So, I have hypothyroidism, specifically Hashimoto's disease. I was diagnosed in middle school, and I've been on synthetic thyroid hormones ever since. It's not something that will ever go away, but my TSH levels are normal, with the hormone.
*However* I continue to have many of the symptoms, and I've just ignored them, because, hey, I'm on the hormone, obviously there's nothing to be done.
Here's a list of the varying symptoms, with the ones I experience bolded. (because you all need this information, of course):
Dry, thick skin
Hair thinning
Painful muscles and joints
Depression
Memory problems
Constipation
Heavy, irregular or prolonged menstrual periods
Low body temperature (below 97.8°F first thing in the morning)
Low blood pressure
Puffy eyes and face
Slow pulse
Reduced libido
Poor memory
Fatigue
Chronic sinus infections
Headaches
Sweating abnormalities
Migraines
Heat and/or cold intolerance
Irritability
Fluid retention
Anxiety
Panic attacks
Frequent colds and sore throats
Lightheadedness
Ringing in the ears
Decreased concentration
Slow wound healing
Easy bruising
Unhealthy nails
Acid Indigestion
Cold hands or feet
Inappropriate weight gain
Hypoglycemia
Falling asleep during the day
Itching
High cholesterol
Loss of outside portion of eyebrows
It's my own fault that I've never really paid much attention to my disease before, just sort of lived with it, but now, I'm hoping that I can find a diet that works with the hypothyroidism, plus I've just started taking a supplement called Bladderwrack which supposedly helps with the symptoms. We'll see. I'm still searching for the diet, because I know that there are some foods I shouldn't eat, like soy, but I don't know all of them, or what foods are suggested.
ahhh well that EXPLAINS the carbo cravings - youre hormones are way out of kilter... why didn't you say first before showing me that plate of yuk....
ReplyDelete(my excuse is that I dont DO 'smells' first thing in the morning - maybe a little toast, cornflakes are better.... noisy but at least they dont smell)...
Have you looked into an extended fast? Some remarkable stories around ....
I have fybro and I know that I cant eat so many things its unreal and when I do - I am ill... really ill.
Aww, Honey, I hope you feel better soon!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know this about you, Amber. I hope you find a diet that is helpful at treating some of those symptoms. Let us know how the new supplement works (or doesn't.)
ReplyDeleteI highly recommed that you order a copy of Nourishing Traditions, by Sally Fallon, and take your eating from there, my friend. A very healing way of nourishing one's body.
ReplyDeleteAhavah,
ReplyDeleteHmmm...you might be right, about the carb/hormone connection.
Oh, you mean the plate of YUMMY? I must share the goodness! Share it! ;)
To be fair, I don't typically eat like that, either. I have to be in the mood. I'm usually a banana in the morning, or a bowl of cereal girl myself.
I haven't looked at fasting, no, but I will. I'm looking into everything so I can make a good plan. I didn't *realize* that there were foods that could make a difference like this.
Hajar,
ReplyDeleteThank you. I'm working on it. :)
Susanne,
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I hate making a deal out of it. I know people who have debilitating diseases, and I don't consider myself one of them. If they don't complain, how can I? But it does effect my life, more than I'd like to admit. So I'm working on it. No reason to wallow just because it could be worse.
I started taking the supplements on the first (which was a bad day), and yesterday was better than the day before, and today has been better, but I have good days and bad days, and it could be a little placebo effect, so we're waiting and seeing.
Alana,
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'm going to look into it. :)
A lot of our food today is full of additives and steriods etc etc ad nauseum..... and since we are at the top of the food chain - well we end up eating that too... our skin breathes in toxins and becomes clogged... and our bodies get sicker and sicker.
ReplyDeleteI can't eat white bread brought from a shop - it has too many additives and preservatives in it.
There are many ways to help our bodies heal - it is an amazing creation :0D
If you can find a copy of the Carol Vordaman Detox Diet - and follow that just for a month - I think you will be surprised at the outcome.... (should be available from you local Adsa - Walmart store.)
I hope you find these two links helpful....
http://www.the-natural-path.com/healing-crisis.html
http://www.fasting.ws/juice-fasting/fasting-problems/fasting-downs-and-highs
Oh yeah, I HAD Hashimoto's. Read, HAD. Very little autoimmune activity anymore. No synthroid. I was also developing TMJ at a rapid pace.
ReplyDeleteHow did I do it?
Take Calcium Citrate. Whatever the bottle recommends, but try at least 600 mgs or more a day. Then get your autoimmune panel done after a couple months. This works to reduce inflammation in the body which then turns down the autoimmune reaction.
Also, eat fish and consider taking or eating kelp or dulse.
Also, then try what Alana said. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna,
ReplyDeleteSee, all the doctors I've seen have told me that I'll have to be on synthroid forever.
Can I take the Calcium Citrate if I'm on synthroid?
The supplement I'm taking is a seaweed, and I'll work more fish into my diet. I'm going to pick up the book Alana recommended first chance I get, but the issue will be cooking out of it. My mother's very careful with food because my father has high cholesterol, and, well, you've seen me, I have "weight issues", and she's convinced that anything except for the diet she has us on will kill us both.
Calcium citrate will not interfere with your prescription hormones. Good for you all around. :-) Then find a sunning-spot so you can make Vit. D. 15 minutes three or four days a week.
ReplyDeleteAs for diet...well, you can cook and eat things for yourself or "tweak" what is put before you. One major thing about Nourishing Traditions is eating good fats, i.e., fats do NOT make you fat or give you high cholesterol. So, have your own real butter tub and fry your real eggs in coconut oil, for example.
Oh, should add that you should look into something called adrenal fatigue. Your M.D. will probably give you an icy look or never heard of it. Google, read up, and you will see many cross overs with low thyroid activity. You had a stressful adolescence, right? Did you thyroid problems start after a particularly traumatic event?
ReplyDeleteYou might have had damage to your adrenal glands which cascades into whole body dysfunctions. Steps to heal your adrenals are almost all under your control.
Anna,
ReplyDeleteThanks, I'm going to swing by the whole food store in town tomorrow and pick up some of this dulse stuff and the calcium citrate. Funnily enough, I did some sunbathing today, but I'll make a point of doing it more often. For someone who lives in Florida, I'm kind of pasty...
'Stressful' is a *word* for my childhood, yes. I can't recall if there was a particularly traumatic event around the time of my diagnosis, but I'm going to look up 'adrenal fatigue' and look into it.
I too, have just "lived" with Hypothyroidism since age 14. I'm almost 30.
ReplyDeleteI just recently discovered that I am prone to Reactive Hypoglycemia. You should check out my most recent post on it on my blog. You may find this explains you.
What is that supplement you are taking? I'll have to google it. Is it natural?
My husband discovered recently that he suffers from hypothyroidism. We decided to buy desiccated porcine supplement . I gives relief from many frustrating symptoms like weight gain,extreme tiredness and difficulty sleeping.
ReplyDelete