Coping with Thyroid Disease

By Mary Shomon, About.com Guide to Thyroid Disease

Coping with thyroid disease is not just a matter of taking a pill. There is finding and dealing with the right doctor, and dealing with challenges losing weight, balancing hormones during pregnancy or menopause, dealing with related conditions or continuing symptoms, and finding mind-body balance.

1. Finding and Dealing with Doctors
2. Weight Loss and Metabolism
3. Pregnancy, Fertility & Breastfeeding
4. Perimenopause/Menopause

5. Hormonal Issues
6. Related Conditions, Diseases and Problems
7. Lifestyle, Mind-Body Health

Finding and Dealing with Doctors

Finding a terrific doctor to treat your thyroid disease is an essential part of your effort to live well. Here, you'll find the best resources to help you in your search for the best thyroid doctors. Thyroid patient advocate Mary Shomon will help you find information so you can learn from and deal effectively with doctors, and enjoy the best possible outcome for your thyroid disease.

• An Interview With Mary Shomon's Doctor: Kate Lemmerman, MD
• Do You Need an Endocrinologist?
• Thyroid Top Doctors Directory
• Getting What You Need From Your Doctor
• Are You an Empowered Patient...or a Pain in the Neck?

• Are You a Doctor-Hopper?
• Save Your Own Life: Managing Your Thyroid Disease
• What's WRONG With These Doctors?
• What is an Osteopath?

Weight Loss and Metabolism

Many thyroid patients -- both underactive and overactive -- struggle with an inability to lose weight. Find out more about issues related to weight loss and metabolism for thyroid patients.

• Thyroid Diet & Weight Loss Center
• Quiz: Is Your Thyroid Making You Fat?
• Seven Thyroid Diet Secrets
• Losing Weight With Hypothyroidism
• Weight Gain Follows Hyperthyroidism Treatment
• What You Need to Know About Hoodia for Weight Loss

• The Unique Role of Fiber in Weight Loss With Hypothyroidism
• Do You Need to Increase Your Metabolism? Lose Weight by Boosting Metabolism
• The Cortisol-Weight Loss Controversy: Will CortiSlim Help You Lose Weight?
• Cinnamon: Help for Insulin Resistance and Weight Loss
• The Ultimate Thyroid Patient Exercise Program

Pregnancy, Fertility & Breastfeeding

Thyroid disease is interrelated with women's hormones, and can have an impact on menstrual cycles, fertility, estrogen/progesterone levels, successful pregnancy and/or miscarriage, and the ability to breastfeed. Learn about the connections to hormonal symptoms and conditions, and how to successfully become pregnant and breastfeed with a thyroid condition.

• Fertility, Pregnancy & Thyroid Disease Information Center
• Managing Thyroid Disease During and After Pregnancy: Guidelines
• Postpartum Depression and Postpartum Thyroid Disease
• Normal TSH Ranges During Each Trimester of Pregnancy
• Asymptomatic Thyroid Problems in Mother Can Harm Newborn
• Pregnant with Hypothyroidism? Increase Your Medication!!!

• Fertility, Infertility and Thyroid Disease: Frequently Asked Questions
• Hypothyroidism and Pregnancy: Frequently Asked Questions
• Hyperthyroidism/Graves' Disease and Pregnancy -- Frequently Asked Questions
• Postpartum Thyroid Problems -- Frequently Asked Questions
• Breastfeeding and Thyroid Disease, Questions and Answers

Perimenopause/Menopause

Thyroid disease is more common in women over 50, and especially women in perimenopause and menopause.

• The Thyroid/Menopause Connection
• Think Thyroid
• Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) Levels and Menopausal Status

Hormonal Issues

The thyroid is part of the endocrine system, and therefore, hormonal balance -- including sex drive and menstrual cycle -- is affected by imbalances in thyroid function.

• Low Sex Drive and Thyroid Disease
• Menstrual Problems and Thyroid Disease
• Balancing Thyroid Hormones and Female Hormones
• Evaluating Your Thyroid/Adrenal/Reproductive Hormones

Related Conditions, Diseases and Problems

Thyroid disease has many symptoms that continue after treatment, and is also seen along side a number of health concerns.

• Hair Loss With Thyroid Disease
• Constipation: The Thyroid Symptom No One Wants to Talk About
• Hashimoto's Encephalopathy / Steroid-Responsive Encephalopathy (SREAT)
• Hemochromatosis and Hypothyroidism
• Anemia and Hypothyroidism
• Celiac/Autoimmune Thyroid Connection: A Major Breakthrough
• High Cholesterol & Thyroid Disease

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Hypothyroidism
• Depression and Thyroid Disease
• Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia & Autoimmune Thyroid Disease
• Heart Palpitations? It Might Be Mitral Valve Prolapse!
• Candidiasis (Yeast), Allergies, & Thyroid Disease
• The Adrenal - Thyroid Connection

Lifestyle, Mind-Body Health

Living well with a thyroid condition involves lifestyle, as well as mind-body balance

• I'm Tired, I'm Frustrated, and I GIVE UP! What a Thyroid Patient Can Do
• Your Emotions and Stress -- Ideas on Managing Chronic Disease
• Writing Your Way to Wellness With Thyroid Disease
• Smoking and Thyroid Disease