Hello?

It's been almost a year since my last post here.  Not sure why I stopped.  I have found myself with so much to say for a while now & realized I need to come back here & share.

If you have been following me you know this isn't just about fitness & health related things.

Today is though :)

Over 10 years ago I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism.   I found out during a check up when I mentioned I wanted to try to get pregnant again & could they just run blood work, etc to make sure all things were fine.

When the labs came back I was in TOTAL denial!  I had them run it again because I just thought there is just NO way.  Haha.  Silly me.  They gave me meds (Synthroid) and I cursed that little pill EVERY.SINGLE.MORNING.

Life went on.  I hated taking that pill but I did it.   Eventually we got pregnant again and had our final child - our daughter.  Then I heard about some other "natural" med I could be taking for my thyroid & spoke to the N.P (Nurse Practitioner) about it.  She had said she would monitor my blood work & do the ultrasounds but if something changed I had to go back to a specialist ( I had stopped because I just plain old didn't like the guy I was seeing).  So she switched me to a compound and things stayed normal for a while.

Then I started declining.  The fatigue has been almost debilitating.  Everyone just thinks it's laziness.  I have been sure of that (in my head - no one actually came out & said it to me).  I had my adrenals checked & I was borderline with that too.  Double whammy.

My NP kept checking my bloodwork & adjusting my compound as needed but nothing helped.  Then we did my yearly ultrasound & realized the nodules had been growing.  She switched me to Amour (still never got a set answer WHY she changed it - just saying it's the same as the compound).  Because the nodules showed growth she told me I had to go back to a specialist.

Ugh.  I found one that she suggested (after nixing the 2 I didn't care for) and started "googling" this doctor.  Many patients opinions were "He has a god complex".   I realized I needed to see SOMEONE.  My symptoms weren't getting any better.

Since the appt I made was still 3 months out as he couldn't get me in any sooner, I started reading more about the thyroid.  I had since been diagnosed as "Hashimotos".   Confusion set in.  What the heck??

I began reading "Hashimoto's Thyroiditis" by Izabella Wentz AND  "The Hormone Cure" by Sara Gottfried, MD.  The latter because I am also in peri-menopause.

Who knew?  Thyroid issues are growing it seems & people just don't know what to do about it! h & those starting menopause seem to be having thyroid problems!!

If you have the time & energy (ha!) you can seemingly reverse the disease & have a healthy thyroid.  Not the case I am learning if you have already started taking meds. :(

So here I am.  A new doctor & he is telling me I need to go back on different meds as the "natural" ones weren't working for me.  Also said with the size of the nodules I needed to have them biopsied.

I came home very upset.  I hated those meds.  I didn't want to be on them.  Nothing I can do now about that.  No more denial.  I have a thyroid issue & it's wreaking havoc on my life.  I started taking Selenium & some Adrenal Fatigue supplements and making sure I took the new meds every morning & not eating for about an hour afterward.  I was going to be a good girl & follow the instructions.

I have noticed only that my hair isn't falling out in crazy amounts after being on the meds for about 2 months.  When I went in for the biopsy they did another ultrasound & the doc came in to inform me that the nodule was no longer big enough to biopsy (can you say HAPPY DANCE???).

So, that's what I have so far.  I am taking this all day by day.  I am thankful for the doctor I have & the meds I can take to HOPEFULLY help me to start feeling better.  I go again for more bloodwork soon & I look forward to seeing what that shows.

The doc said I am the "nightmare" patient with both Hypothyroid AND starting menopause.  Turns out the symptoms can overlap.

So that's my story so far.  It's not over.  I still continue to choose health over anything else.   I, once again, need to get the sugar intake under control as I did let that go a little nuts.  My workouts have changed slightly.  I can't overdo anymore.  It's too taxing on my body right now.  My adrenals will come around & I can start picking things up a bit again.   Right now I am doing the workout "21 Day Fix" and making sure I do the 1/2 hour & then stretch & be done for the day.  I'm finishing up a round (3 weeks) of it & will take a week of just Piyo (Pilates & Yoga) then start another round of 21DF.  I LOVE fitness & movement but need to make sure I listen to my body.

I would LOVE to hear from you if you find yourself struggling with the same or similar things.  We need to lean on each other!

Be Blessed,
Pamela

2 New Programs!!!!

I have gotten 2 new programs I have yet to tell you about!!!

I did some work for someone around their house & they surprised me by paying me for it.  I then turned around & bought the program PiYo from Beachbody.  I liked everything I had heard & saw about this particular program & thought it would be perfect for me.  Was I RIGHT!!!

I have developed Plantar Fasciitis AGAIN.  This means running, jumping like a crazy woman & sometimes even walking are rough on me.  This time around it's pretty bad.  So, PiYo is right down my alley! 

Chalene Johnson has created a great program that you are stretching & using your own body weight in balance moves etc to help build your strength.  I love how I feel after doing this workout.  There are a couple that leave me in a puddle on the floor too!  Who'da thunk huh? 

Then for Chrtistmas I received the 21 Day Fix.  I was looking forward to something a little different to switch things up.  Because of the PF I haven't been able to do some of the cardio moves but Autumn Calabrese has a modifyer on there that shows exactly what to do if you can't go crazy.  Honestly I can tell you the 10 minute ab workout is truly challenging.  She NEVER STOPS for that 10 minutes!  I wasn't sure if I would be able to pick myself up off the floor when I was done.

With these 2 workouts I found I can double my workouts & feel really strong afterward & not hurt myself doing it.  No pounding on my feet right now is a good thing. 

I'm excited to keep going with them (just finished out a week of 21 Day Fix and the 8th week of PiYo). 

I happen to have my son's wedding coming up in March & I would like to be as fit as possible when that comes!!  Want to look good in those pictures!!!

What goals have you set for yourself in this new year?

Be Blessed & Live Healthy!!!


***  I am not a Beachbody coach or trainer.  These are my opinions only.