Written by Sophie Getliff 
MSc Health Psychology student at the University Of Derby

My research looked into the lived experiences of people living with a thyroid condition. This report focuses on a small subsection of the data which focuses on young adults. 

This research aimed to gain a comprehensive understanding of the healthcare experiences of young individuals living with thyroid conditions. Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are chronic health issues caused by the dysregulation of the thyroid gland, leading to either an underproduction (hypothyroidism) or overproduction (hyperthyroidism) of essential hormones, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4).

These hormonal imbalances result in various symptoms, such as severe fatigue, weight management difficulties, and depression. The number of people diagnosed with these conditions is gradually increasing in the UK. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how these conditions are managed and their impact on patients, particularly younger adults. In light of the rising incidence of thyroid disorders and risk factors for earlier onset, this study explores the diagnostic experiences and healthcare needs of younger adults aged 18-40.

Written by Verity Chester
Thyroid Patient & NHS Researcher
 
I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in 2019 after two years of ill health, including weight gain, muscle pain, and exhaustion. I struggled to keep up with the demands of my job as a researcher, and my activity levels and quality of life declined. I didn’t know anything about hypothyroidism at that time, and I struggled to understand my diagnosis.

In my role as a researcher, I work with people with learning disabilities. Having a learning disability is defined by “significant limitations in both intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour”. People with learning disabilities have a below average IQ, and difficulties reading, communicating verbally, and advocating for themselves. They often are dependent on family members or paid carers to support their everyday tasks, including navigating healthcare, and experience a poorer service within medical services. 

Written by Natalie Guy
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Taken from our monthly ‘Talk Thyroid’ column in Health Triangle Magazine, where we discuss a wide range of subjects relating to Thyroid health. Currently 1 in 20 people in the UK have a thyroid disorder, which may be temporary or permanent.

This is Natalie's personal account of her own lived experience and she hopes that by candidly sharing her story it will help others feel less alone. The Thyroid Trust would like to add that whilst all views are the author's own,  from the thyroid patient community they help support stories of patients not feeling listened to and challenges around accessing T3 or Liothyronine are sadly commonplace. These patient stories just highlight that thyroid patient voices have been overlooked for too long and why there is such a desperate need for change. 

My journey to taking liothyronine medication has  been on a steep’ learning curve’ to find what works on an individual level for me and I couldn’t access them at all via the NHS.

Written by David Christopher,

​I was diagnosed hypothyroid about 20 years ago, by chance, via a ‘well man’ test. It was a real shock. Not to worry, I was told, you just need to take a tablet every day and it will be fine. And so, it began.

I wasn’t fine, my thyroid hormone levels didn’t stabilise, my dose of levothyroxine kept on going up and my GP couldn’t work out what was wrong. I saw an endocrinologist who said I was hashitoxic, i.e., my thyroid problem was an auto immune condition. Originally, I had been hyperthyroid, had Graves disease and thyroid eye disease, which weren’t diagnosed and treated, but went away when I became underactive. This left me with some double vision on my left-hand side.

Written by Mina, The Graves' Disease Chef

The last time I wrote for Thyroid Trust, I shared my Dutch Oven Pumpkin Spiced Chili recipe. Think all plant-based chili with tons of aromatics, flavour and yum. Everyone loves a generous bowl of chili with all the fun toppings.

Thought I’d share a different type of recipe today given that the weather is getting even colder here in Northern California and I’m thinking more comfort food would be a nice welcome. Rather different from the dishes I used to prepare when I lived on an island.

It’s wild to think that a little over one year ago. Life was very different. I was living on a remote island in the heart of the Philippines and so much was going on in my little part of the world. We had just moved back to the U.S., after island living for almost two years. Going from warm and balmy tropical days of paradise living, to the wintry cold and stormy weather in the States was quite a shock to the system. As you can probably imagine. 

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.