What’s Hashimoto's Disease?
My Recent Diagnosis of Hashimoto’s Disease
The medical field is so interesting to me sometimes. Getting a letter in the mail saying you’re positive for a disease with no additional context….just end of sentence. No information on what the disease is. No information on how it can and will impact me. No information on what I can do to help reduce it. Just a letter merely saying…”you are positive for Hashimoto’s disease.”
As the receiver of this letter, I knew I had to dig deep and do my own research. First, I wanted to understand what Hashimoto’s disease was and second, what can I do today to combat it.
the differences between Hyperthyroidism, Hypothyroidism, and Hashimoto’s Disease
The first thing I wanted to research was the difference between Hyperthyroidism, Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s disease. Having been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism at the ripe age of 17, I was aware of the side affects I’d personally felt throughout my life from this disease, but didn’t know what the difference was between that and Hashimoto’s disease.
Hyperthyroidism means your thyroid gland is overactive. Initially the thyroid gland begins to slowly leak due to inflammation. This then causes the thyroid gland to go into overdrive to produce more of the thyroxine hormone. When your thyroid is overproducing it can cause a rapid heartbeat, weight loss, anxiety, increased appetite, infertility, double vision, and more.
Hypothyroidism is the opposite of Hyperthyroidism, where your thyroid gland is underproducing the thyroxine hormone. This is due to the inflammation over time restricting your thyroid gland from being able to produce enough of the hormone. It can cause you to gain weight, feel lethargic, and be unable to tolerate colder temperatures.
Hashimoto’s disease is when your antibodies are confused and attack your thyroid gland. Studies show that approximately 60% of females that have been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism have Hashimoto’s disease. In other words, the antibodies attacking the thyroid gland cause it to underproduce necessary hormones.
symptoms when thyroid levels are off
Over the last decade or so, the biggest side affects that I’ve noticed are fatigue, sluggishness, weight volatility, brain fog, and hair loss. If I don’t watch my weight and stay on a consistent workout routine, the scale will show and my body will alert me. My energy level and pant size are a roller coaster from one month to the next.
That’s why over the last few years, I’ve found myself pressing the reset button with my diet and wellness plan. By making a conscious decision to refocus on my health through daily habits and rituals, I find being health-conscious helps substantially. A quick reboot reminds me of the importance of eating healthy and making time for movement, time and time again.
Is Hashimoto’s Disease curable?
That all depends on who you ask! Most doctors that I’ve spoken to in the past have said no, it is not curable, and that I will be on medication for the rest of my life. However, the more I research what could be potential causes, the more I wonder if that is true.
Case in point, my sister was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism while pregnant. Almost two years later, she stopped taking the medication and found out that she no longer needed to take it (after consulting with her doctor). She is 100% vegan, is conscious about where her cleaning supplies and products are made, lives in a warmer climate, and overall leads a healthy lifestyle. Whether this is why her Hypothyroidism went away or not, I’m not sure, but there has been research that certain actions can increase your chances of having the disease.
Some examples are:
Leaky gut
Food sensitivity (such as gluten)
Infections (such as Lyme Disease)
Nutrient deficiency (such as iodine)
Toxin exposure (such as pesticides)
Stress levels
SHOP THE POST:
How to treat Hashimoto’s disease
This is just the start of my journey and there will be a laundry list to come. That’s the great thing about the world we live in, there are so many tinctures that you can try to see what’s right for you. For now, here are the immediate action steps I plan to take going forward to start the process:
Meet with a naturopath - Many times people lean on a daily pill to cure their symptoms, myself included. But this time I would like to try to determine what natural measures I can take to right size my poor little butterfly gland.
Increase my iodine consumption - Because iodine is a mineral our bodies need to produce the thyroid hormone, I’m going to start taking kelp supplements (shop the image above) and try to increase my consumption of fish. Although this doesn’t align 100% with a vegan diet, I will see how it makes me feel over time.
Decrease my intake of gluten - Although I haven’t been diagnosed with Celiac disease, I know that reducing my gluten consumption has had positive affects on my energy levels in the past. Gluten sneaks up on us in so many foods we consume regularly, so by creating a heightened focus on reducing my intake, it should have positive side affects either way.
Increase probiotic intake - Supplementing a probiotic into my daily regimen won’t be hard and hopefully will have a positive impact on any gut issues I may be facing.
Blue light exposure - I don’t know how much I believe that blue light exposure can be impacting my body, but what I do believe is that we use technology too much throughout our daily lives. I’m going to try to reduce my TV, computer, and phone time at night at least 1 hour before bed. Bring on the books!
If you have any pointers on what you’ve tried in the past that’s worked, I’m all ears. I will continue to share anything and everything I learn along my journey.
Wishing you all the best!
Jen
Please note, I am not a licensed medical practitioner. All data points were researched across multiple platforms. If you have any health concerns, please contact your primary care doctor to discuss any symptoms to help with diagnosis and treatment plans.
Investor // Landlord and DIYer // Realtor // Business Consultant // Globe Trotter // Converting Vegan.
