#hashimoto's disease

[colleendoran]

This Explains a Lot

Hey folks, I don’t want to drama queen all over you. I know you all have big problems. But there’s been a recall of medication I take to manage Hashimoto’s Disease.

Hasimoto’s Disease affects something like 1% of the population (depending on who you ask). It’s an autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack your thyroid gland.

The thyroid is sort of like your body’s throttle. If it doesn’t work properly, a lot of other things won’t work properly.

Symptoms include (from the Mayo Clinic Website):

Fatigue and sluggishness

Increased sensitivity to cold

Increased sleepiness

Dry skin

Constipation

Muscle weakness

Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness

Joint pain and stiffness

Irregular or excessive menstrual bleeding

Depression

Problems with memory or concentration

Swelling of the thyroid (goiter)

A puffy face

Brittle nails

Hair loss

Enlargement of the tongue

For my part, the big issues are the fatigue, aches and pains (my hands are sometimes so stiff I cannot move my fingers, and right now my back is killing me,) depression, and memory problems. As in, I will be sitting there working on a drawing and between the time I look at my reference and the time I look at my drawing I can’t remember what I just saw in my reference.

That’s not good.

Also not on the above list: edema, anxiety, high cholesterol, poor heart function, an enlarged heart and irregular heartbeats. I had to have a CAT scan in December, and my anxiety has been swinging back and forth into the red zone for months.

When well managed, I don’t notice it much, but when not well-managed, my life grinds to a halt.

Since cancer treatment, I’ve felt the usual fallout from all that cancer entails. But I honestly thought I should have been feeling much better by now.

But I’m not. I’ve been up and down, but mostly down.

Finding out I’ve been improperly medicated for 7 months certainly explains a lot. A friend of mine who got the defective medication notice from her doctor thought she felt poorly due to long Covid. Another was sinking for months, unable to understand why.

Well, at least we know why.

This doesn’t affect everyone on the medication, just those with certain lot numbers from certain manufacturers. And if you are highly sensitive to hormone fluctuations, even a small variation will knock you right on your keister.

Several people I know heard from their health care providers. Others heard nothing until they asked.

It’s not like I don’t have a lot of stress right now, and figured my anxiety, poor mood, and weight gain originated from dealing with what I’m dealing with.

Well, at least some of it is because my medication hasn’t been hitting the sweet spot.

Bad luck, but it is what it is.

It’s going to take about 6 weeks before I start to feel better, but at least I am working it.

Best Wishes.

[spoonfulofhannah]

“I don’t let me disability stop me”

Good for you. Some people can’t just push through, and we’re still worthy.

[rhiandoesfandom]

Only three hours in on my sleep tonight and I wake up in a cold sweat and my muscles are cramping and sending shooting pain everywhere.

Just one night. Id like one night of REM sleep.

[baejax-the-great]

Your thyroid can literally be chilling there for like thirty years, just minding its own fuckin business, and your immune system will wake up one day and go, I don't like the look of that guy...kinda sketch... million antibody attack!!!!!!! And then you just have to be cold for the rest of your life

[spoonfulofjesus]

Me at random points throughout the day:

Why does my knee/hand/back/etc feel Like That

Oh right, the undiagnosed probably-Hashimoto's mystery illness

[zukoromantic]

Dietry aspects that help you if you suffer from thyroid issues, specifically hashimoto's disease:

Avoid gluten. It sucks, yeah, but every source i found so far agrees on this. People with thyroid issues are more likely to be straight up gluten intolerant! If that isn't the case, you absolutely don't need to cut gluten out of your life. However, you should try to reduce the intake regardless. But not to worry! You can find brands that have pasta, bread mixes, pizza dough, even little snacks as gluten free! Alternatives are also always rice or corn for a lot of things. If you like to snack on crunchy things like cookies i can really recommend rice waffles. They even come with chocolate and other flavors a lot of the time. And as for the bread mixes don't worry, at least the german brand i get has the lowest effort kinda stuff. As in, put water, stirr, form on tray, oven, done (and i found one that is SO delicious to me even!)

Avoid pork. Also got this one from multiple sources. Like with gluten, it can be a problem if you're out a lot, BUT there is usually plenty of other meat. My go to is chicken or turkey. Beef is great too, but naturally it's more expensive than chicken etc. You don't need to cut out stuff like salami either because these days there's a lot of alternatives to pork in those regards

Veggies, veggies, veggies! I mean, who doesn't this apply to?! Vegetables are great and have so many vitamins. I try to eat a salad a day and have some veggies in my lunch. There is so many different vegetables, there's sure to be SOMETHING for you! In my salad for example i put grated carrots even though i don't like them apart from that. I also put apple to make it more sweet and delicious! (Note: for salad you should put some oil, otherwise your body can't absorb the nutrients that well. I love pumpkin sees oil bc i'm picky and don't like olive oil. But there's more you might like too!) Potatoes count as well for your vitamins. Put anything with some meat or in a stew or with rice, it doesn't really matter how you make them

Fruit is less helpful than veggies, but it's still great! Especially berries, apples, oranges, peaches, plums and more are helpful. That's because they have less sugar that for example pineapple, banana, grapes, or mango

Seeds and nuts. They can help you as well. I usually put sunflower seeds in my salad, but you can also put something in cereal or yoghurt or your lunch! They're nice and crunchy and can be great additions to some food

Less (cow) milk. Milk is fineee, but you shouldn't overdo it. Especialy with things with a lot of fat, like cream

Most fish. Most fish is great, salmon and tuna for example. In general, fish is really healthy. I don't like it but i know many do! So definitely keep eating it! :)

Eggs. Eggs are always good, get your protein! Many lovely ways to make eggs. Just make sure you don't always eat them with too much fat, so be careful with your fried or scrambled egg

Those are things i was told by a doctor or things i found from different sources on the internet. Some is obvious like you should just so in general get protein and vegebtables!

But for example, i've had hashimoto's disease for over six years now and only THIS YEAR i was told by a doctor that i should avoid gluten

So i wanted to make a little post for me and for others to have a quick check list regarding one's diet with thyroid issues! If you know/think of anything else, please share! It'll be much appreciated!

[aroaceconfessions]

Small vent, because recently I learned that I have Hashimoto's disease and that does explain a lot since it can cause a lot of different problems, but one of them is lack of libido.

I've identified as an asexual since I've been 14 years old, and over the years I've come to terms with it and became comfortable, even happy, by identifying as ace. I like not having any sexual attractions- but what if it's caused by this illness? It's not that I would feel like an impostor in ace community, but what if I'll get my treatment, and suddenly I'll just feel the attraction, because it wasn't there for the lack of my libido? I would have to accept that the label I was comfortable, that I grew up with, is suddenly not me? I'm suddenly really scared of the treatment even though I really want it, because I feel horrible in my body and this will help to change it, but yeah. I also have my concerns

Submitted May 4, 2023

[kcscribbler]

IRL Stuff, Woo

Anybody have low-effort/low-spoon recipes for an anti-inflammatory diet? Shoot me your faves if you're so inclined, please!

I'm pretty adventurous but hate doing cleanup after cooking, so particularly looking for things that are quick and easy but still taste like something.

[mental-mona]

[spoonfulofhannah]

I wish I didn’t have my illness, but I will not hide it to make healthy people feel more comfortable.

[rhiandoesfandom]

Spent an hour on the phone with a lawyer group to turn in my social security application. I'm so exhausted after just that hour. Nap time.

[anxietyfrappuccino]

i lied, it's a fuck around (attempt task) and find out (instant health decline) kind of day

[mordellestories]

One moment you’re soaring on the wings of creativity, deeply invested in a scene, and the next, your body is like, Nope, we’re crying now—

—over a commercial, or because that one chord progression in a song felt too powerful. Chronic hormonal sensitivity can feel like you’re walking on eggshells with your own body, never quite knowing what each day will bring. It’s not just the mood swings; it’s the physical toll. You might be deep into editing or brainstorming, but a sudden hot flash or muscle ache pulls you out of focus. You lose time just managing the physical symptoms.

That unpredictability can disrupt the delicate balance between creativity and productivity. Writing requires a certain level of emotional engagement, but when you’re extra sensitive to emotional triggers, you might find yourself overwhelmed by your own stories. A scene that’s meant to be joyful might hit you harder than expected, or a conflict between characters could amplify your own stress.

Then there’s the mental fog that sometimes comes with hormonal fluctuations. You want to work on that intricate plot twist or complex character development, but your brain feels like it’s swimming in molasses. All of it combines to create this tricky dance between your body, your emotions, and the very stories you’re trying to tell.

But here’s the thing: when you manage to harness those heightened emotions, it can bring a richness to your writing that might not have been there otherwise.

We often talk about hormones in terms of balance, but the truth is, they’re never static. They’re in constant flux, shifting in response to everything from stress to sleep. So when we talk about ‘hormonal balance,’ it’s not really about perfect stillness—because that doesn’t exist—it’s more about finding a sense of stability amid the chaos. And for those of us whose bodies seem allergic to their own fluctuations, that idea of balance can feel like chasing a mirage, always just out of reach.

[sleepy-gryphon]

I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's when I was six. I had a fairly large thyroid nodule removed the same year. My thyroid function was monitored until I was about... 10? 11? And then stopped. I strongly suspect this was because my mom's private insurance wouldn't pay for the testing. I didn't get ANY treatment for hypothyroid until I was twenty. Complete thyroidectomy at 22.

Seeing people who are diagnosed with Hashimoto's in their 30s, their 40s, and they talk about how debilitating it is is just like.... I've had what you have all my life. This thing that destroyed your hobbies and job and life.

Have I EVER known what normal feels like?

[wanderrealms]

I got sent an article on Liam Gallagher talking about hashimoto's thyroiditis and the effect it has on his life. I think it's great he's talking about it, since people don't know much about the symptoms and I've read it is more common in women, so men might not be as aware and be less likely to seek treatment because it's less likely. But less likely does not mean impossible.

Hashimoto's is when your autoimmune system produces thyroid antibodies which disrupt thyroid function and make it underactive. The symptoms are broad and varied. Cold extremities is common, fatigue, brittle hair, goiter, dry scaly skin, it also causes swelling of the joints resulting in pain, abdominal swelling, facial swelling, slow heartrate.... and more. It can be hard to even suspect one illness might behind them and seek treatment.

The Mirror article in question

[illkeepyourbrittleheartwarm]

Hearing my mum switch up the second I told her about the hypothyroidism was kinda really annoying actually.

"You need to lose weight" "you've let yourself go" "look how pretty you were before" "you need to move more and watch what you eat" "your dad is being mean about it but he's right" "youve blown up like your grandma" "you eat too much" etc

The second I told her: "see I knew there was something wrong" "you're overweight but you never ate enough to warrant how much, sure you'll snack sometimes but you don't stuff yourself" "you have the opposite of what your other grandma had she lost weight bc she had hyperthyroidism and you put on weight because you have hypothyroidism" "i knew you couldn't have possibly been to blame for all that weight gain and looking like a completely different person"

Thanks Agnes a little too late tho