Healthy Chicks

Hey, friends! It’s been a while since I updated you on the latest and greatest with my thyroid journey, so I figured I’d check in to share what’s going on right now. (You can read Part 1 and Part 2 here to learn more about my journey with Hashimoto’s Disease and what’s been working well for me.)

Anyway, a lot has changed since I last checked in and I’ve hit some tricky setbacks along the way. For one, when I found out I was pregnant in July — which unfortunately ended in an early miscarriage — my thyroid hormones kind of went a little crazy. While they had been stable for months and actually improved drastically (my TSH dropped to a 2.66 in June!), my TSH shot back up to a 4 the week I found out I was pregnant. I’m not 100% sure it’s related, but in my gut I’m thinking it was.

Given my situation and the fact that your TSH should ideally be below a 2.5 during the first trimester, my Functional Medicine Doctor through Parsley Health prescribed me on a low dose Nature Desicated Thyroid hormone. I’ve also been working to maintain my stress levels and continue to nourish my body with the things that make me feel good.

I won’t lie; this journey has not been easy and there are moments I get down on myself for not healing more quickly but I also realize dwelling on the negative doesn’t bring me any closer to how I want to feel. Therefore, I’ve instead shifted to focus on the things I can add in to nourish my mind, body and soul. Read on to learn what’s been working well for me lately!

5 Ways I’m Working To Nourish My Thyroid

1. Low Dose Natural Desicated Thyroid Hormone

As I mentioned, I started a low dose of Natural Desicated Thyroid Hormone (made from porcine) about a month ago. My doctor started me on the lowest dose of Nature-Throid, a natural thyroid hormone that contains both T3 and T4 hormones. Unfortunately, after a month of treatment my labs barely improved so we’re now upping my dose to get to a level that works for me.

I love that the medication is natural, with no sketchy fillers. In fact, it’s free from gluten (and other common allergens like corn, soy, peanuts and shellfish), hypoallergenic, and does not contain any artificial colors or flavors. While it’s been slower than I had anticipated, I’m hopeful that with this treatment along with lifestyle changes I can get myself back to a good place. Speak to a doctor to come up with a plan that works for you, and I highly encourage you to find someone who will listen to you and help you get to the root cause.

2. Daily Gratitude Journal

I’ve been keeping a gratitude journal for almost a year now, and it’s been a total game-changer. Lately, I’ve really been leaning on this to find joy in the little things. After I had my miscarriage and found out my thyroid levels were a bit out of whack, I felt super defeated. While I didn’t expect these unfortunate events to happen, my daily gratitude practice has helped me see all the wonderful things I do have in my life. It’s the brightest way to start my morning!

3. Meditation + Mindfulness

Along with my daily gratitude practice, I’ve also been working on lowering my stress. While I am typically pretty low-stress now that I work for myself, the health stuff is what really gets me. Given the recent events, I found myself going through a spiral of worry and unneeded stress. Dedicating time each day for meditation or a simple mindful moment has been monumental in my healing process.

Sometimes it’s just taking a moment to express gratitude out loud, and other times it’s spending 15-20 minutes meditating and reflecting. All of our hormones are connected, and I’m a firm believer that lowering my stress will help improve my wellness all around — including my thyroid.

4. Incorporating Foods that Nourish My Body

I did the Autoimmune Protocol back in January which you can read more about in my previous posts, but right now I’m pretty flexible when it comes to food, other than avoiding my obvious triggers: gluten, dairy and soy. Instead of focusing on what I “can’t” have, I choose to focus on loading up on the foods that bring me joy and truly nourish my body. Bone broth is at the top of my list, as when I sip it I literally feel my body saying “thank you.” It contains collagen, gelatin and loads of minerals which are great for gut health (leaky gut is closely linked with Hashimoto’s).  Five Way Foods is my favorite brand and local to New England, but you can also try making your own!

Other foods that I’ve been loving lately are brazil nuts for healthy fats and selenium, sauerkraut and kombucha for natural probiotics, sauteed leafy greens, grass-fed ghee (I discovered the Fourth & Heart brand on Thrive Market and I’m obsessed), Organic Living Superfoods Chia Energy Squares wild salmon/other low-mercury fish, grass fed beef and blueberries. I’ve also been loving cooking with ginger to warm up the body and build blood!

5. Supplements

While I’m a super fan of getting most of your nutrients through food when you can, sometime’s a gal’s gotta supplement. Right now, I’m taking a high-quality prenatal vitamin by Metagenics called Wellness Essentials, which even contains two EPA-DHA fish oil pills which I love. It also takes care of my 200 mcg of selenium, so I no longer have to supplement separately with that!

Since I’m notorious for having low levels of Vitamin D, I also take 4,000-5,000 iu a day to keep my levels stabilized. When it comes to supplementation, I recommend getting your levels tested through a blood test before trying to play around with things yourself. It’s super fascinating to see where you’re at, and it can really empower you to take charge of your health!

That’s all for now! Do you keep a daily gratitude journal? For my fellow rockstars with an autoimmune disease, what’s been working well for you lately?

Disclaimer: This post outlines my personal experience and what’s working for me. I am not a doctor or medical practitioner, and this information is not intended to cure, heal or treat your condition. Please consult your doctor before making any changes to your health to discuss a plan that’s best for you.