Took a really, really, long break....
Well.... my daughter had a whole bevy of procedures... let's count em, TWO bone marrow transplants, ONE stem cell boost and TWO rounds of immunosuppressive drug therapy. She's totally fine. Back in school, hair grown, normal kid. Awesomesauce right?! Can I get an AMEN!
One caveat. While in supermom mode whole mothering instincts kicked in and I (against doctors orders) decided to snuggle and sleep with my baby girl after her many bouts of full body radiation. What could go wrong?
Well shortly after the adrenaline subsided from five years of intense fighting Severe Aplastic Anemia (and she kicked its ass) I started to feel tired. No other symptoms just tired. But I'm middle-aged. (ahem... 44) and I've been under a lot of stress... (If you call emotional breakdowns, physical depletion and financial ruin stressful) and I am barreling into menopause which could be making me just plain old tired... right?
Wrong.
I messed up my thyroid. While I most likely had a genetic predisposition for this lovely disease called Hashimoto's Thyroiditis the radiation ramped it up and gave me hypothyroidism as well. Crappity crap crap.
What does that mean you ask?
That means my immune system is destroying my own thyroid! Isn't that great? Best part, my metabolism is completely non-existent. According to my metabolic tests, my body thinks I'm eating 3000 calories a day when in reality I eat less than 1200 calories a day and workout 600 calories a day but the "fasting" and intense exercise is jacking up my insulin levels causing me to pack on fat all around my middle. I perpetually look seven months pregnant. Great. It's not enough I have boobs the size of large cantaloupes now I have a watermelon to rest them on. Super awesome.
Not only that, but I thought for the past year I've had plantar fascitis. Nope. Just my thyroid making too much of one hormone that was building up to toxic levels in my soft tissue. I only felt it in my feet first because I (used to) run so much. I also am losing my hair. I have TONS of hair so at first it wasn't a big deal but now my skin is dry, my hair is thin, I barely have eyebrows and I am so puffy you'd think I've been on a massive tequila bender!
So what to do? Well, the doctors have me on some drugs that make me feel like I'm always getting kicked in my gut. I've read every book out there. Followed every (conflicting) protocol, AIP, PALEO, AIP PALEO, FODMAP, allergen testing, gut testing, candida testing, SIBO testing, parasite testing, herbs, vitamins, probiotics, no caffeine, no sugar, no metals, no makeup, no BPAs, APBs and 123s, smoothies, sauna, acupuncture, crystals, yoga, voodoo.
It's all fucking bullshit.
Nothing makes me feel better except sleep and sunshine. Lots and lots and lots of sleep. Like 12-15 hours a day sleep and getting outside 2-3 hours a day. So I decided... screw all these quacks I'm making my own protocol. I'm still going to the endocrinologist because:
One caveat. While in supermom mode whole mothering instincts kicked in and I (against doctors orders) decided to snuggle and sleep with my baby girl after her many bouts of full body radiation. What could go wrong?
Well shortly after the adrenaline subsided from five years of intense fighting Severe Aplastic Anemia (and she kicked its ass) I started to feel tired. No other symptoms just tired. But I'm middle-aged. (ahem... 44) and I've been under a lot of stress... (If you call emotional breakdowns, physical depletion and financial ruin stressful) and I am barreling into menopause which could be making me just plain old tired... right?
Wrong.
I messed up my thyroid. While I most likely had a genetic predisposition for this lovely disease called Hashimoto's Thyroiditis the radiation ramped it up and gave me hypothyroidism as well. Crappity crap crap.
What does that mean you ask?
That means my immune system is destroying my own thyroid! Isn't that great? Best part, my metabolism is completely non-existent. According to my metabolic tests, my body thinks I'm eating 3000 calories a day when in reality I eat less than 1200 calories a day and workout 600 calories a day but the "fasting" and intense exercise is jacking up my insulin levels causing me to pack on fat all around my middle. I perpetually look seven months pregnant. Great. It's not enough I have boobs the size of large cantaloupes now I have a watermelon to rest them on. Super awesome.
Not only that, but I thought for the past year I've had plantar fascitis. Nope. Just my thyroid making too much of one hormone that was building up to toxic levels in my soft tissue. I only felt it in my feet first because I (used to) run so much. I also am losing my hair. I have TONS of hair so at first it wasn't a big deal but now my skin is dry, my hair is thin, I barely have eyebrows and I am so puffy you'd think I've been on a massive tequila bender!
So what to do? Well, the doctors have me on some drugs that make me feel like I'm always getting kicked in my gut. I've read every book out there. Followed every (conflicting) protocol, AIP, PALEO, AIP PALEO, FODMAP, allergen testing, gut testing, candida testing, SIBO testing, parasite testing, herbs, vitamins, probiotics, no caffeine, no sugar, no metals, no makeup, no BPAs, APBs and 123s, smoothies, sauna, acupuncture, crystals, yoga, voodoo.
It's all fucking bullshit.
Nothing makes me feel better except sleep and sunshine. Lots and lots and lots of sleep. Like 12-15 hours a day sleep and getting outside 2-3 hours a day. So I decided... screw all these quacks I'm making my own protocol. I'm still going to the endocrinologist because:
- I need to see my thyroid levels
- I need the blood tests to be paid for my insurance
- I can't order them myself.
Wish me luck.
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