Not Just A Virus: Signs And Symptoms Of Thyroid Problems

Have you been feeling fatigued recently? You just don't feel like getting out of bed? Perhaps you have a sore throat and a tickly cough, or are you losing your voice? Do you notice chills, or a touch of temperature. Or maybe you've just been feeling a bit "blah" recently. A bit out-of-sorts. It's a virus, isn't it? One of life's little nuisances that comes out of nowhere and stays, well, for however long it feels like staying.

Or maybe, you don't feel like you have a virus? Maybe you feel like you might be losing your mind. All hyper and anxious for no reason. Mind racing at night. Or, the other way, depressed and irritable? Every little thing gets you down, every little mishap is a tragedy.

Well, before you decide your problem is nothing more than a virus (or before you book yourself in with an expensive psychiatrist), you might want to have your thyroid hormone checked. Because, as we'll discover, your thyroid can cause all kinds of symptoms that you might not have considered.

First, what is the Thyroid?

The Thyroid is a gland that's found in the neck. It releases two hormones that are necessary to be healthy: thyroxine (T3) and trilodythyronine (T4). T4 is used by the body to make T3. A certain amount of T3 is also secreted directly by the body. The body uses T3 (both the kind the body secretes, and the type it makes with T4) to regulate the speed at which your cells work. Too much T3 and your cells work too quickly; too little, and they don't work quickly enough, leading to disorders with the Thyroid.

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is the most common thyroid problem. Hypothyroidism is an underactive thyroid and means that enough thyroxine (T3) is not being produced. It's very easily treatable, using Levothyroxine, an artificial hormone replacement medication that imitates thyroxine in the body and is taken once a day.

There are many symptoms of hypothyroidism, including many that you may not realise are associated with hypothyroidism.

The most common symptoms include:

• tiredness,
• weight gain, 
• constipation,
• depression,
• easily upset
• anxiety,
• slow movements and reflexes, poor concentration, mental sluggishness, mental confusion, 
• dry and scaly skin,
• carpal tunnel syndrome (causing pain, and a tingling sensation in the hands or fingers),
• irregular periods or absent periods,
• muscle aches and weakness
• difficulty swallowing, a sensation of there being a lump in the throat.
• hair loss (body and head),
• sore throat,
• dizziness

These signs often develop slowly, and may not be immediately obvious. It's also worth noting that not everyone with hypothyroidism will have all or even most of these symptoms. Many, however, will feel tired, so that's always a sign worth reporting to your doctor, and be persistent. People may also experience different symptoms in different stages of life. Children may experience stunted growth, teens may go into earlier puberty. Meanwhile, older people are more likely to develop depression and memory problems.

READ Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) - General Information

If you think you may have an underactive thyroid, even if your symptoms are not very severe, you must be checked and treated. Hypothyroidism left untreated will lead to a hoarse, low-pitched voice (some women have even reported their voice sounding "masculine" following delays in treatment), a puffy face, anaemia, absent or partially-missing eyebrows, and hearing loss.

This is all very preventable, so do seek treatment.

Hyperthyroidism And Thyroid Cancer

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is the fraternal twin of Hypothyroidism. While Hypothyroidism is caused by too little T3, Hyperthyroidism is caused by too much T3. It's still relatively common, and - like it's opposite partner - usually fairly easy to treat. Treatment comes in three forms: with treatment with anti-thyroid medication, such as Carbimazole, by radioiodine treatment, and by full or partial removal of the thyroid (which then necessitates taking artificial thyroid hormone, Levothyroxine).

Most commonly, people with Hyperthyroidism are hyperactive and full of energy. However fatigue, even exhaustion, is the very-common corollary of this, perhaps caused by all the cells working overtime.

Other common symptoms include:

• unexplained weight loss,
• racing thoughts,
• ravenous hunger, all the time,
• palpitations,
• shortness of breath,
• dry thin skin
• feeling warm; excessive sweating,
• muscle weakness,
• loss of libido,
• absent periods,
• unexplained infertility,
• aches and pains; muscle weakness,
• mood swings,
• painful, dry or gritty eyes,
• red palms,
• irregular or fast heartbeat,
• tremor (trembling or shaking)

Hyperthyroidism has many symptoms in common with hypothyroidism, and is occasionally preferred by patients because you can lose a large amount of weight in a very short space of time with no dieting. I'm even aware of people who asked not to be treated until after a big event where they wanted to look nice. But it's dangerous to not treat hyperthyroidism, putting you at risk of potentially-deadly heart arrhythmias and sudden cardiac arrest. So, if you have some of the symptoms above,  go to the doctor and get checked out.

Thyroid Cancer

Ah, "the big C", and one unfortunately likely to be misdiagnosed for some time, because so many of its symptoms seem completely innocuous.

The main symptom is a usually painless-lump right below your Adam's apple (yes - women have Adam's apples, but they're smaller than a man's and not prominent). Sometimes, if the cancer affects the lymph nodes, they can become swollen too. Other than that, there are generally no symptoms of thyroid cancer until the disease is starting to advance.

Then, there are symptoms, which include:

• A pain in the neck,
• Difficulty swallowing, or a feeling of fullness in the throat,
• Unexplained hoarseness that remains after a few weeks.
• Sore throat/throat pain, especially if it remains for more than a couple of weeks

If you notice a swelling in the neck, you should go to see your doctor. You should also see a doctor if you have the above symptoms without an obvious swelling in the neck.

READ Hashimoto's Disease & Hyperthyroidism

Be reassured that, even if you notice a swelling in the neck, it's almost-certainly not cancer. Only 1 in 20 of lumps in the throat are cancerous with most of the rest being caused by goitres related to Hypo- or Hyperthyroidism. Even if you are diagnosed with thyroid cancer, you should be reassured that many are slow-growing and treatable, and that thyroid cancer has a survival rate of up to 95%, depending on the type of the cancer.

The Takeaway Message

Many Thyroid conditions are completely treatable. But, in order to be treated, they have to be diagnosed. If you notice the symptoms that have been discussed throughout this article, especially if they have persisted for three weeks or more, it's time to go to the doctor.

You might save your own life.