january is thyroid awareness month
As a National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach, I am passionate about all things health-related, but especially when it comes to helping to spread awareness of thyroid-related conditions. I have Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. This happens when your immune system attacks the thyroid gland by mistake. Your thyroid gland can’t make enough thyroid hormone which can affect your whole body because there is a thyroid receptor on every cell in the body. That is why it is called the Master Gland.
Although my thyroid antibodies are within the normal range, I have thyroid nodules which were discovered after having a thyroid ultrasound. I get a new scan every year or two to make sure they are not growing or changing. The thyroid gland is in the center of the neck and is shaped like a butterfly. It controls the body’s metabolism and is affected by many things because it is part of the endocrine (hormonal) system. It affects more women than men. One in eight women will have a thyroid condition in her lifetime. It often occurs during perimenopause when hormone levels start to decline and are thrown out of balance.
Some symptoms include depression, eye problems, fatigue, memory issues, trouble sleeping, unexplained weight loss or weight gain depending on if you are hypo or hyper-thyroid. Other symptoms include digestive issues, dry skin, thinning hair puffy face, low libido, and many others.
If you have any of these symptoms or suspect you may have an issue, ask your doctor for a complete thyroid panel including antibodies. Checking only TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) does not tell the whole story. Often doctors will medicate with Synthroid which is T4 and often that does not resolve all symptoms because T3 is the most important. If you are like me and do not easily convert T4 to T3, then you will still not feel well. I take both and my labs usually look pretty good, however, they can fluctuate for many reasons. It is best to get checked every 3 months to make sure you are on the right dose to control your symptoms and feel your best.
To learn more, call or email me and we can set up a time to discuss how I may work with you and your doctor to get you feeling better. The foods we eat can make a huge difference in supporting our thyroid function. I can show you how.