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Feminist

International Women’s Day and How Thyroid Disease is a Feminist Issue

Originally published on 8th March 2018 Last updated on 8th March 2024 The 8th March marks…

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🩸 Periods. 🩸Along with many of the other s

🩸 Periods.

🩸Along with many of the other symptoms of hypothyroidism, menstrual issues is a common one.

•••

🩸Thyroid hormone is needed for every function and cell in the body, so when you’re hypothyroid, many processes — including your menstrual cycle — can be affected.

🩸Hypothyroidism can lead to irregular menstrual cycles, heavy periods, painful periods, short or delayed cycles, non-ovulation and struggles to conceive.

🩸Behind period issues or abnormalities/changes, there may be non-optimal thyroid hormone levels, oestrogen dominance and/or adrenal dysfunction, PCOS, endometriosis etc.

🩸Do ensure your thyroid levels are optimal as an initial step. For many thyroid patients, this resolves any menstrual problems.

🩸We shouldn’t be putting up with debilitating menstrual issues than CAN be resolved in many cases. Badger your doctors!!!

•••

👇 Let me know your experiences with this in the comments and as always, follow me for more thyroid info and please check out the resources linked in my bio for more support!

- Rachel 🦋💙

🩸Did you know that you could be diagnosed with

🩸Did you know that you could be diagnosed with both thyroid conditions?

•••

🦋 The short explanation is: it’s not possible to experience both at the same time, but you can be diagnosed with both.

🦋 Hashimoto’s and Graves’ Disease have the complete opposite effect on the thyroid gland (one leading to a decrease in thyroid hormone and leading to an increase), so it is not possible to experience the effects of both at the same time.

🦋 However, you can be diagnosed with both, and fluctuate between experiencing one or the other. Or, you may have an initial diagnosis of one (Graves’ or Hashimoto’s) and then switch to having the other permanently.

🦋 According to research, developing Hashimoto’s after Graves’ disease happens to approximately 15-20% of people with Graves’.

🦋 The other way round, developing Graves’ after Hashimoto’s, is quite rare.

🦋 Due to the nature of being diagnosed both Graves’ and Hashimoto’s at the same time meaning that you can fluctuate between the two states of thyroid disease, it’s not uncommon to have thyroid levels checked frequently to ensure that the correct treatment is still being given.

•••

👇 Let me know if you already knew this!👇

NOTE: definitely do not assume you have any medical conditions or diagnoses until you’ve been evaluated by a medical professional who can test for them.

- Rachel 🦋💙

🤷🏼‍♀️ Have you left an appointment fee

🤷🏼‍♀️ Have you left an appointment feeling totally confused because you were sure your thyroid levels were off but the doctor said they were ‘normal’?

•••

✊ You’re not alone!

🧪 The problem often lies with how a doctor is reading those results.

🧪 Yes, your results may fall ‘within range’ but are they optimal? If you still have symptoms, possibly not.

🧪 In short: it’s not just about falling within range. It’s about WHERE you fall in range.

🧪 ‘Optimal’ is a place within the range. It’s way more specific. ‘Optimal’ is the place a lot of thyroid patients will say they feel best at.

🧪 For example, a standard TSH test range may be from 1-4 and the more specific optimal place within this 1-2 🤯

🧪 So if your TSH is a 4, then your doctor may well say you’re fine because it’s within range, but it’s not optimal. And this can be causing your ongoing symptoms.

🦋 Getting your thyroid levels optimal - and this includes the FULL panel: TSH, Free T3, Free T4, thyroid Peroxidase antibodies and thyroglobulin antibodies where possible - can make a whole world of difference.

💊 A slight medication increase can get you there, or you may find you need a different type of thyroid med. I needed a T3-containing medication to get my Free T3 levels optimal. Before this, I felt truly awful.

👇 Have you found the right type and dosage of thyroid med for you yet? Let me know below.

•••

📖 And as always, you can find lots more useful info like this in the book Be Your Own Thyroid Advocate. Comment BOOK for a link.

- Rachel 🦋💙

😩 Feeling a bit ‘off’ lately? 🦋Thyroid

😩 Feeling a bit ‘off’ lately?

🦋Thyroid function can fluctuate and often does over time, so dosage adjustments may be needed to keep up with this.

•••

🦋When it comes to a change in TYPE of thyroid medication, you may start to notice that your thyroid meds don’t seem to be working as effectively as they used to if old symptoms are returning or you’re collecting new ones.

📢 Remember: a full thyroid panel is the most accurate way to review thyroid hormone levels and function, and manage a thyroid condition. Including managing medication. This includes Free T3 and Free T4.

1️⃣ You’re Getting Sick More Often

When you are low in thyroid hormone, immune function can be affected.

2️⃣ You’re Feeling Tired All The Time

If you’re feeling fatigued and unrefreshed after sleep or rest, it’s time to check your thyroid levels again.

Often, thyroid fatigue creeps up on us overtime and we start to feel as if we’re always a little tired, which can soon turn in to pure exhaustion.

3️⃣ Symptoms Are Mounting Up

There are many recognised symptoms of hypothyroidism, including:

Tiredness
Sensitivity to cold or heat
Weight gain
Constipation
Depression and anxiety
Muscle aches, pains and weakness
Dry and tight feeling skin
Brittle hair and nails
Loss of libido
Brain fog
Migraines/headaches
Hoarse voice
Thinned or partly missing eyebrows
Poor stamina
Struggles to exercise
Acid reflux
Hair loss

You may have noticed some symptoms creeping back in, or worsening again.

Or perhaps you’re experiencing new ones.

4️⃣ You’re Experiencing Menstrual Changes

Changes to menstrual cycles E.g. length of cycle, length of period, heaviness of period or frequency/regularity of periods, can all indicate a change in your thyroid hormone levels.

5️⃣ More Flares

Flares usually last a day or two, possibly a week. If it’s going on for much longer it may not be a flare but instead a drop in thyroid hormone. After all, flares are not associate with a drop in thyroid hormone levels, but are more a reaction to overexertion.

•••

Let me know below - what are your signs of a dosage adjustment being needed?

- Rachel 🦋💙

© Rachel Gask and The Invisible Hypothyroidism, 2015-2024. All Rights Reserved.

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