We all have a story to tell about our journey. The purpose in sharing my journey is to educate and empower others to be able to do the same.
In writing this, I mean no disrespect to the quality practitioners I’ve had along the way (whom I only had to leave due to change in insurance or the move of your practice). Mainstream medicine has it’s benefits, of course, but there are alternative, wholistic choices I can make in prevention, treatment, and pursuit of health and wellness in mind, body and spirit. This is what I journal about below.
I was in my mid-twenties, leaving a visit to a specialist for digestive issues, and knew I wasn’t being taken seriously by the Physician. During my interview, he noticed my scar on my right ankle. With my answer as to how I had sustained such an injury, and only a questionnaire (and no exam), he simply diagnosed me as having physical symptoms as a result of childhood abuse. He didn’t even know the details. I left the office tearful. I carried on, experiencing pain every time I ate (literally, I felt every piece of food go down, and it hurt all the way down). I was also suffering from severe constipation. I resorted to eating baby food, because it hurt less. And often i sat in the bathroom, tearfully praying, “God, please, I just want to poop like a normal person!” (Laugh if you will, but when you can’t “go” for an extended time, things get pretty serious!).
Months went by until I visited another Dr. He ordered an X-ray. Upon viewing it, he said, “You are severely constipated.” “Uhm, no kidding, Jack, that’s why I’m here!,” is what I wanted to say. I took the prescribed “Lactulose” to help get things moving, but to no avail. So, many MORE months went by, before deciding to see another specialist. He scoped me every which way possible. Upon reviewing all the test results, he says, “Your digestive tract is inflamed top to bottom. I just don’t know what is causing it.” 🙁 Well, at least at that point I knew I hurt for a reason and it wasn’t all in my head (or as a result of abuse). More tears!
But I refused to let it stop me! I went on to run and complete my first marathon in Colorado at this time.
A few more years go by, and I decide to see a Naturopathic/Holistic Physician, who immediately evaluated all my hormone levels. We discovered my thyroid, adrenals and ovaries were not working. Oh wait, I forgot to tell you, prior to the onset of these symptoms, I had been diagnosed with Hypo-thyroid Disease (Hashimoto’s), and severe Endometriosis (upon which resulted in a radical Hysterectomy-I was only 26yrs old). Not having any ovaries combined with an under-active thyroid, led to Adrenal Deficiency (Addison’t Disease). OK, so, the pieces are starting to fit! The severe inflammation in my digestive tract was due to the “Inflammatory Disease,” and under treated Hypothyroidism. Other secondary issues were related to long-term hormone deficiencies after the hysterectomy. I had even begun to suffer bone loss, called Osteoporosis, which was due to a long term lack of estrogen. This is normally seen in older, post-menopausal women, as a result of lower levels of estrogen associated with menopause.
I was in my early 30s, and post-menopausal!
If you know anything about the ENDOCRINE system, you know that it is intricate and it all functions together–if one part malfunctions, it throws the entire system off. Having learned this years before, I asked a previous Dr. for hormone replacement therapy (or HRT). She said, “You don’t need any hormones.” This being said without hormone levels even being tested. I was in my 30s, scratching my head thinking, “I am only 32, and I DON’T NEED HORMONES???” I felt like grabbing here by the collar, getting in her face, nose-to-nose, and shouting, “I DON’T NEED HORMONES, YOU SAY??!” Just kidding, well, I sure felt like that on the inside. But maybe if I had been that direct, she would have seen I DID IN FACT NEED HORMONES!!! 😉
Did you know, that low estrogen levels can lead to Dyspepsia: Indigestion. A condition characterized by upper abdominal symptoms that may include pain or discomfort, bloating, feeling of fullness with very little intake of food , feeling of unusual fullness following meals, nausea, loss of appetite, heartburn, regurgitation of food or acid, and belching. How many older people do you know who are on an acid reducer OTC or prescription medication? And you know what? Instead of reducing stomach acid, what the stomach needs is to have acid introduced into the digestive tract with an HCL-Betaine Hydrochloride (an inexpensive supplement), instead of only addressing the symptoms. OR, Peppermint Essential Oil can be introduced, which will soothe, reduce inflammation, and actually heal the digestive tract. And guess which costs more-prescription OR natural remedy?
With my new Specialist saying, “We will know we got it right when you feel well, not by blood work and scales,” he started me on a different thyroid regime as well as a Bio-identical HRT. I began to at least experience emotional relief, before even beginning the new meds.
Previously I had been treated with 120mg of synthetic thyroid hormone and still felt like crud! Levothroid and Synthroid are the same synthetic thyroid hormone replacement (one is a brand name and one is generic). The prefix “SYN” stands for synthetic? And these commonly prescribed synthetic thyroid hormone replacement medications replace only 1 hormone the thyroid produces. It seemed my previous doctors had only been concerned with TSH levels. Look at a thyroid panel–it tests for T-3, T-4, and TSH. So my new Doc prescribed a T-4-Armor Thyroid, a T-3, called Cytomel, with a compounded (customized) Bio-identical HRT. The T-3 really made a huge impact on my body temperature. Remember, “Hypo“-thyroidism causes low body temperature. In my worst moments of this disease, I was so cold, I felt frozen to the core-a bone chilling cold. Having charted my basal body temperature (before rising from bed) for a 1 week period of time, my temp was only 95.6. The first time, I thought maybe the thermometer wasn’t working correctly. So I took my 9yr old son’s temp, and he was 98.6 on the dot!
After a recorded low body temp at an office visit (required in order to refill my synthetic thyroid meds), I had this physician tell me, “Body temperature doesn’t really have anything to do with your thyroid.” Really? I thought the thyroid is the body’s thermostat, controlling body temperature.
What happens when your temperature goes above 98.6? You feel sick, right? You have a fever, and when you have a fever, you feel like crud! 95.6-Is a chill I cannot describe! All I wanted to do was curl into a ball, under lots of covers, and sleep…and sleep some more. I could not stay awake. My hands and lower arms would go numb for no reason. My head hurt almost constantly (though I have never been drunk or hungover, I image starting your day with this kind of headache first thing in the morning, is similar).
For 20 years, I endured thyroid panels being drawn and then evaluated by numbers and scales, NOT by how I felt. For some reason, I don’t fit the normal range, rather, I don’t feel well just because my numbers are in the so called normal range. Furthermore, my lack of hormones due to loss of ovaries, remained unaddressed and disconnected from my other Endocrine issues. I was miserable and suffering in silence. If I said anything, I knew I wouldn’t be believed. And yet, as a wife, mom and employee, I had to function. At times I wondered how many people near me, saw me functioning, and thought there was nothing really wrong or that my issues were psychological.
My new Doc was compassionate, understanding, gave me choices, and understood that we would know “we got it right,” when I felt well again. And we did…get it right! 🙂
But still, I wanted to be more proactive in managing my complicated endocrine dilemma. With my love of sports and fitness, and always seeking self-improvement, I began studies on the impact of nutrition, exercise and essential oils on Autoimmune disease, Inflammatory disease and the Endocrine system. And, well, here I am, hoping to pass on what I have leaned and walk beside others who are having a similar experience.
I am NOT a Physician. I cannot diagnose. I can’t offer treatment. But I what I can offer, is information that will allow you to make choices in managing you own health and wellness. Do you know why it is so challenging to find an Endocrinologist who can really manage Thyroid Disease? Because they specialize in DIABETES! Of course, we are a diabetic nation, who allowed the fast-food industry to supersize us! And now we are paying for it!
It’s taken years for me to put all the pieces together and find my way to feeling well again (not perfect, but functional, happy and overall healthier). Now my goal is to create an awareness that leads people to be more proactive in their personal health and wellness. Life is too short to go through it UNAWARE. Our health impacts everything else in our lives; productivity, relationships, self-image, self-esteem–the physical, emotional, and spiritual parts of us! (I hope what you read is at least thought provoking. You do have choices, you know! And it begins with lifestyle changes. You choose-How do you want to live?)
There are many holistic methods to treating disease. Much disease can even be avoided if we make healthier choices in nutrition, sleep, exercise, and our overall lifestyle. And what cannot be prevented or cured, we can indeed manage with better choices. We are OVER-MEDICATED, SICK, OBESE and ADDICTED, America! The Healthcare and Pharmaceutical industries are making loads of money off your poor choices, you know!
Wait! Stop and think this through for a sec! Are you on a medication that is causing secondary complications, conditions or addiction? Is there an alternative through nutrition, exercise, or holistic healing methods (i.e. massage, essential oils, fasting, cleansing, etc.)?
It really struck me the last time I was in a Pharmacy. I stepped back and looked at all the OTC meds offered, isle after isle after isle. Do they cure anything? No, they only address symptoms! Question is, do you want to continue to ONLY address the symptoms, or get to the root of your problem? Perhaps your cure is found in a lifestyle change?
And do you know what is in your personal hygiene, feminine, cosmetic and beauty products (NOT regulated by the FDA, by the way)? I know you don’t, because I was oblivious too until I recalled that skin is the largest organ of the human body! And what I put on my skin, inhale or ingest will impact my body. Hmm, so maybe the ingredients in those products should matter too. (Back to my research and reading labels). These products have been dubbed, “Cosmecueticals,” and many of them do indeed contain toxic substances. Mascara, hair color, deodorant (linked to Alzheimer’s) artificial sweeteners, mouth wash, toothpaste (yes, fluoride has been linked to cancer), and even baby shampoo (Johnson & Johnson finally admits) contain toxic chemicals like formaldehyde and quaternium-15 (considered safe and approved?). Industry has changed products to find cheaper ways to manufacture it. Makes sense, for business. However, often toxic additives and fillers are used to mass produce these products at a cheaper cost. Why do people jokingly say, “Well everything causes cancer?” Is it because you don’t want to admit or give up something that might cause you to develop cancer? No, not everything causes cancer, but listen, many things now do indeed cause cancer. We unknowingly expose ourselves to toxins everyday-even with household cleaning products. Think about it! We are exposed to more and more carcinogens all the time, and are oblivious! READ LABELS and do the RESEARCH! I will blog more about healthier alternative products or DIY (do-it-yourself) products).
I used to do interior/exterior painting as a side job with my husband years ago. He passed of Leukemia, only 3 weeks from the day he was diagnosed. The Doctors said he had an 80% chance of going into remission. They were aggressive with treatment. Ultimately, it was the treatment that caused his death, not the Leukemia. But I often wonder, what was it he was exposed to that could lead to Leukemia? I mean, he was a runner, and fairly healthy. Let’s go back to the paint jobs. We often cleaned our brushes and rollers with un-gloved hands, using solvents (especially after a job with oil-based, exterior paint). Makes me wonder.
I’ve come across research has indeed linked abuse in young girls to disease of the female reproductive system (i.e. the Endometriosis that led to my Hysterectomy at the age of 26). The female reproductive system is quite delicate. So maybe, it wasn’t so old fashioned after all, when men did the heavy lifting jobs–not in a chauvinistic way, but in a protective way. Perhaps we should have, and should still, practice this!
Everything is connected.
I continue to learn and practice what I teach through WARRIOR ESSENTIALS, while still longing for a cure to Hypothyroidism (that would be nice!). My reason, isn’t so much about about battling the disease (for often the fight itself makes you stronger). Its about no longer being dependent on medication, blood draws every 6 months, changes in meds (often not by choice and it changes how I feel-not always for the better), co-pays, prescription costs, etc. Not to mention the time spent just having to go to the Dr. (most of it spent waiting)! And if you live outside Louisville, you have to factor in drive-time too!
I certainly am not implying we ditch mainstream medicine. There is indeed a time we need their knowledge. And there are good practitioners out there. But I am saying it is important to know your body, do the research, and communicate openly with your Physician. Don’t settle for not getting to the root of the problem. Many medications only manage symptoms-they don’t heal! Our bodies were created with the ability to heal. Our Creator gave us natural medicine (Ezekiel 47:12, “the trees for fruit and the leaves for healing”). So how is your lifestyle conducive to healing? What medications can you truly live without? Or, do you really want to be dependent on them the rest of your life? Are you depending on them to dull physical pain, or psychological pain? What side effects or secondary conditions are those meds causing? How much do they cost you per month? Now, don’t just hastily go off your meds, or you may experience some big problems. But go to your next visit with your Physician and have and intelligent, informed and thought out dialogue with your Physician. Open up a discussion about a less medicated form of care. You have choices, people! I am writing this because for far too long I denied myself choices, informed care, healthier alternatives, and natural healing of my body! My body is precious and valuable!
I don’t know about you, but now in my mid-forties, I am on a quest to live a more purposeful, healthier, simpler, and do more with less kind of life! As “empty nesters,” my husband and I made a recent move to “micro-living” (we sold our home, are currently living on a friend’s farm in a 1970-something, pre-slide-out camper, while renovating our school bus/RV). We are free from car and mortgage payments, and in less than 2 years we will be completely debt free! My debt is a student loan! That’s it-that’s my only debt, at 46 yrs old, with a child in college, I am still paying off my student loan! But I will have it paid off before I turn 50-woo hoo! (I didn’t know then what I know now-I simply singed the dotted line, uninformed, taking on a debt to get an education.)
Besides my desire to be debt free, our move into “micro-living” is also about making an impact outside the 4 walls. In other words, relationships and people are more important to me than what I have, or have not. So where I live or what I live in, does not matter so much to me. Although, I do happen to be enjoying the peace and quiet of living on a farm–it allows me to think clearer and write better.
Point being, how I spend my time with this life that has been gifted, matters! People matter! You matter!
At times, life indeed does stink! We must be WARRIORS and fight through the stink. But we should never have to fight alone!
Know this…You are NOT alone!
Shalom!
Ephesians 6:10-18, 1 Corinthians 6:19, Isaiah 52:7, Ezekiel 47:12