"Thyroid Tired is Different."
ISSUE 123, 23rd March 2023

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Intro -

Welcome to all members of our thyroid family, new and old. That's over 7,100 of you receiving this issue! It's lovely to have you here and a part of our thyroid family. 🤗

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.

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Thursday Thoughts

Thyroid fatigue is overwhelming, debilitating and unlike anything else. It’s not the same as ‘regular tired’.
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🦋 Thyroid fatigue is often described as an overall exhaustion of every inch of the body; as if you’re dragging a dead weight along.
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💙 It’s not ‘I had a late night and am a bit groggy today’ tired. It feels as if you could fall asleep with every blink you take.
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🦋 When your eyelids are so heavy that it’s probably dangerous to drive.
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💙 When getting up the stairs is such a difficult task, that you have to plan about half an hour before you want to go upstairs, in order to physically prepare yourself for it.
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🦋 A lot of thyroid patients wake up in the morning and no matter how good a night’s sleep they get, never feel refreshed. They often wake up feeling more tired.
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💙 It’s randomly falling asleep around a friend’s house.
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• • •
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However, please remember that if you’re a thyroid patient living with lingering symptoms, even if you’re on thyroid meds, you can get better. All hope is not lost.
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To address why you may still be feeling unwell, check out the resources linked in this very newsletter. I’ve felt all of the above before but I’m here to tell you that I went from having no quality of life to thriving again.

For a concise reading of all the info you need, you can also check out the book Be Your Own Thyroid Advocate.

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Thursday Health Check-in

There is really not much to report, other than I am constantly wondering if I feel exhausted due to my thyroid condition or just parenting...

Answers on a postcard...

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Outro -

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​This newsletter includes thyroid research, 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 | Twitter | Pinterest​

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Sponsor a future issue of this newsletter and share your services or product with over 7,100 readers. 😊

Interested? Find out more here.​

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• Amazon have both my books on sale. You can view them here and here.​
• I mentioned in this article: ​Big pharma, the NHS, thyroid disease and me.​
• I am working on Book 3! A children's book about understanding their caregiver's hypothyroidism... Stay tuned.
• My LetsGetChecked discount code is now INVISIBLE25 for 25% off.
• My Medichecks discount code is now INVISIBLE10 for 10% off.

Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month

Every year, March is autoimmune disease awareness month, which is important to many of us with hypothyroidism, as 90% of us also have the autoimmune disease Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, which is the cause for our hypothyroidism.
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Yet a lot of us do not know if our hypothyroidism is autoimmune and this can play a big part in the managing of our thyroid condition. For many, they are on thyroid hormone replacement medication yet still have symptoms, despite being told their thyroid levels are normal.

​Read more here.​

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International Women's Day

The 8th March marked International Women’s Day, commemorating the movement for women’s rights. Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s affects more women than men (7-15 times more women), but sadly a lot of women, when they go to the doctor complaining of tiredness, depression, brain fog, memory problems, weight gain etc. are made to feel as if they are hypochondriacs.

​Read this article in full here.​

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Thyroid Survey

Researchers at the University of Aberdeen want Thyroid Patients experiences for a survey, focusing on the implications of thyroid disease on your wellbeing.

​Take this survey here.
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UK Patient Recruitment for TED Drug Trial

UK based trial for TED patients open for recruitment. US pharmaceutical company Sling Therapeutics are actively recruiting across several sites in the UK for patients to take part in a new drug treatment trial. Eligibility criteria and further information and how you get involved can be found on the link below.

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​More info here.​

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Thyroid Charity Trustee

The UK Thyroid Charity The Thyroid Trust are looking for new trustees. Email connect@thyroidtrust.org for more information.
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Top 13 Most Relatable Articles About Having Hypothyroidism

Hearing other peoples’ experiences with thyroid issues can be hugely reassuring and comforting. Knowing that you are not alone in what you experience and that a community of other people going through the same is out there, can be really powerful.

​Read my list of the best articles here.​

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Why Taking Your Basal Body Temperature Can Be Useful

Your BBT (basal body temperature) is the temperature of your body at rest and your lowest temperature of the day. Thyroid hormones are important for maintaining a consistent BBT and if your thyroid hormone levels become too low, your BBT can also drop. This may cause you to feel more tired and cold as a result.

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​Read this article here.​

This recent post from The Invisible Hypothyroidism's Instagram page was very popular:

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​Click here to see the full Instagram post.

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✨ Popular Instagram Posts These Past Two Weeks

• ​Thyroid Cookbook​
• ​Levothyroxine didn't work for me​
• ​Period issues and hypo​
• ​Founders raising the future campaign​

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🎬 Latest Instagram Reels 🎬

• ​How to prepare for thyroid blood tests​
• ​March is autoimmune disease awareness month​
• ​I permanently look exhausted​
• ​If only we all had more thyroid medication options​
• ​International women's day​
• ​Thyroid tired or mum tired?​
• ​Stop removing foods​
• ​Where I began my thyroid advocating​
• ​Hypo or Hashi's?​
• ​Thyroid flares​

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What You Need To Know About Doing Thyroid Blood Tests

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Common questions about thyroid blood tests for those with medical conditions such as a thyroid disorder include:

• Do I take my thyroid medication as normal before the blood draw?
• Do you need to fast for thyroid blood work?
• How often should it be done?
• Does it need to be in the morning?
• Can it be done in the afternoon?
• Is fasting required for a TSH test?
• What should be tested?

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​Read this article in full here.​

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

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📖 Book: Ruby’s Worry​

Sharing something different and non-thyroid related this week, but helpful nonetheless. I've experienced anxiety since a child and it's been a huge part of triggering my thyroid condition, and then as a symptom of my thyroid condition too.

This book has helped my 3-year-old with anxiety hugely. Managing anxiety is something I'm very keen to support my child with.

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👂 Podcast Episode: How Trauma Impacts Your Physical Health - Dr Rangan Chatterjee​

This was an interesting listen. Many of us with thyroid issues report traumatic events right before symptoms began.

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🥘 Recipe: Homemade Gyros - From this gluten-free cookbook​

A gluten-free, quick and easy, nourishing dinner idea. The whole family loved eating these.

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

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🧪 Test: Thyroid Function with Antibodies Blood Test​

With it being Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month, it is so important that fellow thyroid patients know just how important it is to check thyroid antibodies. This test includes this.

​Read why it's important here.
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💙 Self-Care Nugget: Menstrual Cups

I asked my Instagram followers about menstrual cup suggestions. Read the conversation here.

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🌟 Others:

• ​Moisturiser for itchy scalp - I can't tell you how many of you complain of a dry, itchy scalp caused by hypothyroidism. I use this on the areas that tend to become itchy and dry daily, and it makes such a difference.
• ​The face wash that has helped to get my cystic acne under control.

Reasons to upgrade to the ⭐ Premium ⭐ Thyroid Family Newsletter:

• You'll receive exclusive thyroid health content written for my premium subscribers only.
• You'll receive easy to implement tips to get you back to good health!
• If you already find this FREE newsletter helpful, the premium newsletter gives you even more.

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The Next Issue explores...

✨ Correcting low vitamin levels to help with fatigue and other symptoms ✨

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This issue goes in depth about:

• The different possible low vitamin levels such as iron, Vit D, B12
• How the symptoms of these can get mixed up with our thyroid ones

This newsletter will be sent out on 1st April 2023 and once it's gone, it's gone. Join those of us taking back control of our health and learn more here.​

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Come join us!

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

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⭐ In The Premium Newsletter​

⭐ In my website articles​

⭐ In my book: Be Your Own Thyroid Advocate​

⭐ In my book: You, Me and Hypothyroidism​

⭐ In the 'Thyroid Family' Facebook Support Group​

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You can also follow on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest​

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If there’s anything you'd like to see in a future issue, let me know. Keep an eye out for the next issue in two weeks' time!

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Be your own thyroid advocate. 🦋

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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Copyright © 2022 The Invisible Hypothyroidism. All rights reserved.

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