Thyroid Conditions — Blog

Growing up with congenital hypothyroidism

The first year of congenital hypothyroidism is often the toughest for parents. But once your baby is growing, hitting their milestones and responding well to treatment, you might feel relieved.

But what happens now? You might wonder what the years ahead will look like, what to expect as they experience growth spurts, and whether they will need life-long management.

Let’s explore what long-term care of congenital hypothyroidism looks like, and how you can support your child through each stage.

Natural support for your baby’s thyroid health

When your baby receives a thyroid diagnosis, the medical side of things can be overwhelming at best. But you don’t need to feel helpless – there are steps that you can take to support them on their health journey as well.

It’s easy to get caught up in the tests, medications, appointments, milestones and the ‘what if’s. You want to make sure your little one is healthy and happy, after all! But there are gentle ways to support your baby with their thyroid condition on a daily basis.

The first 12 months - supporting your baby’s congenital thyroid disorder

After a diagnosis of congenital thyroid disorder, the first year often feels like a blur of appointments, tests and monitoring. So knowing what to expect can give you some relief and allow you to focus on bonding with your baby and establishing your rhythm as a family.

So here is what you can expect in the first 12 months with a congenital hypothyroidism diagnosis plus how you can support your baby along the journey.

Understanding congenital thyroid conditions - what every parent needs to know

Having a baby is a big deal in itself, and there’s so much to think about. So it’s no surprise that learning that your baby has a thyroid condition can feel terrifying for many parents.

While congenital thyroid disease sounds like a big, scary diagnosis? There’s plenty that can be done, and if it’s detected early and given the right support, your child will likely go on and live a happy, healthy life.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed at your baby’s diagnosis or even if you’re a parent-to-be who wants to know more about this? Let’s go through the basics of what you want to understand.

Want to lower your thyroid antibodies? Here's how

If you have elevated thyroid antibodies, your number one goal is to lower them. But how can you actually make that happen?

While everyone has unique triggers for their autoimmune thyroid cascade, there are steps you can take to take back control. By supporting the immune system and reducing inflammation, you can encourage those antibodies to drop back down – ideally into a normal range.

Here are some areas I look to when supporting clients to lower their thyroid antibodies naturally.

Are you making these common thyroid healing mistakes?

When it comes to thyroid health, there are a lot of factors to consider. But in my decades of working with thyroid patients, there are common mistakes and myths that pop up constantly! So I thought I would share some false beliefs around healing your thyroid and what the real answers are.

Thyroid Conditions, Thyroid Health, Thyroid and DietsTara NelsonSeptember 6, 2024thyroid tips, thyroid health

Tips to make winter more bearable when you're hypothyroid

Noticed that your thyroid symptoms are worse when the wintertime hits? If your thyroid is underactive, you’ll be more prone to symptoms during the colder months. But that doesn’t mean you have to suffer in silence - there are steps you can take to make winter more bearable.

Does hypothyroidism get worse over winter?

Do you notice your hypothyroid symptoms more when it’s cold outside? It’s not just you - there can be an increase in several common symptoms of an underactive thyroid. Let’s take a look at why this happens.

Preventing post-partum thyroiditis naturally

Concerned that your thyroid may cause issues after birth? This is known as post-partum thyroiditis, and it’s not an uncommon condition.

Like many health concerns for a new mother, it is usually temporary. However, in some cases it could lead to a long-term thyroid disorder. That’s why I recommend taking steps to reduce your risk of developing post-partum thyroiditis.

Thyroid Conditions, Thyroid HealthTara NelsonFebruary 16, 2024pregnancy, post-partum, thyroid disease, thyroiditis

Pregnant with Graves'? What you need to know

While pregnancy is often an exciting time, for those with Graves’ disease, it can also be challenging. The autoimmune thyroid disease can not only affect your health, but also your baby’s. That’s why it’s important to be informed and armed with tips to help you manage your condition.

Thyroid Conditions, Thyroid HealthTara NelsonJanuary 26, 2024pregnancy, Graves', hyperthyroidism

Optimising fertility with Graves’ disease

Considering starting or growing your family when you have Graves’ disease?

Falling pregnant can be more difficult for couples when an autoimmune thyroid issue is at play. But there are steps you can take to counteract the effects of Graves’ disease and increase your fertility naturally.

Thyroid Conditions, Thyroid HealthTara NelsonJanuary 19, 2024fertility, Graves', hyperthyroidism

Pregnancy after thyroidectomy – what you need to know

Pregnancy is a life-changing experience for a parent. But if you’ve undergone a thyroidectomy or survived thyroid cancer, there are some challenges you may face on your journey.

Whether you’ve had a partial or total thyroidectomy, the removal of thyroid tissue means that you need to closely monitor your thyroid hormone levels throughout the pregnancy. But if you’re armed with the following tips, you’ll find it much easier to navigate your pregnancy and ensure that both you and your little one are healthy.

Thyroid Health, Thyroid ConditionsTara NelsonJanuary 12, 2024pregnancy, thyroidectomy, thyroid cancer

How to have a healthy pregnancy with Hashimoto’s

If you’ve been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, you might be a little apprehensive when it comes to starting or growing your family. It’s true that pregnancy and thyroid health are closely linked, and there are some specific concerns that come with Hashimoto’s.

But don’t fret – these tips will help you navigate how to keep yourself and your little one healthy on the journey to parenthood.

Thyroid Conditions, Thyroid HealthTara NelsonJanuary 5, 2024pregnancy, Hashimoto's

Preconception care for thyroid health

Starting or growing your family is a big step for anyone. And if you have a thyroid condition, it’s crucial that you have a plan in place for not only pregnancy, but also prior to conception. By taking steps to nourish your thyroid during the preconception phase, you’re setting the stage for a healthy pregnancy.

As with any care, preconception care is best when under tailored advice and supervision of a health practitioner. But there are some tips that I find helpful for all of my thyroid clients when it comes to prepping for pregnancy.

Thyroid Health, Thyroid ConditionsTara NelsonDecember 15, 2023preconception, pregnancy

Understanding the link between your thyroid and fertility

Many people overlook the link between their thyroid and fertility. Low thyroid (hypothyroidism) dysfunction can disrupt the menstrual cycle and egg development, which impacts fertility and pregnancy. There is also a higher prevalence of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis (HT) in those with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and Endometriosis, which can all impact fertility. Let's take a deeper look at what's happening and what you can do.

Hormones, Thyroid Conditions, Thyroid HealthTara NelsonDecember 8, 2023fertility, hypothyroidism

Can Graves' cause other autoimmune conditions?

As you may know, Graves’ disease is an autoimmune condition that affects thyroid function. But the thyroid isn’t the only part of the body influenced by this disease. Autoimmunity means that for some reason, the immune system is attacking one or more areas of the body. And due to its autoimmune nature, Graves’ disease could lead to the development of other autoimmune disorders.

So if you’ve ever wondered about whether there’s a link between Graves’ disease and other autoimmune conditions, you’re in the right place.

Thyroid ConditionsTara NelsonOctober 20, 2023Graves', autoimmunity

Can Hashimoto's cause other autoimmune conditions?

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune thyroid disorder. But it’s not necessarily just the thyroid that is affected by this condition. Like any autoimmune condition, Hashimoto’s can potentially trigger the development of other autoimmune issues.

Let’s take a look at the known connections between Hashimoto’s and other autoimmune diseases.

Thyroid ConditionsTara NelsonOctober 13, 2023Hashimoto's, autoimmunity

Graves' and mental health - here's what you need to know

Do you have Graves’ disease? If so, you need to understand how it can affect not only your physical symptoms, but also your mental health.

An overactive thyroid can affect the entire body, including the brain and nervous system. As a result, it can have big impact on your mental wellbeing. So you want to make sure you’re taking steps to care for your mental health as well as your physical health.

Thyroid Health, Thyroid Conditions, Mental HealthTara NelsonSeptember 29, 2023Graves', mental health

Here's how hyperthyroidism affects mental wellbeing

Hyperthyroidism can have a range of effects on the body. So it’s no surprise that your mind & nervous system can suffer, leading to mental health concerns.

While we often think of feeling hot, sweaty, hungry and losing weight with hyperthyroidism, it can have also have a significant impact on your mental wellbeing. So if you’ve received a diagnosis of an overactive thyroid, you need to take steps to care for your mental health as well as your physical health.

Let’s look at the link between an overactive thyroid and mental health.

Thyroid Health, Thyroid Conditions, Mental HealthTara NelsonSeptember 22, 2023hyperthyroidism, mental health

The connection between Hashimoto's & mental health

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis can have countless effects on the body – and that includes the mind & nervous system. Many people notice that since they developed Hashimoto’s, their mental health declined. And there are both direct and indirect reasons why this occurs.

So if you’ve suspected that Hashimoto’s has played a role in your mental health struggles, let’s look at why.

Thyroid Health, Thyroid Conditions, Mental HealthTara NelsonSeptember 15, 2023Hashimoto's, mental health