When you’re dealing with thyroid issues, it can be quite frustrating. I’ve talked to so many people who have just given up. We’re told that fatigue, weight gain, depression, anxiety, and feelings of hopelessness are “fine” because there are meds for all of that, and most of us have tried all of them at one time or another.Yet they rarely work in the long term, and it just keeps us on this hamster wheel, a vicious cycle that never gets resolved.In my experience of recovering from thyroid cancer and now absent a thyroid gland, I have no choice but to take medications. I’m grateful I have that option, but meds aren’t the only answer if you have a thyroid condition.Here’s a look at the top five issues you might be dealing with as a thyroid patient and what you can do about them.
FatigueYou might think it’s just normal to feel exhausted all the time, especially if you lead a busy life with a job, kids, household responsibilities, and so on. You might explain it away that you’re tired because you’re constantly running around.The fatigue associated with thyroid conditions is different from feeling tired after a busy day, however. It’s debilitating, like the feeling you might have while pregnant (for those of you who can relate to that). Your body is constantly tired and in pain.
Weight Gain
For someone with a thyroid condition, the typical “calories in, calories out” model of weight loss and maintenance doesn’t work. Exercising to burn calories, tracking every gram of food, and obsessing over calorie counts never worked for me, and I would venture to guess it’s not working for you either.Anybody who’s ever relied on this old model might think they can burn fat either by reducing caloric intake and/or through exercise. This method does not work for all, however, and you might have found yourself frustrated when the weight doesn’t budge even when you’re diligent.Poor Gut Health
Most of the people I work with have major issues with acid reflux, constipation, bloating, diarrhea, or some combination of these issues. It’s common for thyroid patients to struggle with digestive upset and lack of absorption of nutrients due to low stomach acid.Oftentimes, people take over-the-counter medications to mitigate these symptoms. Over time, their body grows dependent on OTC meds, and they’re afraid to stop taking them because when they do, symptoms return.No one has ever advised them to change how they’re eating in order to resolve the underlying issues. Well, let me be the one to say there are better options than taking OTC meds for the rest of your life.
Depression and Anxiety
Also common among thyroid patients is depression and anxiety. Some people present more depressed with low energy and feelings of hopelessness. Others are more anxious, tired, wired, worried, and even panicked.Now, we all know there are times in life when we have reasons to be more anxious or depressed. What I’m talking about is long-term, chronic feelings of depression and anxiety. Like fatigue, it can also be debilitating.
Aches and Pains
Aches and pains could present as headaches or pain in the feet, knees, or just muscles in general. What I see clinically and biochemically is a cluster of nutrients that are deficient, stemming from gut health, inflammation, lifestyle factors, certain foods, and medications. Those deficiencies just lead to more and more of these symptoms.Side note: Some people may try to combat the anxiety, stress, and pain they feel by drinking alcohol, but alcohol makes matters worse and inhibits thyroid function.
Finding Solutions
If you try to resolve all of these issues at once, you may get overwhelmed and quit. So the first thing you can do when dealing with one or all of these issues is to find someone who actually wants to help you get to the root cause of your symptoms.That’s how I work with people. I look at what we can do to support everything underlying so that you can actually resolve your symptoms and come out on the other side, feeling like you were supposed to feel.No, you don’t have to give in to your symptoms as though they’re some kind of “new normal,” nor can you simply order a wellness test online and think you’re going to figure it out on your own. It takes the patience and guidance of someone like me who’s lived what you’re going through or has helped people like you.Aside from that, here are some basics I recommend incorporating into your life:
● Add meditation into your life. Start with five minutes a day, and stick with it.
● Move away from eating processed foods, and focus more on whole foods as much as you possibly can.
● Eat your macros in balance. Start by making sure you get ample amounts of protein at each meal, a good 4 to 6 ounces.
If you follow these tips, you should notice a big difference in two weeks’ time. Don’t feel like you have to do it all, but start somewhere, and you will start to regain balance and normalize.Care to get on a call to talk more? Schedule your FREE Thyroid Breakthrough Session today by clicking here.