Food has the power to heal
I am a mom, wife, special education teacher who has Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism. I learned about my thyroid issues 4 months after giving birth to my son over 14 years ago. Looking back, I was showing symptoms while I was pregnant, but since this was my first pregnancy I did not realize it. My delivery was hard and everything after that was even harder. I was surprised that being a mom was so hard and exhausting. It took me back since I had been a fitness instructor, worked full-time and participated in triathons without any issues. I had energy and thought motherhood would be easy for me. I was shocked that I gained 65 pounds with my son and in one month I gained 20 pounds! This should have been a sign for my doctor to check my thyroid but she did not. Instead I received a lecture on what I should be eating. I was so mad! I explained to them that I teach fitness classes and taught cycling until I was 7 months pregnant. I had a masters with an emphasis on nutrition education but the nurse practioner thought I was not applying my knowledge to myself during my pregnancy.
After my son was born, I began falling up the stairs in our house, breast feeding felt like every ounce of energy was being sucked out of me and then my throat started closing up. I was exhausted all of the time and puffy. I could not lose weight and felt horrible. I tried getting into my primary doctor but she was out for a few weeks so I went to urgent care where they told me that I was just exhausted from being a new mom. I then was able to see another doctor filling in for my primary care physician and when he touched my throat he immediately told me that I had a goiter and if my throat closes up to call 911, took blood tests and sent me on my way. A few days later a endocronoligist called me and told me that I needed to come in that very day because I was an emergency case. When I went in the endocronologist he was shocked that my doctor did not put me on medication immediately since my TSH was 120! He said he was shocked that my body had not shut down yet. He believed that my body was able to go into survival mode since I had trained for olympic distance triathlons and taught my body how to be under stress. My endocronolist said without medical intervention he believed I would be in a coma soon or die because my throat would close up. Needless to say, I found a new primary care physician and OBGYN!
I started taking synthroid that day. I quit my full-time job and it took 1 year to start feeling better (not great but better). I am now on Naturethroid and feeling like I did before all of this happened. For the past 14 years I have spent countless hours researching how to heal my body through food and nutrition. I have had my bumps and it has not been without frustration. I hope that my story helps you so you do not spend years figuring out how to reverse your symptoms so you can feel great again.
Follow My Blog
Get new content delivered directly to your inbox.
Food for Thought on Thyroid Health 