I saw replies saying you got a TSH test done. While this is the “gold standard” used for testing thyroid function, it’s easily misleading. TSH levels are somewhat relative and do not tell the whole story. Doctors often label subclinically low TSH as “normal” but you may not feel normal.
The way hypothyroidism is diagnosed is dogshit these days and it’s quite common (1/4 women, more common as you age). If you have only seen an MD and one who is not specialized in endocrinology, I would get a second opinion. My experience is that nurse practioners and DOs are less likely to take this seriously.
While it’s possible it’s something else, I wouldn’t rule our hypothyroidism strictly from TSH. You can also request a wider thyroid panel that tests free/total T4 and T3, plus thyroid antibodies such as TPO. TSH only tests for the hormone telling your thyroid that your body needs hormones, it does not test for the hormones themselves. Additionally, it does not test for whether you have a thyroid autoimmune disease. This could lead to all your symptoms.
I’ve been through this struggle and known plenty of others who have as well (Hashimoto’s, began in my mid/late twenties). Modern doctors underdiagnose the disease because of they leave it at a TSH test and will often shrug you off with a vitamin D prescription. Go to someone who specializes in this, check your symptoms against those of others and pay particular attention to how they describe how they feel. Trust your intuition about your own body and what feels normal.
Brain fog, body aches, feeling cold all the time, lethargy, waking up feeling like you can never get enough sleep or like your brain is awake but your body isn’t, depression, hair loss, weight gain, poor appetite…these are all signs to look for, but unfortunately are shared with many diseases. You thyroid hormones control so much of your energy and everything surrounding it.
If this ends up being the problem, you can take a simple and cheap thyroid hormone replacement daily and everything will improve. There are natural and synthetic replacements, if you are put on one type and don’t like it, try the other one. Synthetic T4 and T3 or armor thyroid/natural pig thyroid (contains T1-T4).
Good luck and I truly hope you can find how to feel better!
If you want an actual answer, it’s because Sweden and Norway continue to participate in imperialism by propping up their economies through exploitation of the global south.
These are capitalist countries, social democracies, not socialist countries. The underlying contradictions that lead to problems under capitalism have not been resolved, so the problems inherent to capitalism persist. The only reason they seem better at this time is because of the exploitation of foreign workers and their participation in the financial models exploiting the global south.
It’s clear that the Nordic model of social democracy is unsustainable (because it’s just capitalism with more social reforms) and has slowly been eroding since the dissolution of the Soviet Union. This unsustainability is also clearly recognized and discussed openly within those countries, which is why they explicitly state that the solutions are austerity or the exploration of foreigners.