Traveling Abroad with Hashimoto's

There was a point just a few years ago where I was eating homemade blended soup three times a day and hardly wanted to leave the house because my bloating was so embarrassing. Contrast that with this past May, when I backpacked for two weeks with my husband through Italy and southern France on the vacation of our dreams!

I love travel, and always have. Some of my fondest memories are of adventuring through Europe in my early 20’s and subsisting off of croissants and cheap pasta for weeks. What a time in my life that was!

Travel with Hashimoto’s looks different, but with a few key ideas in mind, it’s no less doable!

Here are the things that I needed to know to travel successfully with Hashimoto’s.

First and foremost, I needed to understand how Hashimoto’s works, and how it affects me personally. Being able to understand my symptoms and adjust accordingly is what enabled me to travel so freely. For example, I understood that if my adrenals took a hit on long travel days because of the disrupted schedule, so would my thyroid. I also understood that if my anxiety picked up, or if I was feeling particularly fatigued and apathetic, my thyroid needed some TLC.

Hand in hand with that, I also needed to understand my major triggers. Gluten, disrupted sleep, stress, and toxin exposure are all big ones for me at home, so being abroad would be no different.

• Gluten: Even though food quality in the EU is much better than here in the states, and many who are gluten sensitive are able to consume wheat there without issue, I chose to continue to intentionally avoid it while abroad. This meant researching ahead of time some safe options and being prepared to ask questions to restaurants. I’ll have another post with more specifics on eating gluten free while traveling, so stay tuned for that!

• Sleep + Stress: To manage these, I started syncing my schedule to Italian time as much as possible when we boarded our first flight out of the US, and also gave myself as much time as I needed to sleep and adjust when we arrived. I was mindful about my caffeine intake too, because I knew that pushing my adrenals too hard would only negatively impact my thyroid. I also traveled with some extra adrenal support. I use this product, and have also used this one in the past with good results!

• Toxins: Lastly, I minimized my toxin exposure as much as possible by bringing a small bottle of Branch Basics to use for cleaning (use that link for $10 off), my own soap and personal care products, and supported my toxin output with things like dry brushing, liver supportive foods, and glutathione. Toxin overload bogs down the liver, and a healthy liver is essential for healthy hormones, including thyroid hormone! I also traveled with a Go Pure Pod, which helped ensure that I had access to as much purified water as I needed, and packed my usual supplements to help support my system overall!

I packed extra thyroid meds, and traveled with them in their original container. There is always the possibility that flights could get delayed or travel plans disrupted, so I packed a few extra days worth of my T3, just in case. I also adjusted my dose on flying days, since there was a 9 hour time change, and did my best to take my pill within a 20-28 hour window from the last one, to keep my body as much on a schedule as possible.

I understood that things wouldn’t be perfect and my routine would change. I found a balance between indulging in those foods that were worth it, and sticking to the foods that I knew would support me best so that I could enjoy my trip to the fullest. Part of travel for me is getting to enjoy the local cuisine, and gelato and wine are both big parts of that! I chose to enjoy them freely, which looked like having small portions most days, but listening to my body for feedback on in/when I needed to stop. While my meals definitely looked different than at home (less veggies, more GF bread, etc), I embraced the change, enjoyed every bite, and it all worked out just fine!

I can’t even begin to describe how much more equipped and empowered I felt to manage my health on this trip compared to the last time I traveled abroad just two years ago.

That empowerment has come from consistently tuning in to my health and truly understanding my Hashimoto’s. Understanding my Hashimoto’s has enabled me to heal my Hashimoto’s and get back to living my life! If this is something that resonates with you, I put together a free PDF of my The Top 5 Things I Did To Heal my Hashimoto’s Naturally. You can grab that free download here! I’ve also created a course all about the ins and outs of Hashimoto’s, how it works, and how to overcome it. If you want to learn more about that, head on over here to get all the details!

I’d love to hear about your travel tips as well! What strategies have you used to travel successfully with autoimmunity, or even just to stay healthy in general while abroad?

Until next time,

Tracey

My Top Supplements For International Travel

My husband sometimes jokes that I have my own little supplement pharmacy at home, and honestly, it’s not too far from the truth! When I moved away from conventional medicine as my first response to injury and illness in 2014 in favor of a more natural approach to health, I started to dive into the world of strategic supplementation as a complement to a nutrient dense diet. Through research and experimentation I have learned how to manage most maladies with supplements, herbs, and essential oils instead of conventional drugs.

I knew that if I was going to be abroad for a couple of weeks, I wanted to make sure that I was equipped with natural remedies to support my body if needed.

Here are the exact supplements I kept on hand for international travel.

Wellness

Traveling, especially using public transportation, means lots of exposure to other people’s germs, so I wanted to make sure I had some extra immune support on hand!

-Seeking Health Liposomal Vitamin C- Since this is a liquid that needs to be refrigerated, I only brought enough for my first travel day, about 1.5 tbsp (2 big doses). I carried it in my liquids bag. I find this liposomal form to be VERY effective.

-Seeking Health Liposomal Glutathione- Detox support. Also a liquid that needs to be refrigerated, I combined 2 doses of this with the Vit C and finished it off by the time we landed in France.

-Cold Calm- In case I started to feel a cold coming on.

-Source Naturals Wellness Formula- I took 3 capsules daily, and brought some extras in case either of us caught something.

-Beekeepers Naturals Propolis Spray- This is a natural antiviral. I used 4 sprays daily, more on travel days. (wholedailylife saves 10%)

-Integrative Therapeutics V Clear- A homeopathic antiviral, specifically for respiratory support. I took 1-2 droppers daily as prevention. (I traveled with the tincture, but could only find the liquid to link.)

-doTERRA Essential oils: On Guard, Oregano, Melaleuca with gelcaps in case one of us caught something.

-Thorne Olive Leaf and L Lysine- Natural antimicrobials, I took 1 capsule of each daily (this is part of my usual routine at home as well).

Digestive Support

Knowing that I would be eating some different foods and at different times than my body was used to, I brought what I needed to keep my digestive system strong, as well as some damage control in case I didn’t tolerate something like I expected to.

-Extra digestive enzymes- I use several different types, but BioGest by Thorne is one of my go-to’s. I took 2 with every meal.

-Gluten digesting enzymes- I used these when we ate out anywhere that I wanted some extra insurance against cross contamination. I’m currently using Gluten Guardian, but have also used Enzymedica in the past.

-Activated charcoal- In the states, I take charcoal if I have a glass of wine and it helps minimize any symptoms. I didn’t need to do this while abroad, but also kept charcoal on hand in case I ended up with digestive issues (it helps bind up toxins and gas).

-Mag07- I use this to keep me regular! I take one capsule AM and PM, but brought extras in case I experienced any travel related constipation. Fortunately, I didn’t need them!

-Probiotics: Probiotics are a huge part of how I keep my digestive system strong. I take MegaSpore and Garden of Life Colon Care every day, and add in a Garden of Life Once Daily Ultra for some extra support at meals with lots of higher FODMAP foods. (The latter also needs to be refrigerated, so I kept it in the fridge when possible but didn’t worry about that on travel days.)

-Beano and Gas-X- I took these at meals with lots of high FODMAP foods, just for comfort :) (I actually use the CVS brand because the ingredients are a little cleaner than the brand name versions!)

Pain

I prefer not to take conventional pain killers if at all possible, but wanted to have some options on hand in case I needed them. I was also due to possibly start my period while abroad, so included some of the supplements that I use to manage cramps and headaches at home.

-doTERRA Deep Blue Polyphenol Complex- 1 capsule BID as needed.

-Skullcap- 1 capsule BID as needed.

-Curcumin- I use Meriva by Thorne here, but also experimented with this product on travel days, and I think it really helped! Normally travel leaves me achey and with a headache, and I didn’t experience either.

-CBD- I use Viva Oils brand (wholedailylife for 15% off). I transferred some to a 5mL bottle and traveled with it in my liquids bag. I didn’t have any trouble or get any questions about it. I took it on our flying days, and then as needed.

Standard Supplements

I have a lineup of supplements that I take daily, primarily antivirals, liver support, and general wellness. I considered not taking these on my trip, but decided that I wanted to give my body everything I could to keep it feeling in top shape, so I brought them. Among them:

-Thorne Theanine- This is my FAVORITE supplement to help manage anxiety. I take this every morning, but packed a few extras for the trip just in case.

-Ecological Formulas Monolaurin- I take a hearty dose of this daily to help keep viral activity at bay.

-Thorne SAT- Liver support; I take 4 daily.

-Thorne Meriva- Antiinflammatory; I take 4 daily.

-Thorne Vit D- I take 10,000 IU daily.

-Thorne Selenium- To support my thyroid; I take 200 mcg daily.

-Prescription Compounded T3- I mention this here because I made sure to take a few extra days worth of my thyroid medication, just in case we experienced any travel delays.

I realize that this is a lengthy list of supplements. I have come to terms with the reality that my body does best with some extra support, and while it may not be forever, it is for now. It may seem a bit excessive to some, but for me, it enabled me to travel with confidence and to not have to worry about what would happen if I started to feel less than my best!

However, while at home I have a cabinet and a drawer dedicated to these things, we traveled abroad with just a backpack apiece.

Here’s how I packed it all.

I do love a good organization project!

For all of my standard daily supplements, I did what I always do, which is pre-portion them out into little pill baggies for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and bed. I had one quart size bag dedicated to each set, and then each day I would pull out one from each and put it into my “daily bag” that I would carry around with me through the day.

For the other categories, I put as many of the capsules of each kind as I thought I might need in a labeled pill bag and then sorted these into two quart sized bags, one for wellness and one for digestive support + pain. This way, I could pull from these as needed.

I also kept a small little “digestive support” baggie in my daily bag (just call me the bag lady) that had a few capsules of charcoal, some beano, some gas-x, and some gluten containing enzymes. This way I could keep these on hand, since we often spent the whole day out and about, and then refill at night.

Lastly, I packed all of these up into two gallon sized bags, each about half full, which made them easy to pack in my backpack.

One last note on the plastic use: I have been re-using these pill bags, quart bags, and gallon bags since I did this for our first trip two years ago to minimize waste! I use this packing strategy often and only replace the bags when they wear out, which is rarely. I prefer to use Stasher bags when I’m at home!

I hope this guide is helpful! Remember, I’m not a doctor and cannot give you medical advice, but if you have any questions, please drop them in the comments below!

Thanks!

-Tracey

That Time I Could Only Eat 7 Foods

At one point, there were only 7 foods that I could eat.

I want to tell you the story of how I got there,

and how I got back to eating a (mostly) normal diet.

Sneak preview: it wasn’t all about the food.

In late 2014 I was finally diagnosed with Hashimoto’s and SIBO after many months of trying to navigate a whole host of seeming disconnected symptoms. Earlier that year I had stumbled upon the Autoimmune Protocol while working with a client and, after researching it thoroughly, had successfully implemented it with multiple clients since then. When I was diagnosed, I knew with confidence that I wanted to use the AIP diet as a tool in healing my own Hashimoto’s. However, the presence of SIBO created an additional challenge, as many of the foods that are traditionally allowed on an AIP diet were off limits (high FODMAP foods, such as onion, garlic, broccoli, pear, etc). In addition, I also did some food sensitivity testing to see if there were any foods causing problems that I might not be aware of…and there were.

Come to find out, garlic, sweet potato, zucchini, pork, cinnamon, and a handful of other foods were all provoking my immune system by way of my (very) leaky gut. I added these to my “eliminate” list, which when combined with my SIBO and AIP lists, left me with about 7 foods total. (I’ll probably be able to list them forever: carrot, celery, lemon, olive, coconut, sole, and scallop.)

7 foods certainly do not allow for a nutritionally balanced diet, nor is that level of restriction sustainable, but I was motivated to do whatever I needed to do in order to heal. I stuck with this list for two weeks as recommended by the food sensitivity testing protocol (believe me, I had to get pretty creative with my meals!!) before starting to reintroduce foods. After a few weeks of reintroductions, I ended up with a mostly low FODMAP version of the elimination phase of the AIP diet (which also excluded my specific sensitivities).

I maintained this for about 3 months until I could get my antibodies tested again, at which point I was thrilled to find that my TPO antibodies number had come down by about 40%! Even though it wasn’t yet at goal, I began strategically reintroducing non-AIP foods according to the process proposed by Sarah Ballantyne, and was fortunate in that I did not have any notable reactions. About 6 months after starting the elimination phase in January of 2015 I had successfully reintroduced most non-AIP foods, though I continued to limit many of them out of principle until I could establish a good health baseline. There were still many higher FODMAP (AIP compliant) foods that I couldn’t tolerate due to GI symptoms such as gas and bloating. It took me much longer to re-establish some tolerance to FODMAPs, but that is a topic for another post!

As mentioned above, I have used the Autoimmune Paleo Diet with countless clients with amazing results. I have seen many people put their autoimmunity into remission simply by healing up their leaky gut and identifying their triggers! It truly is an amazing protocol, and is beneficial not only in cases of autoimmunity, but for anyone looking to reduce overall inflammation in their body.

Benefits of the AIP diet:

-STRUCTURE: following the AIP template gave me both structure and resources, which were incredibly helpful in the beginning of my journey as I was still trying to get my feet on the ground. There are so many more resources out there today (recipes, cookbooks, blogs, etc) than there were even three years ago!

-COMMUNITY: any kind of elimination diet comes with challenges, and the more restrictive, the more isolating it can be. There is a strong community around the AIP diet, and I was grateful to experience their support and encouragement first-hand! I have been able to connect with a local AIP group in each city that I have lived in.

-FUNCTION: the AIP diet is incredibly nutrient dense and eliminates all major allergens and common triggers. As such, it is valuable for not only reducing the attack on the body, but also for helping it to heal. As I mentioned above, I have seen many people successfully implement it to reduce systemic inflammation even outside of the context of known autoimmunity.

Challenges of the AIP diet:

-SOCIAL: the biggest challenge that I experienced personally was not actually the limited number of food choices, but having to navigate (or forego) social events. I’ve always been a foodie, and in the years leading up to my Hashimoto’s diagnosis, many of my social events revolved around dining out or attending events with food. This was a major shift for both me and my husband. (We felt like we had to learn how to date in an entirely different way!)

-(POSSIBLY) LABOR INTENSIVE: let’s face it, when you have a limited list of foods and ingredients like black pepper aren’t on it, any kind of pre-prepared food is difficult to find. I found that I prepared 95% of my foods at home while on the elimination phase, and while I was used to cooking quite a bit, learning to get creative with this new food list also took some time. (However, it doesn’t have to be complicated!! Even these days, most of my meals are composed of batch roasted veggies and batch prepared protein.)

So the big question is, would I do it again?

Absolutely, but not in exactly the same way. All three of the protocols that I used were incredibly healing, and taught me a lot about myself and my digestion. However, while implementing them all at once was effective, looking back, I don’t think it was necessary. When I consult with clients now, I work with them to create a food list that takes into account the most urgent needs first, and considers what is realistic for each individual.

• The AIP diet is an invaluable tool for reducing inflammation and healing a leaky gut, and I recommend it quite often.

• Eating low FODMAP foods can help alleviate symptoms in a huge way until the root cause can be identified and corrected.

• Food sensitivity testing can be incredibly helpful in identifying sensitivities to foods and chemicals that may not be obvious.

These days, I know my FODMAP tolerance and after lots of gut-focused healing, have been able to incorporate many higher FODMAP foods back into my diet. I do still use aspects of the AIP diet on a regular basis. I know which foods are absolute no’s for me, and which ones I can handle in small amounts vs in unlimited quantities. Whenever I feel inflammation sneaking up on me or symptoms threaten to arise, I can use various gradients of the AIP diet to fix the issue before it becomes a problem.

It Wasn’t Just The Diet, Though…

While the elimination diet itself absolutely contributed to my healing, It was definitely not the only factor. Treating my SIBO, managing my stress, improving my sleep, balancing my hormones, and identifying my root cause triggers were all ESSENTIAL components of my healing, and together, they restored my gut and allowed me to bring foods back into my diet. In fact, my healing stalled until I addressed each of these things. These are all factors that I cover in depth in my Healing Hashimoto’s course and in my free PDF download: The Top 5 Things That Have Helped Heal My Hashimoto’s Naturally, and which I will continue to explore here on the blog in the coming weeks!

If you’ve ever been on a limited diet and felt stuck in your healing, know that there IS hope!!

Have you used a therapeutic elimination diet? Share about your experience in the comments!

Until next time,

Tracey

Healing Hashimoto's and SIBO

This post has been a long time coming, and after doing an Instagram Live a few weeks ago where I talked all about my story since my diagnosis in 2014, I finally sat down to write it! I'm going to try to break this down into sections for easy reading, but if there's anything I've left out or that you would like more information on, please feel free to ask in the comments here or on Instagram!

It's long, but there's a lot of information here, and I hope you find it helpful!

Initial symptoms:

I first tuned in to the fact that something wasn't right in September of 2014. I had a persistent abdominal pain on my right side that I couldn't get to go away, no matter what I tried. I explored all of the options that Western medicine had to offer: a GI consult, an ultrasound, endoscopy, colonoscopy, etc etc. Nobody could give me any answers, and after reassuring me that they didn't see anything worth worrying about (I was afraid of something like a structural abnormality or a growth), they sent me home with the explanation of "it must just be IBS."

I was having ongoing pain, so obviously something wasn't right, and I decided to seek out another opinion from a naturopath. I was having other symptoms at the time as well, but didn't realize it until she started asking me some specific questions at my first visit. These symptoms included lots of brain fog, fatigue, lack of excitement/passion for life, cold hands and feet, and amenorrhea (lack of a period). She ran a bundle of lab tests, including a breath test, and then I waited.

About a week later I got all of the results, which showed that I had a positive breath test for SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, which I had never heard of) and Hashimoto's antibodies above the testable lab limit of 900. I wasn't surprised about the SIBO once I learned what it was, because it explained the bloating, gas, pain, and constipation that I was experiencing, but thyroid issues weren't even on my radar! I also tested positive for H Pylori.

This kind of bloat was a daily occurrence.

Initial recommendations:

The first thing that my ND did was prescribe a round of Rifaximin + Metronidazole for the SIBO, followed by a low dose of Erythromycin as a prokinetic for 3 months. She also recommended a low FODMAP diet both during and after treatment, but that's all she really changed from my diet. Herbal antibiotics are also an option for treating SIBO (you can find more info about this on siboinfo.com) but I didn't know that at the time. I also didn't know that it is generally recommended NOT to eat a low FODMAP diet during antibiotics, because this is associated with a better eradication of the bacteria.

I was eating a loosely paleo diet already, but up until that point, would still have gluten once a week or so, at an event, date night, etc, which I stopped doing immediately because it is a common trigger in Hashimoto's. She also recommended a thyroid support supplement and an adrenal support supplement, as my cortisol was borderline out of balance. Her hope was that by treating the SIBO first, the other things would regulate as well. She did not treat the H Pylori at that time.

My take on diet:

My diagnosis came in December of 2014, and I decided that in January of 2015 I was going to go on the elimination phase of the Autoimmune Protocol, which I had been using with patients with great success for at least a year. I also did some food sensitivity testing using the LEAP/MRT test, and continued with a low FODMAP diet. When I overlaid all of these protocols, I was left with a VERY narrow food list (at one point less than 10 foods), but I was determined. This is one thing that I do differently in my practice now, as I have found that an overly restrictive diet is often counterproductive, but I won't get into that here. I launched into the protocol with gusto and started the two antibiotics for SIBO at the same time.

I followed this protocol for 3 months, during which I also moved across the country from Seattle to Austin. I had no noticeable improvement in my bloating, gas, or pain, but at the three month mark I did go get my Hashimoto's antibodies tested, and they had come down to around 700, which I was proud of! At that point I decided to go ahead and start to bring some foods back in. I knew that to stay true to the AIP protocol, I should wait until my antibodies were at goal (<35), but the compounded limitations of the three diets were wearing on me. I began cautiously reintroducing foods with no noticeable consequences. 

Life happened:

Of course, as soon as I established care with a new ND in Austin (who put me on a maca supplement to try to help me regain my period, unsuccessfully), my husband and I moved across the country again. This time we moved to San Diego, where I needed to establish care with a new practitioner once again. I started working with a naturopath who decided to re-treat me for SIBO, as well as treat the H Pylori. She also ran a stool test which showed an overgrowth of a different bacteria, so she decided to treat that as well, with the mentality "let's just wipe everything out and then rebuild." This was a (negative) turning point in my health, because I was on 5 antibiotics over the course of 4 weeks, and I just don't think my system could bounce back from it. However, I was so desperate for any kind of relief from my symptoms at that point that I didn't even question it.

There were a few positive things that came out of my time with this ND though. She discovered that I have a homozygous 677T MTHFR gene mutation, which means that my methylation capacity is around 30%. Methylation affects everything, but in particular, detoxification, so I started supplementing with methylated B vitamins (MethylGuard Plus by Thorne) as well as doing things to support my liver, like castor oil packs (I have shared about this on Instagram in my "getting well" story highlight, but can do a post on it too if folks are interested!). She also tested for various other autoimmune conditions, and I showed up with some Scleroderma antibodies too. I did undergo a thorough workup at the Mayo Clinic around this same time for both the Scleroderma and my ongoing digestive issues, but they didn't have any answers for me either. 

Waiting for a CT scan at the Mayo Clinic, where I spent a week and a half doing every kind of test imaginable to try and figure it all out.

However, I was still having extensive bloating, pain, and gas, my antibody numbers weren't moving, my thyroid was still sluggish, and my period was still MIA. My ND wasn't sure where to go next, and wanted to continue to wait it out and do stool tests every few months to see if things were changing. I wanted to be more proactive than that, so I sought out a new naturopath once again. (Moral of the story: don't be afraid to seek out a new doctor if yours isn't supporting you the way that you need!)

Finally, some progress:

I started working with a new ND in November of 2016. She did a fresh batch of lab work (which I'm always a fan of), including some testing for underlying viral infections and different genetic mutations. A few things cropped up: I tested positive for both Epstein Barr (which has a high correlation with Hashimoto's) and Cytomegalovirus. The testing also revealed that I have some genetic SNP's (single nucleotide polymorphisms) for Vitamin D and Nitric Oxide processing. Low vitamin D is associated with a myriad of health concerns, including autoimmunity, and low nitric oxide is associated with cardiovascular issues and for me in particular, brain fog. (This test also revealed that I am slow to process sulfites, which is why alcohol always gives me a headache. This is also correlated to histamine intolerance, so I was on a low histamine diet for several weeks until I was able to get this system up to speed again with some strategic supplementation.)

Treatment plan:

With this new information, I increased my dose of Vitamin D and started a supplement that is a precursor to nitric oxide. Immediately I noticed an improvement in my brain fog! I also agreed to bump up my dose of compounded T3, which I had started a few months prior. My levels were borderline, and since thyroid is interwoven with other hormone systems AND digestion, we decided to be a little more aggressive. After about 4 years without a period, I also decided to start supplementing bio-identical progesterone at her recommendation. This approach isn't for everyone, but it was what my body needed (all of my hormone levels were postmenopausal, and I was only 28). Last but not least, I also increased my prescription of Low Dose Naltrexone, which acts as both a prokinetic (to prevent a SIBO relapse) as well as an immune system modulator. (More info on that here.)

In response to the viral infections, I also started an antiviral protocol. I used this colloidal silver (1 tbsp TID, this is also great when you feel like you're getting sick!), this monolaurin (2 capsules TID), Artecin by Thorne (1 BID), and started doing IV therapy (Vitamin C and H2O2, one of each per week). All of this was targeting the underlying viral infections, which were continuing to trigger my Hashimoto's, and subsequently, my digestive issues. I believe this is one of the factors that helped me reach a turning point in my health. 

There were a few other key supplements that I was already using that I continued:

-L Glutamine by Thorne, 1 scoop AM/PM on empty stomach with water; this is one of my most recommended supplements for healing the gut!

-MegaSporeBiotic, 2 capsules daily with breakfast (this one has been a GAME CHANGER for my gut health and I recommend it to everyone with gut issues // you can order this from me directly through the contact form on my website)

-FloraSport by Thorne, 2 capsules in AM on empty stomach; I tried about a dozen probiotics before finding the ones that work for me

-MBC by Systemic Formulas, 1-2 capsules at bedtime on an empty stomach (this is a practitioner only brand, you can order this from me directly through the contact form on my website)

-Multivitamin Elite by Thorne, to make sure my nutrition intake was covered while I was on a super restricted diet

-digestive enzymes and HCL to aid in digestion (there are differing opinions about the use of digestive enzymes, but I have found them helpful!)

-NAC for liver support

And a few that I added:

-SAT by Thorne, for additional liver support

-Meriva by Thorne, to reduce inflammation

-Berberine, to help prevent a SIBO relapse and support blood sugar balance

-Moducare, to reduce Hashimoto's antibodies

-Theanine, to decrease anxiety, which is common with Hashimoto's

Progress:

I didn't notice a difference immediately, but after a couple of months, I realized that my bloating wasn't as pronounced, and there were days when I didn't really notice the abdominal pain. At my first follow up about 3 months later, we did lab work that showed that my Hashimoto's antibodies had come down to around 500! We did not re-test the viruses at that time. Since things were moving along, we kept with the same protocol.

Since then, my protocol has stayed pretty much the same. I went to Europe for my 5th anniversary in April of 2017 and ate pretty everything except gluten while I was away. I had dairy almost every day, some gluten free grains, and definitely indulged in the gelato! I did take all of my supplements with me (which took up about 1/4 of my backpack, hah), and when I came back, I was happy to find that my numbers hadn't regressed at all. I also decreased the frequency of my IV's to twice per month instead of weekly, and added in acupuncture. I FINALLY got my mercury amalgam fillings out, which I think definitely made a difference, because my numbers had stalled for about 6 months and after that, they dropped another 200 points! I also bumped my thyroid dose up one more time to what we have discovered is my optimal dose, and slowly but surely, my periods are getting back on track.

The key thing to note here is that I wasn't treating JUST the Hashi or JUST the SIBO, but rather addressing all of the body systems that weren't quite up to speed. The body is a cohesive unit, and if something is out of balance, something else will pay the toll. As I addressed my body from a holistic perspective, everything started to improve.

A little more on IV therapy:

I get a lot of questions on IV's, and it's something I try to share about on my Instagram on a regular basis. In short, both the Vitamin C and the Hydrogen Peroxide IV's that I do are targeting the underlying viral infections, but they work in slightly different ways. The H2O2 converts to oxygen and water in the bloodstream, and as the oxygen works its way through the body, it helps to eradicate any infections that are anaerobic (aka live without oxygen). The Vitamin C IV is 100% bioavailable, and because it goes directly into the bloodstream (as opposed to being digested and then absorbed), it is able to much more effectively reach all of the tissues in the body, where it acts as an antioxidant and helps to reduce oxidative stress. It also targets infections and is frequently used in cancer treatment as well.

I have not experienced any major side effects from IV therapy. If the drip is too fast, the Vit C can cause nausea, and the H2O2 can cause some achey feelings in the arm and shoulder similar to the feeling of a sore muscle, but my tolerance to both has significantly increased as I have continued to use them. There is no "down time" afterwards, and I get right back to normal life immediately.

There's not a ton of research on these because they are much more of an alternative therapy, but I have found them to be incredibly beneficial! I do pay out of pocket for them, and I budget for them like I do with any other big expense. The Vitamin C IV is $150 and the H2O2 is $100, but I'm able to purchase in a package at my naturopath's office for a slight discount. Insurance does not cover them, but I have been able to get them reimbursed by my flex spending account. 

Triggers/Causes:

It's hard to say what it was that caused all of this to start so many years ago, but I believe there are a few different factors. My digestion has always tended toward constipation, and growing up I ate a ton of candy and junk food (I was a very picky eater). Coupled with a history of regular antibiotic use for things like upper respiratory infections and sinus infections, I think my gut was compromised from the beginning. Then, in 2011 I started taking hormonal birth control, which I believe further impaired my gut and disrupted my hormones (which had always been balanced up until that point). I used hormonal birth control for about 18 months before I lost my period entirely and my gut symptoms really started to flare up. That is when all of this really started, back in late 2014. I also spent several years of my life growing up in a house with mold, which we learned about after the fact. Given my MTHFR genetics, which hinders my body's ability to detox, I think this was another factor that put my body into overload and created a condition for things to get out of hand. I believe that the viruses were one of my underlying triggers, which caused my thyroid to get out of balance, which subsequently caused the SIBO, which exacerbated the leaky gut, which continued to trigger the Hashimoto's, and so on and so forth. As you can see, it's all very intertwined!

A few specifics on SIBO:

After my second round of Rifaximin, I followed a combination of the GAPS + low FODMAP diets. I held off on supplementing probiotics again for a couple of months. When I did start supplementing, it took me a few tries to figure out the ones that worked the best for me. As mentioned above, I have had the most success with the following:

-MegaSporeBiotic, 2 capsules daily with breakfast (this one has been a GAME CHANGER for my gut health and I recommend it to everyone with gut issues // you can order this from me directly through the contact form on my website)

-FloraSport by Thorne, 2 capsules in AM on empty stomach

-MBC by Systemic Formulas, 1-2 capsules at bedtime on an empty stomach (this is a practitioner only brand that is amazing for recolonizing the digestive tract after antibiotics, you can order this from me directly through the contact form on my website)

When I first started incorporating probiotics and ramping up my dose, I had to go slow. However, I believe that my gut was so depleted from all of the antibiotics that there were just not any good bugs left! At the recommendation of my naturopath, I bumped up my dosage significantly after a few months, and at one point was on 200+ billion CFU per day. It took about 6 months after my second SIBO treatment for me to see a significant improvement in my bloating, gas, and pain. It was slow, but steady progress, and I believe it was a result of treating the underlying viruses, optimizing my thyroid, and finding the probiotics that worked for me. 

Where I am now:

I'm not quite at goal yet with my Hashimoto's antibodies, but they are on their way and making consistent progress. The rest of my thyroid labs are at goal. The other autoimmune antibodies that popped up, Scleroderma, went from severely elevated to below the detectable limit. At my most recent lab tests, both viruses were completely in remission. My pain is gone, except when I do things that I know that I shouldn't, like eat when I'm in a hurry or graze all day. (I can talk more about how I get myself out that in another post as well.) Last but not least, my brain fog is gone, I have energy to get through the day, and I feel a sense of adventure and passion again! Two years ago I never would have thought any of this was possible. While it has been an expensive journey and at times felt like I would never see progress, when I reflect on how far I've come I am so incredibly grateful to have the health that I have worked so hard for. With the exception of the antibiotics and a couple of other prescriptions, it has all been a predominantly holistic approach.

As I have been writing this, I have realized that there are SO many other factors that I would like to address, such as exercise, mindset, sleep, stress, and more. Each of these has had an impact on my health as well. I might have to come back and write a Part 2 to talk about those!

I'm definitely not perfect, but have learned so much about how to tune into my body, how to slow down when I need it, and how to take note of the foods that don't sit well with me. I hope my story is encouraging or helpful to you in some way. If there's only one thing that you take away, I hope it is to keep digging for your root cause and keep asking questions until you find the answers!

With love,

Tracey

UPDATE: I have taken all of the information that I have learned through my journey and successfully used it with several clients to help them heal their Hashimoto’s as well. After seeing just how powerful this information is, I co-created an online course to help get this information out to MORE people! You can download my free PDF all about the top 5 things I have done to heal my Hashi naturally and learn more about that course here.

Now, as long as I'm taking care of myself, I live a pretty normal life with minimal symptoms!

To-Do List 101 + Weekly Meal Plan

Does your to-do list stress you out?

I used to be the master of making the never-ending to-do list. (Type-A problems, right?!) I put everything on one list that I would look at each day and try to cross off as many things as possible, before transferring the leftovers to a new list for the next week.

While this strategy was effective in making sure that I eventually got most of these things done, the down-side is that I felt constantly stressed out by the list that was never finished. I never felt like I was able to end my work for the day because there was always more on the list. 

Well, if you don't know, now you do: there is a definite connection between chronic stress and illness. Stress affects our hormones, and our hormones influence things like autoimmunity, digestion, and much more.

At the beginning of my health journey, I had a practitioner tell me that I needed to reduce my stress. She recommended walking, taking baths, sitting outside, etc. and I thought "All of that is well and good, but I'm busy! How am I going to work those things in on a daily basis?!" While I did start to implement those things as I was able, I also took a look at the other things that were causing my stress, and my to-do list was one of them. 

So, I changed my strategy. 

Now, I'm not perfect at this (as evidenced by the fact that just today I added a couple of items above my "top three"), but here's what I do now. Instead of writing everything out as one long list, I write out my list day by day (duh, why didn't I think of this before??). More importantly, I choose three top priority items. We see a lot of big names and successful people who do this. They prioritize three things that if they get nothing else done that day, they would have accomplished what they needed to. 

That doesn't necessarily mean that I only have three things on my list, I always have more than that. But my focus is on those top three. If I have the time and energy, then I tackle some others. 

The difference that this has made for me is in giving me the freedom to "close the list" and be done for the day. I don't feel like I need to accomplish the entire thing and take on the world all in one day. It gives my mind (and therefore my body) permission to relax, which is essential for good health!

Do you have a strategy when it comes to how you organize your day? I'd love to hear about it over on this meal prep post on Instagram!

This Week's Meal Plan:

Breakfast: Batch Prep Frittata + Roasted Sweet Potatoes // This is one of the recipes that I shared during my Whole30 Recipes takeover! You can find it here. I used some Whole30 compliant chicken sausage for extra protein and added chopped spinach!

Lunch: No-Cook Meal // I'm on product overload at my house after all of the samples I got from Expo, so I'm using them up during my weekday lunches! I have a variety of Whole30 compliant meat sticks and bars from some of my favorite brands, a bottle of Zupa for veggies ("wholedailylife" for 15% off), and some Amazi baked plantain chips! These chips are not Whole30 compliant because they are a "chip," but they are delicious and have completely clean ingredients. They have AIP options as well. If you're on the Whole30, simply sub these for a piece of fruit each day!

Dinner: Yai's Thai Curry with Chicken // This is another recipe that I shared during my Whole30 Recipes takeover! You can find the recipe here. My favorite trick is using the white sweet potato to chicken and extend the curry sauce. It makes it extra creamy!

I also shared in my stories last week that if I'm hungry, I do have another mini meal when I get home from work, usually some combination of a protein and veggies or fruit, or sometimes a bar. When we're eating real food, our bodies are smart about letting us know when we need more and when we've had enough! If you're legitimately hungry, please nourish your body and give it more food! Every week (and every day) is different.

Have a great week!

-Tracey