Hashimoto’s
I have been given the opportunity to learn the importance of deep self-care through my current journey with recently diagnosed Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism.
Lessons I thought I knew are now going to a profound new level. Upping my self-care through food and gentleness has been paramount. It’s been a steep learning curve, and I am here to tell you it matters and makes a huge difference.
I have known my thyroid has been struggling since early 2020, most likely for years before that too. 2020 being what it was, I waited. I did all the things I knew, I went to my acupuncturist regularly, and it really helped with the brain fog, exhaustion, and physical pain. I now realize acupuncture kept my symptoms at bay, but it could not “fix” my struggling thyroid.
I kept questioning WHY does a thyroid stop working? I now know.
Through extensive testing this summer with a new primary care physician, we discovered why my thyroid was struggling - autoimmune markers led to a Hashimoto diagnosis. I went on thyroid medication and, after 4 weeks, felt a slight improvement - from exhausted to tired. At this point, my primary care physician took more blood and noted an improvement in thyroid numbers. She said, “Such an improvement on your current level of medication; let’s keep you there. I’ll see you in 4 months.”
It was a moment where I stopped and thought of a scene in As Good as It Gets (one of my favorite movies).
Melvin Udall (played by Jack Nicholson) barges into his psychiatrist’s office, asking for help. However, the doctor says he will have to make an appointment. As Melvin enters the psychiatrist’s lobby with all the other patients, he turns and delivers thi quote:
I felt like one of those people in the waiting room, devastated that this was as good as I could get. This improvement from exhausted to tired was as good as I could get.
I said there must be more than this. I looked for help. I found a great Naturopathic Dr and a fantastic therapist. I found 2 people who are now part of my care team, and I feel much better. I do the work and make the time, and I finance the payments cause it ain’t cheap out of pocket. I wish for a system that would allow me to use these fantastic caregivers within an insurance network, but alas, that is a whole other basket of issues.
My point to you is, IT IS POSSIBLE, and wherever you are along your journey, you can find the people you need to support you.
I hope to be one of those people to help you with bodywork.
I hope that I can assist you on your journey to feeling better with Thai massage, cupping, or sound therapy.
Let’s work together.
