Lonely Hashimoto

Life sure has gotten busy for me the past 7 months with working again. My blog is usually on my mind as I drift off to sleep with little to no time to actually write or post. But….today! Today, I was talking to my family about the following and, well darnit, just typed it immediately to share! I’m back!

With this weird disease I am always trying to put the puzzle pieces together. It takes lots of time and apparently years. Today I may have discovered another piece to fit in the puzzle.

I was eating strict AIP for about 6 months. Currently I still, most of the time, eat the limited AIP allowed foods. I have determined there are a few things I can consume with no adverse reaction, so my AIP is expanded. Thank goodness coffee is on that okay list!

On occasion and mainly on weekends I stray a little. I still consider myself the healthiest eater I know since the summer of 2017 when I began this journey of healing, but I occasionally may have a touch more food with some sugar, occassional alcohol, or even corn. I know, I’m a rebel.

Something I have noticed when I “stray” since starting this journey is that my nostrils become sensitive. Sensitive as in push on my nose from the outside and it hurts some type of sensitive. Weird. It lasts for a day or two but always goes away once I get back into my strict routine.

Today I searched on the Hashimotos 411 Facebook page (the true go to when you feel a little koo-koo with this Hashimotos thing and want to know you aren’t alone) and apparently sore nostrils and even sores in the nose are common with others with Hashimotos. I further googled and found a term for inflammation in the nose, referred to as Sinusitis. I even found a case study linking Hashimotos and chronic rhinosinusitis. That lead me to thinking even more.

For years beginning in my late 20s I would get pain in the left side of my face, or the sinus area. Just one side. I even went to an ENT and he thought I was crazy, referring me to a neurologist because all my scans were clear. I didn’t go to the neurologist and left bewildered. Many years later I discovered and accepted it could be a type of migraine where I have localized pain in the left side of my face. This subtle pain would last for days on end with no real relief. Luckily it really was bearable.

Well after my research and analysis today I am beginning to think all this time it was inflammation of my sinuses, and now nostrils, quite possibly due to this weird disease I have had for so much longer than I ever knew. I really have discovered when you have an autoimmune disease reactions to food can be quite varied and honestly strange.

I will add when I eat more sugar for a couple days I will get that same facial pain and often a migraine with visual aura. Amazing how poorly I can react to something so many others consume daily with no obvious negative symptoms. I haven’t even really been able to pinpoint what bothers me outside of sugar for sure, but that’s because I have not followed the elimination protocol to a T. When adding back foods after being strict AIP, one is supposed to add one ingredient at a time. Well I will eat, let’s say, a corn tortilla chip (or 20). Well that has corn and vegetable oils I don’t usually eat in AIP. I may also dip the chip in salsa that has tomatoes and other ingredients not AIP approved. Because of this I can’t pinpoint if it is the corn, oil, tomatoes or other ingredients bothering me. So who the heck knows what it is I am reacting to but it may be one of those ingredients. Most days I just avoid them all. Easiest thing to do.

I quite often think how unfair this is but at the same time and happy for my continuous building of knowledge and self control over what I eat now. I choose now to avoid this inflammation in my nose…well wth the occasional exception of just..well..enjoying a day here and there freely!

Battling Hashimoto’s Disease is an evolving process for me.  As I continue in this battle, I made a decision to take charge of my own fate as best I can. I believe this can be summarized in 7 overlapping steps.

The 7 ways of healing on my journey boils down to this:

1. Research/self-advocate
2. Diet
3. Heal additional issues/functional medicine
4. Stress reduction
5. Dedication/support
6. Supplements/medication/probiotics
7. Exercise

Part 2 involves reducing the inflammation and healing my gut through diet changes.

This was hardest for me.  I made the decision to restrict all added sugars, caffeine, alcohol, food additives, preservatives, anything artificial, gluten, soy, dairy, and anything processed. At first it was a general plan but quickly I discovered the Autoimmune Protocol (also referred to as the Autoimmune Paleo) diet plan.

Prior to this change, here was a typical day for me:

First thing as soon as I get out of bed, straight to the coffee maker.  It was absolute heaven if my husband was home, primarily weekends, so that the brew was already waiting for me. While my coffee was brewing I would take my levothyroxine medication for my thyroid with a small glass of water. Within 10 minutes, the warm soothing coffee was revitalizing my soul.  Over the years the coffee prep changed, sometimes with sugar and half and half, sometimes with just sugar, sometimes just black, sometimes just cream, sometimes flavored coffee creamer. As of the most recent it was strictly coffee with a little bit of cream.  I ignored the fact I read calcium in the creamer could inhibit the effectiveness of the thyroid medication. Coffee wins. Heck, I needed it to start my day.

It has been 6 months for me now, but let me tell you, the thought of those first few heavenly sips still makes my mouth water.

I would have 2-3 cups of coffee in the morning, every morning. That was at home, to start my day. Breakfast would be hours later. If I was out in the late morning, let’s say at Target for example, Starbucks would beckon me over to grab a latte of sorts.  Those Starbucks foo-foo drinks, as I so affectionately call them, would vary as well over the years ranging from anything to a cappuccino, latte, vanilla latte, caramel macchiato, pumpkin spice latte, flat white latte……you get the point.  If it was Starbucks, it was my friend.  And to make matters worse, I would even venture through Starbucks drive through AGAIN on my way taxiing my children around in the afternoons. Forget about health….the money spent was on the verge on insanity.

I didn’t always have Starbucks around.  My 7 years living in Minnesota was also the same time frame of my love affair with Caribou Coffee.  And man, the foo-foo drinks that place serves can be laden with sugar as well!  Caramel Highrise was my fave. Speaking of love affairs, my husband and I would half joke our mutual love for coffee was the glue that bound us together.  We completely supported each other’s addiction to caffeine.  Well I may have hid a few purchases from him, primarily those multi coffee shop stops in a single day kind.

Fun story, when my babies were young, my husband and I would steal a “date” away grocery shopping.  The fun part is that we went straight to the Caribou coffee in the grocery store to grab our foo-foo’s and so affectionately grocery shop.  Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do for alone time!

Bottom line, giving up caffeine was something I never thought I would, or COULD do! I was not able to cut it cold turkey like I had hoped.  On the 2^nd day, the pain in my head was too unbearable.  Luckily drinking a small half cup subsided the headache within 20 minutes (amazing and scary really when you think about the affect caffeine has on us!).  I was able to have that half cup for just a week and then completely quit after that.

Oh, back to my typical day…… (Coffee talk can still distract me apparently)

Sugar: my second best friend. Not only did I have the sugar in my coffee drinks throughout the day, I also had quite the sweet tooth. I have loved sugar and sugar laden food items for as long as I can remember. Eating sugar straight up was not beneath me. Powder sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon sugar, hell even the sweet taste of toothpaste when I was a kid. Oh the effects on the blood sugar levels over all those years!! I had no problem eating a donut or Danish, or heck even a piece/half of a pie of lying around on the counter in the morning.  I tried so hard to avoid purchasing the cookies and sweet snacks because I knew it wasn’t the kids’ lack of self-control I had to worry about but my own! Of course, I didn’t want to “deprive” them because I was getting older and had to suddenly worry about calories.  I so clearly remember 2 very stupid things I have said in my lifetime (definitely not the only two). One was “I don’t have to worry about sugar and calories, only fat”. Duh.  The other was “We don’t worry about food items with sugar”. That latter statement was regarding my whole family.  I never claim to be a perfect mom.

Convenience was pretty key to a mom of four very active daughters. Convenience doesn’t typically equal healthy.

I was starting to notice certain things made me feel worse, one in particular that was obvious was dairy. I started to feel sick after my lattes and delicious RumChata (I seriously miss that drink!!). That was a sign to me that there could be more. As I mentioned in my Part 1 blog, I was starting to think added sugars were a problem as well causing migraines.

“All disease begins in the gut”-Hippocrates.

If this father of modern medicine knew this over 2,000 years go, how did we get so far off track in present time? Why don’t we start with our diet and save prescriptions and medications as a last resort?

I have come to believe balancing the immune system by repairing the gut is the best way to healing. I must remove the immune triggers from my diet, but how do I know what those triggers are? The only way to completely determine that answer is by performing an elimination diet.  That is just what AIP is. Temporarily I have cut out all of the potential triggers and over time will slowly add them back in. I can only attempt to add things back when I believe the healing has progressed substantially and I feel well.

The modern American diet is loaded with sugar, preservatives, refined food, and vegetable oils. It has been found 68% of packaged foods on the grocery shelves have added sugar!! * One source states 80% of packaged food in America have additives banned in other countries! ** The only thing I consciously removed from some foods in my house contained Red 40.  We learned years ago my youngest daughter suffers from hyperactivity from foods containing that food dye (research prevails again!). And let me tell you, we learned the hard way! If she had been my first she very well may have been my last. Even she became old enough to admit the change in how she felt once consuming foods with this coloring. She alone in the family of 6 could not have Red 40. Of course, when they served treats at school and she told her teachers she couldn’t have anything with Red 40 in it, they were quite confused. Look at food labels, you may be surprised just how many food items contain this controversial coloring.

To each their own with what they choose to eat.  Convenience is huge in our chaotic over scheduled days too, especially for moms. I have always been more of a believer that we should be eating more natural whole foods.  I haven’t always been an active participant though.

Now the time has come, for my health to step it up and accept the inconvenience. And let me tell you about the inconvenience.  I have to cook every meal I eat. In order for my family not to be restricted and “suffer” I will make more than one meal for dinner: one for me and one for them.  I try my best to find overlap but it isn’t always easy. Oh, and by the way, my one daughter is a vegetarian. Talk about a complicated dietary household!

The AIP is VERY restricted! I can’t eat about 99% of what is offered at the typical grocery store. I seriously have walked the aisles and have gotten a little down about it at times. Forget about restaraunts! Whole, organic, grassfed, cage free, gluten free….all those health terms is my way of life now. I can’t have any grains, nuts, seeds, beans, eggs (however I did recently add those back and think they are okay), dairy, nightshades (certain vegetables and spices known to have a glycoalkaloid content and includes tomatoes, eggplant, bell peppers, potatoes, paprika, etc***),  refined sugars,anything processed…..you get the point.  I eat organic fruits and veggies and meats and unrefined oils (coconut, olive, avocado).  My diet is high in healthy fats. It is actually crazy simple, just requires prep and cooking. Good thing I love coconut because I have a lot of it in various forms.

Let me be clear about something, I was slightly annoyed by the bandwagon folks jumping on the no gluten diet. I had read if you do not have Celiac disease then gluten is fine. However, through more research I found that is not the case, primarily for any one with Hashimoto’s as well. Gluten has a structure that is very similar to the thyroid gland. When you have leaky gut and the gluten molecules are attacked by your immune system, so is the thyroid in the way of mistaken identity. **** Unfortunately anyone with Hashimoto’s should be gluten free forever.  Fortunately there are plenty of gluten free options.

My day now consists of some downright weird things. I have replaced my morning coffee with hot lemon water (this does not satisfy the comfort desire previously fed with coffee), followed by a cup of warm salted bone broth about 30-45 minutes later.  THAT fulfills my comfort drink in the mornings! Ew, that’s right, I said bone broth.  Google it.  Bone broth has amazing healing properties, especially for the gut! I try to make my own, which takes 24-36 hours and makes the house smell lovely (well the family doesn’t agree with that so much). I follow my comfort drink with a cooked breakfast, and then some kombucha.  Yum!! Kombucha is my favorite part about this change in diet.  It is full of gut healing and balancing probiotics.  I make some of my own with a blob they call scoby, but I buy it too.  Luckily for me it is a trendy drink right now! I cook both lunch and dinner too, and all three meals typically consist of cooked meat and veggies, at times cooked fruit too. Cooked produce is easier to digest, and honestly I prefer it.  I have never in my life eaten so many vegetables, and I actually crave them now (cabbage=YUM!). Cooked fruit has become my sweet treat.

It isn’t easy.  Ridiculously hard at times, especially when I am out running around, eating with extended family, traveling.  I have learned it is possible and gets easier all the time.  I just finished traveling for a week and was very surprisingly successful at sticking to the AIP!! Sometimes I just want to eat “normal” again, but most others I am happier knowing what I am putting in my body.  How many can honestly say that 100%?

I do believe I feel a lot better since beginning this diet. I no longer have palpitations, restless legs, racing heart, acne, indigestion has decreased, more energy overall, and overall mood and feeling of well being has improved. I look forward to my next blood panel results to see how this change has hopefully improved my Hashimoto’s clinically.

The holidays definitely felt like something was missing without the holiday foo-foo drinks. However, I can honestly say I get up in the morning not wanting coffee anymore.  I walk and drive by Starbucks with no hesitation. My wallet should rejoice but with the unfortunate cost of healthy natural food, I can’t say it has yet.

And speaking of holidays, I found plenty of recipes that made my Thanksgiving and Christmas meals just as good, if not better than ever before. Thank goodness for Pinterest!

I am still waiting for the day I don’t crave sweets.  From my ongoing research adrenal fatigue may be to blame for that.  I hope that is the case and once I repair those glands, if necessary, I hope not to crave the dates and honey I have substituted now in moderation. I envy those people who say they aren’t a “sweets” person. Somehow, my self control does still continue to amaze me and those around me who know me well.

Of course, at times an alcoholic drink would be nice, but one day….. remission first.

AIP Resources:

https://www.healthline.com/health/aip-diet

https://aiplifestyle.com/what-is-autoimmune-protocol-diet/

Sources:

*https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/22/upshot/it-isnt-easy-to-figure-out-which-foods-contain-sugar.html

**https://www.rt.com/usa/banned-additives-food-outlawed-089/

*** https://www.thepaleomom.com/what-are-nightshades/

**** https://www.rt.com/usa/banned-additives-food-outlawed-089/

Additional informative sites:

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-raphael-kellman/hashimotos-thyroiditis-we_2_b_7118690.html

https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/is-red-dye-40-toxic#products

 

Is Gluten the Root Cause of Your Thyroid Condition?

 

Battling Hashimoto’s Disease is an evolving process for me.  As I continue in this battle, I made a decision to take charge of my own fate as best I can. I believe this can be summarized in 7 overlapping steps.

The 7 ways of healing on my journey boils down to this:

1. Research/self-advocate
2. Diet
3. Heal additional issues/functional medicine
4. Stress reduction
5. Dedication/support
6. Supplements/medication/probiotics
7. Exercise

Over the next 2 weeks I plan to go in detail discussing each of these in my blog.  I will begin today with step 1: Research/self advocate.

Part 1

The summer of 2017 was the turning point for me. Overall, I just wasn’t feeling well and was progressively feeling worse. As an analytical like to know type person, I began reading The Adrenal Thyroid Revolution by Aviva Romm and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: Lifestyle Interventions for Finding and Treating the Root Cause by Izabella Wentz.  Based on these two books I made the decision once my summer travels were over, the tide was going to turn in my life.  I had to start putting myself and my health first. The only way I was going to hope to feel any better and get back to living a good life was by focusing on my healing. I had made a decision, and the focus was intense.

On July 17, 2017 my healing journey began!

The first and most important step was research! Knowledge equals power.  I went to the library and checked out Hashimoto’s Protocol: A 90 Day Plan for Reversing Thyroid Symptoms and Getting Your Life Back by Izabella Wentz (you will see me refer to her many, many times in my blogs!). This book is more of a detailed plan based off her Root Cause book I had already read and seemed the most practical and logical plan to support my goals.

Why didn’t I just do what the doctors told me to? It is easy for us to rely on a doctor who is considered an expert in overall medicine and health. Unfortunately, I have come to believe there is no way doctors can know it all. I also believe doctors tend to treat symptoms and not necessarily what is the root cause of the symptom itself.

In my own experience I went to doctors multiple times for various symptoms over many years. The symptom was discussed with a possible treatment plan, which usually was a recommendation of a prescription.  I don’t recall ever talking to a doctor about change in lifestyle or diet, or even keeping a log to help discover what may be causing such symptom. I was even told by my current general practitioner that being hypothyroid was “no big deal” since easily treated with a daily pill. That isn’t good enough for me. I want to know why, and as best as possible, naturally treat the problem with change.

For example I have had migraines with a visual aura for about 15 years. I went to a general practitioner and a neurologist for these migraines.  Actually I first went to the eye doctor because I thought I was going blind! I was prescribed medicine for the migraines but after a short period of time I went off the medicine because the side effects weren’t worth the occasional migraine. Never was it discussed why I had migraines or maybe how I could try and discover something in my lifestyle that could possibly help. I took it upon myself just last year to start analyzing why I was getting them. I had a period of about 5 months with no migraines in the previous year and they suddenly returned, so I figured there had to be a cause. I had narrowed it down to possibility of sugar and low water intake prior to going on the Autoimmune Diet (which I did for my Hashimoto’s, not the migraines specifically). Looky there!! I have not had migraines since I cut sugar out of my diet!!!  Coincidence, I think not. Unfortunately if I had simply relied on doctor’s advice, I would be taking a pill instead with who knows what long term effects, and never addressing the root cause.

Similar situation happens with so many Hashimoto’s patients who suffer from anxiety and/or depression. It is honestly sickening to me. Fortunately for me the sudden intensity of my anxiety led me to a doctor who I believe is in the minority and tested further.  He did of course prescribe anti-anxiety medication first, but he didn’t leave it at that. Through his testing he discovered my hypothyroid evident by the TSH levels of 93 in my comprehensive blood work. (For those who don’t know TSH is the signals in your blood sent out to the thyroid telling it to make more thyroid hormone, and should be in an ideal range of .3-3.0 *).  Again, many doctors prescribe a pill and send you on your way.  I have read countless times in my research and various support type groups I follow on social media about patients who are hypothyroid but never get tested for the antibodies present in Hashimoto’s. Heck, my 82 year old mother in law was just diagnosed as Hypothyroid, yet no testing on antibodies. Fortunately, my doctor did further testing and even an ultrasound of my thyroid gland.  Unfortunately this amazing thorough doctor retired a year later.

Thankfully overall my anxiety has been under control since I have been under treatment, but at the same time it has varied and I know this is a sign that some adjustment is needed.  That was indeed one of the things I was starting to experience again in the spring and summer of 2017. I went to the doctor (the replacement doctor, we’ll call him) and was told again, I have anxiety and should maybe consider medication. I also went to a specialist, and endocrinologist, and had such high hopes for him helping me further.  I was so emotional because I desperately wanted someone on my side who I believed would be thorough in evaluating my disease. Well I was so wrong……..he INSISTED I was experiencing “cyclical depression” and I “needed” to treat it!!!  It didn’t matter how many times I told him I wasn’t depressed.  He made that diagnosis as soon as he saw the desperate tears on my face. I can’t even begin to tell you how furious I was when I walked out of his office! I know I was sick, not depressed!

I have always been more of a self-advocate and analytical person, thankfully for me.  How many other patients though would walk out of those doctors’ offices with the prescribed medication for a symptom of an untreated misdiagnosed illness?!

I did let this disease become my main identity for quite a few months once I made the decision to take charge and help myself.  I told my husband at one point I didn’t want this to define me and who I am. I do believe though, that intensity and dedication to myself is necessary in helping me and healing.

I went to the library and checked out any books on Hypothyroid or Hashimoto’s they had.  I sat on the floor at various Barnes N Noble bookstores reading through books on the subject or anything similar. I googled online and paying close attention to the sources made mental and often written notes on what I found. I follow various health experts (take that term loosely of course) on Facebook that I think understand or have any knowledge to share regarding Hashimoto’s, or other various autoimmune diseases and health issues.  These experts are more along the natural medicine type as that is what I have come to trust.  I also belong to multiple Facebook groups made for people like me suffering and trying to cope with this disease.  It is amazing how people sharing their experiences and knowledge helps in so many ways, physically, mentally, and emotionally!

I am still continually researching and learning more and more about this illness.  I already have learned that chances of having other health issues are high if have an autoimmune disease, especially additional autoimmune diseases.  Some health issues may have led to this disease, others may be subsequent to this disease, and many have a negative cyclical effect.

As of the past few days, my focus has slightly shifted to broaden my research and learning about the effects of Adrenal Fatigue. I had first heard this phrase about 4 ½ years ago just before my Hashimoto’s diagnosis, and didn’t think too much more of it in depth afterwards.  However, my blood pressure is dropping to concerning (for me at least) lows (87/39 just 2 days ago) and I have other symptoms consistent to those with adrenal fatigue. I know from my continuing research that chances of having adrenal fatigue while battling Hashimoto’s is high. I will work with both functional and traditional doctors, but I 100% believe it is in my hands the outcome of what I discover, learn, and treat regarding this potential issue as well.

As I will continue to write this blog and share information, I will also be constantly researching facts.  This will help in my communication of my messages, but also continue to help me. I hope it helps you too, no matter what health issues you or someone you love may be experiencing.  Research, learn, and self-advocate.  That is the best treatment for anyone.

*

Source:

What To Do If Your TSH Is Normal and You Are Anything But!

Since I was diagnosed almost 4 years earlier, what took me so long to make significant changes as I did in Summer 2017? Well like most, I was prescribed a magic pill of Levothyroxin when I was diagnosed. After a couple short months I noticed a huge improvement in how I felt. So that was that, take a pill daily and I can live my life happier forever, right?

I said I saw a huge improvement, but not everything went away. For example, heart palpitations never went away, but my doctor wasn’t concerned why should I be? 

My indigestion was basically accepted to some degree. I had gone to the doctor for that and he of course told me to take an over the counter antacid. That didn’t help so he prescribed me a PPI (protein pump inhibitor). That also did not eliminate the symptoms completely so he recommended I go to a Gastroenterologist. 

Nah. I decided to do more research.  Did you know that indigestion remedies such as over the counter antacids and PPIs lower our stomach acids when in fact typically low stomach acid causes indigestion? Low stomach acid causes digestive issues. Seems counter productive.

I worked with a very good friend of mine who was a health nut and she recommended Good Belly probiotic drink. That was my introduction to probiotics. Drank that daily and bam!! The indigestion was gone.

I didn’t stick with it. I think we all have a tendency to feel better and after a while return to old ways. I won’t do that this time. 

Well I should have learned a bit of a lesson with the indigestion/probiotic experience. What I put in my body on a more natural way helped me. But I still was okay with the daily pill. They even were able to reduce the mcg of my prescription from 125 initially to 75 so I took that as a good sign. 

Early 2017 things started to change for the worse. I was playing single mom while my husband was out of town and run kinda ragged with my 3 at home very active daughters. I had 3 amazing job opportunities with flexibility that were perfect for my mom schedule.  A couple of those jobs fell apart beyond my control (one of which was so dramatic it is silly). I didn’t understand how miserable and even depressed I felt after. Couldn’t really understand why it bothered me so much. 

I felt more and more exhausted. Re: single mom role of three active daughters. Oh the taxiing!!! My eyes would feel so heavy as I drove that I was borderline worried I may fall asleep. Luckily I was driving mostly in town. Concerning and weird but I was just worn ragged I guess. 

It really was the summer of 2017 that I had to start accepting (again) Hashimoto didn’t like to be ignored simply with a pill. 

I had a feeling it was Hashimoto, so went to the doctor for some testing. As the tests were narrow scoped (only TSH, no antibody testing included) and “normal”, the nurse practitioner I saw of course diagnosed me with anxiety yet again. Eye roll. I refused, again, treatment for that.

I noticed things like milk started to make me feel bad. I went on a few vacations and one of which included a night out with my friends. It completely sucked because I felt so nauseous and just sick even though I wasn’t coming down with anything. I had had a delicious latte from one of my favorite coffee shops (shout out to Caribou coffee!!) The foo-foo drinks were my stress relief, but backfired now. That wasn’t cool, as my time with these friends out of state was my escape from stress of life too!! 

Hair balls had never really gone away but the rate and size definitely picked up this year. Even my husband commented on his friendly hair ball greetings in the shower daily (I just forget to throw them away!!), but now had the addition of hair accumulation at the drain as well. Even with this and brushing I could still stand over the trash can and run my fingers through my hair and throw all the lose strands away for about 5 minutes. 

Other symptoms raring and ready to show their ugly head included brain fog (I seriously was scared when someone I was working with mentioned something we had worked on the week before and I truly forgot about it completely), gassiness (the burping had become a not so funny joke in my house), restless legs returned, complete lack of motivation (I seriously felt like such a loser most of the time!),  sudden desire to cry over nothing in particular, palpitations daily, heart racing suddenly at least weekly,  almost daily headache on some level including migraines increasing in frequency, the “dead arm” while laying down, and the never ending non existent poop (I still am embarrassed to put that out to the world, but no holds barred here!).

Our last trip that summer included a visit to another piece of our family in another state. Luckily it was a laid back sit around with family type trip. My husband was there with us on this one (he wasn’t always). I can still picture us standing outside while he worked on repainting an antique light pole and I told him with tears I just don’t feel like I will live a long life. 

That may seem an exaggeration to some but I truly felt like my life would not be long. I couldn’t continue to feel this worn down and miserable for another 40 hopeful years. 

I had begun researching with the help of two expert written books: Root Cause by Izabella Wentz (she is my idol in all of this!) and Adrenal Thyroid Revolution by Aviva Romm. I learned that once a person has an autoimmune disease they are more likely to get another in their lifetime! There are more than 100 other autoimmune diseases including such horrible ones as Celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Type 1 Diabetes, Lupus, and Fibromyalgia. For a more complete list refer to https://www.aarda.org/diseaselist/. 

Heck no!! I can’t let that happen!

I made the decision that trip I was going to make significant changes when I got back home. I vowed to find a doctor to change my prescription to one more recommended by fellow Hashimoto’s patients, natural dessicated thyroid (NDT). I also vowed to try and heal myself with a restricted diet plan called the autoimmune protocol (also known as autoimmune paleo), or AIP. 

We returned home Sunday, Monday I shopped and planned, and Tuesday I dove in with the diet. I will say the first few days were hellish: I cut out sugar and caffeine (well 3-4 cups down to a small half cup since couldn’t go cold turkey as I thought I might die, then completely done after one week) which I am pretty sure while causing unknown to me destruction in my body, made my prior daily life feasible.

I was able to get an endocrinologist to switch my prescription as well a couple weeks later. In addition I researched and found a functional doctor (oh how expensive!!) that was willing to dig deeper into other potential issues (which we discovered multiple issues such as H Pylori, Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth, and low pancreatic function thanks to her!). No holds barred for me. 

My dietary restrictions are challenging mainly when I am out or at social gatherings. The cost of supplements and healthy food is a tad insane. Why the hell does healthy food cost so much anyway?!! When I say healthy I mean organic, grass fed, cagefree, all natural type stuff. I don’t eat anything with added sugars, caffeine, alcohol, dairy, gluten, most nuts, eggs (recently added back) anything artificial, certain vegetables, and vegetable oils. I’d like to say I am saving so much money without my foo-foo Starbucks and caffeine drinks, but definitely doesn’t balance out. 

The past 5 months have been hard and had plenty of ups and downs but I am still full steam ahead. I constantly research and put myself pretty far up there on my to do list. That last one was probably the biggest change for me as a very maternal-put-kids-first-always mom of 4. 

I really believe overall I am getting better and feel better. Many symptoms have gone away. This battle isn’t over yet though for me. It won’t be over until a doctor can tell me I don’t have the antibodies for Hashimoto’s disease any more. 

I don’t ever want to feel like I won’t live a long life again.