Hello friend, family member, work colleague or doctor of someone who lives with an underactive thyroid or hypothyroidism. You know someone very brave, very strong, battling a difficult disease. If you’re not a medical professional, you’re probably wondering what exactly an underactive thyroid or hypothyroidism is, or how it affects someone who lives with it, […]
When Chronic Illness Means You Don’t Fit Into Any Friendship Circles
By Lucy Lewis • I’ve never really had that many friends, even when I was at school. I had two very close friends that I grew up with, but by the time I was in my late teens and we had discovered boyfriends, we slowly grew apart. Then when we got older into our early […]
5 Dangerous Complications of Untreated Graves’ Disease
Left untreated, Graves’ disease can result in eye and skin conditions. Learn how to spot and treat them The most common cause of hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) in the United States, Graves’ disease is a condition where the immune system attacks the thyroid, causing the gland to overproduce thyroid hormone, according to the National Institute of […]
5 Causes of Graves’ Disease and 5 Solutions for It
It is estimated that between 3 and 10 million people are diagnosed with hyperthyroidism or an overactive thyroid.1 The most common form of hyperthyroidism is the autoimmune condition known as Graves’ disease. I was diagnosed with Graves’ during my second year of medical school, and in my book, The Autoimmune Solution, I share my personal […]
10 Things Thyroid Patients Wish They Knew Sooner
What do you wish you were told at the start of your thyroid journey? I asked my readers this very question and below are the most common responses, answered by myself for those who are perhaps new to understanding their hypothyroidism. 1. “Your Sleep Problems Could Be From Your Thyroid Condition.” One of the lesser […]
What It Feels Like: Destroying a thyroid gland to treat Graves’ disease
“I was given a liquid that was basically a cup of water. It tasted like nothing. [The healthcare workers who were wearing] hazmat suits told me to exit the hospital as quickly as possible,” says Jenika Hamilton. With Graves’ disease , the immune system attacks the thyroid gland, causing it to produce too many thyroid […]