"Thyroid Moon Face."

ISSUE 148, 7th March 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

If your face is looking noticeably more puffy and round, then the term “moon face” may apply and resonate with you.

🌝 Hypothyroidism can affect all areas of our body, but a term known as “moon face”, which refers to the swelling of the face, is getting a lot more attention recently.

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🌝 Whilst it isn’t painful, it can impact self-esteem.

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​Hypothyroidism can lead to a swelling of facial tissue by:​
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• Slowing the enzymes that break down mucopolysaccharides which are then deposited under the skin.
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• By causing fatigue which may lead to reduced movement and thus, weight gain.
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• By slowing down the glomerular filtration rate, which reduces fluid loss (fluid retention) through urination.
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• By causing an overall decrease in circulation, by lowering cardiac output and heart rate but also by affecting the health of blood vessels and blood pressure
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• A lack of good quality sleep.
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​What is The Treatment for Moon Face? Read my article here to find out. ​

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Find this insightful?! 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 am retesting my thyroid and vitamin levels soon to see where we are! This is the test I order.

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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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This issue's sponsor is Leapcure!

If you’ve been diagnosed with TED (Thyroid Eye Disease) and are seeking potential new treatment options, you might be interested in the LIDS clinical trial.

The goal of this study is to investigate the effectiveness and safety of an oral study drug called Linsitinib, in adults with active, moderate-to-severe TED.

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You may be eligible if you:

• Are over 18 years old
• Have TED symptoms that started within the past year
• Have been diagnosed with Graves’ and/or Hashimoto’s disease

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If you’re interested in learning more, take this short prescreener questionnaire and a member of the study team will reach out to qualified individuals with more information.

• You can now subscribe to my Instagram for exclusive content!
• 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.

Thyroid dysfunction in COVID-19

COVID-19 has been linked to an increase in thyroid dysfunction among current and past patients. This Review discusses and evaluates the evidence for COVID-19 causing thyroid dysfunction, including after COVID-19 vaccination and during long COVID.

​Read it here.​

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The Thyroid Tests You Need Doing This Month

The luckier thyroid patients among us may manage to get them to test two or three, but rarely are all five checked routinely. The problem with this? We’re not getting the full picture of our thyroid health, including whether we’re bring optimally treated and on a path back to good health with a thyroid condition.

​Read this post here.​

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March is Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month

March is Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month, which is important and relevant to many of us with hypothyroidism.

This is because 90% of us with hypothyroidism also have the autoimmune disease Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.

​Read and share this information here.​

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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10 Ways To Solve Thyroid Fatigue

Fatigue is by far the most complained of thyroid symptom.

Many of us experience this heavy, indescribable fatigue before diagnosis of hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s, and for many, it may not entirely go away once on thyroid medication either. Why?

​Read it 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:

• ​Why so many do not feel better on Levo or Synthroid​
• ​8 Things you shouldn't say​
• ​Waiting for an endo appointment​
• ​Heat intolerance​

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Why Can Hypo Cause Weight Gain?

Thyroid disease is often used as a joke or a scapegoat for weight gain. People throw it around, and as such, it’s often not taken very seriously.

Many people think thyroid issues are just an excuse for being overweight.

But weight gain is a legitimate symptom of an underactive thyroid or hypothyroidism, along with many others. Why?

​Read this post here.

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

📖 Book: This Book May Save Your Life by Dr Karan Rajan ​

Full of lessons and health hacks from Dr Rajan's years working on hospital wards, I'm halfway through this book and am really enjoying it.

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👂 Podcast Episode: Goode Health Podcast: Medical Gaslighting​

Medical gaslighting is the practice in which medical professionals downplay or dismiss a patient's symptoms, which can lead to delayed diagnosis or worsening of health conditions. It's particularly prevalent in chronic illnesses, specifically autoimmune diseases.

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🥘 Recipe: Giant Cookie​

I made this giant cookie for a celebration last week! Easy to make gluten-free and dairy-free and everyone loved it.

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

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🧪 Test: Vitamin D

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

Actually a hormone, Vitamin D is important for our joints, energy levels, immune system and also ties in to our thyroid hormones too. After all, a deficiency in Vitamin D can stop T3 from correcting your metabolic rate, leaving you with symptoms such as low energy, cold intolerance and weight gain.

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You can find a UK Vitamin D test option here, with a worldwide test option here. Doctors are often happy to check for this common deficiency, but not always. So ordering your own test can be a valuable resource.

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💙 Self-Care Nugget: My Article: 5 Ways To Practise Thyroid Self-Care​

I have recently updated this article! Please take a look.

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🌟 Other things I'm loving at the moment:

• ​My go-to lip balm right now. It's so effective on chapped lips.​
• ​I only just discovered that adult do to dot books are a thing! What a great stress reliever.​
• ​In my search for a shampoo that does not dry my scalp out, I'm now using this one.​

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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