Imagine sitting at home the kids have had snow days and are home, maybe it’s the beginning of Summer break and you don’t have a lot planned. You are tired to the core of exhaustion and you can’t make it a day without a nap, thank goodness if you are actually get a good one although it doesn’t help how tired you feel. You’ve realized you have gained 8 pounds in a week but you’ve been more consistant with your workouts over the last couple weeks than you were all winter while you were eating all the goods. Seriously what the hell is going on here. You are getting really down on yourself about everything and you realize the depression is kicking in and you are starting to shut people out… oh man was I short on the phone today?? Your hair is falling out and your nails are brittle but it’s been super cold so maybe that why.
You continue sitting there stressed and wipe you hands along your face and eyes only to now realize your eyelashes and eyebrows are shedding. Yes shedding like a dog and now they are super patchy.
Eff… I know what’s going on. Hello Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (my thyroid disease)
At least that’s what I have found to be the biggest indicator that my thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis) is wrecking havoc on my body. When will I learn to recognize the signs sooner or better yet when will I learn to start preventing it from the start.
The truth is I probably won’t ever learn at least not all the way because I love living life and that includes occasionally not eating things and doing things that will upset my body. After doing a lot of trial and error I am finding what works and doesn’t work for me.
So what is thyroid disease and how do you know if you have it?
Well if the intro resonated with you, you should probably talk with your doctor about your symptoms.
But with my experience by the time I am finally able to get an appointment my body would work itself back out and guess what all labs would be normal and I would be feeling better. They would determine I was fine, so ok sounds good doc. Only to then be thrown into a whirlwind hyperthyroid symptoms and then ping ponged back and forth.
There are different types of thyroid disease, so keep an eye out for all signs:
Hyperthyroidism (to much thyroid hormone)
- Losing weight without trying.
- Fast heartbeat, a condition called tachycardia.
- Irregular heartbeat, also called arrhythmia.
- Pounding of the heart, sometimes called heart palpitations.
- Increased hunger.
- Nervousness, anxiety and irritability.
- Tremor, usually a small trembling in the hands and fingers.
- Sweating.
- Changes in menstrual cycles.
- Increased sensitivity to heat.
- Changes in bowel patterns, especially more-frequent bowel movements.
- Enlarged thyroid gland, sometimes called a goiter, which may appear as a swelling at the base of the neck.
- Tiredness.
- Muscle weakness.
- Sleep problems.
- Warm, moist skin.
- Thinning skin.
- Fine, brittle hair.
Hypothyroidism (not enough thyroid hormone)
- Tiredness.
- More sensitivity to cold.
- Constipation.
- Dry skin.
- Weight gain.
- Puffy face.
- Hoarse voice.
- Coarse hair and skin.
- Muscle weakness.
- Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness.
- Menstrual cycles that are heavier than usual or irregular.
- Thinning hair.
- Slowed heart rate, also called bradycardia.
- Depression.
- Memory problems.
Now, all these things can be related to something else which is why it’s so important to start with your doctor. But I needed to find a way to combat the symptoms without the yo-yo of trying to figure out my meds.
After being diagnosed on 2016 being fed up with the yo-yo in 2020 I started researching and learning everything I could about my body. Why was it attacking itself and how how do I make it stop? Again if you are having these symptoms do start with your doctor, but here’s the first things I did at home to figure out my issue.
I started with an elimination diet called the Autoimmune Protocol
I was strict and stuck to it for 5 months. 3 months of gut healing and 2 month of the re-introduction. Click here for more information on the Autoimmune Protocol. I found out dairy and I really don’t like each other, same with raw tomatoes, avocados, all peppers, and a few other things. Unfortunately, that meant some of my favorites were no longer an the menu… WRONG.
That’s why I will still have weird bouts of Hashimoto flare ups, because I choose to still enjoy mango habanero wings from Buffalo Wild Wings. I know what my body will do if and when I chose to not nourish it properly. You have to learn to live in moderation with the good and the bad.
So, if you are tired of feeling tired talk with your doctor, but then you owe it to yourself to take better care of you. Find out what things are actually harming you and find ways to either remove them from your life or live with them in moderation so that they don’t continue to destroy you.
You don’t have to feel crazy either, these symptoms often made me feel that way, always playing the ups and downs. Finding a way to help balance them out without drastic swings to the hypo to hyper side is now what I strive for. All that starts with taking care of me.
Getting enough sleep, good nutrition, regular exercise, and daily gratitude help me feel a little less crazy.
