Hypothyroidism (myxoedema)

Alison hypo causes weight gain, sluggishness, thick non elastic skin, constipation, hairloss, deafness, lowering in pitch of the voice, feeling cold, mental confsion even dementia. The commonest causes are thyroidectomy or excess treatment for hyperthyroidism (thyrotoxicosis, Graves disease) and Hashimltos thyroiditis, an autoimmune inflammation destroying thyroid tissue; in some conutries a mothers diet deficient in iodine can cause congenital hypothyridism with a goitre the rest are idiopathic (cause unknown).
Your doctor should check your T3, T4,TSH levels periodically, usually annually in established patients and if readings stray outside normal either repeat the test in a month or adjust the dosage. DocDavid