mirror I swear my face looked “puffy”.
Depending on your age and health status, testing the thyroid gland isn’t always a “routine” test.
Additionally, the most common thyroid test offered may not capture early stages of thyroid disease. Knowing the signs and symptoms of irregular thyroid function is extremely important to early diagnosis.
It is important to note that most people will not experience ALL 10 signs abnormal thyroid function. If you are however experiencing a few of these symptoms listed below it may be time to get the thyroid checked.
1. Change in body temperature
This was a huge red flag for me. My hands and feet were constantly icy and I felt that I could never be warm enough. Sometimes I would have a shower in the middle of the day just to “warm up”. As the thyroid controls metabolism, when it starts to slow down, body temperature also goes down. The same is true if the thyroid starts to become overactive. Body temperature can begin to rise and one may notice they are sweating a lot more than usual.
2. Change in weight
Weight changes should happen when there is a change in eating habits or activity levels. However, if your diet has been more or less the same, and so has your level of exercise but your weight has increased or decreased (especially over 10 lbs), it is time to start looking into other causes of weight change. When the thyroid is hypo (under) active, weight increases. When the thyroid gland becomes overactive, weight can decrease.
3. Difficulty thinking & Concentrating
Otherwise known as “brain fog” this is another common symptom the thyroid may not be in tip top shape.
4. Constipation and/ diarrhea
Again, as the thyroid regulates metabolism, changes in the thyroid function can change how fast or slow food is processed through the body
5. Fatigue
One of the most frustrating symptoms, the fatigue of thyroid disease can be extremely difficult to manage. If you have satisfactory sleep on a regular basis (meaning 7-8 hours uninterrupted) but you still feel tired throughout the day, it could be the thyroid to blame.
6. “Puffiness” in the Face and/or around the Neck
A common symptoms of thyroid changes.
7. Changes in Menstruation
Due to the delicate hormonal balance in the body, the thyroid hormones interact with the hormones that regulate menstrual patterns. Common changes include very heavy periods and/or significant increase in cramping and menstrual pain
8. Longer than usual Post-Partum Changes
Interestingly enough, initiation of thyroid disease is common after having a baby. If you notice that your weight has not returned to (close) to pre-pregnancy weight after 6 months, you are feeling “puffy” and you are having difficulty regulating your body temperature it is time to talk to your doctor about testing the thyroid gland.
9. Anxiety and Depression
The hormones the thyroid produces can have a profound effect on mood. In fact many of patients don’t even realize how much their mood has been impacted until they thyroid gland is properly treated. If you notice you are more anxious than normal or your mood has been dropping, the thyroid gland may be an important piece of the puzzle to address.
10.Thinning Hair and Weak Nails
Some individuals will notice “patchy” hair loss when the thyroid gland is not working optimally. For others it may just be that their nails are not as strong as they used to be. Either way, if hair and nails are just not what they used to be, make sure you rule out that the thyroid gland is not to blame.
If you have been experiencing multiple of the symptoms above make sure to talk to your health care provider about looking deeper into thyroid function.
Additionally, you'll want to check out my FREE 5 Step Thyroid Detox.
Over five days, complete five different actionable steps to detox your thyroid from toxic substances. The detox should be continued for thirty days in order to allow the body to fully cleanse. Just follow this link and I'll email it directly to you!
Yours in Health,
Dr. Emily