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All Articles
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- Get in Touch
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An Open Letter to Those Who Know Someone with Hypothyroidism

An Open Letter to Those Who Know Someone with Hypothyroidism

Originally published on 6th April 2016 Last updated on 23rd July 2019 Hello friend, family member,…

General Update #15

General Update #15

Read the last blog in this series. It’s now been six full months since I decided…

General Update #13

General Update #13

Read the last blog in this series. It’s now been four and a half months since…

General Update #11

General Update #11

Read the last blog in this series. So I went gluten-free on 12th September, meaning it’s been…

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theinvisiblehypothyroidism

Do you have reflux? 🤢 😞 Many people with hy

Do you have reflux? 🤢

😞 Many people with hypothyroidism & Hashimoto’s have low stomach acid, which can cause GORD, GERD, acid reflux, heartburn, indigestion, acid regurgitation, difficulty swallowing, chest pain/discomfort, cough and even hoarseness.

❗️Non-optimally treated thyroid conditions can cause these symptoms. In fact, Studies have found that people with hypothyroidism (and especially Hashimoto’s) often have low stomach acid.

❗️It seems that hypothyroidism can lower levels of stomach acid and this could be due to a lowering of parietel cells, lowering their ability to produce gastric acid (hypochlorhydria).

❗️Because of this, the absorption of important nutrients is reduced (such as vitamin D, b12, iron etc.), which can to low levels of certain vitamins. Lowered levels of vitamins and minerals is common with hypothyroid patients and especially those with Hashi’s due to gut and stomach issues.

😞 Like me, most doctors put people with these problems on PPI medications (such as Omeprazole), which are acid suppressors, when we may already have low levels of stomach acid.

❗️These medications therefore mask the symptoms and problem,as the actual issue of why you have low stomach acid isn’t being addressed.

❓What can you do?❓

❗️Optimise your thyroid hormone levels. Lowering thyroid antibodies for Hashimoto’s is also important.

❗️Don’t skip meals or ignoring hunger

❗️ Avoid sugar, gluten, dairy, high fat and alcohol, which can worsen reflux.

❗️Take apple cider vinegar - it is said to help raise low stomach acid also, and can help with digestion.

❗️Check your iodine levels and gut health. Probiotics, digestive enzymes and treating Candida for example can all help.

I’ll link to my full article on this in my story!

- Rachel 🦋💙

10 years ago, I lost 80% of my hair. It was yet an

10 years ago, I lost 80% of my hair. It was yet another way that hypo & Hashi’s were affecting my life.

🛑 Here’s the truth though:

Before you spend a lot of time & money on shampoos and ‘magical’ hair loss products, trying to treat the symptom, you should explore the possible causes for the hair loss in the first place.

No shampoo is going to encourage hair growth or stop it thinning, it will just make it appear thicker. Stop looking for a miracle product & start addressing the root issue.

💙 Telogen Effluvium

Occurs when you experience a serious illness. Causes a shock to the growing follicles & sends them in to a rest state. Usually returns to normal after a few months.

💙 Thyroid Levels

Optimal thyroid levels are important for everything and not least hair growth. Hair loss on the head, eyelashes, brows or even pubic area? Could be your thyroid.

💙 Vitamins

Iron, ferritin, Vit D, B12, Zinc, Folate etc. should all be checked. Ferritin is the most common cause of hair loss out of these.

💙 Alopecia

An autoimmune disease you’re at a higher risk of having if you already have Hashi’s.

💙 Adrenals

Adrenal dysfunction is seen in those with ongoing physical, emotional or mental stress. Feeling the headaches, insomnia, low libido, aches & pains & fatigue? Get your cortisol checked.

💙L-tyrosine

This amino acid is responsible for skin & hair pigment are as well as strong, healthy hair. Supplementing may therefore help.

💙 Diet

Aim to keep blood sugar well-balanced & avoid sending it bouncing all over the place. Focus on eating plenty of healthy fats & protein alongside your carbs.

Figuring out & therefore avoiding any food sensitivities such as gluten, dairy, eggs may also help.

And addressing any low stomach acid levels can also contribute to healthier hair growth, due to stomach acid aiding ability to digest crucial nutrients & protein used in hair growth.

Improving gut health by adding a probiotic, digestive enzymes & addressing leaky gut / Candida is also important.

Save this post to refer to later!

- Rachel 🦋💙

❓Did you know that your thyroid medication (and

❓Did you know that your thyroid medication (and any other meds you’re prescribed) are free if you live in the UK?

❗️For those of us in the UK and using the NHS, prescriptions are free to those in NI, Scotland and Wales, but not in England.

❗️However, there are certain people in England who can access free NHS prescriptions if they fit certain criteria such as having hypothyroidism and being on thyroid medication e.g. Levothyroxine.

❗️I’ve been diagnosed with autoimmune Hypothyroidism since July 2015 and was issued my NHS medical exemption certificate at that time, when started on Levothyroxine.

❗️However, I switched to NDT medication just 5 months later (Levo wasn’t helping me) which I started off self-sourcing and then as of July 2019, managed to get privately prescribed (as the NHS very rarely prescribe it).

❗️I wasn’t sure if I’d still be entitled to a medical exemption certificate if my meds weren’t prescribed by the NHS, but last year, I was reminded that my original one was expiring and to apply for another.

❗️It turns out that it is the condition itself - having Hypothyroidism - which entitles you to the certificate, not the type of medication or where it comes from. This card entitles you to all prescriptions being covered by the NHS.

❗️Ironically, the NHS Medical Exemption Certificate is given because they acknowledge that certain health conditions often then lead on to others. I.e. the NHS acknowledges that those with Hypothyroidism often develop other issues too, such as depression, eczema, hair loss, acid reflux etc. but since being on NDT meds, I haven’t needed anything else because all other issues I had whilst on Levo disappeared.

❗️I’m sure thyroid patients would much rather just be prescribed a medication that removes the need for a medical exemption certificate to cover extra conditions?

However, this is really important information to share for UK thyroid patients. A lot are still paying for their prescriptions when they don’t realise they’re covered.

Note: it only covers NHS prescriptions, not private ones. So I still have to pay £160 a month for my thyroid meds as the NHS doesn’t prescribe them. A private doc does.

- Rachel 🦋💙

If I had £1 for every time someone told me to:

• Drink celery juice
• Do yoga
• Take NDT meds
• Go gluten, dairy, soy etc. free
• insert all the other things here

They often mean well but it’s exhausting to be constantly bombarded with things that I’ve already tried or am already doing. Or just don’t work.

It’s ok. My health is allowed to move forwards and backwards.

- Rachel 🦋💙

© Rachel Gask and The Invisible Hypothyroidism, 2015-2023. All Rights Reserved.

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