Thyroid, underactive - Complications 

Complications of underactive thyroid 

Several complications can occur if you have an underactive thyroid that is not treated.

An underactive thyroid can be caused by a problem with the immune system, the body’s natural defence system, which can attack the body's own cells, including the thyroid.

This disorder may raise your risk of developing other immune conditions, although this is unusual.

These conditions include:

Coma risk

In very rare cases, a severe underactive thyroid may lead to a life-threatening condition known as myxedema coma.

Warning signs include:

  • low body temperature
  • shallow breathing
  • low blood pressure
  • low blood sugar
  • unresponsiveness

Last reviewed: 13/10/2011

Next review due: 13/10/2013

Comments

14 Comments

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Comments are personal views. Any information they give has not been checked and may not be accurate.

hayley64 said on 12 May 2012

I agree with Emma,i have had an under active thyroid for about 9 years,my levels are up and down all the time,never feel totally well,always tired,have mood swings,depression,have tried a few anti depressants but never work. I have tried a lot of tablets from the health shop to give me energy but not of them worked,i just want to feel well and normal again!

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You are what you eat said on 18 April 2012

I've read through some of the comments below and other pages and it appears that no one knows about the book: Why do I still have thyroid symptoms? - when my blood tests are normal... by Datis Kharrazian. I too have hypothyroidism and have had a call from my doctor that my medication needs to be increased. The book, which I am trying to finish before seeing my doctor, explains that the vast majority of hypothyroid cases are being treated incorrectly or are being misdiagnosed. There are answers in this book to address what really causes hypothyroidism and how to manage it - possibly in some cases without drugs! Hope this info will help some of you out there.

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christopher5162 said on 08 April 2012

To all with thyroid problems.
I have recently been reading up on 'thyroid and the affect of amalgum tooth fillings. I am amazed that the NHS allow these fillings as the mercury effects several glads and production of hormones. I have been told by health professionals that these filling are safe; but I have also found out that certain foods break down the fillings and releases mercury into the body which accumulates and does not get expelled from it.

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christopher5162 said on 08 April 2012

To louby83, (05/12)
I had an undiagnosed overactive thyroid from 16-21 years old; a partial thyroidectomy at 27 and suffered an undiagnosed underactive thyroid from 35-40 Years old. I find 125 mg of thyroxine eventually results in underactivity and 150 mg eventually result in overactivity. I am still trying to balance things out. Also my throid function blood tests give false readings.

My advice to you is firstly ask to see a consultant if you are not already seeing one and insist that after this length of time you should be feeling some benefit of the hormone replacement.

Remember you Know how you feel!
Your thyroid test may give false readings!
Ignore the advice that you are within the accepted range; you may need to be at the top or even bottom of the range to feel ok!
Finally research the subject but don't let get bogged down in the jargon and remember it is your body; if you are not happy with your Doctor's or consultant's treatment of your condition you have the right to go elsewhere. When seeing you doctor take someone with you who understands your plight and will fight your corner.
I wish you all the best in getting your health sorted.

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louby83 said on 05 April 2012

i had a total thyroidectomy august last yr and now classed as underactive and take 100mg of thyroxine per day but feel really cold all the time and have noticed my skin has become flaky and dry on my face and my hair is falling out. is this normal? i really dont feel "right" if that makes sense!!! i make myself do the things that need to be done through the day but to honest i wud b quite happy staying in bed. ive been to the doctors a dozen times and they say the same thing-it will get better in time but it is starting to get me down now, how long before i start to feel "normal"??? thanks

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jaguarip said on 15 January 2012

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism two years ago at the age of 50. The symptoms were incredible tiredness and inability to sleep with constant muscle and joint pains resulting in me falling asleep early and weight gain due to the consequent lack of energy to get out and about outside a fairly sedentary job. I have also had a history of depression and was clinically diagnosed circa 15 years ago when I overworked and suffered too much stress at work resulting in diagnosis and a brilliant course of Dothiepin anti depressants that resolved my depression within a month. This had started to come back. My GP had me tested and my thyroxin levels were substantially below normal limits and my TSH levels ten times what they should have been. I was put on a low dose of Levothyroxine which has had a good effect on my mood and energy levels and I have started sleeping more normally. I was told by my GP that I could have had it for many years and when I look back on my energy levels it may well go back to my teenage years. My brother also has the same condition but is on a much higher dose of the drug Levothyroxin. I never feel 100% but I feel much better than I used to feel. My advice to anybody with similar symptoms is to persevere with your GP and Levothyroxin and life will become more tolerable. I tried to come off the drug recently and the old symptoms returned after a few weeks. It is sad to think I shall always need Levothyroxine but there are worse things in life.

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emmafiford said on 12 January 2012

i have been on throxine for the past 5 year's and my level's are never normal, i'm either taking to much or not enough and it has been this way for 5 yrs my weight goes up and down all the time,which is very frustrating,and i'm constantly tired. i have mentioned this to my doctor and nurse on several occasion's and yet there is nothing being done to help,and when i was taking 200mcg i felt great i had energy i was'nt tired but according to a blood test i was taking far to much, now i'm taking 125mcg, i have no energy again my last bloot test reveled i was not on enough but my doctor did not increase my dose.i'm also now being treated for depression but none of the tablet's i have tried have help and once again my doctor's are not listening.

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User608305 said on 20 October 2011

Was diagnosed with underactive thyroid about 5 months ago currently on 100mcg of thyroxine and am starting to feel awful again,breathless extremely tired depressed and unable to sleep.
Have also been admitted to casualty with ?atrial fibrilation and am now on metoprolol 100mg and feel awful on them and still getting heart palps .
Recent tsh levels suggest low thyroid but gp wont up it till my cardio appt in 5 weeks time! I have two young children and a job I need help.

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hibii said on 16 March 2011

All my blood result levels are sat on the bottom line of normal and some below it.

My GP still doesn't bother doing anything.

Far too often do I hear that sympton is because of that, but nothing happens.

My eyes are that black now, people ask or comment on who beat me up. Even the blood nurses commented and wrote to my Gp and she still did nothing but snarl at me.

NHS stands for No help service.

I've said to my kids, if I die becuse somethings going to give out in me with these symptons, get a through post mortem done. Anything they say, like severe anemia, etc sue my GP and NHS for. won't help me but it might help sombody and make the NHs take notice. Certainly make me laugh in my grave watching my GP being hauled through the coals.

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itsybitsy said on 15 February 2011

i've been on 100mcg thyroxine for about 10 years last year my gp reduced the dose i started to put on more weight...three months later after another blood test he put it back up to what it had been ,,,but i've never lost the weight i gained. now my knees and hips are always aching..and my face is puffy....but according to my gp my thyroid is fine....when i ask him why i feel this way constantly tired ...is it just part of getting older...he just laughs and says...you'll soon feel better....and that's it

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itsybitsy said on 15 February 2011

what are the symptoms of b12 deficiency

itsybitsy

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BecMoz said on 12 July 2010

I have been on thyroxine for about 3 1/2 years now, but for at least 4 years before hand, I kept alternating between overactive and underactive, so the doctors never put me on medication. At the time I originally found out about my thyroid, when I was about 18, I was also told I was going through menopause. It wasn't until recently after looking into complications with underactive thyroids, that I realise my early menopause could have been as a result of this. I had never felt right since starting puberty so the question that always lies in the back of my mind is how long had my thyroid been playing up for and if only I had gone to the doctors earlier, could I have saved my fertility? I have no chance of having children now, nor did I have any chance of having children at the age of 18 years either. If anyone does experience any systems, please, make sure you get checked. You don't want the heartbreak of never being able to conceive to deal with... its hard enough dealing with all the other issues of an under active thyroid. The doctors never tell you this kind of information.

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denise h said on 07 July 2010

hi i was tested for b12 and it came up that i was deficient as well as having an underactive thyroid so i guess its the doctors keep pressing i did

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glynisrose said on 08 December 2009

If it is a known symptom that you can become B12 deficient, why are people not tested for it? It is not an extreme symptom and can happen to any hypothyroid patient so we should all have regular tests to see what our levels are.

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