What is Hashimoto's?

     Hashimoto's Disease (or Hashimoto's Thyroiditis) is an autoimmue disorder in which your immune system creates antibodies that attack your thyroid gland. In turn, your thyroid will slowly reduce productivity and sometimes stop altogether. Since your thyroid produces hormones that coordinate many of your body's functions, there can be many symptoms that result from these attacks. Symptoms may include but are not limited to:

• Fatigue (Oh, LAWD, yes!)
• Weight gain (Yes, thank you, that's exactly what women want...) 
• Muscle aches and tenderness (Basically, you feel way older than you should.) 
• Pain and stiffness in joints (Again, the rickety old lady feeling.) 
• Cold intolerance (Personally, I did/do not have this symptom. I'm always HOT! Not in the good way... wink wink) 
• Brain fog (Literally what it sounds like. Imagine trying to see through a thick fog. Now imagine your brain trying to think through a thick fog. This one can be the most frustrating, especially when you've previously been noted as a "quick thinker".) 
• Dry skin (Again, I didn't personally experience this one, but others have noted breakouts of hives and other skin irritations.) 
• Reproductive issues (Irregular periods, infertility, miscarriage, etc. This can be the most difficult as Hashimoto's primarily affects women.) 
• Depression (Possibly a result of a combination of the other symptoms, depression can come later as fatigue and brain fog take over.) 

     As is the case with most autoimmune disorders, symptoms vary from person to person. A diagnosis is usually given after a blood test reveals the presence of antibodies and underactive thyroid levels. The treatment most often prescribed by doctors is a thyroid hormone replacement (such as levothyroxine). Taking a THR as prescribed will most likely raise your body's thyroid levels over time. Besides an occasional ultrasound to check for abnormalities with your thyroid, this is usually the extent of treatment from an average endocrinologist for Hashimoto's patients.

     Despite the giant leaps that modern medicine has taken over the past decade, doctors openly admit that they do not know what causes Hashimoto's Disease. There is no treatment for the autoimmune disorder itself, only treatment for the resulting under-active thyroid. The Mayo Clinic's website reports that:

"Treatment of Hashimoto's disease with thyroid hormone replacement usually is simple and effective." 

     While the treatment is simple, most would agree that it is not entirely effective. Taking the medications will most likely raise your thyroid levels, but most of the above symptoms will not be addressed simply by improving your TSH levels. While your under-active thyroid is being addressed, nothing is usually recommended to help with the other symptoms.

     When I was diagnosed last year, I did feel slightly better when I started taking my medication. Unfortunately, over the summer my fatigue and brain fog seemed to be getting worse. I was exhausted all the time and couldn't concentrate on anything. Weight was creeping up on me. Despite multiple conversations with my endocrinologist and lab work that showed "normal" thyroid levels, I was always met with the same response. I was told repeatedly that how I ate and how I lived did not affect my Hashimoto's at all. Nothing else could be done besides taking the medication every morning.

     Being the stubborn individual that I am, I started doing a little research of my own. One of the first steps in my quest to "Live Well with Hashimoto's" was to buy a highly recommended book. Izabella Wentz wrote "Hashimoto's Thyroiditis: Lifestyle Interventions for Finding and Treating the Root Cause". She chronicles her own struggles with Hashimoto's and her journey towards living well. As I read it, I came to the understanding that what I eat really does affect how I feel.

     This brings me (finally, right?) to the main point of my blog. I'm making changes in what I eat and how I feel. Recently I started following the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) which involves pretty strict eating guidelines in order to heal the body. This blog will be about my journey as I juggle working full-time and being an attentive wife (means I can't ignore the hubs...) while still looking for ways to improve my wellness through food and lifestyle changes. If I find a great product, I'll share it with you! If I have successes, I'll share them with you! If I have failures, I'll (maybe, wink wink) share them with you! If I find or make a fantastic recipe, you bet I'll share it with you! This is a lifelong journey and I'm excited to be on the path to healing... The path to Living Well with Hashimoto's.