Priya had for years allowed hypothyroidism and its related issues to get the better of her, till she finally turned around and decided to make lifestyle changes and battle it head on. This is the story of how she emerged a winner.
Early Symptoms
When I was a teen in the early 1990’s, my poor mother spent hours every morning trying to get me out of bed. I held my stomach or head, faking intense pain. I even locked myself in the bathroom, poured water into the toilet and simultaneously made retching sounds - just so I could stay home. I didn’t want to go to school. I didn’t want to go anywhere.
I think my parents and doctors in India had some insight into my behavior but nothing was ever discussed with me. I only heard the opinions of others “she’s just lazy, nothing else” and “you spoil her too much”. No one really asked “Why”? Why was I so down-in-the-dumps almost every day and wanting to avoid stress at all costs?
I looked normal on the outside and my local doctor said I was fine. I believed the problem was me, well into adulthood. So I felt guilty! I continued to feel guilty for being a burden on my parents, guilty for being highly dependent on my husband, and guilty for being an exhausted and irritable mother.
In 2004, I was a 28 year old mom raising a 2 year old toddler. The few years leading to my diagnosis were quite stressful as I was trying to complete my master's degree, raise my baby and care for my father-in-law who was recently diagnosed with cancer. My husband was at the start of his career, so he typically worked long hours. I was tired all the time, had slowly gained about 15 lbs, had consistent acne breakouts, was stressed, agitated and not myself emotionally - but attributed it all to my life circumstances. Soon after my father-in-law completed his cancer treatment and my in-laws moved back to their home overseas, things took a turn for the worse.
My mother was visiting at the time and I remember being bitter and angry with her all the time. Emotionally I was breaking down and had lost complete control of how I expressed myself. Luckily, I recognized that my emotions were controlling me and this loss of complete control (on top of the major depression I secretly suffered from since adolescence) encouraged me to see a psychiatrist. My psychiatrist diagnosed me with major depression (I wasn't surprised) but also tested me for thyroid disease. My thyroid tests clearly showed I had hypothyroidism, which prompted me to search for a leading endocrinologist who put me on thyroid medications. My psychiatrist had also put me on Lexapro, an anti-depressant drug and Risperdal, an anti-psychotic. Shortly after, I also went to see a leading dermatologist, who over the course of several years (until 2012), prescribed several antibiotics, an anti-inflammatory, birth control and finally Accutane for my acne.
The Diagnosis
My diagnosis was of full-blown Hashimoto’s, a thyroid condition where your immune system attacks your own thyroid. Again, no one asked why? I was just handed a pill. Only after being on the medication for about 6 months to a year, was I able to start inquiring intelligently about my own health. This is when I initiated my quest for a healthy life - devoid of the fatigue, depression and acne that still plagued me. This is when I understood that medications, although extremely useful and potentially life-saving were only part of the picture. I still respected my doctor's opinions, but realized that I needed to go beyond what was offered to me in medicine.
Victor Hugo once said, “Curiosity is one of the forms of feminine bravery”. So I became brave. I started asking “Why”? I asked my endocrinologist why I was so tired and depressed even though my lab results looked normal. I asked my dermatologist “Why I had adult acne?” I asked a sleep specialist, “Why my body had suddenly forgotten how to sleep?”. No one had real answers. “It’s probably genetic”, I was told most often. So in 1990 the problem was my personality, in 2004 it was my genes. Things I felt were going from bad to worse. Now there was no hope. Was I doomed to a lifetime of difficult symptoms?
How I helped myself
I first turned to nutrition for my acne, despite being told by my dermatologist (she actually laughed in my face) that it wasn't my diet, but my genes that were at fault. Of course, this was in the day when we didn't know that gene expression could be manipulated by diet and lifestyle.
In 2013 I found a book about body processes like inflammation, digestion, gut-brain, and microbiome, they looked like the answers to my “whys”. I could finally start healing! I could eat my way to health. At the time, I was already on a healthy, organic whole food diet with low carbohydrates at night, no junk or processed food and occasional indulgence in desserts. When I read that my body could be sensitive to even so-called healthy food like whole wheat, fresh cheese and yogurt, I removed them from my diet. Later, I also tried an autoimmune paleo style diet and currently still eat a diet most closely resembling the autoimmune paleo diet, with quite a few healthy additions that suit me well. I also focus on anti-inflammatory, nutrient rich and therapeutic food that target my personal root causes of Hashimoto's or thyroid disease
The distinct changes
In two weeks, my body changed dramatically. For the first time since I was a teen, I actually wanted to get out of bed. My body suddenly felt light...not like the sack of bricks I was accustomed to dragging around. I can’t even begin to describe what happened to my mind, my emotional state. Months passed and unexpected things started happening. I wasn’t so concerned about how I looked anymore. Or what people thought of me. Instead, life slowly became more about learning, sharing, and service and just being. I had found my spirit.
Alpa Shah, on her eventual diagnosis of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and the dietary changes that brought her life back on track.
I've found the best way to cope with my Hashimoto's (thyroid disease) has been two-fold:
- I nourish my body, mind and soul daily with a good nutrition diet, good sleep practices, and an hour of yoga/ meditation/nature time. These are powerful therapies I can commit to for my health, so they are a part of my everyday schedule.
- For the things outside my control, I have learnt to let go and have an attitude of acceptance. I used to be a perfectionist and this did not serve me well! I've also developed a great sense of gratitude for the beauty and miracle that is life. Previously, I looked at my life and focused on the negatives (including my health) but now I choose to look at all the gifts instead.
I think the toughest thing has been to change my sleep schedule. I used to be a night owl for many years and going to bed by 10 pm is still very challenging for me. I've finally made it to an almost consistent 10:30 pm bed-time (rarely after) and even this change has made me less fatigued, more focused and much more productive during my day. I also have fewer cravings and reduced hunger when I sleep well!
Currently, I take a T4/T3 compounded thyroid medication made by a local pharmacy. My thyroid dose has reduced to half of what I was originally prescribed. I typically see my doctor every 6 months to 12 months for regular checkups.
Albert Einstein once said, ““The most important thing is not to stop questioning”. I agree.
My healing started with WHY.
