My two-year-old son’s struggle with hypothyroidism

My two year old son's struggle with hypothyroidism

This little boy struggled for two years with obvious signs and symptoms before finally receiving a diagnosis of hypothyroidism.
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A dental exam uncovers undetected hypothyroidism in a 13-year-old girl

A dental exam uncovers undetected hypothyroidism in a 13-year-old girl

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. It’s one thing to read the list of over 300 hypothyroidism symptoms, but it’s another thing to see actual photos of the symptoms. When people dismiss your thyroid symptoms as all in your head as if they are imaginary symptoms you’ve made up in your mind (like anyone would make up these horrible symptoms), remember this: hypothyroidism can rear its ugly head in any part of the body. And that includes the mouth. [Read more…]

How is this normal? Diagnosed with hypothyroidism at age five

How is this normal? Diagnosed with hypothyroidism at age five

I hear from parents of children struggling with symptoms that look a lot like hypothyroidism and they wonder, “Does my child have hypothyroidism?” I also hear from parents of children already diagnosed with hypothyroidism trying to determine if their child’s seemingly unrelated symptoms could actually be a red flag that their hypothyroidism is not being well treated. Hypothyroidism is wrongly assumed to be an illness only found in “older” women. This is far from the case. I hear from women of all ages, men, as well as parents of children and adolescents with hypothyroidism every single day.
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My Daughter’s Congenital Hypothyroidism Saved My Life

My Daughter's Congenital Hypothyroidism Saved My Life

A woman named Shannon Hibbs contacted me one day with before and after photos that stayed on my mind for weeks. Her story is one of those stories I knew I had to share at Hypothyroid Mom.

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Hypothyroidism and Autism: The Story of Micah Boy Genius

Hypothyroidism and Autism: The Story of Micah Boy Genius

Micah (image via Jadranka Isabel Photography)

In August 2013 an article appeared in Endocrine Today entitled Gestational hypothyroxinemia associated with autism occurrence. It referred to a large-scale study published in the Annals of Neurology that revealed mothers with severe hypothyroxinemia (defined as maternal free T4 in the lowest 5th percentile with normal serum TSH) were four times more likely to give birth to a child with autism. I think of this article often and wonder about the madness of a medical system that fails to protect our children. Despite the research showing the potential dangers of thyroid disease in pregnancy there is currently NO routine thyroid testing in pregnancy. I am so passionate about this topic since miscarrying my baby needlessly due to maternal hypothyroidism that I wrote an entire book with thyroid expert Mary Shomon to help women with thyroid disease have healthy pregnancies. Part 3 of our bookblank provides comprehensive checklists of lab tests, optimal ranges, prenatal vitamins, supplements and more so our readers will know even more than their doctors about having healthy pregnancies.

A mother named Jessica wrote a comment on my Hypothyroid Mom Facebook page. Jessica has hypothyroidism and her two sons have congenital hypothyroidism. Her son Micah has congenital hypothyroidism and autism. I just knew that I had to hear more of his story.

I write Hypothyroid Mom for us the adults with hypothyroidism. However to tell you the truth, I really write Hypothyroid Mom to create change for our children, so they do not suffer the same struggle for proper diagnosis and treatment as us. A child is never too young to be tested for hypothyroidism. Watch your children for signs. You must read Micah’s story and you will be convinced. [Read more…]