Jenny Mollen is using her social media platform for good. The mother of two shared a photo of her drastic post-pregnancy weight loss to encourage women to get checked for postpartum thyroid issues.
“Not anorexia, it’s a thyroid issue. I don’t know what it says about me that I got this thin and didn’t think there was anything wrong,” Mollen wrote alongside an Instagram photo of herself naked and looking alarmingly thin on Wednesday, April 18.
“Last Friday, I had a bulge in my neck that finally got me to the doctor. I’m STILL waiting on blood work but my doc thinks it’s Graves,” the 38-year-old author continued. “If you just had a baby and have lost an inordinate amount of weight, feel like you are on cocaine, are suddenly heat intolerant, and can’t stop losing hair, and feel like your husband is being a d—k it might just be your thyroid!! Get checked ASAP #thyroid #6monthspostpartum.”
According to the National Institutes of Health, Graves’ disease is “an autoimmune disorder that causes hyperthyroidism, or overactive thyroid.” The NIH explains that if someone is diagnosed with Graves’ disease, their immune system is attacking the thyroid, causing it to make more thyroid hormone than the body needs.
Mollen and her husband, actor Jason Biggs, welcomed their second son, Lazlo, in October 2017. The couple, who wed in April 2008, are also parents to 4-year-old Sid.
The actress first addressed her health concerns on Friday, April 13.
“Many of you have written and asked me about my rapid weight loss. Weight loss that to be honest, I couldn’t really explain until now,” she captioned an Instagram photo of herself in a sports bra and baggy tank top. “This morning I woke up w a giant bulge in my neck the size of a golf ball. I had blood work and an ultrasound and will be waiting for the results over the weekend.”
She added: “Though I am not certain, I have good reason to believe it is some sort of hyperthyroidism. Apparently this is common in women AFTER PREGNANCY. If anyone has experienced this or thinks they might have the same thing, please leave me a message below. Also anyone in NYC w a Doc they love #thyroid #hyperthyroidism #nyc.”
