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After hearing the news that two of my closest family members were just diagnosed with incurable diseases, along with years earlier finding out that another dear family member was diagnosed with an even worse, terminal condition – I’d had about enough. It was now going to be my mission to uncover, not the cure, but the science behind the cure. I had read about how Americans were getting sicker by the month – but now my own family was coming under attack. It was hitting too close to home, and it was about to get even closer.
I would set my alarm hours before I needed to get up, just so I could have a chance to consume more information. I’d read books on everything from losing weight to fighting Alzheimer’s Disease. My mission was to digest as much information as I could, so that I could be armed in the battle against time. I knew my family members didn’t have a lot of it, and I was scared.
I’d stay up late trying to make sense of all of it. Trying to connect the dots – find the patterns – uncover anything that could lead to the eradication of pain and suffering they were going through. But, ironically…it didn’t seem to help. Even though I had pages of data, mountains of studies, endless examples – they just didn’t want to hear it. How could this be? I had finally (in my mind) found the anecdote – and I’m getting turned down? What!
Is it just too hard? To change? To fight?
Well, I (personally) am about to be put to the test.
See, I’ve (for over two years or so at this point) been regularly testing my cholesterol, blood pressure, blood glucose, ketone bodies, et cetera. I’m really fortunate to have doctors that humor me (and an insurance program that allows me) to track my values. It’s a great experiment, actually! I change my nutrition – let’s say I want to change my macros for this 6 months – and see how that affects me. I can see how my triglycerides go up or down, or how my blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels fluctuate based on varying factors that I control. I’m my own little guinea pig, my own little science experiment. Needless to say, the folks in the lab and I are on a first name basis.
Anyway, I was just assigned a new doctor and asked for the usual chemistry, liver function, and lipid panels. She was more than happy to oblige, and ordered my blood work for the following day. All seemed normal. “Hey Joan,” I smiled as I entered the lab, “Back again for my monthly stabbing.” They like me in the lab. I have really easy, big veins for them to siphon out of. I notice, however, this time there were more vials than usual.
After a few days, the results were in. I was happy to see all my levels were right where I thought they’d be, but there were other results I hadn’t expected – along with a note from my doctor.
You had an abnormal finding in the blood work:
– Low thyroid activity and the presence of thyroid antibodies consistent with hypothyroidism (Hashimotos)
I recommend taking thyroid hormone called Levothyroxine. You are being prescribed a medication called Levothyroixine 50 mg tabs. Potential side effects of this medication include palpitations, tremor, and headache. You should have a laboratory test to evaluate your thyroid function in approximately 6 weeks to make sure you are getting enough of this hormone. I am starting at a very low dose and expect to increase dose as you tolerate it.
Well, this sucks.
I was so excited to see my results – sure of my health…then I get a message that I’ve been diagnosed with an autoimmune condition? How long has this been going on for? Did it just start? Have I had this for a long time and just never noticed it? I don’t seem to have any of the symptoms.
And I even get the party line…
The treatment for hypothyroidism is to take thyroid hormone pills. You should start to feel better in 1 to 2 weeks, but it can take several months to see changes in the TSH level. Most people need treatment for the rest of their lives.
But I just got done learning about how medications don’t solve anything when it comes to chronic conditions – they only mask the condition (in a best case scenario) and may make things worse.
So, now I have a new mission. I am going to overcome this hurdle like so many other’s I’ve learned about. Surely, I can use this knowledge to my own advantage and beat this thing back to remission.
And I am.
It’s been almost 6 months now, and I’ve stabilized most of my labs. I’ve shown reductions in all my numbers, and even lowered my TPO antibodies (a measurement of autoimmune function) by 15%.
My doctor thinks I’m nuts. What’s the real surprise there? According to her (and most of the medical community), my prognosis is to take artificial hormone medication for the rest of my life – but I’ve convinced her to let me give this a go – without meds. It’s been scary at times. Honestly, I feel alone; and at times, even I think I’m nuts. My core beliefs are being challenged, but I need to have faith.
My numbers haven’t always trended in the right direction, but overall the direction is towards healing. It’s an ongoing battle, and will likely be for some time, but I’ll get there. I’m going to put my money where my mouth is and fight this thing naturally. I’m going to prove to myself and to others that it can be done. I’m going to make a believer out of my family, who laugh at me when I say that diagnoses aren’t predictions – that outcomes can be changed. I’m going to be an example. I’m going to make a contribution. I’m going to re-Start my journey to Heading Healthy.
Featured Photo by Steven Coffey on Unsplash
great read, and and huge boost to anyone looking to do and or thought about trying to self heal and get away from the toxic world we live in. This is proof that we’re not alone in our journey even if we dont see anyone.