My Health Journey Part II: An Update

My bathroom is starting to look like a pharmacy... 

If you haven't read the beginning of my health journey, here is a quick recap: Four and a half years ago, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's (an autoimmune thyroid disease) and was treated with medication, but my symptoms prevailed. 5 months ago I started researching my disease and how it can be treated outside of medication. I started following the Paleo diet, and soon after went to a specialist for further meditational support. You can read more about my health journey here. 

A few weeks ago I had my follow up appointment. They ran a very large blood test to check multiple hormones and other health issues. Despite still feeling a little low on energy which I related to sleep issues, I was hopeful that my results would come back showing improvements. Unfortunately that was not the case. 

A nurse from my specialist's office called me to run through my results, and I was almost immediately overwhelmed. 

"Your thyroid levels are still low, so we are going to increase your medication. You need to start taking fish oil. Your B12 is low. Do you want to take a high dose supplement or injections? Your body doesn't break down folate. I'll call in a prescription for you....." 

She kept going, but I couldn't take in everything she was saying. How could there be so many things wrong with my body? I'm 25 years old. And what about all the changes I've made to my diet. All the money I've invested and all the foods I've cut out. Why isn't that helping? 

My eyes welled up with tears as I tried to listen to the rest of her notes and tell her where to send my prescriptions. I was in a daze for the rest of the day, trying to process the changes I would have to make on top of the ones I have already made.

My newly discovered issues include:

Thyroid hormones are still low resulting in low energy.

Testosterone and progesterone hormones are low resulting in difficulty sleeping.

I have a slight resistance to insulin making it difficult to lose weight and can eventually be at risk for diabetes.

B12 levels are low resulting in low energy.

My body does not break down folate which results in low energy.

Hormones are generally not balanced.

When I started following the Paleo diet, I thought that I could magically heal my gut and be healthy in a short time. I thought that my hormones would balance out as long as I was eating the right foods.

I didn’t count on being on 3 medications and taking 6 additional supplements.

I didn’t count on it being such a struggle.

 “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”   

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 

I feel as though my body is wasting away. Because it is. But I am determined that with dedication, discipline, perseverance, and prayer, I can heal my body. Although my time on this earth is in all reality short, like a vapor in the wind, I want to be a good steward of my body and live as healthy as I possibly can, all the while recognizing that my future is never without hope. My body is a temporary gift placed in my care by my Creator, but my soul will forever rest in His love and grace.

So I will press on. I will continue to change my diet in order to meet the needs of my body. I will continue to take supplements and medication necessary to support my body as it heals. And I will continue to rely heavily on the Lord to comfort me through this struggle and to heal my body as He sees fit.

This journey is not over.