Written by A.R Arthur

​Having any Thyroid condition typically implies a slew of mental and other health implications that ultimately impact both quality of life and literal physical health. In this November's blog piece, I will be exploring the ways in which mental health impacts alongside Thyroid illnesses impact men. 

As a man going into my eighth year of having Hashimoto’s, I have often found myself fighting from the very lowest ground level to gain some form of understanding and empathy. Speaking for myself, I don’t want to be victimised or made to feel inadequate, faulty or to have rogue sympathy lobbed at me. Instead, I yearn for simple understanding for men like me who have faced all manner of mental health suffering as a result of a condition that can arise in anyone at any given time. 

Written by Mina, The Graves' Disease Chef

Hello my beautiful Butterfly Warriors. Happy Autumn and Happy World Vegetarian Day! Can you believe Fall has finally arrived?! It has here in California. Swoon!

I don’t know about your neck of the woods but it was a very long and hot Summer here in Cali so you can only imagine that the cooler mornings and chillier nights have received quite the welcome from me.  

It's officially “sweatah weatha” and you know what that means for The Graves’ Disease Chef and my kitchen?

Not only is it time to change the menu, it’s also time to change out all the brightly coloured Summer dish towels, potholders and aprons and bring out the colours of Autumn. Time to start recipe developing again and creating new, fun and fancy Fall inspired dishes with the season’s freshest organic produce and flavours.

Written by Ahmad Alsharrah

​Ahmad Alsharrah is a striving Arab doctor who is currently studying his fourth year of Medicine at the Queen Mary University of London. With a recent diagnosis of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Ahmad has been living with autoimmune hypothyroidism while finishing up his final years as a medical student. Ahmad has a particular interest in medical writing and overall wellbeing, with multiple articles published online in Fahmidan Journal. 

Impact of overworking for the guardians of health 
Healthcare providers work tirelessly to deliver the highest quality of healthcare to their patients and continue to do so on a day-to-day basis. 

Written by Louise Sellar

July 5th, 2023 marked the 75th anniversary of the NHS.

Leading up to the 75th anniversary of the NHS, National Voices had been engaging with the NHS Assembly to develop insights on what was working for people using the NHS and what could be improved.

Written by The Sleep Charity

Many of our community struggle with sleep issues caused by their illness, symptoms or medication. For those that live with chronic illness a good night sleep is critical so establishing good habits and routines would be very beneficial I am sure. 

Sleep is an essential part of our health - it decreases the risk of heart attacks, diabetes, strokes and it helps us fight off minor ailments, deal better with stress, anxiety and depression and even tackle weight problems.
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However, chronic illnesses and sleep can be negatively synergistic: illness stops sleep and sleep deprivation amplifies pain and illness. Often medications can affect sleep or quality of sleep. 

So, what can those suffering from chronic illnesses do to get a better night’s sleep.

​For many years, after a diagnosis of autoimmune hypothyroidism (Hashimoto’s disease), I struggled with the medication I was given. I had no idea that what lay ahead of me was seven years of fighting for an alternative.

Thyroid basic facts
Your thyroid gland is in the neck. It straddles the trachea, just below the larynx. Until I became ill, I had no idea what it was and how it regulates the chemistry of the whole body. If it goes wrong, you can be affected in many different ways.
It produces two hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). The balance of both is controlled by another hormone, TSH, which is sent from the pituitary gland to the thyroid.

Written by Louise Sellar, Director, Thyroid Trust
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This was my mantra as I battled with distressing symptoms during a global pandemic lockdown. I first started suffering symptoms during the first lockdown of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

The first symptom I noticed was that my heart was racing at rest and I started to feel very anxious. I then started to have hot flushes and night sweats and difficulty sleeping.  I contacted my GP surgery , who were only offering telephone consultations at this stage of the pandemic. Due to early menopause running in my family and as I was just about to turn 40, they suspected that might be the cause and gave me lots of helpful tips and advice. However, things just kept getting worse and one morning I contacted 111 as I had woken early with an extremely fast heart rate, I was advised to go to A and E where upon having bloods taken, to check that I hadn't had a heart attack, the doctor advised me that I was suffering with anxiety due to the stress of being in lockdown.

All of us here at The Thyroid Trust were shocked and saddened to receive the dreadful news that our dear friend and Trustee, Theresa Baker, had passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at the beginning of March at her home in London. 

​Theresa will be known to many of you from her involvement as a volunteer and Trustee for the charity. For many years Theresa had been a regular helper at the Patient Support Events we hold in central London and would usually be found either on the registration desk, welcoming people to our meetings as they arrived, or behind the counter handing out teas and coffees - always greeting everyone with her lovely warm smile. Theresa also hosted several informal ‘thyroid friends’ get-togethers at the Wellcome Trust on Euston Road. Theresa was such a pleasure to be around and to have on the team - she was kind, considerate, humble, you could rely on her 100% - but she was also friendly and fun.