"Forgetfulness, dry skin and hair, trouble concentrating, fatigue, brittle nails, headache..."

Asked by McBean 33 months ago

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Could they all be related? Blood tests for thyroid came back normal. Is there anything else I should get tested for or could it all be hormonal (44 yo woman)?


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"You can check it out on the Mayo Clinic website."
 by newbie257888 on May 07 2007 (33 months ago)
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http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/symptom-checker/DS00671

This website is for the Mayo Clinic' symptom checker. It asks for more information than you gave here, so it would be better if you checked yourself.

My first thought when I read your list of symptoms is either depression or just plain aging. Concentration, fatigue, headache can all be symptoms of depression . With the other symptoms, your body changes as it gets older, and they could be due to hormonal changes without your body.

But check out the Mayo Clinic and see if there is a common cause for several of your symptoms. Then go from there. Good luck!
Sources: In my opinion...
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"It could be a vitamin D deficiency."
 by BarbieM on May 07 2007 (33 months ago)
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My daughter and I were both diagnosed with this problem about 3 months ago. I thought initially it was a thyroid problem too, but when that came back fine, my endocrinologist did a full workup. I came back with severely low vitamin D. Once I got my results back and he described the problem in more detail, we had my daughter tested too because she was exhibiting some of the same symptoms, and she came back low as well. Mine was super low, so I'm still working on getting the level up, but my daughter wasn't as bad yet, so she's bouncing back pretty quickly.

 

I was surprised because I drink milk like it's my job, and I'm outside in the sun with my kids all the time, but I had a problem just the same, and I never would have come up with that diagnosis.

 

It could be hormonal, but I would ask for more tests before I came to that conclusion. I think that's sometimes an easy answer to give women. Let me know if you want to know more about my symptoms or anything, and I'll give you more details than are here. Good luck!
Sources: me and Dr. Lohano
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"This sounds like a metabolic problem"
 by edfoug on May 07 2007 (33 months ago)
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It might not be thyroid in origin but there are many other possibilities. Early menopuse is easily checked with hormone tests, but it could be very many things ranging from lead poisoning from your pipes if you live in an older house to the enigmatic Chronic Fatigue syndrome. You need to see an internist who will pusue the cause vigorously. And good luck. Remember, there is reason for this. Your doctor just hasn't found it yet.
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"Two things I can think of...Type II Diabetes or Medications Side Effects."
 by vala_amaris on May 07 2007 (33 months ago)
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Type II Diabetes or Medications Side Effects.

The onset of Type II Diabetes can be very slow at first.  Your symptoms sound a lot like my grandmother's when her's started.  She developed diabetes at age 50 though it can start anytime.  A lot of people think type II is only for very overweight people.  That's not true my grandmother was and still is a very active person taking clog dance lessons, walking, gardening, eats well and is of average build.  She's not overweight.

She told me she didn't know what was going on at first but she was just really tired, starting to forget things and had trouble concentrating.  (She didn't say anything about dry hair/nails though.)

Anyway, she regulates it with pills as there was really nothing for her to change diet or exercise wise and has been in pretty good health since.

I'd get my blood sugar levels tested several times. (It can come back normal and then spike or go down later.)

Do you take any medications, supplements, etc... on a regular basis?  If you do, any number of those can cause those side effects and more.

My hair and nails have changed signigantly over the last 5-10 years just because.  I used to have baby fine dirty blonde hair and weak nails.  Now I have wavy hair that is brown and some hair that comes in black and thick.  My nails used to break easily and now I can't even cut them, I have to file them or they snap.  Also, my skin is oilier than it was in my 20's although not excessively so.  My dermatologist said changes like that are normal as we age.  So, I wouldn't disclude those symptoms but I'd start with the larger ones.

Good luck!
Sources: Nana and me
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"Maybe..."
 by ronin on May 06 2007 (33 months ago)
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Theres a myriad of possibilities. They could be realted in say the form of enemia to early fibromyalgia. Theres a ton of questions one would have to know such as the kind of headache? Throbbing, dull, sharp, and where. Enemia can cause the symtoms you described in some people. Have you had an blood iron test? Hows your energy level? Well this answer may not rank high... but its a couple of guesses.
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Latest post on this question's discussion board:

McBean,
I have some of the same problems. The fatigue,forgetfulness,headaches,migrains, dry skin, thinning hair. I have been through all kins of testing. They were testing for MS first due to my bad headaches and migrain. I am not getting work up for CFS. It worth a shot.
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