Thyroid Patients Explain Flare up Days

What does a thyroid flare feel like for you?

I refer to days when my hypothyroid or Hashimoto’s symptoms are particularly bad as a ‘bad thyroid day’ or
‘flare up’. I’ve had these days when my thyroid condition hasn’t been under control and when it has.

Symptoms can differ from person to person, though the most commonly reported in a flare up are:

• Increased fatigue
• Heaviness (as if your body is being weighed down)
• Worsened mental health
• Brain fog
• Migraines
• Flu-like symptoms (aches and pains)
• Dizziness
• Switching between feeling really cold and really hot

But what do yours look like? I’ve included responses to this question below.

“It’s easier to say what does not hurt than what does.”

“Bone and joint pain, IBS, and body temperature going from sweating to chills.
Muscle twitching and Charlie horses, brain fog and confusion.”

“I get all these symptoms and often can’t work, or go to work but struggle when I’m there. I often have a cry at some point
in the day. I often end up in a bubble bath when I have the chance to and hot water bottles always
feature.”

“Extreme fatigue, sleepiness, pain at the brow line, brain fog, aching lower back, joint pain, stiffness, irregular heartbeat, low grade fever, utter misery!”

“Waves of hot and cold, pain all over, feel dizzy and out of reality, allergies are horrible. It also makes my anxiety, OCD and depression symptoms unbearable.”

“Mine can strike anytime, anywhere. I’m completely out of it. When it hits, like a brick wall slamming into me. I don’t trust myself to drive or go anywhere alone. The brain fog gets so bad. I can no longer finish a thought. I can’t speak full sentences. My friends say it looks like I’m on autopilot. Lifting a single finger feels impossible. And that’s just the beginning!”

“Migraines. Feeling extremely cold and fatigue.”

“The fatigue for me is almost unbearable.. I’ve fallen asleep standing up. When it happens, I can’t even drive because I start to doze off. I usually have one day a month that is an absolute nightmare but sometimes I have a series of bad days/weeks. I also get moody and very depressed, like I feel so hopeless and sad. And my leg pain is so bad.”
“The brain fog and being cold is the worst for me. Then comes the joint pain the digestive issues and of course the never ending fatigue. The one that worries me the most though is the fatigue after I walk up one flight of stairs. It takes about two minutes to calm my heart rate down and my breathing to be able to even speak.”

“I feel like someone has injected my body with concrete. I’m so heavy I can’t lift my arms above my head my
only hope is sleep. My skin is terrible. My brain doesn’t work properly!”

“I notice a tightness in my throat, like something is wrapped around
my neck. I get a bit forgetful, tired, have poor concentration. It can make my PMS symptoms worse, too.”

“I feel like a zombie.”

“All these and heart palpitations and muscle twitches. I’ve literally crawled from the parking lot to my car. My employer wanted to know why I use all my vacation days. I don’t have the option of slowing down with two kids, work, and school. However, when your body decides you’ve had enough it will make you rest.”

“All of the above!! I’m having a flare up right now and I’ve been covered in hives for 3 weeks! My joints are swollen and it hurts to move.”

“On those days, I cant even get myself in the bath due to fatigue, lack of motivation and muscle weakness.”

“Foggy head, achy legs, exhaustion, stress and depression. Thankfully now I work part time I can manage my ‘spoons‘ better but I still have days when life is tough.”

“My latest has been all about lower back pain, joint pain, general achiness everywhere else, and a the pain spawned by a cough I can’t shake.”

“I always feel like I’ve been run over!”

“Flares are just scary.”