Thyroid disorders such as Hashimoto’s (hypothyroidism) and Graves’ disease (hyperthyroidism) are often misdiagnosed, which can make finding the right treatment a lengthy and stressful process. While each person with a thyroid disorder has their own unique story, many of them share common experiences and can relate to one another – resulting in the rise of people connecting through blogs. What’s more, people share their stories in hope of finding and informing others going through similar experiences. Here are 10 blogs that help thousands of people living with thyroid disorders.
American Thyroid Association
The ATA is an inclusive organization that caters to every entity in the thyroid community – from medical professionals to patients to advocates within the community. While the ATA blog may not as ‘personal’ as others on this list, the authors have the ability to write comprehensive articles that can be understood by and are useful to both layman readers and professionals alike. Furthermore, while pediatric thyroid conditions are rare, it is still a reality for a number of families. ATA is one of the few blogs that feature a substantial number of in-depth articles on thyroid conditions in children and possible treatment options.
Hypothyroid Mom
“Hypothyroid Mom” is an acclaimed blog in the thyroid community. Over the years, Dana Trentini – the creator of “Hypothyroid Mom” – has gained over one million followers and readers, thanks to her engaging and eloquently written articles on a diverse number of topics. No matter how controversial or “negative” the subject might be, Trentini tackles each of them with wit and candor, while also lacing them with a huge dose of positivity. Her pieces reflect her flair for writing as well as her eagerness to educate the thyroid community to aid them in avoiding certain health complications.
Married to Hashimoto’s
From the title, one can already infer that this blog’s take on a type of hypothyroidism disorder – Hashimoto’s – will be an unusual one. “Married to Hashimoto’s” sheds light on the point of view of a husband whose wife has been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s and the ordeals faced as an individual, a married couple and as a family. Rock Robbins has unabashedly written about the physical and emotional toll that Hashimoto’s has taken, which can seem slightly disconcerting due to his candidness. However, alongside the harsh truths, he imparts knowledge and wisdom, providing valuable lessons in understanding the effects of thyroid disorders and how spouses can support their partner living with a thyroid condition.
Rock’s wife, Stacey Robbins, is an award-winning author and thyroid advocate; her site is at www.staceyrobbins.com. They are both passionate about shortcutting people to their healthiest, happiest place.
Other posts you may be interested in on the MyTherapy blog:
- The Startling Link Between the Thyroid Gland and Its Effects On Your Mental Well-being
- Autoimmune Disease Series: What is Autoimmune Thyroid Disease?
Stop the Thyroid Madness
For close to two decades, Janie experienced the painful ordeal of being misdiagnosed and as a result, not being able to receive the right treatment. Fortunately, she eventually found a suitable medication which abated most of her symptoms significantly. With the hopes of minimizing the common occurrence of misdiagnosis in the thyroid community, “Stop The Thyroid Madness” was birthed by Janie. Using her experience as inspiration, one section of the blog mainly focuses on the different medications available to treat thyroid disorders and breaks it down to make it more comprehensible. STTM also features numerous posts by guest bloggers, allowing readers to take inspiration and learn from both Janie and the thyroid community.
The Butterfly Effect
The literal meaning of “the butterfly effect” is a concept where even the smallest change can ripple and inflict a much larger impact on the surrounding parties. Much like the meaning, Victoria – the owner of the blog – is making waves in the thyroid disorder community through her blog. Victoria lives with Hashimoto’s disease and despite her fair share of adversities that comes with the condition, she has chosen to enlighten her fellow readers on dealing with hypothyroidism, alongside other authors. Articles on “The Butterfly Effect” range from informative health guides to personal letters to the people in Victoria’s lives, which are both enlightening and soul-stirring.
The Invisible Hypothyroidism
This blog is the brainchild of Rachel, a multi-faceted Thyroid Patient Advocate who is both an author and speaker in the hypothyroidism community. Having been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, Rachel experienced first-hand the debilitating effects the disorder can have both physically and mentally. After learning to take control of her condition, she embarked on educating the thyroid community on how to “be their own thyroid advocate” (which is also the name of her book). Her blog is packed with guides on how to seek proper diagnosis and treatment of one’s condition, among other essential information on tackling hypothyroidism.
Thriving on Paleo
Apart from taking the right medicine, certain lifestyle changes like changing one’s diet have to be made to alleviate hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism symptoms. Michele Spring – the founder of “Thriving On Paleo” can be held as one of the pioneers of the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol (AIP diet). After struggling with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, Spring resorted to a paleo diet. Realizing that it worked wonders for her, Spring has been campaigning for the adoption of the AIP diet for people living with thyroid disorders. Her blog features AIP recipes and tips on how to ease symptoms and even has a step-by-step guide to those who are new to it.
Thyroid‑Info
Mary Shomon – creator of Thyroid-Info – has an extensive portfolio as a thyroid condition advocate and has an established presence in the thyroid community. Having been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis in the late ’90s, Shomon took inspiration from her personal struggles in coping with this condition and embarked on a mission to campaign for thyroid awareness. Prior to “Thyroid-Info”, Shomon initially launched a health site that was later bought by the New York Times – which is a testament to her abilities. On her blog, Shomon explains how a thyroid condition might affect other health conditions that one might not normally associate with a thyroid disorder, such as hives and constipation.
Thyroid Awareness
For those who are more auditory learners than visual learners, “Thyroid Awareness” is the blog for you. While this blog does contain written articles about thyroid conditions, it also includes several useful videos that delve into hypothyroidism and some associated health conditions. However, visual learners are not neglected. “Thyroid Awareness” has also compressed information on various topics into exhaustive information-filled handouts as well as infographics. One component that is not a common feature on other blogs is their easy step-by-step guide on how to conduct a proper neck check on oneself to detect any thyroid gland abnormalities.
Thyroid Change
Alongside possessing a large repository of information, “Thyroid Change” has also successfully created an online community and bridged the gap between medical professionals and people living with thyroid conditions. As “Thyroid Change” believes that every individual requires personalized treatment for their thyroid condition, this blog supports readers in seeking out their own optimal treatment with extensive guides on living with a thyroid condition. “Thyroid Change” is truly a one-stop-shop where one can learn about the different diagnoses, locating a suitable doctor and even have access to multiple patient forums.
Take a look at some of the other posts on the MyTherapy blog:
