Could this be thyroid issues? Ruining my life

[PotLuck3]

I couldn’t put my finger on what’s been wrong for the longest time. I’ve had issues with mental health for a while and now so many other symptoms have got worse:

• I’ve been bloated permanently for around 8 weeks, and gained weight on my tummy, arms and thighs. I feel gross all the time
• My face looks so round and puffy, looks fat
• I’m soooo beyond tired all the time, taking naps and coming across as lazy
• My hair makes me cry, it’s so thin and gappy and doesn’t grow. My eyebrows don’t grow either and are so sparse
• I keep waking up at 4am every morning
• I’ve felt soooo far from myself and haven’t been able to put my finger on why. I have brain fog and an emotional all the time

I’ve finally figured out it could be my thyroid and the GP isn’t keen to test t3/4 so I’ll be demanding this.

But every symptom is ruining my life, I’m constantly complaining to my boyfriend about how awful/fat/not myself I feel and look. He’s adamant that I “look no different” and “just as beautiful” but I KNOW I do. I’m always then tearily apologising for “always being negative” and “I don’t know what’s wrong with me”. He says I’ve never spoken worse about myself.
I feel like I’m a constant drain of energy and mood, I don’t feel like I’m functioning normal and I’m so sick of it.

Could it be thyroid? I’ve had normal blood levels in the past. I’m so so so sick of feeling this way and can’t get out the rut of constantly being upset/down

it could be thyroid. I had all those symptoms
and was diagnosed with underactive thyroid.
How old are you? Your symptoms read like menopause too.

I’m only 25 ☹️

oh, well it's not that then. Doctors should run a full blood panel and also check vitamin/mineral stores as this can also cause similar symptoms.

It does sound like an under active thyroid. If your gp won't test ask for another doctor. I'm surprised as it's a direly common test. Lots of people will be telling you it's peri menopause but at your age highly unlikely.

Fairly common test*

What did your GP say about your symptoms? Have they ordered any tests for you?

After some convincing he’s ordered b12/vit d/basic TSH but he’s taken the usual anxiety/depression route, and prescribed Sertraline, I feel like there’s something seriously wrong though and that I’m being fobbed off

Just wait and see what your results come back with. Symptoms sound like a vitamin deficiency or thyroid problem. All easily treatable.

Is it normal to be this worked up over everything? I can’t stop being so negative and “lazy” and just complaining all the time, I feel like such an energy zapper

If you can stretch to it get a private test done. Thyroid UK suggest several reputable places in the region of £70 and more detailed / in depth in regards to thyroid management

I have a very underactive thyroid and I had all of those symptoms except the weight gain.

Was he not concerned about the bloating?

Do you have trouble regulating your temperature? The symptoms do sound very thyroid-like.

But also sound like a gluten problem too with some of the symptoms. Have you looked into that?

Yes moon face, put on 4st, big stomach but never had before, increased migraines, fatigue, the list goes on. My tsv levels were considered ok but as I had so many symptoms I was put on thyroxine. Turns out it’s hashimotos.

even on meds I have the foggy brain and fatigue still.

Boots sell thyroid tests, not sure how accurate or if GP will take them seriously. I know of someone who had to get their chiropractor to X-ray their neck to show how calcified the area round their thyroid was. Tests all showed it was “within normal range”.

Yeah be aware of the "normal range" used by the NHS. It is wider than what the USA or other European countries consider "normal".
Doctors usually suggest retesting in 6 mo time if results are "borderline". If its still borderline they'll consider eventually testing you for antibodies. Then, if you have the antibodies (attacking your thyroid) they'll start medicating you, on the lowest dose first to see if that helps. It takes several weeks for the effect of a change of dose to be apparent.

I don't want to worry you, but it took 3 years + from first consideration that I might have a thyroid problem to being correctly medicated. Do more reading than I did. Check the NICE guidelines for a start.

@Bananaman123 what is your tsh? Once on medication most people feel best <2.5

Yes, if Dr won't test properly then you can buy tests from various places. Most just need a fingerprick but personally I really struggle to get enough blood out with those.
Thyroid UK have a useful website.

Yes it could be. I was diagnosed at 25 with similar symptoms and also excessive sweating. However I would be asking for a full blood work incase there are other things too.

You sound like me in my mid 20s. I went through phases where work and commute exhausted me so much I would go to bed at 7.30 then snack at 11 and sleep again tip 7. It was hellish. My legs would be like lead, climbing the stairs exhausted me. I'm underactive and stable now but I've had bad phases. My hair was always OK though! Brain fog was v bad sometimes even when other symptoms were OK.

Definitely sounds like it. Could also be polycystic ovary syndrome or another hormone problem.

Cushing's Syndrome? I have no experience of it and it probably isn't that...just came to mind because people notice their face becomes rounder with it.

Absolutely ask for thyroid levels to be tested. Bad thyroid levels also cause fertility issues and can have negative consequences on the foetus if you do get pregnant

Definitely ask for your thyroid to be checked, my sister has many of these issues and she has an under active thyroid and parathyroid disease.

I had the last 4 of your symptoms when my iron stores were low. My GP allowed me to drag on for over 2 years with ferritin levels of just 3, I felt like I was half dead!

Get iron checked too.

If it's thyroid, you can ask to be referred to an endocrinologist. It sounds tempting to want a high thyroxine dose, but it needs to be incremented from 25mcg very slowly or causes issues.