There’s a mysterious disorder that affects roughly 20 million Americans and they don’t know it: thyroid disease. If you’ve struggled with fertility, hormones, energy level, or overall health, you may have a thyroid condition. More specifically, 90% of all thyroid disorders are hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid gland is under active, which means it’s not producing or secreting important thyroid hormones such as thyroxine (t4). Healthy thyroid function is responsible for many processes in the body including cardiovascular, digestion, physical growth, and mental health. Hypothyroidism is more common amongst women; 5-8 times more common than in men.
I’m not a doctor, but I am a certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach who sought my certification due to healing from hypothyroidism with the help of an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and holistic-centered practitioners/treatment. I can tell you what I know from my own experience, as well as the experience of my clients. Like many other people I have talked with, an endocrinologist told me I was not hypothyroid because my lab numbers weren’t reflecting a formal diagnosis. I was labeled as having “sub-clinical hypothyroidism.” In my heart of hearts, I knew this was wrong. The numbers weren’t matching the “standards,” but my symptoms were off the hook. I eventually found a couple health practitioners who practiced the ideal that
patients can't be judged by numbers, but instead by how they feel.Click To Tweet I whole-heartedly believe that. Both of these holistic-minded doctors used a more conservative scale for thyroid lab results, which falls in line with more recent research. The “normal” lab range is letting too many people fall through the cracks in many conventional practices, where they are being tested for thyroid disorders.Hypothyroidism and Pregnancy
Despite having a bout with hypothyroidism and hormonal imbalance, I’m expecting my second child in July. In February of 2015, I was told that another pregnancy wouldn’t happen unless I used some means of hormonal therapy or fertility assistance. Alternatively, I found out I was pregnant in November of 2016, and I’m proud to say that it was 100% natural conception. This pregnancy is the culmination of two years of helping my body come back to balance. To those of you who are going through infertility, I want you to know that I’ve gained a taste of how you feel. I obviously don’t know exactly, and I’m not trying to say that I do; believe me. I respect that your situation is yours, but I just wanted to share mine.
For instance, I know about the incessant question that runs through your mind of “why is this happening to me?” Then, there’s the endless chatter that goes on in your head about what you should do or not do. The doubting of yourself, the heartbreak, and the confusion: I empathize with everything you’re feeling. I really and truly do. Becoming pregnant again after having my son wasn’t something I thought too much about; until I realized it may not happen.
30 Going on 100
When my son was 1, I felt like I was 100. I had too many symptoms for a 30 year old woman: extreme fatigue, severe joint pain, cold hands and feet, zero energy during the day (became totally dependent on loads of caffeine and sugar to get through the day), waking up at night, having anxiety about things I shouldn’t, and the list goes on and on. I started out with an endocrinologist who said my thyroid numbers weren’t at the treatable levels. He said, “Let’s wait 6 months and see where you are.” I knew exactly where I would be; the same or worse. I will never forget walking out of the doctor’s office in tears, but this was all a blessing.
Hypothyroidism: Everything is Connected
Disappointment at the endocrinologist’s office lead me to focusing on the root cause of my symptoms, as opposed to putting a patch on my symptoms (medication). Eventually, I found the right practitioner who verified my hypothyroidism. Furthermore, she explained that my under active thyroid had origins within HPA Axis Dysfunction. HPA Axis Dysfunction is when the hypothalamus, pituitary, and adrenal glands are not working together as they are intended. There’s a relationship and set of signals that occur between these glands. The glands are responsible for releasing certain hormones in times of stress, and when we have too many stressors, dysfunction occurs.
For many people, the adrenals suffer the most (adrenal fatigue). They become depleted from having to answer to the hypothalamus and pituitary in managing the stressors with releasing hormones. Everything is connected. Poor nutrition and too much stress can easily create an environment where stress hormones overtake sex hormones, and the hormonal glands that should be helping us are broken down.
5 Reasons Why Hypothyroidism or Any Illness Can Be a Blessing
Through the rough times of finding hope and healing, I discovered five reasons why being hypothyroid was a good thing.
1. I discovered the importance of following my gut feelings and that little voice that tells you the truth.
When I left the endocrinologist with no solution or answers, there was a little voice that said, “There’s more to this. I’m doing something wrong that’s making this happen.” I held onto those words, and that has made all the difference. I thought back to when I had attended a cooking workshop at a holistic health coach’s home in 2009. That particular health coach helped me eliminate migraine headaches and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. The knots in my stomach from being at the doctor went away when I thought about contacting this health coach, Janet. I felt a sense of hope, and knew I needed to return to her for guidance.
We met for a one-time consultation within a week, and she gave me a run-down of what to do to start feeling better. Had I given her plan the time that was needed, I would have healed sooner. Instead, I stuck to Janet’s plan for two weeks, wasn’t feeling better fast enough, and I quit. I was impatient, but that would improve later down the road. I wanted something faster; we all do, right? This leads to number 2.
2. After making mistakes and finding out that fast fixes don’t get to the root of the problem, I accepted the fact that healing would take more time than I wanted.
I continued searching for a holistic doctor who could pinpoint things a little more for me. Over the course of the next year, I did lots of research and found a practitioner who would treat me based on how I felt; not just on numbers. Ultimately, I ended up with a team of people to help me: an alternative health practitioner who specialized in hormones, a holistic clinical nutritionist, and my health coach, Frederick. I began practicing yoga and following a healing eating plan. I took desiccated thyroid for a while, other supplements/vitamins, and I changed my personal care items.
Frederick would always remind me that it would take time for my body to come back to balance. I had to practice patience. Yoga taught me a lot about patience and being present. Those are two things I struggle with, but being more patient and present brought me into healing. If we’re not living in this moment, and always thinking of the future, then our life is passing us by. That in itself brings stress and a sense of emptiness, and can affect our wellbeing.
3. I changed more than my diet and exercise. I experienced a major shift in how I viewed my daily life and the “simple things” I do each day.
Initially, the thought of having to take so much time to get better seemed grueling, but as I got deeper into the journey, I started enjoying it. I didn’t think of any changes as “a diet” or “a plan” but simply a better way to live. I just took things one day at a time; sometimes one hour or even one moment at a time. The simple things aren’t simple because they greatly affect your health. Wellness is a culmination of doing little things each day on a consistent basis. It’s not something you do for twenty days, and then you go back to your old ways. I came to realize that if I wanted my health to change, then I had to change. It’s that simple, and yet that difficult.
4. No matter what illness you have, there are always root causes.
What drove me in my journey to heal was that I kept thinking that there had to be a root cause to everything I was experiencing. I didn’t want to slap a bandaid on my problem and keep going. I wanted to know the truth, and now I want that for others. It took more time to go about it that way, but we have our whole lives! It doesn’t matter how old you are or how long you’ve been dealing with something. We were created perfectly, and our bodies have the ability to return to balance when cared for properly and given the time.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said “Adopt the pace of nature; her secret is patience.” I know that waiting and giving things time aren’t popular, but I found so much joy in the journey. My teacher at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition always said, “Given half the chance, with the support and time needed, your body can heal.” At first, I wasn’t sure, but I know its true as I experienced it for myself.
5. I learned to let go…seriously.
I have listened to people speak in my coaching classes who had circumstances far worse than me: cancer, diabetes, heart disease, severe auto-immune disease, and other illnesses that were deemed incurable. Relentless faith, action, and strong support systems lead them to healing. Contrary to what people might think, they are not obsessed with controlling their situation. They practice the art of letting go; they do a lot of surrendering. I’ve always had a bad habit of feeling like I need to do everything. Delegating is not something I’m good at doing, but I’ve had to do it.
The other side of that is that I question everything I’m doing. I second-guess what I do, doubt, over-analyze, and it’s exhausting. Finally, I came to the point where I had to let people help me, and give up on having everything go perfectly. Letting go has many meanings. For me, it meant letting others help me, letting things be “done and not perfect,” and having faith that my actions would pay off. Did everything pay off? Oh my yes, and it will for you too.
Trust Yourself
If you are being told by your doctor that everything is normal, but you feel terrible, get a second opinion. Don’t think you’re crazy or being too pushy; this is your life. Your health isn’t just about you. This is about your family, friends, community, and being the best you can for everyone you love. Keep asking questions. Trust that little voice. Hold onto your faith and believe in your actions. You will heal.
Getting sick is one of the best things that has happened to me. It lead me to make many positive changes, be the mom/wife/woman I want to be, and lead me to becoming a certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach. If we can start looking at our challenges as chances to start over, then we’ll probably have more health and more happiness.
From my heart,
Lindsay
*Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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