Hypothyroidism Support Group

Hypothyroidism is the disease state caused by insufficient production of thyrohormone by the thyroid gland. There are several distinct causes for chronic hypothyroidism, the most common being Hashimoto's thyroiditis and hypothyroidism following radioiodine therapy for hyperthyroidism. Advanced hypothyroidism may cause severe complications, the most serious one of which is...

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Endocrine System
/ Hypothyroidism Support Group

JANUARY IS THYROID AWARENESS MONTH

LavenderLove
LavenderLove
Is anyone on here involved in spreading thyroid awareness? I would like to get involved as I myself had no idea what this gland even did before I was diagnosed. Any ideas on how to get involved in raising awareness? What do you guys do?
deleted_user
deleted_user
Our support group has been wearing t-shirts with butterflies that say "I Have Graves'...It Doesn't Have Me". We also have been giving out our support group cards and post cards. We have been getting a good response. People stop and ask us about the butterfly or what our shirt say's.

People love butterflies. I also had my church announce that January is Thyroid Awareness Month. I gave my doctors office brochures from the Graves' Disease Foundation. You only have to ask.
LavenderLove
LavenderLove
Thank you!By support group do you mean in person support group or online? Do in person support groups exist? I would love to talk to people in person who are going through all this.
angel1313
angel1313
WOW I NEVER KNEW THIS ALL THESE YEARS I HAVE BEEN A CANCER SURIVOR(NO THYROID AT ALL)NOT SURE IF U SAW MY WRITE UP I'M NEW HERE - I COLLECT BUTTERFLIES & ANGEL'S - YOU SHOULD SEE ALL I HAVE -PLUS WEAR THEM IN MY HAIR & SHIRTS - SOCKS ETC.... U NAME IT I HAVE THEM - PLUS HAVE ONE THAT USED TO BE ALIVE IN ONE OF MY CYRSTAL BUTTERFLY BOWEL'S FROM GERMANY - I HAVE NEVER KNOWN TO SEE TEE- SHIRTS WITH GRAVES ON IT - I DIDN'T KNOW THAT HAS TO DO WITH THYROID. I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED BUTTERFLIES AS I FEEL FREE FLYING FAR FAR FAR AWAY.
Luv,
Angel
LavenderLove
LavenderLove
Angel - it's okay. My mom is a thyroid cancer survivor as well and didn't know that Jan. is thyroid awareness month :).

I want to wear something butterfly..Perhaps a charm. Gotta go shopping around to find it :).
deleted_user
deleted_user
I also very recently (after 15 years in denial perhaps) that I am a cancer survivor. I had thyroid cancer that was curable by removing the entire thyroid. I was told that a simple pill would put my life back together without any problem. I believed them! I have suffered an aray of physical "problems" since, but after doing my own research and taking myself to various doctors, I am almost able to deal with all of the side effects of both the meds and the condition. So I am a survivor! I refuse to give up or give in...this site has helped me a great deal. We should all be proud of ourselves and our attempts to normalize our lives. Support are definitely helpful as well.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Sorry for the typos before. I just want to add that it is very important to educate others, including our doctors. They don't understand our symptoms many times, and friends and family either get worried or think we are stressed out and need to relax more, etc. I am sure you know what I mean!
LavenderLove
LavenderLove
Wonderwoman - Yes I do think education is key. I just recently had a long talk with my boyfriend after I was diagnosed and educated him on what I read about this disease and how it really affects our lives. I am still educating myself about the disease I was just diagnosed last month. My mom didn't ever quite connect her symptoms with the illness so I didn't learn much from her having the disease all these years. She thinks I am looking too much into it but I look at all the various health problems she has and how they are connected to thyroid problems and I say to myself "how could I NOT want to make the connection?!!?"