9 weeks after a full thyroidectomy [Read more…]
Causes of Hypothyroidism
What causes hypothyroidism (under-active thyroid)? One of the most common causes of hypothyroidism worldwide is a thyroid autoimmune condition called Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Other causes include thyroid destruction (from radioactive iodine or surgery), iodine deficiency, congenital hypothyroidism, pituitary or hypothalamic disease, environmental toxins, food sensitivities, blood sugar imbalance, infections, sex hormone imbalance, nutrient deficiencies, and poor adrenal function.
This Star Won’t Go Out
March 31, 2014 by 7 Comments
16-year-old Esther Grace Earl lost her battle with thyroid cancer and inspired the movie The Fault In Our Stars. Thank you to Esther’s mother Lori Earl for sharing her daughter’s story at Hypothyroid Mom.
Hypothyroidism and Autism: The Story of Micah Boy Genius
February 10, 2014 by 8 Comments
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 book
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…]
Hashimoto’s: Your Body Is Not Supposed To Destroy Itself Right?
December 3, 2012 by 17 Comments
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune condition in which the body attacks and destroys its own thyroid gland. Piece by piece your body chews up and destroys your own thyroid gland as if it is the enemy. In a healthy immune system, antibodies act as the body’s army to detect and destroy invaders not normally present in the body, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. In the case of Hashimoto’s disease, a defective immune system wreaks havoc on the body by directing antibodies against its own thyroid gland as if it is a foreign invader.
Although Hashimoto’s disease is considered a leading cause of hypothyroidism around the world, it is a tragically overlooked disease in mainstream medicine. You might be thinking, “My doctor has never diagnosed me with Hashimoto’s disease. This post is not about me.” Are you sure? [Read more…]
