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Hypothyroidism

Navigating Hypothyroidism: Update

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Thank you everyone for your amazing comments, ideas and feedback on my post last week about the (not so) joys of being hypothyroid. I have learned so much in such a short time from all of you. Once again, magic of the internet prevails! Thank you!

 

This week I’m underway with several of your recommendations and have found some great suggestions through some of the research I’ve been doing, too:

1) Eliminated Gluten. Oh I do miss a warm baguette. But I’m on day five of eating no gluten – and the one big thing I’ve noticed is I’m not itchy! It wasn’t until you guys posted in the comments about gluten last week that I wondered if maybe it was gluten that made me so itchy around mealtime. Isn’t that crazy?

 

2) Increased thyroid-friendly veggies and cut out most sugar. Loving asparagus, avocado, greens, sauteed spinach, and lean proteins like chicken breast and flank steak. Lots of salads and steamed veggies mostly this week, and hummus and veggies are my “after school” snack of yumminess. My husband was not so wild about the rather dry ground turkey meatloaf, but he’ll get used to it.

 

 

3) No coffee or wine (for now!) I thought a little detox would be helpful so green tea is my morning cup of sunshine this week! I do miss my evening vino, but I’ve replaced it with a cup of lovely chamomile tea. I’m definitely sleeping better these days.

 

4) More water! I’m taking a big, huge glass of water to work every morning (with a slice of lemon in it – makes me feel fancy) and then filling it up through the day. And, yes, I’m constantly going to the ladies room.

5) Exercise. The dog is thrilled, he and I have been taking long walks everyday. Next week I’m thinking “gym” and walks with my pup.

 

I also bought some new things at the grocery store like almond butter and coconut oil. I keep reading that coconut oil is a super food, metabolic, etc. so why not! I’ll keep you posted if it gives me super powers.

 

Taking a first step has put a spring in mine and I have all of you to thank.

 

If you have any gluten-free resources or ideas, let me know and I’ll post them here. Also, any other links you’d like to share link them in the comments and I’ll share in my update next week!

 

Hugs! It’s a start!

Navigating Hypothyroidism

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About seven years ago, a few months after my youngest was born, I started to notice my hair was getting thinner, my hands and feet were constantly ice cold – even on hot days, I was anxious, tired, could not sleep, I had really weird heart palpitations and I was gaining weight. I was also so, terribly depressed.

 

One doctor told me to go on Xanax.  Another made some reference to the fact I had just had a baby and sent me on my way. It was a dark time, especially since I had four kids under 7 years old, my husband was on the road for work constantly, and I had never felt so lost emotionally or physically.

 

Finally I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease in which the thyroid gland is gradually destroyed. Hashimoto’s is the leading cause of hypothyroidism in the U.S. (and it hits us middle aged women the hardest.)

 

I went on Synthroid and, well, that was that.

 

My baby is about to turn 8 and I’m still freezing most of the time, my hair’s a mess and the scale continues to head in the wrong direction. I’m not depressed any more and I rarely have heart palpitations, but I still don’t feel “great!”

 

I’m also confused by it all. Do I have to be on Synthroid forever? Am I supposed to take supplements or not? And do the foods I eat really matter (like I keep hearing we hypothyroid ladies need to avoid “goitrogens”?)

 

Oprah said she found out she was hypothyroid, went on vacation and rested for a month, and not too long later she was off meds? Huh?

 

I need answers and my guess, if you are dealing with being hypothyroid, you do too.

 

I’m reading The Hypothyroid Diet by Dr. Kevin Dobrzynski right now and I’m hoping I can intereview him for this blog. His wife was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and he put together a diet for her that he says works. Stay tuned.

 

I suspect a Live Talk here in The Motherhood on this subject is in order, too.

 

Are you dealing with hypothyroidism? Do you have insight or ideas on ways to successfully manage the disease? Do you have questions like I do and want to know where to begin? I’m eager to hear from you.

 

Feels like this could mean taking a step in the right direction, finally.

 

Click here for Update #1 to this post!