Symptom Management: Goiters

Introduction 

Hey! Welcome back to the Thyroidcafe. Goiter. GOI-tur. It just sounds gross. When I had one, I freaked out. But there’s more to this word than its goopy sound. Goiters come in four forms and can be non-issues. But what causes goiters and how do we treat them? More importantly, when should we be concerned? Today on the blog, we address a common issue for those with all types of thyroid disease, goiters. 

So what is it?

Goiters are an enlarged thyroid gland and there are four different types. When the whole thyroid swells to form an obese butterfly, you have a Diffuse-Smooth goiter. If you have many “Lovely lady humps” all over your thyroid, it’s called Multinodular and if your goiter is hiding behind your breastbone, it’s a Retrosternal goiter. The most common form, and what I had, is a nodule. It’s just one random bump on your thyroid. 

And what causes goiters?

Ugh. You know the number one cause… thyroid disease. But there are other factors. The main one is too much, or too little, iodine. In most countries, salt contains added iodine. So if you’re like me, it’s not too little iodine. But it could be the Costco sized bag of salty chips I frequently devour. But aaanyways. Other causes are smoking, changes in hormones, lithium in some medications and radiation treatment. In my experience, stress causes goiters as well. 

Okay, okay. So how do we treat it?

For seventy years, doctors have known that thyroid replacement therapy reduces the size of goiters. So if you are having goiters, it’s a good time for your doctor to check your TSH, T3, and T4 levels.  In fact, ⅔ of all goiters reduce in size or eliminated by hormone treatment. Even if the goiter remains, we simply monitor them, unless they are accompanied by other symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or pain. 

When my goiter was treated, the doctor simple felt my neck. Then I went for an ultrasound and a needle biopsy. While “needle” makes it sound cringey, it was simple and pain free. After they studied the sample, there was no follow up needed. 

The “C word”

Only 13.7% of goiters  operated on are cancerous. While symptoms of thyroid cancer are very similar to goiters, (tight throat, voice changes etc.) there are some differences. If the soreness in the throat doesn’t change and you have difficulty breathing, or there is pain in your neck, your goiter may be more serious and needs to be looked at by a doctor. Even if it’s cancer, the five year survival rate for thyroid cancer is 98%.  So while it’s serious, there are treatment options.

Conclusion

While goiters can seem scary, they are like most things, the more you know the less you fear. I take comfort in knowing that goiters are a normal part of thyroid disease and very much treatable. If we make small lifestyle changes, we can prevent goiters from forming. Even if you’re like me, and have a propensity for chips, you can rest assured knowing goiters are probably nothing to worry about. I’m thankful that they are treatable part of this complex disease. 

Symptom Management: Anxiety

Introduction 

Welcome back to the Thyroidcafe. Miles from home, I went for a run. Trying to clear my head, I felt my heart began to race. I tuned into the sound of my sneakers. The crunching gravel under foot. I slowed my pace. I heaved a breath. But thoughts intruded. The house we just bought. Moving the kids away from mom. My mom.  Circular thoughts. Without end. Lord, please protect me. I knew this was a panic attack, thanks to a friend’s experience. 

Anxiety and thyroid disease

Many thyroid warriors know what anxiety feels like, but let’s define it. Anxiety is “a state of apprehension and psychic tension occurring in some forms of mental disorder.” or “distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear of danger or misfortune.” The latter definition felt like locking eyes with myself in a mirror. And I am not the only one, 63% of thyroid patients report having anxiety. Though symptoms very, common symptoms of anxiety are: 

1. Depression 
2. Tummy troubles 
3. Tension 
4. Fears 
5. Autonomic symptoms 
6. Muscle tension

Doctors Advice 

The clinical recommendations sound oh so… clinical. Not to demean them, they are merely limited. Most studies conclude that any patient whose anxiety remains after treatment with thyroid hormone should be tested for anxiety disorders. From there, psychotherapy and medication are recommended… fortunately there’s more to this blog.

What Works for me

As stated above, God is a very present help in time of need. I have learned to manage my anxiety, so I no longer have panic attacks. Preventatively, I take Epsom Salt Baths, CBD oil, cut or lower my caffeine on bad days and get the best sleep and food I can.  If I already feel anxious, I try to Vulcan my way out of it by studying my thoughts. Asking: Are they good? noble? true? If not, reject them. This is where writing helps.  I also try Chamomile tea. I find, many small attacks against anxiety has brought down this giant.

Conclusion

Those with hyperthyroidism and Hashimoto’s disease are more likely than most to have anxiety. While those of us with thyroid disease are all too aware of the symptoms, we need a plan to tackle this beast. I am thankful to have good resources to handle my anxiety, so it’s no longer a major problem in my life. 

Symptom Management: Depression

Introduction 

Hey, welcome back to the Thyroidcafe. I’m sorry we missed a week. I was sick with a cold. But also, I may have opened a box… belonging to Pandora. Depression is a complex and deep topic, so I won’t be able to talk about it fully. I hope to shed some light on why thyroid disease can cause depression and some treatment options.  Okay, let’s unmask these two bandits.

Depression and thyroid disease

One of the first things I learned about my birth family was that my grandmother had Hashimoto’s disease. For years she struggled to find the right medication. Turns out, what was thought to be depression, was untreated Hashimoto’s disease. This is a common case. Depression and Thyroid disease mimic each other so well, it’s hard to determine who the real culprit is. To make matters more murky, those with Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism are 31-69% more likely to have depression* Fortunately, Thyroid disease has been associated with depression since 1873, so there’s a ton of research about it. 

Bandit #1: Thyroid disease

This slippery sucker seems like an easy catch. Every study I read, said depression should improve once thyroid pills are taken. But you know I give major side-eye to the “Magic Little Pill Theory”. Pills aren’t magic, but they can be one of the steps to treating depression. Some depression treatments work for improving your thyroid health as well. Lifestyle and diet changes, physiotherapy and exercise are all weapons against both baddies.   

The hormones involved in thyroid disease (Thyroxine (T4),  Triiodothyronine (T3) and Triiodothyronine (rT3) and Thyroid antibodies etc.) are abnormal in those with depression, even if they do not have thyroid disease. Doctors have been using thyroid hormones to aid anti-depression therapy since the 1960’s. So these two bad bandits are also best friends. Your T4 and T3 levels are the two that seem to be linked to depression. So I recommended desiccated medication in Fundamentals of Medication. I talked to my doctor, and am making the switch myself. Wish me luck, reviews to come. Doctors are also using neuroimaging to track down the exact location of these masked mad men. If you want to read about it, see “Sources” below.

Bandit #2: Depression

If your thyroid hormones optimized, but depression continues, we may have another bad guy to catch. (okay, I’ll stop with the crime fighting) Depression is a diagnosis, not a mood. Your doctor will  test to evaluate if you have it and which type. Then make a treatment plan. As per life, it takes time and trying. Typical treatment options are:

1. Psychotherapy: It can be what works for you: group therapy, online, workbook or in a group.  
2. Lifestyle changes: 30 mins walking has been proven to help reduce depression, dietary changes, alcohol and drug management, and  journaling 
3. Medications: There are many out there. Talk to your doctor about side-effects, length of time you expect to be on them, and the risks in stopping the medications. 
4. More information

Killing my Bandits

All this studying and struggling with depression led to two conclusions. One, it’s not just “all in my head.” There are legitimate physiological reasons thyroid warriors fight depression. Two, what works for some, may not work for me- for now. While I try to be open, there are steps I am not ready to take. One may obsessively write *blushes awkwardly,* another may exercise improves their depression. Either way, we take up the sword. That’s why we have this community. So we can exchange ideas and take up arms together. 

Don’t mess with a thyroid warrior

Conclusion

Depression and thyroid disease have long been associated. The shame of past generations is slowly raising its head and staring these illnesses in the eye. While getting the proper dose of thyroid medication has been proven to improve depression, the battle doesn’t stop there. If you feel you need more help, chat with your doctor about your options. Choosing to switch to desiccated pills may help, along with lifestyle changes and other medications. Whichever way you fight, continue to be your own thyroid advocate.

Sources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3246784/

https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/83/9/3194/2865402

https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/thy.1998.8.951

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022399905000875

https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/127099

*Trzepacz PT, McCue M, Klein I, Levey GS, Greenhouse J. A psychiatric and neuropsychological study of patients with untreated Graves’ disease. General Hospital Psychiatry. 1988;10(1):49–55. 

Symptom Management: Muscle Weakness

Introduction

Hey, welcome back to the Thyroidcafe. I had no idea muscle weakness, myopathy, affects 79% of thyroid patients – that’s a ton of people! I’m thankful we live in a time and place in which it’s treatable, though I have my skepticism. However you may want to start treatment before I did. But don’t worry, I made it out alive.

Repelling and Hair untamed 

Contrary to the meek stereotypes of being female, and a christian, I used to love adventure sports. In the summer of 2005, I set out on my Australian outdoor adventure. After a half day hiking, we came to the twenty-five foot falls. I confidently backed off the cliff.  I didn’t know Hashimoto’s disease was stealing my strength. Weak hands shaking. Hoping to hold on as the rope slowly slipped through my hands. I made it. And brushed off my weakness, though I never repelled again. Weakness in my hands was a subtle sign of thyroid disease taking hold of my body. Myopathy can progress, making everyday events such as stairs and doing your hair difficult. It can even be life threatening if not treated. But I think I’ll just use it as an excuse for my untamed tresses. 

I do what I can, but some days are those days.

The science behind it

Muscle weakness is a vague symptom of thyroid disease. It can be caused by Hypothyroid Myopathy or anemia. All thyroid diseases can cause muscle weakness, aches and cramping. It is typically centralized, in your thighs and shoulders. You may need to bring it up with your doctor, as myopathy can be overlooked or confused with fatigue. Rarely, other complications arise.  As with most thyroid symptoms, we don’t know why thyroid disease causes muscle issues. 

How to not fall down a twenty-five foot waterfall

From the studies I read, myopathy is treated by addressing the thyroid disease with medication. However, T4 levels seem to be affected, so dessicate thyroid pills are the best option. Even on the correct medication, at the appropriate dosage, treatment can take up to a year to take effect. Thyroid disease makes healing into a marathon sport! Along with your pills, physical activity is recommended. However, if you suspect your muscle weakness is due to anemia, a simple iron supplement will have you Hulking in no time. 

Conclusion 

I am always skeptical when thyroid medication is seen as a comprehensive treatment for thyroid symptoms, they seem to linger. Iron pills and optimizing my dosage has lessened my muscle weakness to a liveable level. However, I don’t see anymore waterfalls in my future. 

Symptom Management: Restless Leg Syndrome

Introduction 

Hey, welcome back to the Thyroidcafe – we are discussing Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) this week, so maybe I’ll switch to decaf for this blog? For years I suffered every night. Fighting the urge to move my legs, though I didn’t give it much thought. After ignoring this symptom, I finally did my research. The many solutions and even prescriptions available were a pleasant surprise.

My experience and symptoms 

I lay in my exhaustion. I self-medicated thyroid disease with a dozen cups of coffee, yet my eyes screamed for sleep. Yet my legs marched on. I would rub them together until wounds wore on my feet. Occurring at night or lying down, my symptoms were by the book. RLS is defined as restlessness only revived by moving your legs.  It is common in those with chronic illnesses and those with a genetic predisposition to it. So my legs wiggled with the energy I’d wished to contain for the next day. 

At Home Solutions 

After asking my online friends for at home solutions and doing my research, the response overwhelmed me. Happily, there are many solutions to RLS. Vitamin D, Iron and Magnesium are the most common dietary solutions to RLS. Magnesium can be taken as a pill or rubbed in. For me, this was the solution to RLS. The ever taxing Epsom salt bath is another popular solution and one of my favorites. I also take CBD oil. It calms both mental and physical restlessness.  If your legs are still defiant, massage and stretching may calm them, along with exercise. I had to laugh at the suggestion that RLS could be solved by getting more sleep, hello vicious cycle. Lastly, the Relaxis pad and weighted blankets were recommended. I haven’t tried either, but would love to know if they work. 

This product was recommended by fellow thyroid warrior, though I haven’t tried it myself.

More than an apple a day: Help from the Doctor 

Despite my foolish pride and overly ambitious online endeavors, one must seek help when needed. From a less invasive perspective, chiropractic care can provide relief. I fear recommending medication because of the side effects. However Ropinirole is commonly and effectively used. Ask your doctor for help if at-home remedies are not working for you. 

There are medications available for RLS. Be sure to discuss the side effects with your doctor.

Conclusion: 

There are active solutions to our active legs. Through at-home and medical intervention, RLS can be one of the most manageable thyroid symptoms. For me, vitamin supplements and Epsom salt baths were the solutions. A few pills in the morning and a relaxing bath is the kind of symptom management I can handle. 

Symptom Management: Fatigue

Introduction 

Welcome back to the Thyroidcafe. I’m glad you’re here, because today we’re tackling the most common thyroid problem. There’s no symptom that evokes more passion and grief in me. Yet it’s the least understood by those without it. It is fatigue. Beyond tiredness, fatigue is a chronic force, which leaves you listless and unengaged. Managing this symptom is taking on the Big Beast of thyroid disease, but there is hope. 

What it’s like

As you know, my spirit animal would be a sloth. Fatigue is not merely the feeling after a good night out, symptoms go beyond exhaustion. Depression, apathy, irritability, and sore muscles are a way of life.  Thankfully and sorrowfully, most cannot relate. One thing I hope is readers will show this blog to their loved ones, in order that they may better understand fatigue. 

Sleep, your thyroid, and medication

While I still suffer from fatigue, I have some tricks I’ve learned over the years. Medication is the first key. If you suffer from insomnia, it’s most likely that you have hyperthyroidism and need to lower your dose. Hypothyroidism causes chronic fatigue, so your medication levels need to be increased. Those of us with Hashimoto’s disease will fluctuate between the two. Our doses are like hitting a moving target, as it depends on how our bodies are attacking our thyroid. Getting your medication optimized is the first step in treating fatigue. 

What works for me

“Get more sleep” is frustrating and futile advice. I won’t give it. But I will say, guard your sleep. Being tired on top of fatigue only exasperates the issue. Find a night time routine and make it a priority. So if you call me after 9:30 pm, be prepared to leave a voicemail. I listed my nightly routine below. It is descriptive, not prescriptive, use what works for you.

My Bedtime Routine: 

8:30: Make Chamomile Tea(causes drowsiness) and I may take CBD oil if I’m anxious or awake. 

7:30-8:00: Kids in bed 

8:45: “Cleanup” or clean up 

9:00: In bed to pray and read a book (play on phone) and drink tea. 

9:30: If I am done my tea and still not tired, I put on a sermon or podcast 

Fighting Fatigue in the Kitchen

Canadians are only part-time acquaintances with the sun, so we often lack Vitamin D. This, and anemia, are common causes of fatigue in thyroid patients. I was too impatient to wait for a vitamin panel, so I started supplements and have found Vitamin D and Iron take the edge off my fatigue. 

It’s not working 

If you have waited several weeks for your medication to work, and have kept your local vitamin store in the black, but nothing seems to work, you can test your T3 and T4 levels (blood test). Talk to your GP or endocrinologist about desiccated pills, such as Armour Thyroid. This medication contains T3 and T4, the two hormones that some thyroid warriors can’t produce. 

Conclusion 

Fatigue is the hallmark of thyroid disease. While it has taken many things from me, it hasn’t taking my ambition. For me, the true pain of fatigue is not that I don’t want to do things, it’s that I can’t. But now I battle back. Having my medication optimized, taking supplements and defending my most precious sleep, are each steps which bring me closer to the dreams thyroid disease once stole. Now if you will excuse me, it’s late and I’m off to bed. 

Symptom Management: Hair Loss

Introduction 

Hey, welcome to the Thyroidcafe. I remember taking showers and pulling chunks of hair out, by the handful. At the same time in the early 2000s, I assumed my eyebrows were victims of the over-plucked style. But these were actually symptoms. I didn’t understand that this was more than vanity; it was a disease. My crown was not just falling out; it was telling me something.

Put down the tweezers 2000’s me!

The Three T’s 

If I wanted to get back to Rapunzel, the first step was optimizing my thyroid levels. TSH, T4, and T3 hormones regulate hair loss and regeneration. Having your hormone levels not only within normal range, but optimized, is the foundation to getting your hair back. Once optimized, the results can take weeks, if not months, so it’s important to be patient.

You are what you eat

In researching, I found this study regarding hair loss. What was interesting was, it excluded thyroid patients. Their reasoning was that thyroid patients have low ferritin and iron levels. Following that strand (pun intended) it’s easy to see the effects vitamins have on hair growth. The table blow lists common vitamins that can help with hair growth. While I wish I had a Pinterest perfect diet, I can only do my best and add supplements where I fall short. They have helped me so much, both with my hair and otherwise, that I bought this pill organizer. 

Vitamins: Vitamins B-7 (biotin) and B complex zinc Copper Iron vitamins C, E, A coenzyme Q10

Herbs: palmetto black cohosh dong quai False unicorn chaste berry red clover

Sugar and Spice….

There are plenty of snake oils promising recovery of hair loss. I have included the most common herbal remedies above. Though I cannot promise they work, as I haven’t tried them. Some side effects listed online, including drug interactions, are enough to scare me off. I linked some information for you to choose for yourself, simply click on the name of the herb.

And Everything Nice (Conclusion) 

Common sense still rules. Gentle kindness will prevent breakage – of most things. Pulling your hair into tight styles can damage it. Brushing wet hair can cause breakage. Heat and dye stress your hair. However, hair health comes down to what we put into it. So, before you pull your hair out over hair loss, (I’ve been waiting all week for that pun!) try looking at it as a symptom. Addressing the underlying matters of thyroid hormones and diet can help stop hair loss. If you have tried the herbal remedies, I would love to know about it in the comments below. 

Symptom Management: Weight

Introduction

Hey, welcome back to the Thyroidcafe. You’ve heard it. A million times. “Diet and exercise would help you lose weight.” But what if there’s more? Holding to this advice alone can leave you frustrated and dejected. But know for thyroid warriors, weight issues is more dynamic than that. We are not crazy or lazy. We are working double time towards a healthier body. Fortunately, weight can be regulated, even with our disease, but it’s a fight. 

Round One: Meds

You’re cruising the highway. The wind blows and the scenery flies by you. But you slow. You push the pedal down, but sputter to a stop. A little orange light glares and you know, you’re going nowhere without gas. Expecting weight loss without getting your thyroid hormones optimal, is as effective as running a car without gas. Because thyroid hormone regulates weight, no amount of diet and exercise can compensate for uncontrolled hormone levels. So medication optimization is first on my list for a reason; it’s the cornerstone to weight loss. 

Round Two: Listening 

A yawn is not a silent scream for coffee, as much as I hate to admit it. It’s your body asking for a need, sleep. Listening to your body isn’t some mystical concept. It’s giving weight (pun intended) to your body’s basic needs. Tracking my diet is one way I learned to listed to my body’s needs. (See “Round Three” below for common problem foods.)  Second, and to my great pleasure, listen to stress levels. When we’re stressed, our bodies increase cortisol levels, which lowers thyroid levels, causing us to gain weight. This is part of the reason extreme calorie restrictions don’t work for thyroid patients. Our bodies are already taxed, adding the stress of excessive calorie restrictions doesn’t help. And if you’re like me, stress leads to gobbling cookies like Shaggy and Scooby. So soak in that bath. See that old friend. Walk in that park. There are many needs we can be attentive to, such as thirst, indigestion, sensitivity to cold, etc. study your body, to understand its needs.

Me after a stressful day

Round Three: Food and water

While “don’t eat fast food or binge drink soda” remains universally good advice, there’s more to diet for thyroid warriors. For us, food can cause weight gain through inflammation. After having kids, I was puffy Marshmallow Meghan. Pictures made me shutter until I read about inflammation. The table below outlines some foods that commonly cause inflammation. I would recommend removing as many as reasonable from your diet, then adding them back in, one at a time. I allowed a few weeks between introductions, to mark how they affected me.  I post a lot of my meals on our Instagram account. They are all easy, family meals.

Foods that cause me inflammation	Foods I eat like Augustus Gloop in Willy Wonka
Refined carbs, ie: “white” bread, rice etc  Sugar, Has many listed names, Trans fats, Gluten, dairy, Processed meats oils, alcohol	Whole, high healthy fat, plant based proteins, fish, gluten-free food,  fruit and veggies

Another helpful tip for weight loss is to drink plenty of water. No only does this keep the body happily hydrated, it fills the stomach. Diet is a broad topic, which I hope to chat about again at the Thyroidcafe. 

Round Four: Exercise 

I subconsciously took a deep breath before writing this. If you struggle with weight caused by thyroid disease, it is likely your thyroid hormone is on the lower side. If so, you may feel exhausted by the normal events of life. I don’t want to apply undue pressure to people already suffering. Regarding exercise, do what you can, when you can. Gentle exercise, such as walking, swimming and biking are a place to start, once you feel healthy enough to do so. 

Conclusion 

I desperately want to take the burden of this disease from my fellow sufferers. The exhaustion, depression, sensitivity to cold – all of it. But the worst for me was the preconceived notions of others. Maybe it was my age, but I spent years crushed by worry that others would think I was “just lazy and fat.” But ten years on, this previously “lazy, fat” woman just wants to be healthy. I wish we could change the narrative from weight loss, to healthy weight. Because excess weight is a symptom of a larger medical issue. Prescription optimization, diet, and exercise will help you lose weight. But the bigger reward is gaining back our health. 

Sources

Symptom Management: Pain

Introduction

Hey, welcome back to the Thyroidcafe. It’s 2012. 9:00 pm and I’m in bed. Twisting and rubbing my neck, and shoulders. Attempting to silence snarling muscles. My elbows and knees soon join the cacophony, so I give up and hobble to the kitchen for pain meds. My grandmother and I walk the same way, I’m sixty years her junior. What was I to do? In those days, I popped Tylenol like a desperate starving animal. I had to find a better treatment option. 

The cause of thyroid pain

Thyroiditis could be the cause of your pain. If the front of your neck, jaw or face hurt, a doctor should be seen. Other auto-immune diseases may also be a cause of your pain. For example, arthritis is more likely in thyroid patience than the general population. Thirdly, under treated hypothyroidism is a common cause of joint and muscle pain. But what about this sporadic, systemic dull ache? Diet is the cause I have found through support groups, and personal experience. Dairy was the cause of my pain, but each person must do her own detective work. 

How to treat it 

The simple answer: you can take Neo’s red pill (Tylenol) and go down the rabbit hole of masking your soreness and avoiding the problem. But my pain persisted and I needed an explanation. Around that time, I read about the AIP diet. As I was stumbling and slurping through the diet, I noticed my body pain left. After reintroducing dairy, my pain returned. I am not recommending we put cows permanently out to pasture, but rather that each of us tries an elimination diet, to see what helps.

If you’re having other low thyroid symptoms or your pain is accompanied by swelling of your joints, it’s best to consult a physician and rule out other causes. Keep in mind, even if your blood test comes back in the normal range, it may not be optimal. Discuss your symptoms with your doctor and work towards optimization. As always, I recommend being your own Thyroid advocate.

Conclusion

Because thyroid disease has multiple manifestations, I am doing a series on Symptom Management.  Joint and muscle pain can have many causes and it may take time and detective work to find the root cause of your pain, but there are solutions. So now, after dietary changes, I can sit in bed at 9:00 pm and binge watch Netflix like a normal semi-adult. No Tylenol needed. 

“Womans world” and Thyroid Rescue

Introduction

Hi, welcome back to the Thyroidcafe. I wanted to review a  “Woman’s world” article today.  Many in the thyroid community find these articles frustrating. I have read they are misleading and harmful to those who have thyroid disease, so I thought I would look for myself. Amist recipes of bright berry cobbler and Meringue cake, is a two page spread, declaring “Thyroid rescue!” It promises to “reactivate your thyroid to melt thirty pounds in thirty days.” I was cautiously curious.

The Good 

A bold red banner declares “Thyroid Rescue” on July’s front cover, putting our disease literally front and center. At 600,000 copies sold a month, I’m thankful to raise awareness about thyroid disease. Inside the article, it “encourages everyone” to try eliminating sugar and gluten from their diet. It’s great to make the dangers of processed foods known. Giving further hope, the author highlights the importance of diet for thyroid patients by giving the testimony of thyroid warrior who gained health and lost weight on her diet. Excellent! To the right of her picture is a small paragraph. It is the only place in which they outline actual thyroid symptoms and advice. 

The Bad 

While the dietary advice is sound, the article isn’t about thyroid disease. It misleads people into thinking diet either causes or cures thyroid disease. The reader may think those who gain weight because of their thyroid disease can loose weight by changing their diet alone. This is not entirely true. For more information, click here. While diet plays a role in thyroid disease; I hate to think of people judging others based on this articles misinformation. 

The Ugly

What was great about this article, is crammed into the bottom corner. Symptoms are a one sentence synopsis, and medical treatments are an afterthought. If the article is about “Thyroid Rescue,” it’s pertinent to explain the disease and other treatments available. This would be of use to us fighting the disease and to promote understanding and sympathy.  The article places too much focus on one symptom, weight gain. Simplifying symptoms to a weight issue, misleads the reader to play on common insecurities of women. This disease has a dynamic and fundamental effect on its sufferers and the article misses that point.

Conclusion

Sadly, the “Woman’s World” article reflects a common ignorance towards our disease. The simplified suggestions of dietary changes and “sleep 7 hours” belittle the disease and treatments thyroid sufferers face. While I recognize this is no medical journal, it is one way the public sees our disease. I wish the author was more diligent in her studies. Despite this, it puts thyroid illness on display; it promotes a healthy diet and it motivates me to keep telling the truth about our disease. 

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