13 Things I Did to Have a Healthy Pregnancy With Hashimoto’s and Hypothyroidism
Many people with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s worry about getting through a healthy pregnancy with their thyroid condition.
I am often asked what I did to promote looking after both mine and my baby’s health during my own pregnancy.
Continue reading “13 Things I Did to Have a Healthy Pregnancy With Hashimoto’s and Hypothyroidism”
Thyroid Patients Explain the Struggle of Social Situations
Many people around the world with thyroid conditions such as hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s find that their social lives are affected. Continue reading “Thyroid Patients Explain the Struggle of Social Situations”
Resources for Those with Experience of Thyroid Cancer
There are multiple ways that someone can become hypothyroid, and one of those is via thyroid cancer.
Treatment for thyroid cancer typically involves a thyroidectomy, which usually means removing all (a total thyroidectomy) or part (half – a subtotal/partial thyroidectomy or quarter – thyroid lobectomy) of the thyroid gland. A total thyroidectomy is most commonly performed on thyroid cancer.
Much of my resources, writing and more can be of use to those who are hypothyroid via treatment for thyroid cancer, as I write about having hypothyroidism as a whole, but I thought I would also curate some specific resources for those who have experienced thyroid cancer or are currently experiencing it. Continue reading “Resources for Those with Experience of Thyroid Cancer”
Book Review: The Hypothyroid Writer by Sarah E. Lentz
When I shared a photo of this book on Instagram, I received a surprising amount of interest from fellow people with hypothyroidism who also write – whether for a living or as a hobby – and interested in how this book could help them with the obstacles that hypothyroidism can create in this. 
The Hypothyroid Writer is a very niche book indeed, focusing on those that have had their writing ability challenged by thyroid symptoms. If you’ve always wanted to accomplish a writing goal (such as starting a blog, or writing a book) or write a lot in your day to day life, then this book could really help you.
I may reference back to this book and what I’ve learnt from it throughout my blog posts. Continue reading “Book Review: The Hypothyroid Writer by Sarah E. Lentz”
Should I Have RAI or a Thyroidectomy?
For those with a form of overactive thyroid disease, such as Graves’, hyperthyroidism and Hashitoxicosis, they may be offered RAI (Radioactive Iodine Treatment) or a Thyroidectomy (surgical removal of the thyroid gland) as treatment options.
Both of these usually result in the patient becoming permanently hypothyroid, but if you’re facing these treatment options, how do you know which one to opt for?
Online Sources of Thyroid Information
Originally published on 5th December 2017 Last updated on 13th July 2020
The Invisible Hypothyroidism isn’t the only source of information out there, for thyroid patients. Before I started this very website, I read up about my new diagnosis and what it meant, on what must have been hundreds of websites and articles.
Here are the resources I have created for you:
Filtering other websites can be daunting, so I’ve summed up a list of other places to check-out below.
Those mentioned below are not necessarily endorsed by myself and I cannot control the content or opinions expressed on external websites. They are listed for you to explore.
Do you experience any of the following symptoms or complaints:
Many of us could be blaming these symptoms on our thyroid condition, unaware that a zinc deficiency could be the true cause. Continue reading “Zinc and The Thyroid”
I Have Been Nominated for the WEGO Health Awards 2020!
Originally published on 21st June 2020 Last updated on 2nd July 2020
I am honoured to say that I have been nominated for the WEGO Health Awards 2020!
Receiving nominations for an amazing EIGHT different awards, they are:
Continue reading “I Have Been Nominated for the WEGO Health Awards 2020!”
How To Survive Social Events With Thyroid Disease
Socialising when you have thyroid disease can be tricky. It can be draining, anxiety-inducing and overall just more difficult than it is for most people.
A range of issues and concerns around social events arise for many thyroid patients. These include having enough energy to get through the event, thyroid flare up days (where we can feel wiped out) occurring after a social event, worrying about dietary requirements being met (as many thyroid patients are gluten-free/dairy-free/soy-free/following another type of diet to help manage their thyroid condition) and even brain fog getting in the way of holding a conversation.
In past posts, I have discussed the various ways in which my autoimmune hypothyroidism has affected my own social life, as well as shared what other people with thyroid disease said about it affecting theirs. In this post, I’m going to share what has helped me to maintain a social life with thyroid disease, so that more of us can enjoy it again.
Continue reading “How To Survive Social Events With Thyroid Disease”
Why Do I Get Free Prescriptions When on Levothyroxine?
Originally published on 11th May 2016 Last updated on 25th June 2020
For those of us living in the UK and using the NHS, prescriptions are free to those in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, but not in England.
However, there are certain people in England who can access free NHS prescriptions for medication, if they fit certain criteria such as having hypothyroidism and being on thyroid medication e.g. Levothyroxine.
Continue reading “Why Do I Get Free Prescriptions When on Levothyroxine?”
Taking Thyroid Medication with Morning Sickness
One of my biggest concerns with being pregnant and taking daily thyroid medication for my hypothyroidism, was morning sickness. We are most often advised to take our thyroid medication in the morning (particularly the types that contain T3; T4 medication can be taken at nighttime [1]), and morning sickness can be at its worst in the morning. However, it can strike any time of day.
I was worried about not absorbing as much of my thyroid medication as usual whilst pregnant due to morning sickness, which can be problematic since we need to maintain optimal thyroid hormone levels during to support the pregnancy and developing baby. Continue reading “Taking Thyroid Medication with Morning Sickness”
An Open Letter to Fathers with Hypothyroidism on Father’s Day
Originally published on 16th June 2019 Last updated on 21st June 2020
To the dad with hypothyroidism on Father’s Day,
I know you feel tired, at times frustrated and strained. Work can be harder to get through these days as your mind isn’t as sharp and you push yourself each and every day to keep on going, keep on raising your family with love and kindness despite your own body fighting against you. Continue reading “An Open Letter to Fathers with Hypothyroidism on Father’s Day”
Review of Monitor My Health’s Home Thyroid Blood Test
THIS POST HAS BEEN SPONSORED BY MONITOR MY HEALTH BLOOD TESTS. ALTHOUGH AS ALWAYS, ALL THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.
I’m no stranger to ordering my own testing. Since being a thyroid patient, I’ve ordered and completed many which have helped me keep on top of my thyroid health. The relatively new testing company Monitor My Health, who offer finger prick home tests and is run by the NHS, using NHS staff and labs, stands apart from others. All profits also go back into delivering NHS services. Continue reading “Review of Monitor My Health’s Home Thyroid Blood Test”
TW: mental health, suicidal thoughts, body image, disordered eating
I have always said that getting well with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s is like piecing together a big thyroid jigsaw puzzle.
I’ve mentioned it various times in my blogs, articles, books, podcast features, on social media and pretty much everywhere!
Why? Because this has been the biggest lesson of all that I have learnt since being diagnosed with autoimmune hypothyroidism and beginning the quest to take my health back. My physical health, mental health and just about everything. Continue reading “The Thyroid Jigsaw Puzzle”
Black Thyroid, also sometimes called Black Thyroid Syndrome or Black Thyroid Disease is a rare pigmented change of the thyroid gland seen almost exclusively in people taking minocycline, an antibiotic used to treat a number of bacterial infections such as pneumonia, as well as in the treatment of acne and rheumatoid arthritis.
How Getting Angry Saved My Life With Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s
I was listening to Jessie’s podcast, Chronically Healing, specifically the episode ‘Get Mad and Take Back Your Life’ which discussed Jessie’s experiences and frustrations surrounding her thyroid disease diagnosis and management and what made her realise she needed to take back control of her health.
I asked her if she’d be willing to share more on this in a blog post, so here it is.
Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s: How Getting Angry Saved My Life Continue reading “How Getting Angry Saved My Life With Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s”
Originally published on 5th June 2018 Last updated on 30th May 2020
I hear from many thyroid patients who also experience migraines. Some frequent, some every now and then.
But what’s the link?
May 25th – 31st is International Thyroid Awareness Week 2020
International Thyroid Awareness Week 2020 begins on May 25th and continues through to May 31st.
The worldwide week-long event is a good opportunity for raising awareness of thyroid conditions, both how it affects those of us with them, but also the signs and symptoms to get more people diagnosed sooner. In this way, we can avoid as many people living poor quality lives with thyroid conditions such as hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s, sooner. Continue reading “May 25th – 31st is International Thyroid Awareness Week 2020”
World Thyroid Day – 25th May 2020
This World Thyroid Day post has been sponsored by Monitor My Health online blood tests.
Every year, the 25th May is World Thyroid Day; an international event for raising awareness of what the thyroid gland is, what different thyroid conditions there are and symptoms of them, the importance of diagnosis and treatment, but also the many things that we face as thyroid patients.
Take Back Control: Order Your Own Thyroid Tests
Originally published on 3rd November 2017 Last updated on 23rd May 2020
Do you still feel unwell on thyroid medication even though your doctor is insistent that your test results are coming back ‘fine’ or ‘normal’? Perhaps your doctor isn’t running all the thyroid tests that you need?
Many thyroid patients benefit from being more involved in their thyroid care and treatment, which is where self-testing and the ability to order your own tests can be critical tools for empowering yourself. Continue reading “Take Back Control: Order Your Own Thyroid Tests”
