Hashimoto’s What?

So this post is not going to be about coaching, business, or yoga, but it is about wellness and thriving. We went home for Christmas and while I was home I had a bunch of lab tests run because, to be honest, I’ve known something wasn’t quite right for a while now. And I was right.

Diagnosis

The first week of January I diagnosed with Chronic Lyme Disease, Hashimoto’s (autoimmune hypothyroid disease) and Reactive Arthritis. Long holding of breath, followed by a big sigh. Ok, this sucks. My Dr. says I have polyglandular autoimmunity which is the term used to describe a person who suffers from two or more autoimmune conditions. Que another deep breath, as I sort through the fact that I’m 48 hours from going back to Nigeria and I don’t know what the heck I’m going to eat if I can’t eat wheat, soy or canola oil.

On the one hand, the news could have been much much worse. I know this, but in my head, at that moment, it was all overwhelming. And it was overwhelming the next day too as we drove around buying as much grass fed beef and steak that would fit into a suitcase, GF flour, dairy free/soy free/canola free chocolate chips…you get the picture. It was not the laid back last few days we had envisioned.

Seriously?

As I was on the plane eating sub-par pasta and bread, I didn’t have time to call ahead for a GF meal, I was so mad that my last gluten meal was AIRPLANE food. Yuck!! That seemed like some kind of punishment, right. At least the butter was good. I spent the plane ride (those few moments when I wasn’t attending to one of the kids) devising ways to eat gluten free, soy free, and canola free in Lagos. I’m pretty much dairy free since having kids and thought ok, I can do this too.

Armed and Ready

Some of you, maybe most of you, know that I am a research fanatic. My husband would like me to make a decision already, but I need to research and read all the recommendations and comments I can find. My first step was to buy The Root Cause by Izabella Wentz which came highly recommended by my Dr. in Seattle. It’s full of lifestyle interventions that help you find the “root cause” of your Hashimoto’s because everyone is different while explaining enough of the science of how your thyroid works, without being overwhelming. It’s a must-have for your Hashimoto fighting toolkit.

Beyond understanding what the heck Hashimotos is, I wanted to be armed with recipes to help me make the transition to being gluten-free, soy free and canola free. Thankfully, there are autoimmune diet protocols for Hashi’s, Lymes and reactive arthritis and they are pretty similar, so I was able could gather from multiple sources. And I know I’m talking a lot about Hashi’s in this post, but it’s a bit overwhelming to discuss everything in one post. Promise there will be lots about living with Lyme as well.

Resources

Here are a few of my go-to cookbooks for now, while I figure out how my body reacts to eating certain foods. Allergy-Free and Easy Cooking by Cybele Pascal. This book was recommended to me by my BFF who has used it for years to feed her family and I can see why. We’ve liked every recipe so far. The Lebanese Kitchen by Monique Bassila Zaarfour. I’ve had to adapt recipes with flour, and bread but the book provides yummy and healthy recipes for anyone. Last but certainly not least, Practical Paleo by Diane Sanfilippo. I bought this book two years ago and honestly hadn’t opened it, but I love it. One of my favorite aspects is the meal plans for different health issues. Right now, I’m using the plan designed for thyroid health. I honestly think my body is less inflamed when I eat a more paleo focused diet. But being three weeks in, we’ll see if the trend continues. Another friend just gave me Trim Healthy Mama cookbook by Pearl Barrett and Serene Allison to try and I’ll be sure to let you know how I like it.

If you are struggling with autoimmune issues, I hope these resources help you get started or reinforce resources you already have in your journey to wellness. Be on the lookout for more posts from Green Papaya Health, and until next time, here’s to living well. Book your 15-minute call today, to start on the path to hormone function instead of dysfunction.