Tag: hypothyroidism

Use an Excel Spreadsheet

by Healthy Rhythms of Hashimoto Living, posted in Uncategorized

My husband is a guru when it comes to creating an excel spreadsheet in the field of accounting. Most importantly, he tracks his health journey in a detailed excel spreadsheet. I have always been impressed by his color-coded, health history in an excel spreadsheet. When hubby visits a new medical specialist, he prints his medical history in a colorful way and there he goes!

Since I have been tracking my health history closely in the past six months and learning quite a bit about autoimmunity in Masterclasses and Web courses. I finally decided to create an excel spreadsheet, a “comparison analysis” of bloodwork results.

“Where was I when I started this journey? Where am I today?“

I thank God for encouraging my heart to follow my hubby’s footsteps by using an excel spreadsheet. The first comparison I looked for was the two Hashimoto markers.

I was quite excited about the thyroid peroxidase (Hashimoto marker) dropping 36 points. I remember saying to myself, “I’m doing something right and it is paying off” (e.g., no gluten, no soy, no dairy, no corn and no grains in my daily meals.) However, I soon realized that the thyroglobulin antibodies had increased two points! I was truly concerned and made a mental note of it so I could ask the medical provider in my next consult.

At the end of January 2025, I had my usual 15 minutes, medical consultation with a new nurse practitioner who is competent and knowledgeable, yet she was obviously in a rushed to be in her next consult. When I brought the issue to her attention, she took the time to review previous bloodwork and immediately recommended an ultrasound. I figure it would be a good idea since Hashimoto destroys the thyroid overtime. So, I went ahead and quickly made the appointment so I could get the baseline data.

To my surprise, two days later the nurse practitioner called and left a message. She encouraged me to consult with an endocrinologist since there was a nodule greater than 2 cm on the right side of my thyroid.

The exact size of my nodule is 2.8X2.5X2.5.

I am very thankful for keeping track of my health journey in an excel spreadsheet today!

Twelve Markers on a Thyroid Panel

by Healthy Rhythms of Hashimoto Living, posted in Uncategorized

I was hearing a podcast a couple of weeks ago and learned more about the twelve markers on a thyroid panel. There are more than twenty-two types of dysfunctions of the thyroid when a thyroid panel is done.

These markers are the following:

a) TSH,

b) Total T4,

c) Total T3,

d) Free 4,

e) Free 3,

f) T3 uptake,

g) Free Thyroxine Index (FTI),

h) Thyroid-Binding Globulin,

i)TPO antibodies,

j) Thyroid Globulin antibodies,

k) Reverse T3, and

l) Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobulin.

When I was diagnosed with Hashimoto condition, the functional medicine provider had requested the TSH, T3, T4, TPO antibodies and the Thyroid Globulin antibodies. If I’m not mistaken, the Hashimoto’s markers are both the TPO antibodies and the thyroid globulin antibodies.

It is my understanding that a great deal of people may be diagnosed with hypothyroism but traditional doctors may or may not test for Hashimoto condition.

Since our thyroid is being attacked and possibly getting destroyed by our own immune system, we definitely need to explore the triggers, the root, driving the Hashimoto condition. Exploring the triggers take time, intention and focus. For instance, I had a couple of flare-ups this past week… digestive issues (e.g., bloating, irritable bowel distress) to allergies (e.g., food sensitivities perhaps).

I plan on requesting a ‘Food Sensitivity Test’ in my next medical consultation.

Keep a journal! Write everything down.

(Note, this is health information, not health advice)

A Mosaic Lamp

by Healthy Rhythms of Hashimoto Living, posted in Uncategorized

In my ‘two-months-versary’ after the formal diagnosis, I was no longer experiencing brain fog, debilitating physical pain or lack of energy by mid-afternoon. I knew all the research I had completed, and the new healthy rhythms I was implementing were having a significant impact on my overall health.

I had enough energy to attend Church in the morning, enjoyed a healthy meal for lunch, made my first mosaic lamp in less than three hours, joined a virtual discipleship group for another hour in the evening, then watched a movie with my husband. Yes, I was a bit tired, but I was able to carry out all types of activities on a restful Sunday and remained joyful throughout the day.

I cannot wait to share with you what I am learning every day. This is the reason I decided to blog on a regular basis, so other women could benefit from practical strategies that is making a difference in my life.

Healthy Rhythms of Hashimoto Living make a difference in one’s life!

My last memory of debilitating Hashimoto Thyroiditis…

I remember having intense muscle and joint pains in July 2024 at sunrise. My body would be ‘stiff’ and could hardly move in the mornings. I even wondered if I was going to die prematurely!

I was so miserable.

My health was rapidly deteriorating. It was quite challenging, indeed. I would drink coffee often during the day just to remain awake for all Telehealth appointments. By 2 pm, I would crash on our living room couch with no energy. The brain fog, digestive issues, adrenal gland fatigue, anxiety, hair loss and weight gain were just few of the symptoms I experienced prior to the official medical diagnosis. I knew I was working 7 days/week,12 hours. shift so I thought it was stress related.

It never crossed my mind I was going to start learning Japanese (a foreign language) when I heard the official medical diagnoses of Hashimoto Thyroiditis condition.

Some practitioners may address it from a disease model. I prefer to view it as a medical condition that can remain stable with minimal flare-ups or symptoms if we can find out the root of the problem.