Want my insights on what is REALLY going on with your thyroid?
The thyroid is such an important gland and unfortunately, as much as we think we understand it, there is still so much confusion about it and so many people are overlooked and completely missed for issues with hypothyroidism (a slow or underactive thyroid).
Hypothyroidism occurs when your thyroid gland isn’t producing enough hormones to keep your body running smoothly. While the thyroid is a small gland, it has a big job—regulating your metabolism, energy levels, how your brain works, your detoxification, digestion and even your mood. When it’s underactive, you can feel constantly tired, gain weight without changing your diet, or struggle with dry skin and hair loss. These underactive thyroid symptoms can really take a toll on your daily life. But the good news is that with the right support and care, you can manage hypothyroidism and start feeling like yourself again.
Hypothyroidism often stems from a few key causes, with the most common being Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid gland. (In fact, it is estimated that over 85% of cases of Hypothyroidism are actually caused by Hashimoto’s and many of those people don’t even know it). This ongoing attack leads to inflammation and a gradual decline in thyroid function. So while hypothyroidism is not an autoimmune disease, it can be caused by Hashimoto’s which is an autoimmune condition.
Other potential but less likely causes include iodine deficiency, certain medications, or treatments for hyperthyroidism like radiation or surgery. In some cases, hypothyroidism can be a genetic condition you are born with though this is much more rare.
Have you ever wondered why you are having so many different symptoms when it comes to your thyroid?This is because thyroid hormone is needed for every cell in your body, head to toe!
So if there is not enough thyroid hormone or the thyroid hormone is not being absorbed or utilized properly, it is going to affect everything! This is why the thyroid is often called the master regulator.
Most people think about thyroid for metabolism and energy and yes those are two biggies but there is so much more. Thyroid controls your temperature which affects how everything works in your body but there is so much more too!
Thyroid also governs the liver. This is important because the liver is our main detoxification organ. We are exposed to so many toxins from our air, water and food. There are thousands of chemicals all around us and no matter how hard we try to avoid them, they can still sneak in. If the liver becomes sluggish and detoxification slows down, toxins will build up.
Our body is super smart and when it sees more toxins that it can deal with, it does not want them to spill out into the blood stream so instead, it puts it away into our fat cells. There is nothing super important there and it becomes a nice place to hide them.
The issue is that when you want to lose weight, your body will not want to let go of those fat cells because there are toxins there thus leading to the further inability to lose weight.
Those toxins can also contribute to low energy, brain fog and joint pain. Yes you can do a liver cleanse, but it’s getting the thyroid right that is at the core of helping the liver work at its best.
Thyroid also signals the gallbladder which helps to break down fats, aids in digestion, assimilation of fat soluble vitamins and bile storage. When your gallbladder is not optimal, which can often happen if your thyroid is not optimized, we can experience more weight gain, digestive issues and fatigue as well as issues with cholesterol.
Thyroid is also responsible for maintaining membranes in your body
Why does this matter?
We have a membrane that surrounds our gut. When it’s not maintained properly, it can cause a leaky gut. This leads to food sensitivities, IBS symptoms and from that, weight gain and low energy. Plus a slow thyroid equals slow bowels and when we can’t get toxins out, it becomes a double whammy.
Can we do things to heal the gut? Yes we can try, but if your thyroid is not optimal you can often feel like you are chasing your own tail.
Just as there is a membrane around the gut, we also have a membrane around the brain. This membrane called the blood brain barrier regulates what goes in and out of the brain and ideally, we only want to keep the good things in and keep all the toxins out. When the thyroid is not optimal, this membrane can also become “leaky” and things that do not belong can get in through the blood brain barrier and then hello brain fog! All of this creates toxicity and inflammation can lead to symptoms like difficulty concentrating, memory issues and brain fog.
At the thick of my thyroid issues, my hair loss got so bad, I was afraid to wash my hair because so much would come out. Drano became my best friend and I even started to keep a dust buster in the bathroom because there was so much hair on the floor after I brushed my hair, and forget styling it!
If you are having issues with your hair, please know that there is a big connection with your thyroid and your hair. While there are nutrients that we need for healthy, full and manageable hair, not having enough thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism) is one of the big contributors to dry hair, hair thinning, hair breaking and overall hair loss.
There is a big connection with your thyroid and your nails as well and suboptimal thyroid function can make your nails dry and fragile and they can peel and break more easily. Of course there is polish and things you can put on your nails but remember that most of the issues come from within and topical approaches can only account for so much.
If you can’t get out of the shower without needing to put on lotion, your skin is dry. If you find your skin feels irritated, scaly, and itchy, it might be more than just a need for extra hydration—it could be a sign that your thyroid is struggling. Dryness occurs because hypothyroidism slows down the body’s overall metabolic rate, including the turnover of skin cells. As a result, dead skin cells accumulate on the surface, making your skin appear dull, flaky, and more prone to itching. Without enough thyroid hormone, your skin can also become more sensitive, leading to increased irritation and even conditions like eczema.
Another often overlooked connection with hypothyroidism is its impact on mood. When your thyroid hormone levels are less than optimal, it can significantly affect your mental and emotional well-being. The thyroid plays a crucial role in regulating neurotransmitter production—those chemical messengers in the brain that influence how we feel.
When thyroid hormone levels drop, it can lead to a decrease in the production of key neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, which are essential for maintaining a stable mood and a sense of well-being. This imbalance can contribute to feelings of anxiety, sadness, and even depression. In fact, many people with hypothyroidism experience symptoms like persistent low mood, lack of motivation, and an overall sense of lethargy, which can easily be mistaken for or exacerbate clinical depression.
We support the thyroid specifically for you by looking at and addressing your individual thyroid pattern which I call thyroid type.
2 people can have the exact same symptoms and both have a slow thyroid but they can be stemming from 2 different issues within the thyroid based on their thyroid type.
While some people have an elevated TSH which is almost always a sure sign of Hypothyroidism, others can have a normal TSH but still experience all the slow thyroid symptoms. This is because they have two different thyroid types and would need to be supported differently.
If you were told that your thyroid is “fine” because your TSH is normal and you don’t need any medication, but you still experience the above symptoms, there are many other thyroid labs that need to be evaluated. You can still have a thyroid issue even if your TSH is normal and the support would involve balancing the specific thyroid hormones that are off for you based on your thyroid type.
If you are taking thyroid medication, its helpful to know that there are many different thyroid medications and your thyroid type is also imperative for your doctor to determine which medication may be best for you.
If you started thyroid medication and didn’t see a change or perhaps you noticed an improvement in your symptoms after starting medication but then plateaued, this is another sign that your thyroid may not be supported for your type.
Yes my friend, you do, and it is the KEY to finally resolving your frustrating Hashimoto’s symptoms.
In my free training, I will show you how to use your thyroid type as part of the two-fold approach to Hashimoto’s so that you can lose weight, increase energy, fight brain fog and inflammation and so much more.
You will see exactly where you are, what is working, what is not working and where to go next.
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