One of my symptoms that started over a year ago is that I am sensitive to the cold. I now know that sensitivity to cold is a symptom of hypothyroidism, but I don't know if how I percieve it is how it is with the condition.

An example for me is: the other day our thermostat said 74, but i thought it was broken or something. A mercury thermometer said it was actually more like 76 degrees, but i was cold. My husband said he was fine. A few hours later, i realized i was no longer cold and the temp in the room had not changed. I have also at work had maintainance cover up the vents above my desk because I was getting too cold and I can't go out to eat anymore without a sweater with me. I used to love air conditioning. I get chills for no reason, too.

I was talking to my mom today and found out that she and her twin have had hypothyroidism "for as long as she can remember". She also said that she went into menopause early at about 40. I'm 35 but feel too young to be having all these peri symptoms, many of which don't seem to be listed as hypo symptoms. I'm going to get my thyroid tested, but how hereditary is it? Is having cold spells more of a peri thing or usually more of a hypo thing??

Thyroid problem often run in families, but it seems they have not found the genetic cause yet...I had thryoid problem as well as all my sisters....being cold is often a very, very common symptom of hypothyroidism though some do complain of it in peri as well. With thyroid you may also be experience other sympomts like tiredness, sleepiness, dry skin, swollen tongue, digestive problems, hair problems and more and unfortunaly many of these symptoms overlap with peri!

With your family history it is good to get the thyroid checked....be sure to get thourough thyroid stesting of blood work for FT3, FT4, TSH and the antibodies of Hashimotos disease (often the cause of hypothyroidism)...your doc may say that just TSH is enough, but having been though all this for years, do get ALL the blood work I recommended.

And keep in mind that the blood results can be tricky in that each lab ranges for "normal" may be different.....Get copies of all your lab work and if you have any doubt or need some help post your lab ranges and your blood results either here on on a thryoid forum board for more help and clarification...thyoid can be tricky and many, many doctors are not very good at either diagnosising the problem nor treating it. Hope this helps...if it is thryoid, with propper care you will be feeling warmer soon! Joan

Ellgie: I was just diagnosed with hypothyrodism, and I"m cold ALL the time. However, this is the least of my symptoms...I also had slowed pulse, swollen eyes, fatigue, weight gain, muscle cramps (bad ones), etc. My mother has thyroid issues; it tends to run in families. As the prevous poster suggested, make sure you get a full thyroid panel done...esp free T4 and TSH AND antibodies...good luck. The good news is, this is completely treatable...

Just to chime in... I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism a couple months ago at age 46. My symptoms were muscle cramping and pain. My mom and grandmother also had hypo.

I was tested for the antibodies (make sure you request this) and have Hashimoto's. I'm on the smallest dose of Synthroid, and, after a tough first couple weeks, feel better. The muscle issues are completely gone.

The test is a no-brainer - just blood work - don't hesitate to have it done.

Mom2rudy: You sound just like me! I turn 46 in 2 weeks and muscle cramping was probably my worst symptom. My legs hurt so badly I couldn't leave the house. I've been on 50 mcg of Synthroid (generic) for 2 weeks and the cramps are gone. However, my endo has increased the meds to 75 mcg a day because bloodwork showed my TSH elevated and my T4 still on the low side.

Just curious; how often are you getting your blood tested?

Thanks for the replies. What kind of muscle cramps do y'all get? My stomach feels tight or like i'm constantly sucking it in. I don't even know if this is hormonal or not.
I have in the past had really bad cramps occur at night in my calf or the bottom of my foot where my big toe stickes straight up. It hurts so bad, but only lasts a few minutes.

I have been so messed up since October with digestive issues, irregular periods, depression, anxiety, mood swings, irritability, various irritations, shortness of breath, and waves of something fluctuating in my body. The past few days, i've felt so drained with zero appitite and I keep crying. A few things started over the last year like the coldness, more PMS and hair whispies for bangs that I didn't create, but how could I get so far out of wack so quick since Oct.? ...and it just keeps going with new stuff all the time.

Round Robin, I am getting my blood tested every 90 days. After the first 90, my TSH levels were stabilized, but I was positive for the antibodies.

For me, the muscle cramps were in the front and back of my thighs and felt like I had been WAY over-exerting my legs. I also had a lot of glute and hip pain which resolved with the thyroid medication. But it was the leg pain that was the final straw that pushed me to the doctor.

Also, about the crying - I started crying at the beginning of "Desperate Housewives" last night when the kids emerged from the destroyed house. I can't believe it - I NEVER cry. Now I can't seem to stop the water works!

Hi. I was diagnosed with Hashimotos in my mid 30's (just turned 41). It seemed within a year my cycle started changing. Now I seem to be in full peri 'fun'! It took my Thyroid almost 2 years to stabalize. Would get it tested every couple months. It still moves around, but is over all much more stable, so test is every 4-6 months. As the ladies mentioned...get a full panel including antibodies. Some docs only do tsh, t3 and t4, but you want the whole shabang. I remeber how much better I felt after starting thyroid meds....till things got icky again...but it turned out to be celiac. More 'fun'.
Please post you tests reults! Hope all goes well!

I will request the full panel.
I have had a soreness along the top/front ridge of my hip bones that goes horizontal for a few inches and stretches down to the ovaries and a tad further below that on my upper front thighs. Does this sound like the type of muscle issue hypothyroidism could have? I also have been having a lot of difficulty breathing. I breath real low and sometimes realize i'm not breathing barely at all and have to make myself take a breath. I have had this for quite a while, but it is getting worse. Is this a thyroid thing?

Ell: The pain your having sounds exactly like what I was experiencing. It then got worse and my legs got in on the action. It was strange...my muscles just hurt. Calves, thighs...as if I had run a marathon. The bottom of my feet, too. Low thyroid function changes your hair too...it gets dry, wispy, and can even fall out (some people lose the outer half of their eyebrows...this didn't happen to me, but I read about it alot.) The shortness of breath sounds like anxiety; I know when I'm feeing lousy, I get very anxious. And I'm already a nervous nellie (always have been) so everything just compounds everything else.

Are you seeing an endocrinologist for the blood work? It's really important to find a good one; and unfortunately, it can be a daunting task. We're not permitted to post links to websites here, but PM me and I can point you to a place that helped me find a really good thyroid doctor. I had to go out of state, but it was worth it.

Hang in there...thyroid probs can make you feel very, very ill, but with the right meds, it'll turn around.

Thanks for repling. My appt. with a GP is tomorrow. I have had dryer hair in the last year. I can now skip a day of washing without it being noticable and the whispies i have are just weird. Did you have a tightness around your belly button? I feel like it's all tight and sometimes being s*cked in. With the exception of weight, (i lost)i feel like all this hypo stuff is hitting home with me. Weird, i almost hope that this is my problem. I fear being told nothing is wrong and that this is now all of a sudden how i'll feel from now on. It's really depressing me and i can't live like this.

Thanks for the doctor referal, i'll keep it in mind.

Is there anything else that could be wrong with me that I should be tested for? I can't find anything else that fits hormonal and digestive issues.

I'm thinking of asking for the test for Celiac disease because of the digestive upsets.

Hi! I am new to this forum. I wanted to add my experience in hopes of helping someone and also find the support I need while I go through, what I would consider to be the most difficult time of my life. I was put on antidepressants by my GP which turned out to be the wrong diagnosis. I was on the medication for about 1 1/2 months. The medication rendered me nonfunctional and I lost about 30 lbs. I then went to my OBGYN with the same symptoms, heart palpitations and irritability and now the new symptoms from the antidepressants. He diagnosed me of course after bloodwork, as having hypothyroidism. He pretty much saved my life. Now that that was resolved about 3 years ago, perimenopause is rearing it's ugly head at me and I'm overwhelmed to say the least. I've also had a lot of life changes which haven't helped much either. I just want to get through this "natural" process with some dignity and not scare off my loved ones.

Hi Ell,
Glad to hear that you have an appt. with your Dr. Alot of woman start peri. meno in their 30's. The thyroid symptoms are similiar to peri. I've had hypothyroidism for a few years - when I started taking the meds - I felt a 'wow' - had some energy, some of the symptoms went away. The leg pains got better too. I can always tell when my thyroid level is down when my legs start hurting. Eager to hear what your Dr. says and what your blood work shows.

Changinginnewengland - welcome to Power Surge. Ahhh, you saying dignity during peri. and not scaring off loved ones, that made me chuckle. All the symptoms will slowly go away - and after the change, you'll be considered a new and improved person ...I promise. When I was going thru the middle of peri., I told friends and family in advance "today is not a good day, back off", with the look that made them walk away and a growl not to push it to far ... And it did help after I started thyroid meds too....

Oh Ell - I forgot to mention about the big toe thing you spoke about. Have you ever heard of reflexology? Reflexology is at the feet and hands in the physical body. The feet (and hands) are connected with every part of your body - the heart, back, kidneys, etc... If you have a headache or sinus problem - massage your toes because that's the connection of the sinuses and head blood vessels... Guess what Ell - at the side of the big toe is....you got it ...the thyroid. So gently massage that part of your feet - and you'll have some relief.

Hi SugarNSpice. Thanx for the response. I've had a bad couple of weeks, I cry at the drop of a hat. I lay in bed and in my very active mind, convince myself that the world is unfair, no one loves me and everyone is out to make my life miserable. I've been in hearthcare for 25 years, and I can't go to work crying my eyes out and having an attitude. My patients count on me and have enough of their own stuff without being cared for by a miserable, psycho aide. I have always been up beat and always see the glass 1/2 full. I went to my Dr's yesterday and had him put me on an anti-depressant which is taking the edge off. Last night my boyfriend and I had a couple over to play setback. We had an awesome time, girls won 3-0, but I kept forgetting what trump was. Everyone would start talking about what type of hand they had and on and on. I couldn't remember what I had in my hand. This is very difficult for me. For instance, yesterday I called my boyfriend to ask if we needed milk. He said yes we could probably use some. I walked into the store...got what I needed and came home...without the milk. What's with that? Oh well. Maybe it's time to "Defragment" my brain. I hope you have a good day.

Hey there changinginnewengland - ahhh, glad you went to the Dr. - you are definelty in peri.meno....your hormones are fluctuating, which is what causes all the wacky symptoms like crying easy, and as you said an attitude, lol. You'll be up beat soon, I promise. Maybe have your thryoid level checked too - your level may be a little off the normal levels.

As far as forgetting the milk....I've been there....done that ...of course, during peri. I would cry afterward that I forgot the milk...Now I laugh about it - so things do get better. Best wishes.

Ok, so i got my results. TSH=3.68. She said this was normal, but i have so many of the symptoms. She wouldn't do the full panel as she laughed and said the tsh test is now very sensitive. Does anyone know anything about these levels.

She said I coud be Peri or she kept mentioning depression.

Ok, so i got my results. TSH=3.68. She said this was normal, but i have so many of the symptoms. She wouldn't do the full panel as she laughed and said the tsh test is now very sensitive. Does anyone know anything about these levels.

She said I coud be Peri or she kept mentioning depression.

The Association of Clinical Endocrinologist recommends a TSH between 0.8 and 2.5 with anything over the 2.5 can benefit in treatment with thryoid hormones. With that TSH over, I would recommend getting the tests I recommend before: FT3 and FT4 as well as the antibodies for Hashimotos disease....it is not that much over, but for some it may cause many, many symptoms.

Go to another doctor (one who will not laugh at you), one who is more willing to help, if your current one will not. Believe me having been through it, the thryoid can be very tricky....you may want to seek out a specialist, endocrinologist....but be aware, that some doctors (eventhe specialists) and blood labs are not yet up on the new TSH ranges, though they were updated a while ago! Also look up mary shomon's site...great thyroid info and forum...she herself a thyroid patient...

All the thryoid stuff is possible with your symptoms.....but also peri can cause similar ones as well....sometimes, as in my case, we never really know what is causing what....what fun!

note on depression....very common in hypothyrodism.....doctors LOVE to pull that our when they can't (or don't want to) take the time to find out what it REALLY is.....!!!!!

Thanks for your encouragement. My health insurance is good the beginning of Feb. I will go first thing to get blood work for thyroid. Also, I went to see Dr. with pain (headache) behind my right eye. He wants me to have a catscan done but I can't until insurance kicks in. I'm hoping it's just a tooth that needs to come out. I am beginning to feel better taking the anti-depressant, Wellbutrin. (Generic). I'm able to think a bit clearer and have decreased crying episodes. Of course, I'm also not pre menstral. We'll see how next week plays out. lol It is very difficult distinguishing between Peri-Menapause, Thyroid, depression, or just having a bad day. I think they are all connected and should be treated as such. Combined with eating healthy foods, ie: staying away from frozen or processed foods, exercise, even if it's a short walk around the block, drink plenty of H2O. I am also just over 6 months smoke free. Gained a little weight but also gained a little lung. lol If anyone is thinking about taking the smoke-free step and has questions, feel free to ask.
My boyfriend has been understanding thus far. He always seems to know when I need a Hug. (Of course, the tears are a big give-away. ) Just to let me know that he's there for me. I feel very fortunate. I hope you all have a good day.

Elgie, I concur with Slowbear ... the new subclinical hypothyroid diagnosis is anything over 2.5-3 ... My Doctor and I are both in agreement that I "DO" better when mine is about 1.5.

Next time she starts spouting off about depression try making little air quotes with your fingers as you say some version of

Thank you "Doctor" it seems you have a fixation about depression, perhaps you might want to explore if there is some transference issues that you have that are still unresolved. I know your job must be stressful and I can totally understand why you are feeling depressed.

Or you could throw her off entirely onto a different pop-psych diagnosis with (e.g. paranoid schizophrenic) ...

Really? You think I'm depressed? Who told you I was depressed? Was it that nurse out front. She's always watching me in the waiting room. I bet it was her. Or was it the lab technician, that one looks sneaky to me. They are all out to get me you know!

Little giggle. Deep breath.
Good luck on your healing journey.
~EM

2.5 huh? I don't know how i'd convince her though. She's going from the lab range of .34 - 5.60 as being normal. But I really do feel like I have this. The coldness being the most obvious, as well my eyebrows are really thin on the edges. I don't think i did this with plucking, if i did, they never grew back. Whispy bangs that i didn't cut, depression, GI issues, irritability, muscle aches, it's in my family etc. She just keeps wanting to feed me Celexa. I don't know what i'm going to do if nobody will believe me. This is the second doc i've had that poo-poos the internet. But I will check out that site. Thanks for the info!

An update, if anyone is interested. I went back and told my doc about the lowered TSH range that i tested out of. She said she new about it and she agreed my TSH was elevated so she gave me orders for another TSH, T4, antibodies and sed rate westergren. I wonder, if she knew about it, why didn't she just order the rest of the tests when i got my TSH results instead of waiting for me to come back later with this info.

On another note, i did some other blood tests. One was for single strand DNA antibodies (anyone know about this test??)which came out quite high so she wants me to go to a Rhumatologist to see about Lupus. Does anyone have this? In reading about it, this test is related, but not even on the list of tests for it. I also don't really have many of the symptoms. I have muscle aches, but not joint aches that Lupus has. It apparently means i have some type of autoimmune disorder though, i just don't think it's Lupus. I'd be really suprised if I had Lupus and not hypothyroid as my symptoms are more like hypo or peri than anything.

Hi Ellgie

I'm new here..... I just tried to reply to your post and hit the reply button by accident before I even posted to you so sorry about that..... Anyway, I can certainly relate to the stomach thing. I do not know what it is but I cannot control it. No matter what I do or how much I try to relax I am constantly and involuntarily sucking my stomach in so hard that sometimes I feel like I'm going to squeeze my lungs right out of my body... and it definitely messes up my breathing... I have many other symptoms too.... But, like you, my symptoms started abruptly and were very severe. There was no creeping up of one thing here or one thing there. Literally, overnight, I woke up with a bladder infection, which I've never had before in my life, severe muscle tension throughout my whole body, but much worse in the stomach area, severe dizziness, panic attacks. Since then I've gotten other things like hair loss, burning sensations in my skin, dry eyes from time to time and constant nasal congestion and post nasal drip... Within three months of all of this starting, my periods also went to 21 days and have stayed there. I've also noticed that my cycle went from 7 to 5 days as well. At first I swore I was dying from some rare disease and I just happen to be a person that is very in tune with my body and I quickly noticed that everything I was having seemed cyclical.. And I also noticed that for like 5 days building up to ovulation that my anxiety level would increase everyday ending in a major panic attack right at ovulation. Then, it would taper off a bit and start building again right before my period, slow down again and the day my period would stop I'd get panic again... So, I can certainly relate to what you are saying with the stomach thing and how it all started abruptly... By the way, I am also hypothyroid. Have been for 16 years and while muscle pain and tension can be a symptom of hypo I had more muscle pain than tension and never did I have the stomach thing.. I also have noticed that this stomach thing I do seems to be more one-sided... It can be on both sides but typically it is the left size that seems to always be tight and s*cked in. I actually do this to the point that if I touch the stomach muscle I have pain as if I just did a major workout..

rox