What Do Patients Look Like Before and After Hypothyroidism Treatment?

What Do Patients Look Like Before and After Hypothyroidism Treatment?

Miss Lizzy

Ever wondered what hypothyroidism really looks like on the outside, and how much it can improve with the right treatment?

These historic photos tell a powerful story. They show the profound changes in appearance that occur when hypothyroidism is properly treated, something many people never get to see.

Let’s take a closer look at these before-and-after images, so you can learn to spot the classic signs of hypothyroidism, and more importantly, what recovery may look like.

Common Signs of Hypothyroidism in These Photos

In the before images, you’ll notice classic hypothyroid features:

  • Puffy face and eyes
  • Swollen neck area
  • Dull complexion
  • Hooded eyelids
  • Thinning, dry, and brittle hair
  • Under-eye bags
  • Dull, unfocused eyes (often described as “brain fog”)
  • Thinning outer eyebrows

These visual signs reflect what’s happening beneath the surface: a slowed-down metabolism, poor circulation, and fluid retention from an underactive thyroid.

Case Studies: Hypothyroidism Before and After Treatment

14-Year-Old Girl: Puffy Eyes, Dry Hair, and Saddle Nose

Before and After Hypothyroidism Treatment with NDT - Miss Lizzy Hypothyroid Advocate

In the before photo, this 14-year-old girl shows:

  • Puffiness around her eyes
  • Thickened lips
  • Depressed nasal bridge (saddle nose)
  • Dry, coarse, straight hair

Just six months later, her improvements are remarkable:

  • Nose bridge appears more elevated
  • Eyes are brighter and more alert
  • Lips have normalized
  • Hair is shinier and curly

Adult Woman: Puffy Face, Dull Skin, and Under-Eye Bags, Before and After Treatment

Before and After Hypothyroidism Treatment with NDT - Miss Lizzy Hypothyroid Advocate

In the before photo, she shows classic hypothyroid features:

  • Puffiness around the neck and face
  • Dull complexion
  • Dry, lifeless hair
  • Under-eye bags

After treatment:

  • Swelling and puffiness have diminished
  • Hair looks shiny and healthy
  • Skin appears more vibrant, glowing, and youthful

Adult Male: Swollen Neck, Brain Fog, and Dry Hair, Before and After Treatment

This man had the “obese” form of hypothyroidism, showing:

  • Swollen neck and face
  • Hooded, heavy eyelids
  • Dull, foggy eyes
  • Dry, thinning hair

After treatment:

  • Neck and face swelling reduced dramatically
  • Hair is fuller, thicker, and healthier
  • Skin looks firmer, younger, and more vibrant

Another Adult Male: Myxedema (Severe Puffiness) Before and After

This man shows the classic puffiness of advanced hypothyroidism (myxedema), including:

  • Swelling around the neck, jowls, and face
  • Puffy cheeks
  • Dull skin
  • Thinning hair

After treatment, the transformation is clear:

  • Dramatic reduction in swelling
  • Thicker, healthier hair
  • Skin appears more youthful, especially around the eyes and forehead

The Takeaway: Your Thyroid Affects Everything

These photos are a powerful reminder that hypothyroidism isn’t just about feeling tired or cold, it can literally change how you look. The puffy face, dull eyes, thinning hair, and brain fog are outward signs of a thyroid that’s struggling to keep up.

But here’s the good news: With the right support, your thyroid can start to heal and those symptoms may improve.

Ready for Your Own Thyroid Transformation?

If you’re struggling with low energy, brain fog, slow metabolism, or puffiness in your face and body, you’re not alone, and you don’t have to stay stuck.

The HypoHero™ Thyroid Protocol is a proven 3-part method that helps you:
✅ Track your temperature and symptoms to uncover hidden thyroid patterns
✅ Fuel your thyroid with the right minerals, hydration, and gentle detox
✅ Optimize with step-by-step adjustments based on your thyroid history

This isn’t just another thyroid program. It’s a complete strategy to help you regain your energy, metabolism, and confidence. Thousands of women (and men!) have used this method to experience more energy, sharper focus, and improved metabolism without relying on medication alone.

Ready to see your own before-and-after transformation?
👉 Learn More About the HypoHero Thyroid Protocol and take the first step today!

Miss LizzyWhat Do Patients Look Like Before and After Hypothyroidism Treatment?

What I Wish I Knew Sooner About Hypothyroidism and Adrenal Fatigue

Miss Lizzy

Looking back on my journey with hypothyroidism and adrenal fatigue, my one big regret is that it took me over ten years of trying different things, chasing symptoms, making mistakes, and feeling frustrated before I finally found a system that worked. I wish I had known sooner that true healing isn’t about guessing, adjusting thyroid medication, or chasing lab numbers. It’s about having a clear plan that addresses the root cause and gives you the tools to make the right adjustments along the way.

The Connection Between Hypothyroidism and Adrenal Fatigue

If you’ve ever felt like you’re stuck in an endless cycle of fatigue, brain fog, and burnout, you’re not alone. Many of us with hypothyroidism also struggle with adrenal fatigue, and the symptoms often overlap which makes both conditions frustrating and confusing:

  • Waking up feeling exhausted, no matter how much you sleep
  • Feeling wired but tired
  • Needing an afternoon nap, or caffeine to get through the day
  • Crashing hard after stress
  • Struggling to fall asleep at night
  • Sensitivity to light, noise, or overwhelm
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness when standing up
  • Feeling anxious, stressed, or easily startled
  • Brain fog that makes it hard to think or focus
  • Needing days to recover from even minor stressors

These symptoms aren’t random. They’re signals that your thyroid and adrenal glands may be struggling.

What Finally Helped: The HypoHero™ Thyroid Protocol

After ten years of trying different approaches (Levothyroxine, Armour, compounded thyroid hormone, adrenal medication, adrenal supplements, a range of supplements, diet changes, and other strategies) that never gave lasting results, what finally helped me get my thyroid and adrenal health back on track was the HypoHero™ Thyroid Protocol.

This isn’t just a collection of tips or a one-size-fits-all supplement. It’s a step-by-step strategy, supplement system and coaching program that helps you uncover what’s really going on in your body and make the right adjustments to heal.

Here are the reasons why I created the protocol:

🧭 Track: Learn Your Body’s Signals

I started by tracking my body temperature and symptoms because temperature is like a window into how your thyroid and adrenals are actually doing, day by day.

Most doctors focus on labs, but those don’t always tell the full story. Tracking temperature helped me see what was happening, instead of guessing, so I could learn, adapt and make changes proactively.

💧 Fuel: Support Your Thyroid and Adrenals

Once I could see the patterns, I focused on fueling my body:

  • Restoring minerals to support thyroid and adrenal health

  • Staying hydrated with mineral-rich water

  • Gently detoxing halogens (like fluoride and bromide) that can block thyroid function

  • Supporting my body’s natural rhythm

This is where things started to click: my energy came back, my mood lifted, and I could finally handle stress without crashing.

🔧 Optimize: Adjust as You Go

Healing isn’t a straight line. The protocol taught me how to adjust based on my thyroid diagnosis and what I was tracking. I stopped guessing and started seeing real, measurable progress:

  • My temperatures stabilized

  • My energy and mood improved

  • I felt more like myself again

  • I was finally able to get off thyroid medication!

The Bottom Line

If you’re struggling with low energy, brain fog, sleep issues, and slow metabolism, you don’t have to keep guessing or trying random solutions. The HypoHero Thyroid Protocol gives you a proven, step-by-step system to support your thyroid, balance your adrenals, and finally feel better.

You’re not broken. You’re just missing the right strategy, the right supplements, and the right support.

Ready to Start Your Own Transformation?

Thousands of people have used the HypoHero Thyroid Protocol to improve their energy, focus, and metabolism, and saved themselves years of trial and error.

👉 Learn More About the HypoHero Thyroid Protocol and start your journey today!

Miss LizzyWhat I Wish I Knew Sooner About Hypothyroidism and Adrenal Fatigue

Can I have hypothyroidism with normal TSH?

Miss Lizzy

Yes, absolutely. It’s more common than most people realize.

TSH stands for Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, but here’s what many people don’t know, TSH is actually a measure of how the pituitary gland is signaling the thyroid. It’s not a direct measurement of how well your thyroid is functioning or how your cells are using thyroid hormone.

Even though doctors have relied on the TSH test for decades, it doesn’t always reflect what’s actually going on in the body. This is why many people experience clear signs of hypothyroidism including fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, cold hands and feet, but they’re told everything is “normal.”

That was true for me, and it’s true for many people I’ve worked with.

How Common Is Undiagnosed Hypothyroidism?

Depending on the source, it’s estimated that up to 20 million Americans have a thyroid disorder, and many more may go undiagnosed. Hypothyroidism affects women more than men, and 1 in 8 women will develop a thyroid disorder in their lifetime.

You probably know someone with undiagnosed hypothyroidism. They’re the friend who’s always tired, can’t lose weight, wears a sweater in summer, and struggles to focus or remember words. Maybe that person is you.

If you’ve been told your thyroid is “fine” based on TSH but still feel off, there’s a reason for that—and you’re not alone.

Why TSH Can Be Misleading

TSH is not always reliable. Here are a few reasons why:

  • TSH can fluctuate up to 200% during the day.

  • The “normal range” varies between labs and is still debated.

  • TSH doesn’t measure how much active thyroid hormone (T3) is available to your cells.

  • It doesn’t show whether your body is converting T4 (inactive hormone) into T3 (active hormone).

  • It doesn’t detect thyroid resistance or adrenal issues, both of which can affect how thyroid hormone works in your body.

  • In some cases, people have low thyroid function but still show a normal or even low TSH.

If your doctor is relying on TSH alone, they might miss what’s really going on.

What Happens When Hypothyroidism Goes Untreated?

When TSH is used as the only test, many people get misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all. That means years of symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, depression, low libido, hair loss, and poor sleep. It also means years of being told it’s “just stress” or “all in your head.”

For me, that meant years of going from doctor to doctor, being told my thyroid was fine, but continuing to suffer from symptoms. I knew something was wrong, but my labs didn’t show it. So I was dismissed. When I finally got diagnosed with hypothyroidism, I spent another decade trying every type of thyroid medication trying chasing thyroid lab test numbers but continuing to suffer from symptoms.

If you’ve been in that position, you know how frustrating and hopeless it can feel.

What To Do If Your TSH Is Normal But You Have Symptoms

If you suspect low thyroid function, here are a few steps I recommend:

  1. Request a full thyroid panel, not just TSH. This should include:

    • Free T3

    • Free T4

    • Reverse T3

    • TSH (as a reference range)

    • Thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibodies (for Hashimoto’s)

  2. Track your body temperature. Your thyroid controls temperature regulation, and low body temperature is one of the most reliable signs of low thyroid function. A waking temperature below 97.8°F and an afternoon temperature below 98.6°F can point to hypothyroidism.

  3. Pay attention to symptoms. Symptoms matter. Energy, focus, temperature, mood, digestion, skin, sleep are all measurements your thyroid is either working well or not. If your thyroid labs are “normal” but you feel anything but normal, trust what your body is telling you.

  4. Work with someone who takes a full-picture approach. If your doctor refuses to run these tests or dismisses your concerns, it may be time to find a new healthcare provider. It’s not your job to convince a doctor who isn’t open-minded. And you deserve to have someone on your team who will help you.

The Role of Body Temperature

I talk about temperature a lot in my work because it was the missing piece for me. Where lab testing failed me, tracking my body temperature saved me.

When I finally started tracking my temperature, I realized I wasn’t just “a person who’s always cold.” My body temperature was consistently below 97°F. That’s a sign the thyroid is underactive, even if TSH says otherwise.

Once I learned how to support my thyroid and adrenals the right way, my temperature came up, and so did my energy, mood, and metabolism. Everything started to make more sense.

If This Sounds Familiar, You’re in the Right Place

This is exactly why I created the HypoHero™ Thyroid Protocol to help people who are still dealing with low thyroid symptoms even when the labs look normal.

The protocol teaches you how to track your temperature, understand your symptoms, and support your thyroid with minerals, without chasing lab results or constantly adjusting medication.

If you’ve felt ignored, frustrated, or like you’ve tried everything and nothing works… this is a new approach that actually makes sense.

Click here to learn more about the HypoHero™ Thyroid Protocol and how it can help you feel like yourself again. 👉 Take the HypoHero Thyroid Symptom Quiz

Miss LizzyCan I have hypothyroidism with normal TSH?

Do You Have Hypothyroid Symptoms, Even With “Normal” Labs?

Miss Lizzy

If you’ve been feeling off, but your doctor says everything looks “fine,” you’re not imagining things.

Many people live with undiagnosed or misdiagnosed hypothyroidism, often for years. And the reason? Most doctors rely too heavily on TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) levels, which don’t tell the full story about what’s happening in your cells.

I personally struggled with all the classic symptoms of hypothyroidism including fatigue, brain fog, slow metabolism, and cold hands and feet for years. Even though my TSH was “in range.” And I’m not alone. Thousands of people report classic symptoms of hypothyroidism while being told their thyroid labs are normal.

Here’s the truth:
TSH is not always reliable. That’s why it’s critical to understand the full range of symptoms and pay attention to what your body is trying to tell you.

From low body temperature and constant fatigue to hormone imbalances and hair loss, the signs of hypothyroidism are often dismissed or overlooked. But when you know what to look for, and how to respond, you can finally start feeling better.

Body Temperature and Metabolism

  • Low body temperature (below 98.2-98.4 at 3pm)
  • Easily gain weight
  • Difficulty losing weight
  • Difficulty tolerating cold
  • Feeling cold when others are comfortable
  • Cold hands and feet
  • Raised body temperature

Energy, Motivation, and Exercise

  • Fatigue or loss of energy
  • Feeling tired even after a full nights sleep
  • Sleeping more than average
  • Less stamina than others
  • Less energy than others
  • Nodding off easily
  • Requires naps in the afternoon
  • Exhaustion
  • Difficulty working a full-time job
  • Inability to stand on feet for long periods
  • Complete lack of motivation
  • Long recovery period after any activity
  • Inability to hold children for very long
  • Arms feeling like dead weights after activity
  • Bizarre and debilitating reaction to exercise
  • Slowing to a snail’s pace when walking up slight grade

Mood and Mental Focus

  • Depression
  • Feeling uninterested in life
  • Seasonal blues
  • Memory loss
  • Fuzzy-thinking
  • Difficulty following conversations
  • Brain fog
  • Anxiety
  • Headaches and migraines
  • Less ability to cope in relationships
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Forgetfulness
  • Irritability
  • Intolerance of others

Digestion

  • Candida
  • Lactose intolerance
  • Inability to eat in the mornings
  • No appetite
  • Constipation
  • Colitis
  • Extreme hunger, especially at nighttime
  • Nausea

Hair, Skin and Nails

  • Irregular periods
  • Dry skin, brittle nails
  • Brittle hair, itchy scalp
  • Hair loss, thinning hair
  • Bumps on legs
  • Breakout on chest and arms
  • Hives
  • Thinning outer eyebrows, or no eyebrows
  • No hair growth, breaks faster than it grows
  • Broken/peeling fingernails

Hormones

  • PMS moodiness, bloating, heavy periods, and cramps
  • Irregular periods
  • Reduced sex drive or no sex drive
  • Fertility issues including lack of ovulation
  • Inability to get pregnant
  • Miscarriages

Endocrine

  • Puffy face, around eyes, neck, wrists and/or hands
  • Hoarse voice
  • Bruising or blood clotting problems
  • Elevated levels of LDL cholesterol
  • Heightened risk of heart disease
  • Swollen lymph glands

Other

  • Asthma or allergies that suddenly appear or get worse
  • Persistent cold sores
  • Sleep apnea which can be associated with low cortisol
  • Air hunger which feels like you can’t get enough air
  • Osteoporosis
  • Joint and muscle pain
  • Handwriting nearly illegible
  • Internal itching in ears
  • Ringing in ears
  • Fluid retention
  • Swollen legs that prevent walking
  • Low blood pressure issues
  • High blood pressure issues
  • Varicose veins
  • Tightness in throat
  • Plantar fascitis
  • Cold gluteus maximus

Want to Know What’s Really Going On With Your Thyroid?

The HypoHero™ Thyroid Protocol goes beyond basic lab tests to help uncover hidden thyroid patterns using temperature tracking, symptom awareness, and targeted minerals to support your thyroid health.

It’s a 3-part process to help you:

  • Track your body’s symptoms so you can finally connect the dots

  • Fuel your thyroid with the minerals it’s been missing

  • Optimize your energy, mood, metabolism, and temperature

If you’ve been told your symptoms are “in your head”… we believe you. And we have a plan.

👉 Take the HypoHero Thyroid Quiz to Get Started Today

Miss LizzyDo You Have Hypothyroid Symptoms, Even With “Normal” Labs?

Hypothyroidism

Miss Lizzy

Living with Hypothyroidism: Why So Many People Are Undiagnosed (and What You Can Do About It)

Are you struggling with symptoms no one can explain? You’re not alone and it might not be “all in your head.” It could be your thyroid.

The Silent Epidemic of Hypothyroidism

More than 12% of the U.S. population will develop a thyroid condition at some point in their lives. And yet, thyroid disorders are still one of the most underdiagnosed and misunderstood health issues today.

According to the American Thyroid Association, an estimated 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease, and up to 60% of them don’t even know it【ref: http://www.thyroid.org/media-main/about-hypothyroidism/】. That means millions of people are waking up every day battling fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, and other symptoms… with no idea what’s really going on in their body.

And it gets more frustrating: many people do seek help, only to be told their lab tests look “normal.”

Why Are So Many People Misdiagnosed or Undiagnosed?

Standard thyroid testing is notoriously unreliable. Most doctors rely heavily on TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) as the main indicator, but TSH alone doesn’t give the full picture of thyroid function.

As a result, countless women (and some men, too) are dismissed, misdiagnosed, or told they’re just anxious, depressed, overeating, sedentary, or aging.

The truth?
Your symptoms are real. And your thyroid may be the missing link.

How Common Are Thyroid Disorders?

According to RightDiagnosis, about 1 in 13 people has some type of thyroid disorder, many without even knowing it. And those numbers may be climbing.

With increased exposure to bromine, fluoride, and chlorine (chemicals that block iodine and disrupt thyroid function) in our food, water, and environment, thyroid issues are becoming more widespread than ever before.

So if you’ve ever asked yourself…

  • Why can’t I lose weight even when I’m eating clean and exercising?

  • Why am I so tired all the time?

  • Why do I feel cold, sluggish, or foggy?

  • Why is my hair thinning? Why are my nails so brittle?

  • Why can’t I sleep or focus like I used to?

  • Why does everyone act like I’m fine when I know I’m not?

…you’re not being dramatic or lazy. You’re likely dealing with thyroid dysfunction.

The Problem Isn’t You. It’s Your Roadmap.

What we’ve learned is this:
You can’t fix hypothyroidism by chasing lab results or guessing with medication.

And most supplements and thyroid diets fall short because they don’t address the root causes of hypothyroidism like low iodine, blocked thyroid receptors, mineral imbalances, and inflammation.

That’s why we created the HypoHero™ Thyroid Protocol.

Ready to Take Back Control of Your Thyroid Health?

The HypoHero™ Thyroid Protocol is a 3-part method that helps you:

✅ Track what your labs may be missing including low body temperature and daily symptoms
✅ Fuel your thyroid with targeted minerals like molecular iodine, potassium iodide, selenium, and trace minerals
✅ Optimize your energy, focus, metabolism, and temperature using real data and step-by-step adjustments

Whether you’re already on thyroid medication or haven’t been diagnosed yet, this protocol helps you get clarity and results, without the confusion or guesswork.

You’re not stuck. You’re just missing the right strategy, supplements, and support.

Take the HypoHero Thyroid Quiz and get started today.

Miss LizzyHypothyroidism
Lab Tests for Hypothyroidism

Lab Tests for Hypothyroidism

Miss Lizzy

If you’ve been told your thyroid is “normal” but still feel tired, cold, foggy, or stuck, there’s a good chance you haven’t had the full picture. It’s not just about TSH. And it’s not just about labs.

When you’re trying to get to the root of fatigue, weight gain, low body temperature, or other thyroid-related symptoms, having the right tests can help but they only work if you know what to look for and how to connect the dots. That’s exactly what we do inside the HypoHero™ Thyroid Protocol.

Why Standard Lab Testing Isn’t Always Enough

Most doctors run a TSH test and stop there. But TSH is a pituitary hormone, it’s not a direct measure of thyroid function. It doesn’t tell you how well your body is converting thyroid hormone, how much active hormone is available to your cells, or how your adrenals are influencing your energy levels.

That’s why many people get told “everything looks fine” while still living with hypothyroid symptoms. I was one of them.

Here’s a better set of labs to request if you’re still trying to get answers.

Basic Thyroid Labs

Free T3

This measures the active form of thyroid hormone your body actually uses. If Free T3 is low, even with “normal” TSH, you can still have hypothyroidism symptoms. It’s one of the most important thyroid markers to monitor over time.

Free T4

Free T4 is the storage form of thyroid hormone. Your body converts T4 into T3. Low Free T4 can signal underactive thyroid, but it must be interpreted alongside Free T3.

Reverse T3 (RT3)

Reverse T3 is a blocker. When it’s too high, it can slow your metabolism and compete with active T3 at the cellular level. The best way to evaluate this is by looking at the Free T3 to RT3 ratio—we explain how to do this inside the protocol.

TSH

This test can be helpful as a reference range over time, not as the single diagnostic test.

Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPO)

This test can help identify autoimmune thyroid issues like Hashimoto’s. If TPO antibodies are elevated, your body may be attacking its own thyroid.

Adrenal Health Labs

24-Hour Saliva Cortisol Test

This test maps your cortisol rhythm throughout the day. It’s helpful if you feel wired at night, can’t wake up in the morning, or crash in the afternoon. Cortisol patterns matter more than a single cortisol value.

Note: If you’re planning to take this test, stop any adrenal supplements at least two weeks beforehand for best accuracy.

Nutrient Labs That Impact Thyroid Function

These labs aren’t always run, but they may provide additional insights:

Ferritin (Iron Storage)

Low ferritin can mimic hypothyroid symptoms. For thyroid function, most women feel best with ferritin between 70–90.

Vitamin B12

Low B12 can lead to fatigue, brain fog, and mood issues. Some people with thyroid issues don’t absorb B12 well and may need sublingual or injection support.

Vitamin D

Aim for a level between 50–70 ng/mL. Low vitamin D is common in people with autoimmune conditions and can affect immune and thyroid function.

Serum Iron / TIBC

These tests help determine if your body is absorbing and transporting iron effectively. Iron is required for thyroid hormone conversion.

Zinc

Zinc is needed for hormone production and immune health. Blood zinc may look normal even when you’re functionally low, so symptoms and temperature tracking are important.

Secondary Labs (Optional but Useful)

These may be helpful in certain situations:

  • DHEA-S

  • Aldosterone / Renin

  • ACTH Stimulation Test

  • RBC Magnesium

  • Folate (Vitamin B9)

We go into more detail about when and why to consider these in the Optimize phase of the HypoHero Thyroid Protocol.

Why Lab Tests Alone Aren’t Enough

Even with all the right labs, it’s still possible to miss what’s going on. That’s why, in the HypoHero Thyroid Protocol, we focus on daily temperature tracking and symptom patterns.

Your body temperature can give you clues about thyroid and adrenal function in real-time (something no blood tests can’t do). When temperature is consistently low (especially under 97.8°F in the morning), it’s often a sign of low thyroid function, even if labs are in range.

Inside the HypoHero™ Thyroid Protocol, we show you how to:

  • Track temperature and symptoms daily

  • Identify patterns that point to thyroid, adrenal, or conversion issues

  • Use labs alongside your data, not in place of it

  • Support your body with targeted minerals

  • Adjust your approach based on progress, not guesswork

Ready to Understand What’s Really Going On?

If you’ve been running in circles trying to get lab answers that make sense, the HypoHero™ Thyroid Protocol gives you a different approach—one that puts you back in control.

Take the first step now and start your thyroid transformation:
👉 Click here to learn more and take the quiz

Miss LizzyLab Tests for Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism Ruined My Hair

Hypothyroidism Ruined My Hair

Miss Lizzy

It’s been over a year since my last hair update and I am so happy to report that my hair is doing much better. During the Hair Disaster of 2010, I was taking Hydrocortisone and DHEA which I believe ruined my hair. Within six months I had lost half my hair volume and what remained broke almost to the root. I was devastated, I had no idea how important hair was to me until this experience. Turns out, lots of us hypothyroid people have hair problems.

hair_sagaIt’s taken a long time to see my hair length and volume return because hair grows about 1/2″ a month. The hair volume and thickness is coming back, and the damage and breakage from the DHEA has grow out and been trimmed off. It was a scary journey, as I am sure you can imagine. Heartbreaking, in fact.

From 2012 to 2015 my hair grew in healthy but it was still thin, fine and wouldn’t grow past my shoulders. The big change came in 2015 when I switch thyroid medicine. Up until the winter of 2015 I had been taking natural desiccated thyroid medicine but over time I had noticed my hypothyroid symptoms creeping back in. This lead me to make a big change, switching to T3 only medicine.

Within a week of switching to T3 medicine I started to feel more energy and the hypothyroid symptoms improve. Two months after switching to T3 medicine I noticed more hair growth at my scalp. When I ran my fingers through my hair I could feel the increasing hair volume.

Two years later in 2017, my hair is once again long, thick and full. It isn’t dry, brittle and thin like it had been when taking the other medicines from 2010-2012.

Whether the issue was not converting the T4  to T3 in the natural desiccated thyroid medicine, low iron, or lingering adrenal issues, I can so for certain that T3 medicine works far better for me natural desiccated thyroid medicine.

 

Miss LizzyHypothyroidism Ruined My Hair
Conditioner instead of Shampoo for Fragile Hair

Conditioner instead of Shampoo for Fragile Hair

Miss Lizzy

After the Great Hair Disaster of 2010, I learned a great tip to care for fragile hair. The method is “Conditioner Only” or CO, which means instead of shampoo just use conditioner!

Shampoos can make hair more dry and brittle because it prevents the hair’s natural sebum from doing its job.

Conditioners have a cleansing agent like shampoo but they can be gentler on hair. Dry brittle hair is common with hypothyroidism so we need gently methods for our hair.

Choosing the Right Hair Conditioner 

Its important to use a Silicone-free conditioner because silicone flattens the hair and will end up greasy. Look for conditioners free of Parabens, Silicone, Dimethicone. Read the label to make sure they aren’t hidden in the ingredients.

Inexpensive conditioners can work just as well as expensive ones. My favorites are Garnier Pure Clean because I can get a huge bottle at Target for about $6, Nature’s Gate line from Whole Foods, and Suave and Alberto VO5.

How to Wash Hair with the Conditioner Only Method 

This method is so simple, it saves time and money, and for me the results were great.

  • Shower as usual, wet hair thoroughly using warm or hot water.
  • Use a good amount of condition (like 1/4 cup) and condition the roots liberally.
  • Massage your scalp like you would with shampoo. There will be no lather which might takes some adjusting but trust me it works.
  • Rinse thoroughly.
  • For added shine and silkiness use a tiny tiny bit of Moroccan Oil on damp hair ends.
  • Style as usual.

Tips:

  • It can take 3-4 washes before the natural hair oil start to work on their own again.
  • Every few months, using a gentle shampoo is okay.
  • If hair starts to get a little dull, use a silicone-free clarifying conditioner like Suave every so often.

Several friends have converted to conditioning only and really like it. If you try it, I would love to hear what you think and what conditioner works for you.

During the time that my hair was damaged, dry, brittle and fragile due to thyroid treatment, the conditioner only method helped my hair to feel soft, get stronger and eventually grow out again.

Miss LizzyConditioner instead of Shampoo for Fragile Hair
Supplements to Strengthen Dry, Brittle, Thin Hair

Supplements to Strengthen Dry, Brittle, Thin Hair

Miss Lizzy

In May 2010, using myself as the usual experiment-test-dummy, I took DHEA to see if it would help with my thyroid and adrenal issues. Within three weeks I lost over half my hair volume, and what hair I had left broke almost to the root. Devastating? Yes!

At the time I had been taking Natural Desiccated Thyroid medicine, Hydrocortisone for adrenal fatigue which was going pretty well. But then added DHEA. The combination was a hair disaster.

Until it was gone, I had no idea how much I loved and identified with my long hair. For a year now I’ve been sulking and depressed, enviously watching women with long hair.

For a while I wore hair extensions which was great and helped me through the early trauma of losing almost 8 inches of hair. Finally I’ve recovered, and now embracing the short hair while it grows out.

That’s the backstory, now the goods news! I’ve done tons of research on how to grow and maintain healthy hair, which I am excited to share. Even if you have strong hair, you might know someone who has gone through a similar tragedy. If you have hair care tips, please share! In my research, it seems that growing strong and healthy hair has four key parts:

Hair Growth: Iron Supplements

My first concern was speed of hair growth. Every morning in the mirror, I desperately willed my hair to grow. Apparently healthy hair grows about 1/2 inch a month. So 6 inches a year! But for us hypothyroid people, I read we often have low iron which means hair grows slower! My iron was very low, so I made sure to take my iron (25 mg/day). From what I’ve read it takes about 3-4 months to get iron levels up so it was important for me to be diligent.

Hair Strength: Zinc

My hair had inches of terrible split ends. So I had to work on strengthening my hair. I read that Zinc was good for hair strength (also supposedly good for thyroid) so I added Zinc 10mg a day. My hair is no longer splitting, and the new growth is getting stronger. Thumbs up for the zinc. Plus I noticed an added bonus of less acne, woot!

Hair Shine: Omega 6

I read that Evening Primrose Oil Omega-6 was good for strength and shine, so I’ve been taking Evening Primrose Oil 1350mg 2/day for a year. It’s a little hard to tell if this made a difference with my hair, but it seems like it hasn’t hurt. And the Evening Primrose Oil definitely helped with PMS and mood swings! That was a huge bonus.

Stress: Vitamin C

When the body is in stress it draws from nutrients from the hair, skin and nails first. My hair tragedy was a clue that my body was not happy with me last year, and very stressed. In Adrenal Fatigue, James Wilson writes about the importance of Vitamin C to help the adrenals deal with stress.

Recently on Janie’s Blog on Stop the Thyroid Madness, she feels she never had adrenal fatigue because she has always taken lots of Vitamin C. This was great info! For the past year, I upped my dose of Vitamin C to 2k units a day with 1k units of bioflavinoid (for absorption). Spread into four doses a day of 500mg. When I take my Vitamin C, I feel really solid all around. The bonus for taking higher doses of Vitamin C, I wasn’t sick at all this year.

PS – Thanks to the ladies at the Yahoo Grow Hair Forum who saved me many times.

 

Miss LizzySupplements to Strengthen Dry, Brittle, Thin Hair

Get a Buddy!

Miss Lizzy

Hi friends,

I have an idea to share. I think it’s big.

Here is what I’ve noticed… all this hypothyroid stuff is overwhelming! There is so much to learn. We have low energy, difficulty coping with everyday tasks and have foggy thinking. So simple things for other people, like calling a doctor, ordering labs, learning about medicine, etc… is totally overwhelming for us hypothyroid peeps. How can we possibly find our way to treatment alone?

That’s when I realized: We need to Get a Buddy to help us through! It’s one small thing that will hopefully change everything.

Here’s what to do. Find someone you trust (who won’t nag or judge) and ask them to be your support buddy. You might fear it’s an imposition but it’s really not. Helping you on the road to good health helps everyone in your world. So a good friend, mom, sister or coworker may be happy to step up.

Ask your buddy to read about hypothyroidism (like my worksheet and symptoms list, or Stop the Thyroid Madness). Send them this blog post. They can do the simple tasks that may be overwhelming for you like:

 

 

Do you like this idea? Are you feeling a huge sigh of relief? I hope so! So find a buddy today and be okay with asking for help. Trust me, we all need it! And when you feel better you can help someone else.

xxxo

Lizzy

 

Miss LizzyGet a Buddy!

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