Tags
adrenal exhaustion, Anxiety, auto-immune, Ayurveda, Chronic stress, Depression, dis-ease, exhaustion, game on, gluten free, gluten intolerance, Healing, Health, himoto’s thyroiditis, hypothyroidism, leaky gut, PTSD, self-nurture, Spleen, thyroid, yang energy
It’s a little challenging sometimes to get the facts of life through this thick noggin of mine. For some reason, I’ve a tendency to not believe things are real.
So this whole: yes, my body is sicker than I was aware of thing is taking some getting used to. Of course I knew I was having bouts of exhaustion, but I hadn’t associated that with anything in particular. And thyroid issues it seems, are known to be difficult to diagnose because their symptoms often appear as other things – like depression and anxiety, for starters.
I’ve no way of knowing how long this has been going on, but based on my sketchy knowledge of Ayurveda I’d say it’s been a while. The organs and glands are not the first parts of the body to break down during dis-ease, but they’re also not the last.
What’s been really impressive has been the vast amount of information I’ve gathered from Twitter, including several excellent pieces of advice.
Three of the most important things I’ve learned in the last week are:
- Chronic stress can cause adrenal exhaustion, which in turn can trigger hypothyroidism and/or the auto-immune version of hypothyroidism, called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
- Generally associated with thyroidism is some level of gluten intolerance and/or leaky gut.
- There is PLENTY that a person can do other than take synthetic hormones to sort out this imbalance in the body.
Here’s one woman’s story of what she did.
Bottom line #1: If you ever had any doubt about the body and mind being one and the same, seeing PTSD translate into a very real physical illness should be all the proof you require.
Bottom line #2: Never, ever, accept the standard western medical treatment without researching other options.
So far it’s been a wild learning curve and I know there’s plenty more to come.
Right now, I’m temporarily taking synthetic hormone medication for one month because it’s part of the protocol my current doctor wants me to follow. I’m not terribly happy about this! After that, I’ll have more blood tests to work out if I’ve got plain old hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s.
In the meanwhile, I’m also taking a small army of supplements including:
- Olive leaf extract (which I’ve been taking for ages to support my immune system)
- Fish oil (another one I’ve been taking for ages – good for joints and cholesterol)
- L-Tyrosine – this made me feel SO. MUCH. BETTER. The almost ever-constant anxiety I was experiencing, that’d flare up without much cause is now gone. Yep, GONE. This is an amino acid and it’s referred to as “neuro-transmitter support”. It is incredible!
- Liquid iron (better for absorption, and doesn’t cause constipation like the tablet form. Also includes vitamin C in the blend) – related to adrenal exhaustion
- Magnesium – to support iron absorption
- Huge doses of B12 and vitamin D – which I am deficient in right now and this is also related to adrenal exhaustion
But that’s not all. I’m working with my acupuncture guy on my spleen/yang energy – which is also connected to the thyroid. He’s gonna give me some herbs and needles to see what can be done to support my body.
AND I’ve started – somewhat fitfully – eating gluten free. I can report that the first few days my body was having a little celebration at the change in my eating habits. I felt like it was literally singing to me!
But I’ve had to work out what’s okay and not okay to eat. Obviously things like bread are totally out (unless it’s gluten-free chia bread!), but other things I’d eat occasionally like dumplings, fries (cross-contamination issues), and even most potato chips are OUT. So is blue cheese (*cries*). My breakfast cereal, which I thought was okay as it was wheat-free, just isn’t. Barley and rye also have to go, you see.
The weird thing is that after even just a few days without gluten, then slipping up with stuff I wasn’t aware of… WOW, my belly hurts! That’d also be me just double checking to see if this thing is really REAL (thick noggin, remember?).
Interestingly, I noticed that I’d been having this sort of tight, bloated pain for a while. Only I hadn’t realised before now that this was a symptom of gluten intolerance. Amazing what we put up with, isn’t it?
So mostly I’m sticking to very simple meals – fish, organic chicken, rice, steamed veggies (drizzled with tahini – YUM!) and salads. Stuff like that. I’ve found a wonderful gluten free breakfast cereal and the previously mentioned chia bread. The other thing I’m meant to do is eat smaller meals more frequently.
Basically, I’m not taking any of this lying down (see bottom line #2). I’ve already got some leads on doctors that work more holistically when it comes to thyroid issues. So once I get my test results, I’ll probably switch doctors because I want someone who knows this stuff inside out and is prepared to go further than just giving me replacement hormones!
Food, exercise, proper rest, yoga and meditation – along with the appropriate supplements etc – all appear to be the way to go.
I’m also doing some work on my self-nurture abilities: today I had an awesome “me” day! Post-yoga class, I had myself a lovely time – getting my eyebrows waxed, a massage, going to a movie, buying some lovely fruit tea, a new light for my push bike, and wandering at a leisurely pace back towards my part of the world.
Game on, people. It’s game-freakin’-on.
~Svasti
Svasti: A Journey From Assault To Wholeness 
You are the only person I know who takes almost as many concoctions as me!!
You’re totally doing all the right things AND if it’s any consolation about 90% of the western world is adrenally exhausted to some extent – that’s how stressed we ALL are. Obviously PTSD and it’s evil little helpers makes this worse but sheesh, how did we all get so bad at looking after ourselves?
xx
I’ve got a few more concoctions to add to the list yet, but geez it’s expensive to take proper care of oneself!
I’d absolutely agree – most people are stressed and anxious anyway. That’s why mental disturbances like PTSD are even possible. Turning it around isn’t easy, but if we’re willing to do the work, I do believe its possible…
Amen, Svasti! I’ll toss another variable into the mix: menopause. I’m at that age … and it’s making everything else more … interesting ;-D
Trauma hurls us right to the edge of existence … and then we must ease ourselves back into the green of life. I start every day with a tall glass of liquid chlorophyll in water … Chlorophyll is an excellent blood cleanser … and since some of the makeup of my blood has gone wonky, that’s where my first focus is right now.
The brain is known in some circles as ‘the master gland’ … I believe it. It seems that trauma and its aftermaths affect *everything*, including the body’s most basic functions … and yes, we often don’t focus on these things until their distress signals can no longer be ignored (or thought of as something else).
Instant, excellent metabolic regulator = a beloved cat curled over your tummy or in your lap, purring …
Ah, sure why not? Menopause would just cause all kinds of other variables…
I really like that: “Trauma hurls us right to the edge of existence”. Seems quite apt!
Chlorophyll, eh? I’ll wait and see what my tests say, find a great doc or naturopath to work with and then find out what else they recommend that I do.
And oh yes, Miss Cleo the Kitteh has definitely helped all along the way. She’s a brilliant purrer although not much of a lap cat. More of a sit-beside-you cat. 🙂
I love this post! Great song, and your words carry so much strength and hope.
I can totally relate, I too have had to eliminate gluten from my diet, as well as yeast and sugar. It’s been about 2 years, and you get used to it. I love the meals that I eat, I don’t feel deprived of anything. Well, except bread, especially when I’m in Europe. But from time to time I experiment with adding gluteny foods back in to my diet, and bread is by far the worst– immediate bloating, pain, and horrible-smelling gas for hours!
The most recent supplement I’ve been trying is grapefruit seed extract; I’ve taken it a few times when I’ve eaten a forbidden food and it has cleared up the icky symptoms.
Best to you, dear Svasti! So happy to hear that the Warrior is back.
Thanks for your message, and the info on grapefruit seed extract! Sounds like a good one to keep on hand.
Yes, the warrior is back and ready to fight. 🙂
What a FABULOUS post — for so many reasons! I love seeing you so proactive, informative and creative in managing your own care. I, like you, had physical issues due to PTSD. They actually misdiagnosed me with Celiac Disease because they couldn’t explain (what no one noticed were really psychosomatic PTSD symptoms!), so they labeled it the next best thing. I went gluten-free for 8 years. My favorite cookbook: THE GLUTEN-FREE GOURMET, and also, BREAKING THE VICIOUS CYCLE. I also had inexplicable liver problems, a verrrrry leaky gut, and oh, so many lovely physical ailments due to the high level of psychological stress in which I lived.
I’m excited to see you taking such a comprehensive view of making change (and you’re right, Western med won’t help) and making decisions that feel right to you. Wonderful that you can already see the difference what you’re doing makes. With all of the changes and recovery in my own process, I am now 100% free of all the physical issues that cropped up. Keep us posted on your progress!
Thank you Michele! As I said on Twitter, there just isn’t enough of this kind of conversation happening out there. If there’s one thing I’d tell someone who’s been newly traumatised it would include information about the importance of taking care of one’s health!
Really great also, to hear what you experienced as well and that there’s light and hope to become free of food intolerances at the end of the tunnel. Wonderful!
I applaud all you are doing to heal your wholeness Svasti. This body/PTSD/health/mind weaving is not an easy one to unravel, but you are doing an amazing job of seeing each strand for what it truly is, and addressing it with honor and attention. I understand not wanting to take the synthetics – that was like me in the beginning not wanting to take the post cancer meds tamoxifen then arimidex – I tried their way, and now I’m doing it my way. Just got my latest all clear on Friday the 13th 😉
Have you heard of or thought about taking the ALCAT http://www.alcat.com/ test? It’s a blood test and will find all the foods you have sensitivities to – from high reactions to mild. It was suggested I had gluten intolerance and I stopped for 10 months without noticing any change like you’ve described, so really didn’t think I had a problem – the ALCAT test confirmed it, but did find I am sensitive to white potatoes.
Anyway, I deeply admire all you are doing for yourself, and completely understand the kick in the gut a life altering diagnosis is, but I see how it has engaged the warrior in you and you will not be defeated. Your strength and power are fully engaged, and in so doing you are empowering others to do the same in healing themselves. Much love and megga hugs to you my friend.
Thanks Karin! I know you’ve been on one heck of a healing journey yourself, so it means a lot. That is BRILLIANT about your all-clear and on the supposed unlucky day, too. WOOT!!
Also, thanks for the info on the ALCAT test. I haven’t heard of that yet, but will keep it in mind as I head further down this path. xo
it sure as hell IS game on! 😀 you’re on a roll. i love adding things here and there to my doin-it-rite plan. today, i started adding a tablespoon of liquid chlorophyll (have read SO many good things in its support) to my green smoothies and will do it every day. also plan on adding “beauty night” (what one of my friends calls it) to my week. hope the gf links i sent over are helpful — some great blogs in there, too! xo!
A ‘P.S.’ to my earlier note … Today, for some reason, I keep coming across articles that highlight what are usually called ‘the physical aspects of mental illness’ or some such, e.g., “New studies show corelation between PTSD and immune disorders.” DUH, I say!
I’m perpetually astounded that anyone — especially people who have professional / scholastic / deep-thinking experience — can still think in separative terms, that the ‘body’ and the ‘mind’ are two different things.
I know in my bones that the only way to heal –> to make whole (sometimes with whatever is left after great illness / injury) — is to tend to the whole person.
Perhaps we become too specialized in one or another area of expertise … and when we do that, we can’t see much else. I think it was Thoreau who said that too much education ‘makes a straight-cut ditch out of a meandering brook.’ At one point (I can see it now, upon reflection) in my life, I was ‘too professional’ … and I missed so much.
Now that I’m in the thick of embodied experience — and that I study my own ‘case’ from the inside out — I see how *everything* is related to *everything else.*
The ‘small things’ sure matter.
I have been gf for 4 months now. 3 months in I found out I was allergic to corn & a long list of things. Add to that I am trying to heal my leaky gut and my adrenal glands are shot. Yeash! It is frustrating & exhausting, but it’s nice to know I am not alone on this roller coaster journey.