Are You Ignoring These Early Signs of Thyroid Dysfunction?
As a Naturopath specialising in thyroid health, I see so many perimeno mums who come to me saying the same thing:
"I wish I had known sooner."
They've spent months or even years dismissing subtle signs that their body was trying to tell them something wasn't right — or knowing something's not right, but not getting the right testing.
Today, I want to help you recognise these early warning signs of thyroid dysfunction before they develop into more serious problems. Because here's the truth: thyroid issues rarely appear suddenly — they often develop gradually, with your body sending signals long before the major symptoms kick in.
Why Early Signs Get Missed
They’re often dismissed as symptoms of stress, just perimenopause or normal aging.
Healthcare providers might not connect the dots between seemingly unrelated symptoms.
Symptoms can come and go, making them easy to ignore or blame on stress, lifestyle, or “just being tired.”
The Early Warning Signs You Shouldn't Ignore
1. Persistent Fatigue That Sleep Doesn’t Fix
What it feels like:
A heavy, dragging exhaustion even after a full night’s rest.
Common ways people experience it:
Struggling to get out of bed in the morning
Mid-afternoon crashes
Needing caffeine just to function
How it might affect daily life:
Feeling unproductive, less motivated, and unable to keep up with daily tasks or exercise.
Why it matters:
Low thyroid hormone slows your metabolism, including energy production in your cells — making fatigue one of the earliest signs.
What most people do:
Blame it on being busy, stress, or poor sleep hygiene.
What you should do instead:
Track your energy patterns, note how long fatigue lasts, and seek thyroid-specific testing…. Not just TSH.
2. Unexplained Weight Changes
What it feels like:
Gradual weight gain (or difficulty losing weight) despite no major changes in diet or exercise.
Common ways people experience it:
Clothes fitting tighter around the waist
Increased fluid retention or puffiness
Weight “creeping up” over months
How it might affect daily life:
Frustration and discouragement when lifestyle changes don’t seem to work.
Why it matters:
Thyroid hormones control your metabolic rate. When they drop, your body burns fewer calories, making weight gain easier and loss harder.
What most people do:
Go on a restrictive diet or over-exercise, which can further stress the thyroid.
What you should do instead:
Focus on nutrient-dense meals, manage stress, and investigate hormonal drivers before cutting calories.
3. Brain Fog and Memory Lapses
What it feels like:
That frustrating “cotton wool” feeling in your head, where concentration and recall are harder than usual.
Common ways people experience it:
Forgetting simple words mid-sentence
Struggling to focus on reading or conversations
Misplacing items more often
How it might affect daily life:
Impacting work performance, conversations, and confidence.
Why it matters:
Thyroid hormones affect brain function, neurotransmitter balance, and oxygen delivery to brain tissue.
What most people do:
Write it off as “mum brain” or perimenopause.
What you should do instead:
Note patterns (when is it worse?), stay hydrated, ensure adequate protein, and get a full thyroid panel to rule out hormonal causes.
Why Timing Matters
Let me share a quick story about one of my clients, Lisa:
She came to me after 18 months of unexplained fatigue, weight gain, and hair loss. She’d been told “things change with menopause”. Once we tested her actual thyroid hormones and addressed the dysfunction, she finally started feeling like herself again — getting back to herself took a little longer because her symptoms had been progressing for so long, but she was now in a better health place. Not easily fatigued with even a little bit of exertion, feeling refreshed when she wakes, feeling like her mental health was back on track.
When we catch thyroid dysfunction early:
We can prevent progression to more severe hypothyroidism.
We can support energy, metabolism, and mood before they dip further.
We can minimise long-term health risks like cardiovascular disease and bone loss.
What To Do If You're Noticing These Signs
If you’re reading this and thinking, “Oh no, I have several of these symptoms!” — don’t panic. Here’s what to do next:
Start Tracking — Record your symptoms, energy levels, weight changes, mood, and menstrual cycle patterns for at least 4 weeks.
Consider Testing — We can look at a full thyroid panel for you and interpret what it’s telling us, before disease is actually diagnosed and a lot of destruction has happened…
Seek Professional Guidance — Working with someone who understands both thyroid health and perimenopause will help to connect the dots and create a tailored plan.
Your Next Steps
Are you a perimenopausal mum experiencing any of these early warning signs? Don’t wait until they become impossible to ignore. Here’s how I can help:
Comprehensive Thyroid & Hormone Testing: In-depth testing beyond standard TSH to uncover the root cause.
Personalised Nutrition & Lifestyle Plan: Targeted support to rebalance hormones and boost energy.
Ongoing Support & Monitoring: Reviewing your health to track your progress and make adjustments.
Remember, these signs are your body’s way of asking for help. The sooner you address them, the better your outcomes can be.
Ready to take control of your thyroid health?
Book your Thyroid & Hormone Health Assessment today — let’s stop those subtle signs from becoming bigger problems.
