Low-Thyroid Symptoms
“Before I started coming here, I was sluggish, tired, and overweight, and it didn’t matter how much I exercised or what I ate… I would still gain weight. Since coming here, I’ve lost 15 pounds, and I feel so much better. I have a lot more energy, and I sleep better at night. It has made a big difference in my life.” —Jackie B., a Teacher *
*Individual results may vary.
Are you troubled by low-thyroid symptoms?
Our Functional Medicine practice approaches low-thyroid symptoms in a thorough way. An important point is that a person who isn’t benefiting from enough thyroid hormone (even if they have sufficient thyroid hormone in their blood) will have low-thyroid symptoms. These symptoms include the following:
- Extreme fatigue; a persistent lack of motivation; needing more sleep than others
- Unusual weight gain, even when on a low-calorie diet; excessive water retention
- Having “brain fog,” which means feeling mentally sluggish and forgetful
- Body temperature problems: cold hands and feet; feeling cold when others are not
- Hair loss: thinning hair on scalp and on the body
- Joint and muscle pain
- Feeling depressed
- Very dry skin and scalp
- Frequent insomnia
- Irregular menstrual periods or heavy periods
- Constipation or difficult bowel movements
- Diffculty getting pregnant
- Morning headache that wears off later in the day
Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s Disease
Chronic low-thyroid symptoms are often the result of a condition known as “hypothyroidism,” which means that the thyroid gland is underperforming for some reason. (See Hypothyroidism under Low-Thyroid Problems.) Hypothyroidism might be temporary or lifelong. About 90% of patients diagnosed with hypothyroidism have an autoimmune disorder called Hashimoto’s Disease. (See Hashimoto’s Disease under Low-Thyroid Problems.)
Other Reasons for Low-Thyroid Symptoms
Functional Medicine is thorough, recognizing the fact that low-thyroid symptoms may also be the result of other body-system problems. Poor blood-sugar regulation can cause symptoms very similar to an underactive thyroid gland. Hidden food-allergies or an inflammatory (immune) reaction to gluten can also cause some low-thyroid symptoms. Liver dysfunction, too, can prevent proper detoxification and can result in low-thyroid symptoms.
Other possible causes include adrenal exhaustion, from long-term stress, and hormonal changes during menopause. Finally, a problem with thyroid-hormone receptor sites in each cell can also result in low-thyroid symptoms, no matter what level of thyroid hormone is available in the person’s blood.
Thyroid Medication, “Normal” Lab Tests, and Low-Thyroid Symptoms
Clearly, given all of the possible reasons for low-thyroid symptoms, just taking thyroid medication is not the whole answer! Even after a patient has been formally diagnosed with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s Disease and has been taking thyroid hormone medication, the same troubling low-thyroid symptoms might persist, despite lab tests that show the patient now has “normal” thyroid levels circulating in the blood.
At Carolinas Thyroid Institute, patients know that we take these ongoing symptoms seriously and have a program to uncover the real reason for them. Using the most up-to-date research, our goal is to heal the underlying cause of these symptoms, in a natural way, and to restore a sense of well-being to patients. (See our patient testimonials under Success Stories.)
The process begins with a free, 15-minute phone consultation with Dr. Steven Roach to discuss persistent low-thyroid symptoms. The doctor will give a quick overview of the process and will determine if your situation is a good fit for the program.