The thyroid is a small and mighty gland that sits at the base of our neck. It’s so powerful that a teeny amount keeps all our cells energised and working…
Except for women with this syndrome it often slows down… PCOS and hypothyroidism are more common. And at times the body even attacks its own thyroid gland and an autoimmune disease settles in.
But how do you know if your thyroid is well?
That’s what this post is about.
Here’s the transcript in case you prefer reading.
“Hi, it’s Dr. Rebecca Harwin here. Today, I’d like to discuss thyroid health.
Hypothyroid is a sluggish thyroid. It’s more common in PCOS.
If you feel tired or constipated or depressed or have trouble losing weight, then a thyroid issue might be worth considering. It can also impact fertility pretty massively.
When you ask your doctor to test your thyroid, they typically perform only one test, called TSH, or Thyroid Stimulating Hormone. Then you’ll get your results and the path lab will say that between 0.5 – 4 or 5 (depending on the lab) is “normal.”
What the research shows is that anything above 2.5 has been linked to insulin resistance, which again is really common and a big issue for women with PCOS.
When you receive your results, you’re looking for a value preferably between 1 and 2, with a maximum of 2.5 mIU/L.
Then there’s a whole range of other tests that are particularly helpful for us. T4, T3, and reverse T3 are particularly important, especially if you have fertility issues, as thyroid auto-antibodies are also important.
What are some hypothyroid signs and symptoms to watch out for?
- Fatigue
- Easy weight gain and trouble losing weight
- Constipation
- Muscle pain
- Dry skin
- Loss of the outer third of your eyebrows
- Depression
- Infertility, including implantation problems
- Depression
- Cold intolerance
When I had a sluggish thyroid, walking down the beach with my hubby meant jumpers in the summer… and getting into bed and being told to keep my ‘dead’ hands and feet to myself! - Scalp hair loss
I’ll create another video soon about ways to support your thyroid health. Other than that, have a great day. Bye.”
From PCOS to perfect health, with love,
Dr. Rebecca Harwin
The PCOS Expert
Chiropractor & Bestselling Author of
Conquer Your PCOS Naturally
www.ConquerYourPCOSNaturally.com
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