Dr. Izabella Wentz, PharmD

Thyroid Pharmacist

Jen's Hashimoto's Success Story

Jen’s Hashimoto’s Remission Story

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Dr. Izabella Wentz (L) & Jen Wittman (R)

This interview was originally posted in February of 2015, based on personal experience provided by Jen Wittman, health coach and chef.  I have since developed new articles and resources for Hashimoto’s that might be helpful for you. For the latest information on the topics we discussed, please visit the following:

 

Over the last few years, I’ve attended numerous health conferences and events to get the word out about lifestyle interventions for Hashimoto’s.

I’ve met some really great and knowledgeable people along the way, many of them who have also had their own health journeys!

I had the pleasure of connecting with fellow Hashimoto’s thriver and all around sweetheart, Jen Wittman, this past summer at a health and wellness conference.

Jen is a health coach and chef who has been able to get her Hashimoto’s into remission, and she agreed to share her story with my readers!

I love sharing Hashimoto’s success stories because I believe that sharing success stories inspires and creates more success stories!

I hope Jen’s Hashimoto’s remission story inspires you to find your root cause and make small changes to get your health back!

Jen’s Hashimoto’s remission story
Dr. Izabella Wentz: When and how did you first find out you had Hashimoto’s?

Jen Wittman: I was finally diagnosed with Hashimoto’s in 2011.  Until that point, I had gone from doctor to doctor describing my symptoms and seriously being told that I was “fine,” my blood work was “normal,” and that it was all in my head.  After years of suffering, 12 different doctors and 2 trips to the ER, I was finally diagnosed by an integrative doctor at one of my son’s well-child appointments.

IW: What types of symptoms were you having?

My symptoms were all over the place.  First, it started with really dry, brittle nails with ridges and pinholes in them and the loss of hair on my eyebrows and my head.  At the time, I was pregnant, and all of my friends who had been pregnant before me had told me my nails would grow stronger and my hair thicker during pregnancy.  This was my first clue that something was off.  Then, I noticed that my face was red all the time which was completely new.  After the baby was born, I was hit with fatigue that felt like a lead anchor was wrapped around my body.  I had serious brain fog and panic attacks which I had never before had in my life.  I just wasn’t feeling or looking like the normal “new mom, ” and there seemed to be a new symptom every day.

IW: What was your TSH and level of TPO antibodies?

JW:  I can’t remember my TSH level at the time of diagnosis, ut it was just outside the optimal range but well within the normal range…maybe 1.4 or something like that.  My TPO antibodies were 585.  I remember that number because when the doctor said they should be < 35, I totally freaked out.
What did the doctors tell you to do?

JW: I was very fortunate in that the doctor who diagnosed me encouraged me NOT to go on thyroid medication.  (IW: Jen’s TSH was still in the “normal” range when she was diagnosed).

My doctor basically told me I could lick this disease with diet and lifestyle changes and also by addressing trauma and stress of which I had in spades.  Leading up to the onset of the disease, I had been hit by a semi-truck, lost my career as a chef due to the accident and was involved in an awful lawsuit with the truck company just to have my medical bills covered.  And, about 6 weeks prior to receiving the diagnosis, I lost my beloved grandmother, a close friend to terminal cancer, a friend to suicide and a family friend to a fluke train accident.  I WAS stressed and traumatized by all of this and my doctor taught me about the spiritual side of this disease. From the Ayurvedic perspective, thyroid disease is due to a blockage in your 5th chakra (your communication center.)  And, I was certainly suppressing all my feelings around these terrible incidents.  I had a child to raise after all, so I just kept plugging away.

All of this was great information but the doctor didn’t actually lay out a plan for me as to how to address the issue with diet, lifestyle, and emotional support.  This doc, who I will forever be grateful to for diagnosing me and for encouraging me to start on a natural healing path, sort of had a system he put all patients through regardless of illness involving expensive supplements, IV drips, chelation and detox.  Unfortunately, his method was too aggressive and way too pricey for me and my symptoms and antibodies got worse on his protocol.  This is when I stopped everything and took my health back into my own hands.

IW: What made you decide to keep searching for an answer?

JW: I had to get my life back for me, my husband and my son.  The disease had taken over my life and I wasn’t able to be the wife, mother, or friend I wanted to be.  I also wasn’t able to work and not only couldn’t we afford that, I was going absolutely crazy sitting idly in my misery.
What did you do?

JW: Oh lord!  What didn’t I do should be the question?

At first, I started out just following all the bread crumbs and becoming my own health detective.  It started with research on the disease itself, autoimmunity in general and learning about the body’s innate healing powers.

I cleaned up my diet BIG TIME.  As a native Midwesterner, I was eating loads of processed foods, fast foods, gluten, dairy, energy juices, coffee, the works!  There was lots of bread on bread, cheese on cheese, bread on cheese action in my life.  While my groceries were all organic, I wasn’t necessarily eating whole foods.  So, I started eliminating foods that I thought might be contributing to my symptoms – figuring out what worked with my body and what didn’t.

I also changed my lifestyle and worked on self-care and stress reduction.  And, I took the time to face, acknowledge and work through the traumas I had experienced in the previous 6 years.

In terms of tests, I’ve now had them all…the comprehensive blood panels + antibodies + other immune markers, temperature tests, stool analysis, saliva tests, allergy tests, etc.  I’ve also tried almost every healing modality under the sun – Reiki, acupuncture, craniosacral therapy, energy medicines, witchcraft (just kidding!), and hypnotherapy.

IW: I can relate to being a human guinea pig for sure! I tried so many things before I was able to address my root causes! How do you feel now?

JW: Pretty amazing!  I have successfully reversed the disease and eliminated almost ALL of my symptoms except for constipation which I have had since I was a young child.  I have found an amazing integrative doctor in my new home base in the Bay Area who is successfully treating constipation so things continue to look up! I am not on thyroid medications.  My TSH is now in the normal & optimal ranges.

My antibodies which were in remission have decided to peek out a bit due to stress and enjoying way (I mean WAY) too much wine as I just moved to the wine country.

Having recently gone through this major relocation, I had to recreate my life and my business in a new area where I know no one.  In addition, my son’s new school schedule is shorter by 10 hours a week than when he was in preschool.  So, over the last several months, I have been really cramming in work in a very hurried pace and have not only gotten off balance with my self-care, I haven’t had access to the beloved support network I had in Los Angeles.  It was just a major shift that really threw me off.

What’s funny is that my own clients kept sending me little love notes thanking me for what I’d done for them and then REMINDING me to remember to take care of myself as well.  Once I saw that my antibodies returned and felt the symptoms of this level of stress, I got back on the horse and started following the original healing plan I created that reversed my Hashimoto’s.

I feel great now and suspect that my antibodies have gone bye-bye as well.  I’ll test my antibodies again in a few months but feel very confident and have seen that when I follow my own advice (hey, health coaches are human too!), the antibodies will have disappeared.

IW: How long did your journey take from initial symptoms to diagnosis, implementing lifestyle changes to remission?

JW: 18 months because it took quite a while to figure out which lifestyle changes were “must-dos” and which I didn’t need to make.  As a former chef and total foodie, I really fought the dietary changes at first and that definitely slowed my progress down.  Once I committed to a nourishing, thyroid/autoimmune friendly, whole foods diet, my remission came pretty quickly.  For many of my clients, who have had the benefit of my research and all my personal trial and error, they are able to see improvement in as little as 4 weeks and remissions within 6 months to a year.

What is your advice for other Hashimoto’s patients?

JW: Make the commitment to making the changes you know need to be made.  Don’t delay on it.  I know it seems overwhelming and unappealing to overhaul your life but the sooner you make the changes, the sooner you’ll feel better – REALLY!  I fought it too and I just delayed my healing process.  When I got serious and disciplined about it, and when I told my family I needed to do x, y and z to get better and got them on board, the healing came quickly.  I wish I had done it sooner.  Now I have my life back.  I feel normal again.

I am honored she asked me to share my solutions about finding and treating the Root Cause of Hashimoto’s through simple lifestyle changes that can make healing a reality.

PS. You can also download a free Thyroid Diet Guide, 10 Thyroid friendly recipes, and the Nutrient Depletions and Digestion chapter for free by signing up for my weekly newsletter. You will also receive occasional updates about new research, resources, giveaways and helpful information.

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Disclaimer: The information contained herein is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Please consult your physician for any health problems and before making any medical or lifestyle changes.

Lifestyle changes can result in improved thyroid function and/or an increased absorption of thyroid hormone medications, leading to a lower required dose and possible symptoms of hyperthyroidism at a dose that was previously stable. Please discuss lifestyle changes with your physician and ensure that your thyroid function is monitored every 6-8 weeks while making lifestyle changes. Symptoms of overmedication include, but are not limited to: rapid or irregular heartbeat, nervousness, irritability or mood swings, muscle weakness or tremors, diarrhea, menstrual irregularities, hair loss, weight loss, insomnia, chest pain, and excessive sweating. Do not start, change, increase, decrease or discontinue your medications without consulting with your physician.

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  1. I have Hashimoto Thyroiditis with a iithiumus cyst. Since September, it just popped up, one morning while putting on make up I found it.. I have had all the test, even biopsies. My stress level is off the wall, I have no energy, I have gain 40 lbs. rippled finger nails. I am full time care giver to my husband 24/7 and have been fit 3 years. He had stroke that left his left side partially paralyzed 8 years, three years ago he had brain tumor that could not be removed with surgery, and it is Cancer. There is not much he can do without help, so I am also mentally and physically faitigued. We live on a very fixed income and he is a veteran so we get his care from V.A. We have to pay some for his meds. I also have a back problem, the minute I move it hurts, the only time I do not feel the pain is at night, if I do not move, sometimes that does not happen, my husband has to use bathroom 2or3 times . Any help would be much appreciated. I do not have money to chase false help or Drs. Thanks private message would be nice.
    Reply

    • Shelley- Thyroid tissue can regenerate, but the rate at which it does is not always predictable. Thus, some are able to stop the autoimmune attack on their thyroid and regain normal thyroid function. Others can reduce the dose of medications, and others will need to stay on the medications indefinitely. I’m currently working on some protocols to help with tissue regeneration.

      Reversing Hashimoto’s means different things to different people. For some, it means a reduction in symptoms and for others it means a reduction in your antibodies. I had both. Here a few articles that might be helpful for you 🙂

      REVERSING AUTOIMMUNITY? AND THE PERFECT STORM
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/reversing-autoimmunity-and-the-perfect-storm/

      HASHIMOTO’S SELF CARE, GETTING AND STAYING IN REMISSION
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/hashimotos-self-care

      Reply

  3. I finally have a Dr.willing to do all the testing,because my symptoms are so much worse, even on a Thyroid Prescription. Hair still falling out, dry skin,eczema, G.A.V.E. Syndrome(watermelon Stomach), low red blood cells, low Iron/pernicious Anemia(Iron Infusions Trtmnts) & Dry eye; Auto Immune Vitiligo Splotches of white skin on Face/neck & body, Weight Gain, hormone levels off!!! HELP!!!!
    Reply

  4. Hi! Jen’s story really hits home. I was diagnosed this past year, live in Los Angeles and also am a chef! I would love to know which doctors she settled with here in LA. It would be so helpful to get recommendations. Thanks!
    Reply

  5. I was really shocked when the doctors told me about this illness which I had never heard about before, I went searching throughout the family to see who else was affected by it and we couldnt find anyone, so i decided to concetrate on trying to healing myself, I am a lot better to what I was back in2012 when first diagnoised but sinced then I have had my gall bladder removed & my hiatus hernia repaired, I am now Gf, Sf, Sf, Lf, & Df, & follow a Paleo diet, have gone from 80kilos to 59kilos & feeling pretty good, I know that I will need to continue living like this to stay healthy, so thats the way it will be, hope others can have some success & start to have a life also.
    Reply

  6. im sick of being sick and tired ,I became ill at the age of 28 I’m now 46 ,I have found a functional medicine doctor ,I have had a lot of tests the latest 23&me ,I had very low vitamin D and I have 3 different parasites ,however when I had a stool test about 6yrs ago I had no parasites ,I’m telling I’m sure I have hashimotos and want to have my antibodies checked ,would love any advice and help ,I am a very easy going person who loves her family and life ,so I want optimal health xx
    Reply

  10. Hi Nicole! I ended up not working with any doctors in Los Angeles and instead took over my health care to reverse Hashimoto’s naturally. Sorry I don’t have any docs to recommend. None of the doctors I saw could help me reverse the condition so I just got fed up and decided to do it myself. 🙂
    Reply

  11. Hi Erin, I don’t have a physician in the Bay Area anymore. I was working with a doctor to order tests and to bounce ideas off but in the end, what he was recommending didn’t help Hashimoto’s so I am now in charge of my own health care and in remission through dietary and lifestyle changes which I share on my blogs thyroidfoodie.tv and thyroidlovingcare.com
    Reply

  12. Gosh, another story of how we are told it’s all in our head! When will these doctors get their act together! It’s shameful that they tell us all we are making it up! We know something is wrong, Hashimoto’s symptoms are real.

    Reply

    • Lisa – thank you for sharing. I understand your frustration. <3 Most conventional physicians use the TSH test to determine if one has a thyroid disorder and to dose thyroid medications. However, this test can often times be misleading, as levels of circulating hormones may fluctuate at different times, such as in Hashimoto’s, where the person affected may fluctuate between highs and lows.

      Additionally, when scientists first set the “normal” ranges of TSH for healthy individuals, they inadvertently included elderly patients and others with compromised thyroid function in the calculations, leading to an overly lax reference range. This resulted in people with underactive thyroid hormones being told that their thyroid tests were “normal,” based on this skewed reference range.

      WHAT TO DO IF YOUR TSH IS NORMAL AND YOU ARE ANYTHING BUT
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/what-to-do-if-your-tsh-is-normal-and-you-are-anything-but/

      Here are the tests you need for diagnosis. Most endocrinologists don’t run them all so you will have to request them. Make sure to request a copy of your labs as well.
      TOP 10 THYROID TESTS AND HOW TO INTERPRET THEM
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-6-thyroid-tests/

      Reply

  13. Reading more stories like these gives me so much hope. I may only be in the first leg of Hashimoto’s journey but to see other women come out the otherside puts my mind at so much ease. I’m going to get through this, we’re going to get through this.

    Reply

    • Robin – I understand how hard it is. Everyone’s healing journey is different and some may take longer than others. It took me three years to get into remission, but every change can bring huge benefits. here is an article about my journey.

      MY JOURNEY
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/my-hashimotos-and-hypothyroidism-journey-2-3/

      You may be interested in my 12 week online program called Hashimoto’s Self-Management Program that covers all of the strategies that I go through with my one-on-one clients, in a self-paced format, so that participants have access to all of the things I’ve learned about Hashimoto’s without having to schedule costly consults with me or another practitioner. In addition, any person that goes through the program will get access to a Quick search Q&A Database of 1000+ questions asked by past program participants, Root Cause Assessment based on 100’s of my clients’ root causes and triggers, 2-week Meal Plans, recipes, and shopping lists to get you started on the following diets: Paleo, Autoimmune Paleo, SIBO, Candida. Also, Discounts on lab tests, high-quality supplements, and consultations and much more to support you in your journey! There are a few requirements that you should pay attention to, such as my book which is a required read.
      Hashimoto’s Self-Management Program
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/enroll-in-hashimotos-self-management/

      Reply

  14. Hearing about a chef making the change to thyroid/autoimmune friendly food is exactly what I needed. Making the dietary changes have been the absolute worst, hardest, awful thing I have had to do n my fight with Hashimoto’s. If Jen can do it, I got to too.

    Reply

    • Amber – thank you for sharing your journey here! You might like to check out the free Thyroid Bundle Cookbook, which contains over 100 delicious gluten, dairy and soy-free recipes from me and my favorite thyroid and nutrition experts – available here:

      THYROID BUNDLE FREE COOKBOOK
      http://thyroidbundle.com/

      You may also be interested in checking out the Root Cause Recipes. I’ve created weekly meal plans that come with specific directions for easy to make and healthy recipes, plus shopping lists for each week. The Root Cause recipes arrive to you in downloadable and printable eBooks, and eliminate the hassle of finding what’s best to eat. It’s time to start optimizing your health and remove the stress from clean eating. Hope you check it out:

      ROOT CAUSE RECIPE PORTAL
      http://rootcauserecipes.com/

      Reply

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