My Thyroid Journey Begins.......

I haven’t blogged in a while since I recently found out that I have thyroid disease called Hashimoto’s. My symptoms were extreme fatigue and I gained 9 pounds. Since I am an active energetic person I knew what I was feeling wasn’t right. In addition I haven’t gained weight in 15 years! I have been in menopause for about 5 years without any symptoms except a few hot flashes. Upon going to the doctor and getting a blood work up it was revealed that my TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) was high. It should be between 0-3 and mine was 11. I wasn’t satisfied just going to a conventional endocrinologist so the journey began. Being a research hound I had to know everything about the condition in order to make an informed decision regarding treatment. The butterfly shaped thyroid gland makes hormones that regulate the way the body uses energy hence the fatigue. The endocrine system is very complicated therefore it’s really important to do your homework. The thyroid makes two hormones: thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). T4 converts to T3. If your T4 is unable to convert to T3 you may need a compound that includes T4 and T3. This is not the opinion of most convention doctors. They basically give you the standard treatment for hypothyroidism which is a drug called Synthroid. Synthroid is only T4 which is why many women don’t feel better with it. If their T3 is low they won’t feel better unless that is replaced as well. I decided to start taking Synthroid since there isn’t anything else that will replace the hormones. You can also take a more natural hormone that comes from a pig’s thyroid. In addition when you have Hashimotos that means your immune system is attacking itself and in my case it’s attacking my thyroid. A simple blood test that tests antibodies can reveal autoimmune disease. Autoimmune disorders affect 50 million people in America. The rate has increased dramatically over the last 30 years. According to allopathic medicine there isn’t a way to treat autoimmune disease and get your antibodies lower. However I don’t believe that. I know the body has the ability to heal anything and we have to provide a space for that to happen inside ourselves. The root of my thyroid problem is that my immune system is attacking my thyroid so I am focusing on my immune system to stop it from doing that.

As I prefer to treat everything with natural medicine I have always believed that the integration of conventional and alternative treatment is the future of medicine. In addition I have incorporated herbs, acupuncture and various Ayurveda techniques. If you don’t know what Ayurveda is, it means “the science of life”. It is the traditional Indian system of medicine and the sister to yoga. It has also made me take pause and slow down a bit. I have given up my treadmill and just focus on yoga and meditation. When we have hectic lives and add vigorous exercise we further deplete ourselves. I now prefer to take a nice walk in nature with my husband instead and doing more yoga than I did before - which is the best change I could have made. I start my day with yoga and meditation at 6am and it's helped so much.

I will continue to blog about my journey as I discover new ways to manage and heal this. At this point I have lowered my TSH from 11 down to 2 in 5 weeks which my doctor says is extroidinary. I have lost the 9 pounds and the fatigue is starting to lift. If we choose to, we can learn so much with every new experience, but knowledge really is power. I have been reading and researching and meeting with doctors and healers. There is a lot to learn, but if you want to take control of your health you need to seek out information from different sources. Most of all I am taking this situation to revisit my diet, my exercise level and what fulfills me and what doesn’t. Be open to change and never stop learning.

If you suffer from thyroid disease and would like info on how to manage it please feel free to contact me.

Peace & health,
Maria

Help For PMS

More than sixty five percent of women suffer symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, or PMS. The symptoms can range from mood swings to cramps, bloating, headaches, problems sleeping, back pain and so many others. According to Dr. Christiane Northrup “everything from unbalanced nutrition to unresolved relationships can disrupt hormonal milieu.” PMS should not be ignored, as it’s a gentle reminder that you need to address some issues which can turn into a loud bang once you reach peri-menopause then menopause. First and foremost talk to your OBGYN about your symptoms to get a proper diagnosis. If you are interested in going the holistic route below take this article to your doctor for discussion.

Let’s start with some things that may contribute to PMS……like dairy, caffeine, alcohol, sugar, refined carbohydrates and stress. So much is written about the importance of a proper diet, and it cannot be emphasized enough. What we put into our bodies affects our emotional and physical health. Try eliminating dairy, caffeine, alcohol, refined carbohydrates (white flour, rice, sweeteners, white pasta) and sugar for 60 days and see how you feel. Whatever you are eating please try, as much as possible, to buy organic to avoid hormones and pesticides.

Supplements: Take a good multivitamin/mineral supplement for women. Companies that make high quality supplements like New Chapter, Mega Foods and BlueBonnet have excellent multi’s. Magnesium and a B-complex are also very important. Both are great for mood and anxiety. Make sure you are getting enough Omega 3 fatty acids in your diet via nuts, seeds and cold water fish such as salmon (wild caught Alaskan), sardines and greens such as kale, swiss chard, okra and spinach. If you don’t eat any of these foods get a good fish oil or flax seed supplement.

Herbs: Wild yam and chasteberry/vitex help to balance the hormones; (work with an herbalist for proper dosage). Dandelion or milk thistle are great for detoxing the liver and act as a diuretic.

Homeopathy: Studies have shown that homeopathy is effective for PMS. What is great about homeopathy is that it doesn’t interfere with any prescription meds you are taking. Boiron and Hyland are two brands.

Exercise: All you have to do is walk everyday but make it a brisk walk for about 30 minutes. Yoga and Tai Chi are extremely beneficial as they will also help relax and calm you. Meditation is part of yoga and will help keep you centered and balanced emotionally.

Body work: Try reflexology. The therapist will massage pressure points that will relieve PMS.
Toxic relationships: This is a tough one. Take time to assess who you surround yourself with. It may take that awareness to realize who is bringing you down. Difficult relationships affect your body, mind and spirit. It may be that a conversation with someone is all you need - or you may just need to move on…(your health and well-being need to come first).

You can also talk to your doctor about natural bioidentical progesterone cream and soy supplements.

Keep in mind that your thoughts are so powerful. I was lucky to have a mother who never talked about having a period or menopause negatively. She once said to me, “Maria, if a woman didn't get her period there wouldn't be any creation of life on the planet.” I never suffered from PMS and my menopause transition has been very smooth. Studies show that young girls who are taught to respect their cycles have little or no PMS. So if you have daughters try not to refer to their monthly cycle as “the curse.” All our thoughts pave the way for the direction our life takes so be mindful of what you are thinking and saying both to yourself and others.

Lastly, woman take on so much. We are the nurturers, the caregivers, mothers, partners, great friends and we give so much of ourselves. We don’t even realize how depleted emotionally or physically we can become. Be kind to yourself…go for a massage, take a day just to do things that fulfill and nourish your soul. Most importantly, never feel guilty about needing to rest and re-charge yourself…you are worth it!

Peace,
Maria

MENOPAUSE - THE MIDLIFE AWAKENING!

Many women see menopause as a confirmation that they are getting older and we are. But its also a time when we can see this change in our “self” as a new and hopeful beginning to an even better future. It’s all how you look at things. I am happy to report that I am 46 years old and proud to be in full blown menopause! It’s going to happen whether you like it or not so embrace it. And if you embrace it, this can be the best time of your life! Embracing who we are at each moment in our lives puts us on a path to a happier healthier life.

I was lucky to have a mother who never talked about having a period or menopause negatively. Many years after her death her words still echo in my head, “Maria, if a woman didn't get her period there wouldn't be any creation of life on the planet.” My mother also said that menopause was a great time because it was a new phase of life...which is why I refer to it as a "mid life awakening." Studies show that young girls who are taught to respect their cycles have little or no PMS. So if you have daughters try not to refer to their monthly cycle as “the curse.” All our thoughts pave the way for the direction our life takes so be mindful of what you are thinking and saying both to yourself and others.

Our frustrations with our life are more intense during the menstrual cycle so what comes up for you at that time of the month can teach you what you need to work on. Dr. Christiane Northrup, who has written the bible on menopause called, "The Wisdom of Menopause," (if you don’t have this book, buy it and give it as a gift to all the women you know!) has said that the issues you ignore can come up later in life, and the degree of emotional distress will be worse if you spend years not paying attention to the signs. This can lead to anxiety and depression. Mind, body and spirit are all intertwined. Menopause is a great opportunity to address issues and make some necessary changes. If something or someone is not working for you, it’s time to detox and throw out the trash! There are endless stories about mid-life changes….marriages break up after 20 and 30 years, women go back to school, indulge their passions, take up hobbies, change their appearances, etc. It’s really a coming out party.


Remember that menopause starts after you have not had a period for one year. Peri-menopause, which is the years prior to the cessation of your period, is a great time to take a reality check. Here are a few questions to think about:

What is your diet like?
Do you exercise?
How are your relationships?
Are you truly happy and if not, what would make you happy?

Taking stock of your overall emotional, physical and spiritual health is so important. I have had some hot flashes recently but have not had any mood swings or weight gain for 5 years leading up to menopause, and nothing during. I attribute that to the choices I make every day. I use a treadmill 5 days a week, lift weights for 10 minutes a day, 3 times a week, and practice yoga and meditation. You don’t have to sit crossed legged and meditate, just take the time to sit alone for 15 minutes a day and breathe deeply. It will help you center yourself. Being quiet is something we don’t do often enough. I also eat a mostly vegetarian diet. I indulge hobbies and have a positive outlook on life. Even when I am stressed or sad over something, I try to reserve those emotions for the things in life that warrant them…meaning I don’t sweat the small stuff. This doesn’t happen overnight, it’s a process.

A few suggestions I would like to offer on diet: Remember, small changes bring big victories, be mindful of what you are doing each day when you eat. And don’t use the word diet; it sets you up for failure…refer to it as a “lifestyle.” Read labels and stay away from high fructose corn syrup and partially hydrogenated anything. Refined carbohydrates such as white sugar, white bread, white pasta simply make you fat if you eat too much of it. They also have a negative effect on your mood. Opt for complex carbohydrates such as grains, seeds, fruits and vegetables. When you do something good for your body, you just feel good all around. Take a good food-based multi-vitamin for woman. I like New Chapter Women’s Daily. Get enough of the omega 3 fatty acids which are found in flax seeds, walnuts, and wild salmon. Omega 3 fatty acids are essential to human health but cannot be manufactured by the body. They help reduce inflammation in the body and are also good for the heart. Omega 3’s have been said to help with the anxiety and mood swings that women experience from the hormone rollercoaster. Inflammation is a cause of an endless list of health problems including heart disease, cancer, alzheimer’s and all inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, bursitis and all the “itis's”. I like Nordic Naturals Omega 3’s to combat all of these.

There are herbs that you can take as well. Black cohosh, dong quai are helpful but I always recommend talking to you doctor and seeing a good herbalist before you take anything.

Finally, try to enjoy your life and think about what really makes you happy…take chances, indulge hobbies and passions even if everyone thinks it’s silly or crazy. Make your life the best it can be and turn your mid-life crisis into a mid-life awakening!