I had several red flags, but the most concerning was a mass on the left side of my neck. At first I thought it was a knot or a pinched nerve, and without even realizing it I would push on it to relieve the pain and discomfort. I also had symptoms of hypothyroidism, such as fatigue and weight gain.
Here are some of the most common signs of hypothyroidism (from MayoClinic.org):
- Fatigue
- Increased sensitivity to cold
- Constipation
- Dry skin
- Weight gain
- Puffy face
- Hoarseness
- Muscle weakness
- Elevated blood cholesterol level
- Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness
- Pain, stiffness or swelling in your joints
- Heavier than normal or irregular menstrual periods
- Thinning hair
- Slowed heart rate
- Depression
- Impaired memory
- Blood tests can show elevated TSH and low T4 (American Thyroid Association has more information on Thyroid function tests)
Also check out Hypothyroid Mom, the BEST site out there for hypothyroid support:
Much of the time Thyroid Cancer doesn’t cause symptoms but the most common symptoms include:
- A lump that can be felt through the skin on your neck
- Changes to your voice, including increasing hoarseness
- Difficulty swallowing
- Pain in your neck and throat
- Swollen lymph nodes in your neck
thebestcancer.com 