What is Hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism is characterized by a low functioning thyroid -- an endocrine gland located in the neck/throat area.  The symptoms are extensive and they can present differently in different people.  Hypothyroidism is checked/diagnosed through a blood test, which looks at TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone), T3 Free, and T4 Free (both of which are hormones made by the thyroid gland).

There is a lot of information out there about symptoms for Hypothyroidism, why it occurs, how it can be solved, and etc.  WebMD (I know, I know) offers a pretty decent overview on underactive thyroid here: http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/hypothyroidism-topic-overview

So what about me?  I have had Hypothyroidism for roughly three years, and throughout those years my symptoms have probably only been truly gone for a matter of six months off and on.   As for my symptoms, they are wide and many.

• I sleep.  I sleep for hours and hours, more than I should need (we are talking upwards of ten, eleven, twelve hours) and then I wake up, and if it's a day off I eat and I go back to sleep.  I am not being sarcastic.  When my hormones aren't right, I could spend forever in bed.
• I have insomnia.  Weird, right? Obviously not this and the above at the same time, but it will alternate.  I once was up for forty-five hours straight.
• I have heart palpitations (this is not usually a symptom of Hypothyroid, but more so one of low adrenal function, which we will get to later).  When "normal" (what is "normal"?) my heart rate is less than seventy, greater than sixty.  But at times, it races to 110 at resting (siting, standing, lying, not exerting).
• I am extremely defensive.  I am also extremely sensitive. 
• Everything seems worse.  Stress is at an all time high, which isn't good for your thyroid either.  My five page paper quickly becomes twenty-five pages and everything is just a disaster and THE WORLD IS CAVING IN!
• I'm lonely, but not with a sex drive.  I just want to be held and loved.
• I'm constantly fatigued, and in a different sense than that of sleeping all the time.
• I have Attention Deficit Disorder.
• In the late evening and night time, I have extreme hunger.
• A LOT of hair loss.
• Low grade depression.
• Increased sweating.

Those are the primary symptoms I notice.  Also included under the realm of Hypothyroidism is weight gain, intolerance to cold or heat, low body temperature, shaking, memory problems, constipation, irregular menstruation, muscle aches and cramps.

Basically, it feels like someone implanted a chip into my brain and is controlling every aspect of my body through some remote.  (Disclaimer: I am not starting in about conspiracy theories or things as such, I am just using my writer's mind to describe how much Hypothyroidism SUCKS.)