Hashimoto's Thyroiditis summary

When the author, Izabella Wentz, was 27 years old, things were going great. She’d recently got married and was happily working in her chosen field of health care. She had a healthy lifestyle too – no cigarettes, no alcohol, regular yoga practice . . . and yet she was exhausted. Wentz was tired all the time, and often felt cold and anxious. She experienced “brain fog,” frequently forgetting things. And, not to mention, her hair was falling out.

What was happening?

After going to the doctor and getting her hormone levels checked, Wentz had a diagnosis – the autoimmune condition Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. Her thyroid gland was being destroyed by her own immune system. And to restore her hormone levels, she’d have to take medication.

But Wentz was a little skeptical. Taking medication without addressing the root cause of the condition? It was like trying to fill a leaky bucket. She’d be pouring in more water, or hormones, without fixing the holes.

Besides, where did the holes come from in the first place? Wentz believed in cause and effect. When she reflected on the years leading up to her diagnosis, she realized that her thyroid condition was most likely connected to other health issues.

For example, when she was an undergraduate, she had repeated bouts of strep throat. At one point she even contracted the viral infection mononucleosis – an infection that often triggers autoimmune conditions. Could it have triggered her Hashimoto’s?

After her diagnosis, Wentz had a new mission. She’d dedicate herself to investigating the possible root cause of her condition. And she’d try various lifestyle interventions to improve her health. In other words, she’d fix the holes in her leaky bucket.

Her advice to other people with Hashimoto’s is to do the same. Whatever your symptoms – exhaustion, depression, or digestive issues – you can delve into the origins of your condition, and find a treatment that works for you.

Just so we’re clear, we’re talking about lifestyle changes as well as medication. If your doctor has prescribed a hormonal supplement like Synthroid, it’s important for you to take it. Restoring hormone levels is an essential part of the healing process.

But it’s not the only part. At the same time, you can make other changes. Like Wentz, you can reflect on your health history and identify possible triggers for your condition. Then, you can set about healing yourself through various changes, with a particular focus on diet.

Diet – that’s something we’ll be coming back to again and again. You might be surprised by the complex relationship between the thyroid and the gut. As Wentz discovered through years of research and self-experimentation, problems in the gut can wreak havoc on other parts of the body.

So, it’s time to pay attention, and really try to understand the inner workings of your body. In the next few sections, we’ll be taking an inward look at ourselves to figure out what exactly is going on in there – and what we should be changing.