Thyroid Awareness: Week 2 — When “Tired” Is a Whole Paragraph
Last week we covered the basics: the thyroid is small, but it has a big job… and it’s one of the easiest “quiet troublemakers” to overlook when symptoms don’t look dramatic on the outside.
If you missed Week 1, you can hop back here first: Shine the Light Sunday: Thyroid Awareness (Week 1).
This week, we’re shining the light on the part that trips so many of us up: the symptoms that feel like “just life,” plus the confusing little alphabet of thyroid labs.
Gentle note: This post is for education and encouragement, not diagnosis or medical advice. If something here makes you go “wait… that’s me,” the best next step is a conversation with your healthcare provider.
Why Thyroid Symptoms Get Missed So Often
Thyroid hormone helps your body manage energy use, so it can affect a whole lot of systems at once. That’s why thyroid issues can look like a grab-bag of “random” complaints:
- “I’m exhausted… but I’m still functioning.”
- “My mood feels off, and I don’t know why.”
- “My body feels slower or heavier than it used to.”
- “I can’t tell if this is stress, age, hormones, burnout… or something else.”
And here’s the sneaky part: symptoms can build gradually, so you adjust little by little. You don’t notice the shift until you’re already carrying a backpack full of bricks, wondering why your shoes feel like cement.
Hypothyroid vs. Hyperthyroid: Two Directions, One Confusing Road
People often talk about “thyroid problems” like they’re one thing, but there are different patterns. Two common ones are:
Hypothyroidism (Underactive Thyroid)
Think: your body’s “pace” slows down. Some common symptoms include:
- Feeling cold easily
- Fatigue or low energy
- Dry skin
- Constipation
- Low mood or feeling “down”
- Brain fog or forgetfulness
Hyperthyroidism (Overactive Thyroid)
Think: your body’s “pace” speeds up. Some common symptoms people report include:
- Feeling jittery, keyed up, or anxious
- Racing heart or palpitations
- Heat intolerance or sweating
- Tremor
- Unintentional weight changes
- Sleep trouble
Important: Symptoms overlap with many other conditions. That’s why thyroid bloodwork matters. Symptoms can be a clue, but they’re not a conclusion.
The Lab Alphabet (Without the Headache)
Here’s a simple way to picture it:
- TSH is the “thermostat signal” from your brain (pituitary) telling your thyroid how hard to work.
- Free T4 is one of the main thyroid hormones circulating in your blood.
- T3 is another thyroid hormone that can be helpful in certain situations (often when hyperthyroidism is suspected).
Many providers start with TSH. If it’s outside the expected range, they may add Free T4 (and sometimes other tests) to better understand what’s happening.
A common “classic” pattern for hypothyroidism
- High TSH + Low Free T4
There are other patterns too, depending on the cause and the bigger health picture. This is why it helps to ask for results and discuss what they mean for you, not just what they mean on paper.
Hashimoto’s: The Name You Hear a Lot (And Why)
Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune condition that can lead to hypothyroidism. “Autoimmune” means your immune system mistakenly targets your own tissue, in this case the thyroid.
If your provider suspects an autoimmune thyroid condition, they may check thyroid antibodies (for example, thyroid peroxidase antibodies). Antibodies don’t automatically mean “panic,” but they can help explain why the thyroid is struggling and guide how closely things should be monitored.
A Tiny Self-Check: The “Energy Receipt” Exercise
If you live with chronic illness or invisible symptoms, you already know energy is not an unlimited subscription. It’s more like a gift card with a mysterious balance.
Here’s a simple, gentle exercise you can do for 3 days (no perfection required):
- Pick one daily anchor time (morning, mid-afternoon, or evening).
- Rate your energy from 1–10.
- Circle one symptom that showed up strongest that day (fatigue, brain fog, cold/heat intolerance, mood shift, sleep trouble, heart racing, etc.).
- Write one sentence: “Today my body felt like __________.”
This isn’t a diagnostic tool. It’s a conversation tool. It can help you (and your provider) see patterns without relying on memory when your brain is already overloaded.
Helpful Questions to Ask at an Appointment
If you’re concerned about your thyroid (or you’re already being monitored), here are a few questions that can keep the conversation clear and grounded:
- “Can we review my TSH and Free T4 together, and what they suggest in my case?”
- “Do my symptoms match my labs, or do we need to look for other causes too?”
- “Should we check thyroid antibodies to see if there’s an autoimmune pattern?”
- “How often should we recheck labs, and what change would prompt action?”
- “Are there medications or supplements that could interfere with testing?”
If you ever feel rushed, you can also say: “I’m not asking for a quick fix. I’m asking for a clear plan.” (That sentence has helped a lot of people breathe again.)
When to Seek Urgent Care
Most thyroid concerns are addressed through routine care, but don’t “tough it out” if you have symptoms that feel urgent. Seek immediate medical help if you experience things like:
- Chest pain, fainting, or severe shortness of breath
- A very fast or irregular heartbeat that doesn’t settle
- Severe confusion, extreme weakness, or symptoms that rapidly worsen
Your safety matters more than being “polite” about it.
Gentle Encouragement for the Froggy Friends
If you’re reading this and thinking, “I’m so tired of chasing answers,” I just want to say: you are not failing. You are navigating a body that deserves care, clarity, and compassion.
And if you’re supporting someone with thyroid struggles or unexplained fatigue, the most powerful sentence is often simple:
“I believe you. What would feel supportive today?”
Hop In With Us
If you’d like a place where people “get it” without requiring you to explain your whole medical history first, you’re invited to our support group:
Froggy Friends Support Group (Facebook)
And if you want to support the encouragement + awareness work (and grab a wearable reminder for a weary heart), you can browse the shop here:
Hop In for Email Updates
If you’d like to stay connected with new Shine the Light posts, gentle resources, and encouragement for weary hearts, you’re invited to join the email list here.
No spam. Just steady support, practical kindness, and the occasional frog-level pep talk. 💚
A Closing Blessing (Optional)
If you’re a praying person, here’s a short one you can borrow:
God, give me wisdom for my next step, strength for today, and gentle peace in the waiting. Help me advocate for my body with courage and steadiness. Amen.
Next week in the series, we’ll talk about thyroid “normal ranges” and why “normal” doesn’t always feel normal in real life, plus how to advocate without spiraling into medical overwhelm.