I feel great, healthy and energetic these days. During a recent visit to my beloved UT campus this week I was told by several people that I look good. Unsolicited compliments are always nice, but this type means more to me than most. I had a rough 2012. I had to have my thyroid removed January 3rd, after suffering from Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and developing tumors throughout my neck. When the pathology report came back on my thyroid my doctor said there was only 5% of the thyroid tissue left, and that it was 95% tumors. Ten days later I awakened to a very sore arm and shoulder, which throughout the day became so painful I could not move it. A trip to the hospital revealed that I had developed deep vein thrombosis and had 8 large blood clots in my shoulder and arm. This required a hospital stay and caused me to miss the first few classes of the Spring semester. I was allowed out once I mastered the twice daily injections (in my stomach) and my blood was maintained at an extremely thin-watery level. So I had quite the start to the new year.
I won’t go into the details of hating medications, and side effects, or the pressure of catching up- just let me say that it had to be powered thru.
Now a year later I feel really good, healthier than I have ever felt and very optimistic. I have a doctor that I respect, who would rather treat me with diet, and holistic measures than drugs with all of the nasty side effects I seem to develop. She switched me to a natural thyroid replacement that has been outstanding, and treated my failing liver, gallbladder, and pancreas with a “Paleo type” diet. I know that this approach would be risky or difficult for many, but for me, the opportunity to ditch all of the side effects (which are sometimes worse than the affliction they are designed to treat) was a gift. I have gone “all in” and followed every rule my doctor laid out, exactly and all I can say is “wow”. This is what “normal” feels like? I can’t believe it.
I have been on this treatment plan since Oct 27 – the day after my 41 birthday when my doctor gave me the news that if I didn’t take control of my diet she feared I would have to go back on the medications and possibly lose my liver. I changed everything, that day. Researched all her orders, and switched to all whole natural foods, organic if possible and only free range, or pastured meat products. I have the added restrictions of no dairy, sugars, grains, beans, or starchy vegetables. I am only allowed 1 serving of fruit a day, and then only berries. It was very difficult at first.
Now at almost 4 months later it is easy. I love coconut- all forms, so my coffee (thank goodness I can still have it) is creamy thanks to coconut milk, I can make raw chocolate cookies using the coconut oil, toasted coconut and cocoa powder. I made a coconut flour blueberry cupcake that was wonderful, and cooking veggies in coconut oil is delicious.
So back to the compliments- As a bonus effect (as if feeling GOOD was not enough) I have lost 25 lbs. It has been steady, not just falling off, but a bit each week and now it has become noticeable. Not only do I get to feel good, I get to look good too? Who knew? Life in 2013 is looking up- big time. I am enjoying every minute of it.