REWIND TO A MONTH AGO…
I was noticing I was incredibly out of breath walking up the stairs. Then I noticed that my heart was beating OUT OF my chest 75% of the day (especially at bedtime) & I was having a MUCH harder time than usual falling asleep. I called my sister, who is a midwife & just one of those people who really knows everything.
Immediately she said it sounded like my iron levels were low. So, I called a doctor to my house (I am not fancy, just used the Heal app) which is so convenient & they came over and did a blood draw. Insurance covered it btw.
I was sure it was my iron, I was SUPER anemic in college & don’t eat a ton of red meat/iron rich foods, so it was kind of a no brainer. That week I loaded up on iron rich foods & supplements ready to get the iron levels up… & then the doctor called to tell my iron was fine, but my thyroid wasn’t.
I was shocked & annoyed about all the money I spent on the iron supplements. Thyroid issues run in my family BUT I have had my thyroid atleast once a year every time I got a physical just to make sure. Last year, my thyroid was FINE… & now it’s not.
She told me I had a hyperthyroid (same as my mom, grandma, & great grandma), prescribed me a beta blocker for my rapid heart beat, & told me to see an endocrinologist for more testing. During this time I was sharing all of this with you guys on Instagram stories & was getting a ton of questions. I kept track & thought I’d write a post summarizing what I’ve learned so far about thyroid disorders, my PLAN OF ACTION for Graves disease, as well as some easy tips to keep your thyroid thriving.
TYPES OF THYROID DISORDERS
the thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland in the front of your neck near the throat area. They thyroid gland controls a TON of bodily functions & when there’s an issue… lots of things get out of whack. I have a hyperthyroid & graves, but a bunch of people specifically requested I discuss HYPOthyroid as well so I am covering it all.
+ HYPERTHYROIDISM: this is when you have an overactive thyroid that is producing too much of the T3 hormone. You may experience rapid heart beat, sleep issues, weight loss, tremors, etc.
+ GRAVES’ DISEASE: I was super confused with this part cause I kinda though Graves & Hyperthyroid were one in the same. IT’S NOT. Graves is an autoimmune condition when your immune system attacks your thyroid which CAUSES a hyperthyroid. You can have a hyperthyroid & not have Graves’ but you can’t have Grave’s & not have a hyperthyroid.
+ HYPOTHYROIDISM: this is when you have an under active thyroid that isn’t producing enough of the T3 hormone. People with a hypothyroid may be sleepy, sluggish, depressed, & experience some weight gain.
+ HASHIMOTO’S DISEASE: same as Graves disease- but the other side of the coin. Hashimoto’s Disease is also an autoimmune condition where the thyroid is attacked & causes a hypothyroid. You can have a hypothyroid & not have Hashimoto’s but you can’t have Hasimoto’s hot have a hypothyroid.
MY PLAN OF ACTION
I decided that I wanted to go the holistic route & luckily I found a doctor who does both, so if all else fails, we have other options. My first appointment involved the more testing for all thyroid levels & we did a spit test for a closer look at my hormones. When we got the results back we set up a plan of action:
+ DIET & LIFESTYLE CHANGES: eating more whole foods, cutting the blue light, work on my sleep schedule, drinking a smoothie w/ protein in the morning, protein at every meal, lots of CRUCIFEROUS veggies (i.e. broccoli), & just overall better lifestyle choices.
+ VITAL PROTEINS POWDER: I’ve been adding this to my smoothies for a source of protein & an added boost of collagen which has been said to help thyroid disorders.
+ THRYOID & ADRENAL IV DRIPS (3X): thyroid issues also wreck havoc with the adrenal gland & when the adrenal gland is compromised, the thyroid will be effected as well which will effect your cortisol levels. A VERY IMPORTANT hormone. Mine is all over the place. So I get three IV drips that are more concentrated to start & then stay on an adrenals supplement.
+ SUPPLEMENTS:
a-Drenal: this is the supplement i take to support my adrenals.
Target GBX: (aka gut brain axis) is an amazing probiotic to keep your second brain (the gut) healthy & it’s not a pill so I am stoked.
ThyroCalm Px: this is an expensive, BUT SO EFFECTIVE, supplement my holistic doctor recommended. It calmed down all my symptoms in days.
TIPS FOR KEEPING YOUR THYROID HEALTHY
+ READ THE MEDICAL MEDIUM’S THYROID HEALING BOOK ASAP: I am still getting through it but it is a wealth of information & includes tips, snacks, recipes, diet plans, etc. etc. It’s the ultimate tool book on dealing with thyroid issues holistically.
+ CHUG CELERY JUICE: This FIRST thing I learned from The Medical Medium. Even if you don’t have a thyroid problem you should really be drinking celery juice in the AM. It gives me natural energy & helps support the thyroid. Plus, it starts the day off on a healthier note!
+ TAKE WALKS: hypo or hyperthyroid, working out is hard. You’re either too sleepy (hypo) or your heart feels like it’s gonna explode with a walk to the car. BUT- exercise, even if light, is one of the best things you can do for your thyroid health.
+ Manage Stress: stress also wrecks havoc on the hormones, so if you have a solution for this one… let me know.
+ Get Some Dulce Flakes: I just ordered these thanks to The Medical Medium (duh). Apparently they are a good source of iodine & iodine is very important in helping regulate the thyroid hormone.
+ Get blue light glasses: I am NO doctor, but I just feel like my computer work & over exposure to blue light really threw off my circadian rhythms & in turn fucked up my hormones which could be the cause of this thyroid issue. WHICH IS WHY I GTG & be done with writing this post.
