Hypothyroidism, also called underactive thyroid or low thyroid, is a common disorder of the endocrine system which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone (taken directly from wikipedia to break it down in layman terms). ;)
Some (but there are more) symptoms of Hypothyroidism:
- Fatigue
- Impaired memory
- Increased sensitivity to cold
- Depressed
- Dry skin
- Unexplained weight gain
- Muscle aches and pain
- Pain, stiffness or swelling in your joints
- Heavier than normal or irregular menstrual periods
- Thinning hair
It was Fall of 2015 and I started feeling this on again - off again feeling in my throat. Kinda like a lump in your throat or a pill you tried to swallow that didn't quite go down right. You know what I am talking about?
I wanted to be proactive so I made an appointment with the ENT. What I was describing was "textbook acid reflux" (according to my ENT). Who knew??? I was prescribed some meds.
Fast forward to spring of 2016 and that on again - off again feeling in my throat turned into an all-the-time feeling. Ugh!
Another appointment with the ENT. She scoped me (as in taking this long wire like device up through my nose that goes down your throat). Yes, it is as gross as it sounds. Good news, she didn't see anything. She opted to send me for an ultrasound on my thyroid since that is the only other thing in the throat area.
A week or so goes by and after me following up several times because lets be honest, I was anxious to know...I was told my ultrasound came back normal. Doc prescribed another med. In my head I truly didn't think it was acid reflux, but to appease the doc and to prove to myself, I took the new medication for 30 days to no avail.
At this point I was a little frustrated and made an appointment with my primary physician. I met with the Nurse Practitioner and told her the story. She pulled up my ultrasound online and commented that I showed nodules on my thyroid. SAY WHAT??? Nodules??? NO ONE TOLD ME THIS. In fact, I was told my ultrasound was normal. Nodules are normal???
I asked if I could get a second opinion and she referred me to another ENT.
New doc. Same procedure. Another scope. All clear. This ENT agrees with the first ENT and classifies me as having acid reflux. Goes on to say that nodules on the thyroid are normal for a woman my age.
A woman my age?
I'm not 80!
And even if I were 80, nodules are never normal in my opinion!
I am slightly, ok more than slightly unhappy with what I am hearing.
So much that the doctor could see it written all over my body language. He said "I can tell by the look on your face that you are not happy with what I am saying, but this is what I believe it correct."
He said he would also prescribe an acid reflux medication, just a different one.
I left withOUT the script.
I sat on this information for a little while.
That sensation in my throat?
It wasn't going away.
And then finally I decided that it was up to me to do something about it.
I asked around and got a couple referrals to local functional doctors.
What is functional medicine? Functional medicine involves looking at your problem and digging to find the root cause. It is NOT about masking symptoms, it is about healing.
If I was EVER going to figure out what was REALLY going on, it would be with functional medicine, not the traditional Western medicine.
More about functional medicine on a later blog, but guess what???
Yep, you guessed it.
After a gamut of blood work, I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism.
My functional doctor informed me that nodules are NEVER normal. And even agreed with me that the sensation I have in my throat is due to the fact that there are nodules on my thyroid.
Can I get an AMEN?
Seriously peeps, when you know in your heart and in your head that something isn't adding up; you finally get some answers and confirmation...it's a step in the right direction!
That was back in September of 2016.
And then I began taking BIG steps to allow my body to start healing, my thyroid specifically.
Just in case you don't understand how serious thyroid dysfunction is, here are a few crazy statistics according to the American Thyroid Association:
* An estimated 20 MILLION Americans have some form of thyroid disease.
* Up to 60% of those with thyroid disease are unaware of their condition.
* Women are five to eight times more likely than men to have thyroid problems.
* One in eight women will develop a thyroid disorder during her lifetime.
* Undiagnosed thyroid disease may put patients at risk for certain serious conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis and infertility.
* Pregnant women with undiagnosed or inadequately treated hypothyroidism have an increase risk of miscarriage, preterm delivery, and severe developmental problems in their children.
And so I ask, could I be talking about YOU?
Could you be one of those statistics above in which you may not even know?
We're not talking about a few people here, we're talking about millions.
What is and where is the thyroid?
The American Thyroid Association breaks this one down well...
The thyroid is a hormone-producing gland that regulates the body's metabolism - the rate at which the body produces energy from nutrients and oxygen - and affects the critical body functions, such as energy level and heart rate.
* The thyroid gland is located in the middle of the lower neck.
* Although the thyroid gland is relatively small, it produces a hormone that influences every cell, tissue and organ in the body.
So as you can see, the thyroid is VERY critical to our bodies!
While the American Thyroid Association states the causes of thyroid problems are largely unknown...
Now that I have started to do some of my 'own' digging, I am not so sure that is 100% accurate.
In the article "The 6 worst foods for your thyroid gland," the Liver Doctor goes into more detail, but I will share a snap shot below. For additional info, click: 6 worst food for thyroid gland. You will find the below is true over and over again regardless of what article you pull up online.
GLUTEN: Did you know that gluten causes a great deal of inflammation in the body, and in some people it can cause the immune system to produce antibodies that attack your own organs or tissues (aka: thyroid)?
CRUCIFEROUS VEGGIES: Cruciferous vegetables include cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts and others. You can still eat these vegetables, but try to limit them in raw consumption. These vegetables contain substances called goitrogens. They are compounds that can inhibit the absorption of iodine by your thyroid gland. Iodine is a critical component in the manufacture of thyroid hormones.
DAIRY: Dairy products can also create a lot of inflammation in the body. The protein in dairy products is called casein and in many people it worsens autoimmune disease just as much as gluten.
SUGAR: It raises inflammation in your body and makes all autoimmune diseases worse. Sugar fuels the growth of all sorts of harmful pathogens in your gut. It fosters gut infections.
INDUSTRIALIZED SEED OILS: This refers to vegetable oil such as corn oil, sunflower, safflower, soybean, cottonseed, canola, grape seed and rice bran oil. The extraction process (using heat and chemical solvents) causes the polyunsaturated fats to become damaged and oxidized. If you then cook with those oils, they become damaged even further. Damaged fats create a great deal of inflammation in your body. They act as free radicals and cause wear and tear to your organs and tissues.
Top foods for healing when you have hypothyroidism?
I have come to love reading and watching Dr. Axe. He is full of great information - all in a more wholistic, natural approach too! My style if you know what I mean. ;)
In the article I read by him recently, Hypothyroidism - Diet / Natural Treatment, he shares his top healing foods:
WILD CAUGHT FISH: Omega-3 fatty acids EPA/DHA that are essential for hormone balance and thyroid function.
MY Note: Please read the labels and do NOT buy FARM RAISED! Wild caught is where the goodness is people! I used to not like salmon (true story), but have grown to love it in recent years and would strongly encourage others to incorporate it into their weekly diets too.
SEAWEEDS: Some of the best natural sources of iodine, these help precent deficiencies which disturb thyroid function.
MY Note: I will be honest, I haven't gone down this road yet, but am continuing my research to explore more here soon.
COCONUT OIL: Provides medium-chain fatty acids in the form of caprylic acid, lauric acid and capricious acid that support a healthy metabolism, increase energy and fight fatigue.
MY Note: My husband whips us up Bullet Proof Coffee every morning. It is super tasty and great brain food (as we like to say in our home). We have replaced the grass fed butter with organic, grass-fed Ghee as we are trying to stay dairy free and it is delightful!
PROBIOTIC RICH FOODS: Probiotics help create a healthy gut environment by balancing microflora bacteria, which reduces leaky gut syndrome, nutrient deficiencies, inflammation and autoimmune reactions. These include kefir or organic goat's milk yogurt, kimchi, kombucha, natto, sauerkraut and other fermented veggies.
MY Note: Not all are created equal, so it is important to do your research. Bubbies sauerkraut is an excellent option (don't want the kinds with preservatives). And everyone in our fam is on a daily probiotic regimen for optimal wellness.
SPROUTED SEEDS: Flax, hemp and chia seeds provide ALA, a type of omega-3 fat that's critical for proper hormonal balance and thyroid function. Adequate levels of fats in your hypothyroidism
diet support a healthy mood and brain function, while helping to lower inflammation.
MY Note: Our family loves to put flax and chia in our weekly smoothies - also good to add to oats for breakfast!
CLEAN WATER: Water helps with hydration and digestive function while preventing fatigue and moodiness.
MY Note: We opted for a refrigerator without a water dispenser and instead got a water filtration system for all our water and ice. It is a reverse osmosis system and ensures ALL that yucky fluoride as well as other things we do NOT need to be ingesting are out of our water. SO good for our bodies!
HIGH FIBER FOODS: People with hypothyroidism may have digestive difficulties, so aim for 30-40 grams of fiber daily. Some easy ways to increase fiber intake include eating more fresh vessels, berries, beans, lentils and seeds.
MY Note: We love adding seeds and nuts to our salads and avocados are a staple in our home!
FRUITS & VEGGIES: These are high in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants that are necessary for combating free-radical damage and lowering inflammation.
MY Note: From all of my reading, raw is best and a diet that is 50%+ in raw fruits and vegetables should be the daily goal for overall wellness. This is what my family is shooting for each day!
BONE BROTH: Beef and chicken stock contain amino acids l-proine and l-glycine, which can help repair digestive lining and improve hypothyroidism.
MY Note: I love to buy grass-fed beef from a local farmer who give soup bones specifically for making broth (PS: it's amazing!).
So, how is the for a mouth-full on hypothyroidism? :)
It is a LOT to chew on (no pun intended with all the food options above). ;)
In addition to the above, I also use OILS to help with overall wellness with my thyroid function.
I rub Myrhh or Frankincense on my face and neck daily. WAY too many good things about these two oils to share with you now, but trust me - you want them!
I also use Endoflex (an oil specifically created by Young Living for supporting the endocrine system).
My hypothyroidism didn't happen overnight and I know it won't go away overnight either, but it feels good to KNOW and be able to make some POSITIVE changes for my overall wellness.
I would ask you what might be interfering with your wellness journey? Maybe you don't even know yet. There most definitely is power in knowledge.
Cheers to better health for you and me!
Love,
Georgia
