The magic of answers---Hashimoto's and Thyroidism

   Finally! 2016 is really proving itself....I have Hashimoto's and now that I am on a synthetic thyroid hormone, I also am classified as hypothyroid.  It might sound crazy scary, but what my family and I have  had to endure has been nothing short of a neverending nightmare. I've gone to countless doctors, physicians, and  specialists  over the years. I became an extreme health nut and exercise guru. I was diagnosed anemic, having IBS, prescribed anti-depressants at one time or another, was told "it was all in your head so I think it's stress induced". At one point, I developed so many allergies I had to give myself three shots a week for a few years. I finally quit going to the doctor and just tried to be as healthy as I could be....but it quit working and I was gaining symptoms left and right. Over the course of my adulthood, I've had four miscarriages...I've lost four babies. And we can't explain how truly fortunate  we are to have the precious three girls we get to enjoy as they giggle, cry, love, live and grow.   
   It has been several months since I've had the energy to even attempt to remember where this  blog was...and I wish I was joking. Brain fog....B-R-A-I-N--F-O-G had me in it's grips for months after we lost our last baby in July 2015. Not only was I mildly depressed from yet another loss,  it took quite a few months to get my synthetic thyroid dosage correct, which isn't uncommon for my fellow Hashi sufferers. The purpose of this blog originally was for miscarriage awareness and honestly it was an easy way for us to communicate with family and friends on a grander about how we were doing with loss like this. After I got pointed in certain directions with my health, I took charge of my health care...I customized and ordered my own lab tests through a wonderful website that goes through a local testing facility like LabCorp. After taking charge, I decided that I needed to pick up this blog again for all those moms and dads out there, all the siblings of lost babies who are being affected every day, every year with undiagnosed thyroid issues.
   With our last baby, we felt pretty positive that it couldn't possible happen again...I was healthier (or so I thought) than I had been in a long time. I had made some changes to my life and my doctor had found that my thyroid was the reason for this miscarriage this time. We just needed to get my thyroid number where it needed to be. I felt better within two days but not all my symptoms vanished and lots of them began appearing again after leaving.  I had severe joint pain going on, headaches, my vision was changing constantly, racing heart patterns to low blood pressure, hair loss from hell (it was sticking to the walls and ceiling every time I blew it dry), my eyebrows became half brows, my skin was dry and bleeding, feeling cold and seriously did I mention I was cold....shall I go on??? ....My weight literally could have a three pound difference within a one day period, I was sleeping all the time, night terrors (I can't remember having a good dream in my life honestly until I fixed a few things), bleeding gums, random patches of skin fungus, ringing ears that turned into "What? WHAT?!" I could barely hear things....OK enough about me LOL.
   More research was required.  My customized tests revealed a positive test for antibodies and that led me on the change of a lifetime....GOING GLUTEN FREE!!  In the Western world, this "diet"  isn't for the faint hearted. There were withdrawals that lasted over a month. People with Hashimoto's have bodies that recognize that little wheat protein and use it like heroin, you also get confused and attack yourself! You binge, you need that feeling. I'm so lucky my family thinks the world of me...I was a MONSTER!
   I also need to mention I relied on my chiropractor and therapeutic massage therapist for this big turn around as well. Both of them helped me rid myself of toxins, stress, joint inflammation and just overall as a person trying to not feel defeated. They listened and we worked as a team to help  me feel empowered and on the road to better health. They also gave me ideas or leads on things to research like vitamins and supplements my body might be lacking with autoimmune diseases. In fact, at my last appointment, the two of them were taking notes from me about things that have worked  so they could spread messages to a few of their other patients exhibiting the same symptoms I was having.  I've spent hours and hours researching, and sometimes my husband can't believe all the work I've put into finding out the answers.  In the end, I AM WORTH IT and that's all there is to it! :)
Cheers!