Just over 7 months ago now I was diagnosed as having hypothyroidism, otherwise known as a underactive thyroid. A thyroid problem can be much more common than you think and the symptoms are often dismissed as something else.

Hypothyroidism Symptoms

• Fatigue

• Weakness

• Weight gain or increased difficulty losing weight

• Coarse, dry hair

• Dry, rough pale skin

• Hair loss

• Cold intolerance (you can’t tolerate cold temperatures like those around you)

• Muscle cramps and frequent muscle aches

• Constipation

• Depression

• Irritability

• Memory loss

• Abnormal menstrual cycles

• Decreased libido

Those are the main symptoms of hypothyroidism. I already knew a bit about it as my mum has the same thing, and actually since getting it I’ve discovered lots of other mums and friends that have it too. If you don’t know what the thyroid gland is or does, it is a butterfly shaped organ located in the base of your neck. It releases hormones that controls your metabolism. The thyroid’s hormones regulate vital body functions, including:

•Breathing

•Heart rate

•Central and peripheral nervous systems

•Body weight

•Muscle strength

•Menstrual cycles

•Body temperature

•Cholesterol levels

Having initially gone to the doctors because I thought I might have PND I was sent for a blood test to see if anything else was wrong. Within 48 hours I was back at the doctors being handed a prescription and told I would probably suffer with this for the rest of my life.

I have now been taking the tablets for the last 7 months so I thought I would do a little update on how I am feeling lately. After an initial improvement I’ve been feeling more tired, especially in the afternoons. It usually hits around 4pm. I think my levels are a little low still so I’ve booked an appointment to get a check up. I must have blood tests done regularly to make sure things are ok and I am on the right amount. It can take a while to get back to feeling ‘normal’. If your dose is too high you can end up being hyperthyroidism, over-active.

One of the things I have real trouble with is my weight. I’ve never been a skinny person but since having Clem and developing hypothyroidism I have found it incredibly difficult to lose weight. After giving birth I obviously lost some weight but as my thyroid started to stop functioning I put a lot of weight back on and it’s remained. In fact it seems to be going up!

As most mums knows during pregnancy your hair gets thicker and fuller, post baby you lose it. I lost lots, my hair and skin have both become really dry. My hair used to be really thick but it’s quite thin now. It’s also incredibly dull and doesn’t have much shine to it. I used to feel cold all the time. My sofa always had about 3 blankets near it just in case I feel cold. I wore big fluffy socks all the time as well.

I was super tired, in fact I cannot even describe just how tired I felt before I began taking the tablets. Just getting up was a struggle, let alone looking after a baby all day. I didn’t go out, the house was a mess, all I wanted to do was stay in bed. I felt terrible because Clem was missing out on things, I was missing out on things. Jess would come home from working in London all day to a messy house, a stressed/tired/angry me and no dinner which is never great. Now we get out of the house every day, even if it’s walking to the park or tesco, it definitely helps.

I went through (and sometimes still do) a stage of forgetfulness as well, and at first I put it down to baby brain but it was actually so much worse than that. One time in Sainsburys I had a whole basket full of stuff, I scanned it, packed it all away into my bags and then realised I’d left my wallet at home again. That was the third time that week that I had done it. Not only that but when I got home and found my wallet my bank cards weren’t in there, I’d left them somewhere else! My neighbours would regularly ring the doorbell to let me know my keys were still in the door, or on the floor outside.

I definitely have good and bad days, hopefully my levels will even out and I’ll feel okay again. As with most things I’ve made a pinterest board so feel free to check that out for more info.
Follow Clementine rocks’s board Hypothyroidism on Pinterest.