I was inspired to make this blog awhile ago, but it took some time to find the motivation. Anyone who has known hypothyroidism knows this all too well. It is hard to have an “invisible” illness, although I’d argue it’s not very invisible when it gets bad. For the past ten years I’ve thought I was lazy, I liked sleep too much, I was “getting older,” losing my youth, depressed for no reason, lacking motivation, and the list goes on. I’ve been suffering from Hashimoto’s Hypothyroidism for over ten years, even though I was diagnosed only four years ago. For six years I went to different doctors for my various symptoms. I tried many different antidepressants, I tried benzos, painkillers, therapy, uppers, anything to take away the way I felt. It was unhealthy and self-destructive. I didn’t take care of myself because it was easier to just pop something in the microwave and sit in bed than it was to eat healthy and work out. I slowly got sicker, both mentally and physically.

In 2013 my hands started swelling to the point I could not bend my fingers. My hair was falling out in chunks, I was always tired, I would stumble over my words and forget simple things, I was always cold, and worst of all I’d gained 30 lbs in as many weeks. By the end of 2013 I was so desperate for answers, I demanded a blood test. I mentioned my weight gain, and my doctor decided to test my thyroid. When my TSH came back at 12, I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. She ran further tests a confirmed Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. I thought that I finally had my answer, I could take a pill and everything would be better. From 2013-2017 I slowly increased my dose of T4 from 50 to 150 mcg. I still felt awful. Sick of not feeling better, I finally started educating myself, seeing a specialist, and doing whatever it took to be healthy. I’m still at the beginning of my health journey, but I’ve had more progress in 2017 than all of the previous years combined. I’m finally content, I can stay awake at work, I have motivation, I am losing weight, and for once I’m hopeful. These posts are my way of tracking my progress. In following posts I’ll go over my diet (Keto) and my workouts (just started). I want to share and you know that if I can do it, you can do it too!