HOW I BECAME A THYROID EXPERT

After consulting with over two dozen endocrinologists, internal medicine specialists, and general practice MDs, my thyroid condition was only getting worse - and nothing from doctors resembled a solution, or even hope. 

Exasperated and desperate, I took control of my own health and resolved two severe bouts of hypothyroidism on my own – including an acute Reverse T3 problem. Through a devoted paleo/primal lifestyle, intensive personal experimentation, and a radically modified approach to thyroid hormone replacement therapy…I went from fat, foggy, and fatigued – to fit, focused, and full of life! For the last decade, I have been coaching people all over the world and helping people achieve vibrant health.

WHEN THE THYROID IS OFF - EVERYTHING IS OFF

The thyroid is the master gland of the human body. The thyroid gland controls the metabolic rate of every organ in the body, from the production and regulation of sex hormones, adrenal hormones, body temperature, growth development, brain function, and heart rate, to every other element that keeps your body functioning. Inadequate thyroid hormones in the human body will ultimately contribute to a miserable existence, likely rampant with diseases and health problems

HYPOTHYROIDISM SYMPTOMS

I had all but three or four symptoms on this list. Many hypothyroid symptoms are not visible to others, and oftentimes doctors and family members & friends think these symptoms are in one’s head, somehow fabricated by a hypochondriac human mind. These symptoms are not only very real, they are rampant in people suffering from undiagnosed or mistreated hypothyroidism.

• Cold hands/feet and generally being cold regardless of the weather or temperature

• Insidious weight gain

• Inability to lose weight no matter what you do

• Weak arms (Can be general weakness like not being able to hold something heavy for a long time and/or this might manifest as tendonitis or carpal tunnel syndrome.)

• Low energy and stamina

• Serious depression or general malaise (Aside from sadness and despair, hypo-depression sometimes manifests as the feeling of being paralyzed with lack of motivation and being unable to do anything about it, even though you know something is wrong with you. It’s like you just can’t seem to take action to help yourself.)”

• Needing a nap every day

• Constipation

• Sluggish reflexes (I became very clumsy and would knock over everything and bump into everything, even though I am an extremely coordinated person in general.)

• Dry cracked skin (On heels, ankles, and sometimes it shows up on the inside edge of an index finger and looks like very dry, scaly, cracked skin.)

• Hair feels like a rubber band when touched or pulled (Yet it breaks easily.)

• Hair loss

• Loss of curliness in curly or wavy hair

• Inability to focus and concentrate (Extremely difficult to read, learn, or sustain mental focus, even while watching a film or a TV show. One has to reread paragraphs in order to retain the information. Someone could be talking to you and you can barely understand what they are saying and/or you instantly forget what they just said.)

• Mixing up words in speech (sort of like dyslexia of the mouth) and difficulty remembering words (Not being able to speak properly or get the words out correctly.)

• Lower/deeper voice or scratchy/raspy voice

• Brain fog and forgetfulness

• Menstrual irregularities such as heavy bleeding, constant bleeding, uterine fibroids/polyps, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), miserable and long-lasting PMS

• Unhealthy cholesterol results

• Low body temperature

• Uncomfortable feeling in the throat/neck area (Feeling “choked up,” similar to when you are about to cry or when you feel like you can’t speak in a stressful situation, that “lump in your throat” feeling. Difficulty swallowing, constantly clearing one’s throat, and/ or not wanting clothing to cover or touch the neck.)

• Digestive problems (gas, abdominal bloating)

• Problems at work or the inability to function well at work

• Relationship issues with family/friends, romantic partners, and/ or colleagues, etc.

• Increased or uncontrollable cravings for sugar and carbohydrates

• Allergies (rare allergies are often related to untreated or mistreated Hashimoto’s)

• Messy handwriting (Issues with brain-hand-muscle dexterity can lead to messy handwriting; it feels hard to get the words from your brain through your hand onto the paper.)

• Heart palpitations (Especially when lying down, it feels as though your heart is pumping and thumping loud and strong in your chest and you are “aware” of your heartbeat like never before, and it feels scary. Often related to adrenals and/or low iron.)

• Restless legs, uncontrollable compulsion to continually readjust one’s legs (Feels like you cannot find a comfortable position)

• Swelling and inflammation

• Puffy eyes and face upon waking, and a general feeling of overall puffiness and bloat

• Myxedema (Swelling of the skin and underlying tissues is typical of patients with underactive thyroid glands. Discoverable by visual assessment and not being able to pinch a miniscule bit of skin on the outside of your arms, near your shoulders. Instead one is only able to pinch a thick, large portion of skin.)

• Stomach fat and a growing “tire” around your waist (thyroid and adrenal related)

• Headaches

• Constant thirst and water won’t quench it

• Feeling as if something wrong is happening to your brain, as if you are getting “dumb” and losing your cognitive abilities

• Anxiety attacks

You are not unlucky, you just haven't figured it out yet. Let me help you.

Don’t let anyone (not even yourself) convince you that you will always have weight issues, energy issues, gynecological issues, or any other ailment in life, just because you have hypothyroidism. It simply isn’t true. And more importantly, don’t ever give up on yourself! 

Just know that anything you are struggling with thyroid or body-wise is temporary and fixable. Perseverance prevails. You will prevail if you set your mind to it and let me help you.