New Old Things to talk about

As I move along on my autoimmune journey with intros and pulling back on some things (nuts) and trying new combos (smoothie bowls with minimal fruit).  Food aside, I have found three things that I am having issues with and are being worked on.  I have even scaled back on any endurance/cardio besides my Sunday runs.  I mean seriously, I am not stopping all running.  It's nothing where it use to be and that makes me sad because I loved to compete and I did a lot of races.  I'm just not at that level anymore and at times it does make me sad.

So, I posted that I read Elle Russ's book The Paleo Thyroid Solution and that I am switching to a natural thyroid medication with the help of my fabulous functional medicine doctor - Dr. Brett Allen (seriously you should have him help you!  it's all over Skype consult, revolutionary!). That I actually get in the mail on Monday and we have to talk about the hows to move from Armour to this.  I'm excited about ditching my endocrinologist.  She amused me with all the testing I have wanted to do but when it came down to treating me she was so 1973!  UGH!  So, there will be more on that topic as I switch over.  I want to talk about any pros and/or cons that come with it.  I'm thinking that since my labs have never been off the chart that it will be pretty manageable.

The next is bowel movements or lack there of AND that they are still not "normal".  I don't think I have ever mentioned it but I have a neurogenic bowel dysfunction.  Plainly put is when I have to go there is zero waiting.  I have to go and I have to go right now and not in one minute.  There is no such thing as "holding it".  I have had some serious issues when I have gone on runs and try to make sure I have gone to the bathroom prior, otherwise it can be disastrous and humiliating.  Right now I would say I have been a number 4 on the chart.  Come on let's be honest - this is real life and we are learning here so we can help ourselves and help others at the same time!

While I still have candida (massively).  The bloat has been slightly better but still not great.  I'm trying to not have the same foods everyday, except avocado!  I am hoping by the end of this coming week I will up the game with something stronger in my protocol.  So that is a TBD too.

Yes I am both - when I am not constipated I have to go RIGHT NOW!!

The other issue that I was hoping was worked out but D had pointed out the other day.  I haven't had a period again for several months.  So clearly hormones are out of balance and I have been wondering if I have been getting enough calories and fat.

I love Xena!  I can be like this at a drop of a hat for no frickin' reason!  It's better than what it has been but still.  I have to try and catch myself.  Remember it's better to think before we speak.  It doesn't help when you have a husband that likes to joke around and you just happen to fly off the handle all the time.  Yet, according to my endocrinologist I don't have an issue.  I'm thinking now if I really need to keep my gynecology appointment this week.  What's it going to do?  Do I really need to go?  Is she going to test anything and will she put a bandage on it by suggesting birth control pills. UGH!!  I so hate conventional medicine!

I think I'm spent!  Just thinking about conventional medicine has exhausted me!

What issues are you still facing with your autoimmune (your root cause)?  What have you read that you think is a must for all with autoimmunity?

Father's Day & A book review

Father's Day 

What a great day it has been!  I got up early - no surprise there.  Nostrand had been bugging me for hours to get up and feed her.  The pups were snuggled in bed with me and D.  It was cozy, but I couldn't lay there any longer.  I got to feed the cat and let the pups outside before I fed them too.  Once they were taken care of, I changed, stretched and headed out for my usual Sunday run of 6 miles.

It was windy and a bit humid so I got super sweaty.  Unfortunately the run pretty much sucked.  I take it pretty easy anyway but I had to take 2 very short walk breaks.  I'm going to just say that I probably didn't need to drink 2 glasses of wine last night at dinner.

Yeah, sweaty and this is how I felt about this run.  They all can't be great, right?!  Damn I wish they were and my pace was 3 minutes faster like it use to be.  Not that I have given up hope!  So, I went inside and D got up.  I did a mobile Starbuck's order.  I got a venti iced coffee with coconut milk and D a grande iced caramel macchiato.

It was really good and took me the morning to drink it.  I am happy to say that I have not had any adverse reactions to coffee since adding it back into my rotation.  I do try to stick with organic coffee when I can and try to limit it to only on the weekend when possible.  It's just sometimes it just tastes really good.  I had my now typical breakfast that I won't bore you with a picture of, I didn't take one either.  Today was 2 scoops of protein powder mixed with water to make a thick pudding, a banana, 1/2 tbs hemp hearts and cashew/coconut butter blend.  Again, I have successfully introduced these things into my rotation.  I am though questioning the cashew butter just a bit and only have a tablespoon left.  So n=1, I will take it out and not open another jar for a week or so to see how my skin looks.  This is my biggest indicator that something isn't always right.  If I'm breaking out then I am over doing something.  I also didn't have dairy today, but yesterday I did.  Again, trying to not go more than 3 days per week with dairy.  When I do have it, it's high quality, grass fed yogurt with 5 grams of sugar or less.  Cheese on the other hand makes my stomach grumbly and that I am not a fan of.

My sister and her kids met myself and my dad and his wife at the club for brunch and it was fabulous!  Not just the company, but brunch too!

The only thing that could have been is if this was real bacon and not turkey bacon!  LOL - all good!

Dad and I!

Not sure what D and I are going to do tonight yet.  Whatever he wants though, it is his day!

My other fabulous thing from this is week is, I read a book!  Start to finish in only a couple days.  Big deal you say, really it is!  Prior to getting some healing done anything I even started to read would put me to sleep instantly.  This has gone on FOR YEARS!  So yeah, this is a huge deal!

Well, what did you read, you may be asking.  I read Elle Russ's book The Paleo Thyroid Solution.

My overall thoughts about this book are fabulous.  There is some great information in there about the tests that you should be looking to get if you suspect you have a thyroid issue and even if you currently have a thyroid problem but not getting the right tests done or possibly not on the right medication.  The types of medication opened my eyes a little more as well.  While I did my own research for about 6 months prior to going on Armour Thyroid, I have decided to ask my endocrinologist about switching my medication to WP Thyroid since it has less inactive ingredients in it and I don't believe I'm optimized on my current medication.  Elle also explains in very simple terms what is happening to the thyroid, processes and not reacting, and what happens when the pituitary gland and the thyroid are not communicating.  I know everyone out there with a thyroid problem has met a number of doctors who just won't listen and that it takes years to finally get a proper diagnosis and the maybe a few more years to get the right medications.  Elle, like many of us in the AIP/Hashimoto community have done this as well.  We are more than thankful for the Facebook communities that are there to listen and help us on our journeys.  I only have one downfall to this book (but it's her story so I love it too!) is that she focuses on Reverse T3 issues, which I don't have.  So, I think this would be a great book for someone who has this particular issue.  Reading this book has made me curious to read Isabella Wentz's books on thyroid/Hashimoto's.  I have read from so many how this book was a huge game changer for them as well.

Overall this is a fabulous book that I would encourage those with a thyroid issue to read for sure.  Since knowledge is power and anyone with thyroid problems know that symptoms can swing in many ways and we are in constant check to make sure that we keep our flares to a minimum and know what to do if we get into one and how to try to avoid them as well.

I'm looking to gain more knowledge and am so looking forward to becoming an NTC and helping those out there that can't get the help they need.

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