Advocating for Your Own Thyroid Health

Advocating for Your Own Thyroid Health
Author: Carly Ehrlich 

Understanding and managing your thyroid health is crucial. The thyroid is a small gland in your neck and it plays a pivotal role in regulating numerous metabolic processes throughout the body. From energy levels to weight management, mood stabilization, and more, its impact is profound. Unfortunately, thyroid disorders are increasingly common, yet they frequently go misdiagnosed or improperly managed due to a lack of awareness and understanding.

Let’s walk through the best way to advocate for your health as it pertains to your thyroid. 

KNOW THE SYMPTOMS

Thyroid issues manifest through a variety of symptoms that can affect daily life. These include, but are not limited to, unexplained weight changes, fatigue, mood swings, changes in heart rate, and alterations in skin and hair texture. Recognizing these signs is the first step in advocating for your health.

UNDERSTAND THE SPECTRUM

Credit: Original, Carly Ehrlich

The goal is always optimal thyroid function, but how do we classify dysfunction? Well, there are two sections of dysregulation each with their own autoimmune subset. Not all thyroid conditions are indicative of an autoimmune condition. 

Hypothyroidism is classified as an underactive thyroid – it is lacking in the production of thyroid hormone. When you have a sluggish thyroid with added antibodies, that is when the autoimmune condition, Hashimoto’s, is involved. TPO and TGA antibodies are attacking the thyroid!

On the other end of the spectrum is a hyperactive thyroid, or hyperthyroidism. There is too much thyroid hormone being produced. The added antibody component (TSI) will indicate Grave’s disease. 

SEEK OUT COMPREHENSIVE TESTING

It’s imperative to be an informed advocate for your own health. It begins with understanding, but we cannot fall victim to passively accepting generic health advice or incomplete treatments. Push for comprehensive testing from your health care provider. Standard thyroid tests often only measure Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) and T4 levels, but this is insufficient for a comprehensive understanding of thyroid health. To truly know your thyroid status, request a full thyroid panel that includes Free T3, Free T4, Reverse T3, and thyroid antibody tests. This broader spectrum of tests can shed light on if you have an autoimmune component as well as thyroid dysregulation. 

HOLISTIC TREATMENT VS. MEDICAL INTERVENTION 

Diet, stress management, and exposure to toxins all play critical roles in an optimally functioning thyroid. A balanced, nutrient-rich diet that avoids inflammatory foods, coupled with lifestyle practices that reduce stress and toxin exposure, can support thyroid function and overall health.

For some, medication is unavoidable and necessary to manage thyroid health. There are different medications available in terms of how they work. And we always recommend you to speak to your doctor, but do not be afraid to ask questions! It is important to note that even though medication can be a tool, it is not a cure-all. Returning back to holistic treatment for management throughout your journey will help you build long-term wellness. 

The takeaway here is partially education, but it is truly for the importance of self-advocacy. Dr. Kate Masterson on a recent podcast explained, “You should not accept that your body just fails or that it’s not working properly or that auto-immunity is normal. You deserve to live a really happy, amazing, fulfilling life.” This empowering statement serves as a reminder that individuals have the right and responsibility to seek the best possible care for themselves. It’s a call to action to engage actively with healthcare providers, question standard practices, and always seek a deeper understanding of one’s health conditions.

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Website Tag:
Thyroid Health – Self-advocacy – Comprehensive Testing – Hashimoto’s – Grave’s Disease – Hyperthyroidism – Hypothyroidism 

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