I'm trying to learn more about HyPOthyroidism. I'm trying to find symptoms,age of occurance, affect on memory

Question

My father had a thyoid disorder for years and it was never diagnosed until he almost died when I was kindergarden. His thyroid has been removed and when I went home for christmas he noticed symptoms in me that he has when his dosage of synthroid is too low. I've been noticing similar symptoms that he had such as being cold all the time, being irritable for no reason, being tired all the time, my skin is dry and itchy, and the biggest problem is with my memory and cognitive ability. I was always an honors student with high grades, but in the past year I've been doing horribly. I study all the time, I've been to academic counselours who tell me they can't think of what to tell me to do to improve my study habits because I'm doing everything they would reccomend. I've been to the schools regular counselors and they can't tell me why I'm just not doing well in my classes. I have two majors, and I enjoy them. but I have to figure something out. I'm starting to think the problem is physical.

I'm trying to find an endocrinologist in my area to do a complete thyroid workup, but the closest one is about 30-45 minutes away. And every one I've called within 2 hours is closed until after the new years.

Oh yeah, when my dad was sick I had a thyroid workup done (I was 5) and then it was all normal. I'm 21 now.
I've been calling clinics in my area and they all tell me that they don't do thyroid workups on new patients (I'm here for college and don't have a "family physician" to see). My dad is the one pushing me to find an endocrinologist. He says it's just cutting out the middle man.

Answer 1

You may be stressed out with your load at school, but you may have a physical problem you need to get checked out. These are the Adult Symptoms of Hypothyroidism:
~Slowed speech and a hoarse, breaking voice. Deepening of the voice can also be noticed.
~Impaired memory
~Impaired cognitive function (brain fog)
~Urticaria (hives)
~Migraine headache
~Increased sensitivity to heat and cold
~A slow heart rate with ECG changes including low voltage signals. Diminished cardiac output and decreased contractility.
Pericardial effusions may occur.
~Sluggish reflexes
~Dry puffy skin, especially on the face, and hair loss, especially thinning of the outer third of the eyebrows
~Depression (especially in the elderly)
~Mild weight gain
~Anemia caused by impaired hemoglobin synthesis (decreased EPO levels), impaired intestinal iron and folate absorption or B12 deficiency from pernicious anemia
~Constipation
~Fatigue (physical)
~anxiety/panic attacks
~Choking sensation or difficulty swallowing
~Shortness of breath with a shallow and slow respiratory pattern.
~Impaired ventilatory responses to hypercapnia and hypoxia.
~Increased need for sleep
~Muscle cramps and joint pain
~Brittle fingernails
~Osteoporosis
~Paleness
~Irritability
~Yellowing of the skin due to impaired conversion of beta-carotene to vitamin A
~Abnormal menstrual cycles
~Impaired renal function with decreased GFR.
~Thin, fragile or absent cuticles
~Infertility or difficulty becoming pregnant
~Elevated serum cholesterol
~Acute psychosis (myxedema madness) is a rare presentation of hypothyroidism
~Poor muscle tone (muscle hypotonia)
~Decreased libido
You should see the doctor nearest you to get an overall check up, then have him refer you to the endocrinologist who will run the neccessary tests. Don't delay~you know how serious this can become if you wait to long to seek treatment. I've included some websites for you to check out for yourself. Good luck.

Answer 2

Okay, I had mine start after I had my first child, but it can start at any time. You most likely have a genetic predisposition to it, it can run in families. I had the itchy, dry skin, carpal tunnel (a lot of people don't know about this being a symptom, but my Dr. told me it often is), being tired. Other things to watch for, puffiness on your face, especially under your eyes. And your problems with irritability and not doing as well in school could be caused by depression, which is also a symptom of an underactive thyroid. Get your blood drawn and within a week or two they should be able to tell you if you need to go on Synthroid. Good Luck.

You don't need to go to a special Dr., any Dr. can order the blood test and prescribe the treatment. I've never seen a specialist, just my general health care provider.

Answer 3

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