Beat the Heat!

Did you know that Hashimoto's thyroid patients may suffer during a heat spell or after a day in the hot sun? It's common knowledge that low thyroid can cause you to be cold all the time, but it's not well known that you can also experience symptoms such as weakness and low blood sugar - adjusting to heat. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids and not over due. Sounds simple, but it's easy to keep pushing along and then - boom, you're out! Play outside, just find shade, wear a hat and take breaks.

Are you exercising?

Did you walk to perform any exercise today? It is important to your thyroid and overall health to work off day-to-day stress and help reduce body fat. Take the doggies out regularly, grab a friend, put on a music cd, or just enjoy the peace of mind - whatever works for you do it today!

Annual Well Woman Exam

Next time you're due for you annual Well Woman Exam (pap, mammogram, cholestrol) be sure to ask your doctor to include a thyroid panel with your blood tests. This is an easy reminder to see if you start to develop a low function thyroid before the symptoms develop. And, it's a good marker to see how the gland performs as you get older. Plus, for those already on thyroid medication, you can see if you need more or less dosage. Your doctor should know the symptoms are sometimes so vague and it's important for your overall health.

P.S. Men suffer, too. Same goes for your significant others.

Thyroid Medication Choices

There are numerous medications now that control the thyroid dysfunction. It may take some time and frustration to learn what works for you which can be a long trial and error process. And, then you need to find what dose is keeping your symptoms at bay. Not simple at all.

Originally, natural thyroid (desiccated thyroid i.e. like Armour Extract), was the only option available. But, with the development of synthetic hormone T4 (i.e., a levothyroxine drug like Synthroid), this soon became the recommended prescription by many doctors.

Unfortunately, the hormone conversion is a very tricky process and not the same for everyone. Some thyroid patients need T4 AND T3, ( i.e. like Thyrolar) or just T3 (i.e. Cytomel). Some feel better on the original desiccated thyroid.

It can be a frustrating long haul, but you have push and communicate with your doctor to learn what medication may work best for you. Keep a good log of your symptoms before you begin your hormone replacement medication and maintain a log once you begin therapy (or as increase/decrease to make dose adjustments). The list of side effects if your medication doesn't agree with you can be profound. Hang in there and continue to communicate with your doctor. If he/she is not caring and responding, then find another one if you can.

Keep the Faith

We all get discouraged waiting to be diagnosed or during the slow healing process. Patience is not one of my virtues, so I always rely on:

Prayer of Serenity

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.

Welcome Friends!

Welcome Friends! Are you tired of being told "it's all in your head"? Well, it's actually "all in your neck!" The thryoid gland is imperative to the entire hormonal system balance. It can create havok in mild forms - long before it is revealed in a blood test until you experience moderate to severe symptoms. A dysfunctioning gland is often overlooked by doctors, because let's face it, many of us blame it on our busy lives and stress. But, those symptoms and a dysfunctioning gland can clearly overlap.

The good news is that it's easily treatable and simple to diagnose. A blood test is all your doctor needs to order. But, let's be real - there is a very wide blood range the doctor will use to determine if you have a poor functioning gland. It will be important to find a caring doctor who will read where you fall into the range combined with a list of symptoms. We all deserve the opportunity to improve our quality of life. We're in this together! Janice