Hashimoto's Protocol, my 90 day journey

I have been dealing with Hashimoto's for 2 yrs now. And I have chosen to do so naturally. While I have made improvements, I'm not all the way 'cured' which I get, it takes time!
So I'm super excited to start Thyroid Pharmacist, Dr. Izabella Wentz 90 day plan! I'll share what I'm doing and how my lab work is looking as I go along for any fellow Hashimoto or autoimmune sufferer.
First 2 weeks are focusing on the liver. You start your morning out with hot lemon water. The supplements you see were already what I was taking and also mentioned in the book so I'm going to continue those.
Here goes nothing, fingers crossed I see my antibodies level drop to normal range! 

I'll update this post as I progress so all the info is in one easy to find spot :) 

Benefits of drinking Bone Broth

Sipping on delicious bone broth! Why bone broth? 

✅Boosts Immunity
✅Fights Inflammation
✅Strengthens bones and teeth
✅Good source of L-glutamine which promotes weight loss
✅Gelatin it contains makes stronger nails, is anti-aging, anti-tumor, arthritis and joint pain relief, supports insulin regulation, & helps normalize stomach acid. 

I personally drink it to heal my gut so I can recover from Hashimoto's. Plus it's great on a cool day to get you warmed up :)

Signs you may be gluten intolerant

Gluten free is not just a "fad" and having to cut out gluten is a very real thing for many people, including myself!

If you have any of the following symptoms it could be a sign that you have gluten intolerance:

1. Digestive issues such as gas, bloating, diarrhea and even constipation.

2. Keratosis Pilaris, (also known as ‘chicken skin’ on the back of your arms). This tends be as a result of a fatty acid deficiency and vitamin A deficiency secondary to fat-malabsorption caused by gluten damaging the gut.

3. Fatigue, brain fog or feeling tired after eating a meal that contains gluten.

4. Diagnosis of an autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Ulcerative colitis, Lupus, Psoriasis, Scleroderma or Multiple sclerosis.

5. Neurologic symptoms such as dizziness or feeling of being off balance.

6. Hormone imbalances such as PMS, PCOS or unexplained infertility.

7. Migraine headaches.

8. Diagnosis of chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia. These diagnoses simply indicate your conventional doctor cannot pin point the cause of your fatigue or pain.

9. Inflammation, swelling or pain in your joints such as fingers, knees or hips.

10. Mood issues such as anxiety, depression, mood swings and ADD.

The best way to see if your body has an issue with it is by simply taking it away. This was the method I used. Take it out of your diet for at least 2 to 3 weeks and then reintroduce it. Please note that gluten is a very large protein and it can take months and even years to clear from your system so the longer you can eliminate it from your diet before reintroducing it, the better. 

For me, after taking it out for a couple weeks then trying it again, I had immediate tiredness, brain fog for the rest of the day and a bloated tummy! So for me, I knew it was best to just stay gluten free. I definitely feel better and my brain fog I used to have on a daily basis is clearing up!

{I am not a doctor, just sharing my own personal experience}

Fighting Hashimoto's Disease Naturally

Now that I know I have Hashimoto's, I've been coming up with a "protocol" for Candida overgrowth which causes the autoimmune Hashimotos disease of the thyroid. Fix the candida and you can stop suffering from Hashimotos (weight gain, memory loss, brain fog, hair falling out, etc) all of which I'm definitely suffering from. And pure exhaustion too! That's no way I want to live.
I have a good friend who has it too and it's so nice to talk to someone who is like you and to reassure you that you are NOT crazy bc you can't remember a darn thing or even make simple sentences sometimes bc you forgot the word you were trying to say. I'm talking super simple stuff like me pointing to shoes on the floor and asking the kids to pick them up but can't say shoes bc I can't think of the word I'm trying to say. It's scary. 

I see a light at the end of my tunnel thanks to my friend who is in my shoes and seeing positive changes with her natural approach. 

It will be a long process to be healed, but I want to do this right. No just "fixing" the side effects but instead, fixing the root cause.
Now just to get started on my low hormones and I'll be a new woman here soon! 

I have had so many ladies message me saying they too suffer the same issues. Ladies, and even men....if you feel like something is "off" or you notice things are changing, PLEASE don't be like me and wait it out for a year to see if things change. Get some lab work done and get answers! Then do your research...with the internet, you could read tons of info and figure out the best method for you.
For me, I've decided to go about it naturally and to start a Paleo way of eating once I'm done with the Reset. I'll update y'all as I see progress. If I can help just one person by sharing my own journey, then it's worth it!

What is Hashimoto's?

Hashimoto's disease is a condition in which your immune system attacks your thyroid, a small gland at the base of your neck below your Adam's apple. The thyroid gland is part of your endocrine system, which produces hormones that coordinate many of your body's activities.

The resulting inflammation from Hashimoto's disease, also known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, often leads to an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism). Hashimoto's disease is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States.

Symptoms?

You might not notice signs or symptoms of Hashimoto's disease at first, or you may notice a swelling at the front of your throat (goiter). Hashimoto's disease typically progresses slowly over years and causes chronic thyroid damage, leading to a drop in thyroid hormone levels in your blood. The signs and symptoms are mainly those of an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism).

Signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism include:

• Fatigue and sluggishness
• Increased sensitivity to cold
• Constipation
• Pale, dry skin
• A puffy face
• Hoarse voice
• Unexplained weight gain 
• Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness, especially in your shoulders and hips
• Pain and stiffness in your joints and swelling in your knees or the small joints in your hands and feet
• Muscle weakness, especially in your lower extremities
• Excessive or prolonged menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia)
• Depression

So here is how I am approaching this disease...naturally! I ordered in this highly recommended book, The Autoimmune Paleo Cookbook.

I ordered these supplements too, which aid in helping you reduce Candida overgrowth...

I'm happy to know I can still have my daily Shakeology, just has to be the vegan version! 

Now I'm just waiting for my book and Now supplements to arrive so I can get started! I also have read on multiple pages that the recommended exercises for these issues are HIIT or lifting weights. Thank goodness for all my Beachbody DVD's, I can do both of those right here at home without the stress of getting to a gym! 

I'll update ASAP on how everything is going. Thanks for following my journey!

{I am not a licensed medical professional nor do I pretend to be one on this site. Take what I write as a launching off point to do your own research. My advice, experience, and suggestions are not to be considered medical advice}