"The Difference Between Hashi's and Hypo."

ISSUE 150, 4th April 2024

Welcome to all members of our thyroid family, new and old. It's lovely to have you here and a part of our thyroid family. 🤗

This free email newsletter goes out every two weeks on a Thursday.

I hope you'll find this issue inspiring, reassuring and useful in your own thyroid journey.

My aim is to share the information you need to live well with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's, as well as keep you up-to-date with what I'm doing in the thyroidsphere!

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Thursday Thoughts

What is the difference between hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's?

❓You may see the words ‘Hypothyroidism’ and ‘Hashimoto’s’ used together. Or people like myself may sometimes only use one when talking about certain topics.
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❓I often receive comments asking what the difference is between the two.
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❓A lot of people are unsure whether they have both or just one and what difference it makes to their symptoms and treatment.
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​Let’s break it down:​
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🦋 Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s are the most common types of thyroid disease. They share a lot of the same symptoms, as both can equal a reduced amount of thyroid hormone in the body.
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🦋 Hypothyroidism (sometimes called ‘an underactive thyroid’) is a condition where the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. These hormones are needed for every process, cell and function in the body, so when they are low, a lot of stuff can be affected. This can include metabolic function, sensitivity to heat and cold, muscle aches, fatigue and way more.
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🦋 Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune disease which can cause hypothyroidism. This means that the immune system mistakenly tags and attacks the thyroid gland for destruction, thinking it is an ‘invader’. The inflammation caused by this can lead to many symptoms such as fatigue, muscle aches, temperature fluctuations, mood swings and more.
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🦋 Hashimoto’s is the cause of hypothyroidism in around 90% of cases. Therefore, around 9 in 10 people with hypothyroidism have Hashimoto’s to thank for this. Meaning they have both conditions. Hashimoto’s causes hypothyroidism when so much damage has been done to the thyroid gland, that it affects its ability to produce enough thyroid hormone.
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🦋 Some people can have Hashimoto’s without hypothyroidism, as they may not have lost enough thyroid function yet to be hypothyroid. Many people start with just Hashimoto’s and go on to then develop hypothyroidism too. Others never develop hypothyroidism.
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What is the difference in treatment? Read more here.​

Find this helpful? SO MUCH MORE thyroid info is covered in my number 1 bestselling thyroid book "Be Your Own Thyroid Advocate".

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Thursday Health Check-in

​I ordered this test the other week to check in again on my thyroid and vitamin levels. I was happy to see my thyroid hormone levels and Vitamin D still optimal and the Hashimoto's still in remission. But shocked to see my ferritin had dropped even lower!

I have just changed NHS GP surgery who are retesting next week.

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Outro -

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​This newsletter includes thyroid research, events, news, articles, discounts, tips, advice, and links to popular social media posts from the last fortnight. Enjoy reading!

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- Rachel Hill, The Invisible Hypothyroidism

Follow Rachel on: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Twitter​

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Sponsor a future issue of this newsletter and share your services or product with over 8,600 readers. 😊

Interested? Email me for more info!

• My LetsGetChecked discount code is 25INVISIBLE for 25% off.
• My Medichecks discount code is INVISIBLE10 for 10% off.
• I'm currently working my way through the hundreds of articles on my website and updating them one by one. Making sure information is still up to date and relevant is really important.

Books Overview

In response to some recent requests to create a website page that gives overviews of each of my three books, here it is!

If you're not sure which one is going to be most helpful to you, check it out.

Thyroid Hormone Resistance

Thyroid hormone resistance (THR) is a rare genetic condition.

It occurs when the body doesn’t respond ‘normally’ to hormones produced by the thyroid gland.

This condition may be suspected when someone’s Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) level is not responding to an increase in thyroid medication, or their doctor suspects they are not absorbing their medication.

​Read this new article here.​

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What Causes Unintentional Weight Loss with Hypothyroidism and Hashimotos?

Weight gain with hypothyroidism is commonly recognised and understood. However, I also hear from many thyroid patients who do not experience this and actually experience the opposite: unintentional weight loss.

Why does this happen?

​Read here.​

The Most Popular Post from My Instagram page in The Last Fortnight:

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The Most Popular Reels From My Instagram page in The Last Fortnight:

• ​Forgetting to take your thyroid meds​
• ​Difference between Hashi's and hypo​
• ​How thyroid tired is different​
• ​How to take your thyroid meds correctly​

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Why Going by TSH Alone Is Problematic

Browse thyroid patient communities online and you’ll find hoards of people saying that doctors testing only TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) is keeping many people undiagnosed, untreated or under-treated.

​Read this article.

This is where I share my favourite thyroid health supporting tools and resources every fortnight. 😊

📖 Book: Thyroid Disease in a Nutshell by Jules Chandler

I'm halfway through this book and if you're looking for a thyroid book that is easy to follow, humorous and doesn't take itself seriously, this may be the one for you.

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👂 Podcast Episode: How to cope when you're tired but can't rest​

In this episode of The Therapy Edit, Anna shares six tips that listeners can use to cope when they are really depleted and craving rest but are unable to find it. We hope those who are battling with exhaustion or who are struggling, find these suggestions useful.

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🥘 Recipe: Gluten and Dairy-Free Carbonara​

Everyone loved this recipe the other week. Becky Excell's cookbooks are amazing. I'm GF and my husband is DF and her recipes make dinners so easy for catering to us both.

You can read more on my approach to diet / dietary changes with thyroid disease here.

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🧪 Test: Iron

Did you know that many people with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s also have low iron levels?

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Low levels of iron can mimic a lot of the same symptoms of a thyroid condition, such as:

• ​Tiredness/fatigue​
• ​Needing to nap often​
• Heart palpitations
• Poor stamina
• Dry skin
• Brittle hair and nails​
• ​Hair loss​
• Breathlessness
• Feeling cold​
• ​Depression​
• ​Body aches and pains​
• Pale or ‘washed out’ skin tone
• Dark bags under the eyes
• ​Brain fog​

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The test I personally use to check my iron is this one from Medichecks.

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💙 Self-Care Nugget: Gardening

I have made a commitment to get more in to gardening this year. I started last year and really enjoyed it. My time is limited with small children, work and other committments to fulfil, so I've been exploring books that detail how to create a lovely but low-commitment garden space.

It's so good for the soul, mental health and physical health to not only spend time outside, but also incorporate the extra exercise that gardening creates.

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🌟 Other things I'm loving at the moment:

• ​Gluten Free Air Fryer: Over 100 Fast, Simple, Delicious Recipes​
• ​I love this serum for my dry skin

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That's all for this issue of The Thyroid Family Newsletter, but you can find more information and support:

⭐ In my website articles​

⭐ In my books​

⭐ In the 'Thyroid Family' Facebook Support Group​

⭐ On my Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Twitter

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Keep an eye out for the next issue in two weeks' time!

Rachel Hill, The Invisible Hypothyroidism

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Please Note: None of the statements in this publication should be taken as an official endorsement of any particular product, including any sponsored content. I strongly suggest consulting your doctor before making any changes to your lifestyle or health regimen. The information included in this publication is not meant to substitute the clinical guidance provided by a healthcare professional. Rachel Hill / The Invisible Hypothyroidism is not medically qualified and does not offer medical advice. Read the full disclaimer here. By reading this newsletter, you agree to understanding this information.

This newsletter may also contain affiliate links where I earn a small commission if you purchase through it. This does not change the way I work or the products I link to, and it doesn’t change your user experience. To find out more information, please read my disclosure statement. For example, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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