In my recent travels, I had the pleasure of meeting fellow Hashimoto’s warrior and fellow Hashimoto’s 411 Alum Leanne Ely. She told me how she was able to reduce her thyroid antibodies from the 3000 range to below 100, lose weight and start feeling better after many years of struggling with Hashimoto’s!
I am so excited that she agreed to share her story with my readers! I’m a firm believer of focusing on success stories to create more success stories!
I hope Leanne’s will inspire you!!
Leanne’s Hashimoto’s journey
Leanne was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in 2003 after gaining 30 pounds in 3 months following a traumatic event that resulted in panic attacks and insomnia. Like many of us, her doctor only tested her TSH, nothing else! He wanted to put her on Synthroid, but she asked for Armour instead (she got lots of push back from the doctor of course, but eventually got her way).
At first, a low carb diet, working out hard and eating every 3-4 hours worked, and she lost the 30 pounds, plus an additional 22!
Another autoimmune condition!
She thought she was doing everything she was supposed to be doing until in 2009; it happened again…weight gain, round face, feeling sluggish, brain fog, plus she had a raging case of rosacea (another autoimmune condition)!
Most cases of hypothyroidism are due to an autoimmune attack on the thyroid, and eventually, the thyroid gland is not able to make enough thyroid hormone. Most conventional doctors will only give patients thyroid medications sending them on their way. The patient will think they are doing everything they need to be doing, but unfortunately, many people will continue to get worse or go on to develop a new autoimmune disorder such as Lupus, Rheumatoid arthritis, or Rosacea, if they don’t address the autoimmune attack.
The right diagnosis…
Leanne finally decided to take charge of her own health when she finally saw a great doctor–Alan Christianson, NMD (an amazing doctor and one of my co-hosts of the Hashimoto’s Institute). Dr. Christianson diagnosed her with Hashimoto’s in 2009. Leanne was shocked. He recommended going gluten free, dairy free, changed up her medications and saved her from her downward health spiral.
Lifestyle changes for autoimmunity…
Following Dr. C’s Recommendations, plus taking it a step further and going Paleo–made all the difference in the world for Leanne! She also started hanging out with Dr. Terry Wahls (who reversed her multiple sclerosis through nutrition and functional medicine) and really up leveled her vegetable consumption (yes, a juicer was involved), learned to manage stress (a little better anyway!) and her TPO levels fell from over 3000 to just under 100 (95 to be exact–30 is “normal”, the lower the levels, the less aggressive the autoimmune attack) within a year of implementing the Paleo diet!
Today, Leanne feels great! She radiates warmth, beauty, and energy. Although she’s not 100% where she wants to be (reversing Hashimoto’s is a marathon, not a sprint!), she feels that she is well on her way!
Leanne’s advice for other Hashimoto’s patients
“If your doctor says there’s no difference between Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism so why test, RUN for your life! You don’t get your life back by treating only the hypothyroidism; you have to face the fact that you have an autoimmune disease that just happened to target your thyroid. That’s a big differentiator and needs to be respected and treated as such. :-)” -Leanne Ely
Paying it forward…
Eating a Paleo-like nutrient dense diet can make a tremendous difference in one’s health. I’ve seen this happen in myself and many of my clients. But changing to this type of diet can be so intimidating. For me, it took almost 6 months to go Paleo, even though I had heard of the many benefits of this type of diet. Six months of lost time. When I eventually went “Paleo,” the diet really turned my health around.
Leanne was so inspired by the impact of the Paleo diet on her own health, that she authored a book called Part-Time Paleo: How to Go Paleo Without Going Crazy because she wanted other people with autoimmune conditions to have the opportunity to incorporate this healing diet into their own lives!
I love Leanne’s book because it makes the transition to the Paleo diet really easy. If you are thinking about going Paleo (it’s so worth it!) this book will be an excellent tool for you. No need to go to Cross-Fit or get obsessive about it. Leanne breaks down the diet If you’re already a Paleo veteran, you won’t be disappointed either. The book is filled with tasty, original recipes you’ll enjoy making and eating!
The book has 125 mouth-watering recipes, as well as meal plans, shopping lists, and my favorite… make-ahead Paleo freezer meals (so you can do all of the prep work in one sitting and stock your freezer with nutritious meals when you don’t have the time to cook). She has mastered the “assembly line concept” for getting the most meals for your time.
Yes, no more slaving away in the kitchen! Hubby and I have tried some of Leanne’s make-ahead meal plans and were able to make Paleo meals for the whole week in two hours. It was awesome. A side bonus was that we only had to clean our kitchen once!
Best of all, you’ll find most ingredients in the cookbook at your local grocery store or Trader Joe’s!
Leanne Ely is a Certified Nutrition Consultant, New York Times Bestseller and author of 7 best-selling cookbooks, so you know that all of her recipes are going to be amazing! My favorite recipes: Paleo Cioppino, Creamy Sweet Potato Soup (perfect comfort soup for colder days).
PS. You can also download a free Thyroid Diet Guide, 10 Thyroid friendly recipes, and the Nutrient Depletions and Digestion chapter for free by going to www.thyroidpharmacist.com/gift. You will also receive occasional updates about new research, resources, giveaways and helpful information.
Dianne- I personally struggled with pain in the form of body aches and stiffness as well as carpal tunnel in both arms in 2010, when I was first diagnosed with Hashimoto’s. It was awful, I had to wear braces on both arms all day and even at night for about 6 months.
I took NSAIDs every day to deal with the pain so I could get through my workday.
I hope these articles help you get started.
PAIN AND HASHIMOTOS
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/pain-and-hashimotos
PAIN HASHIMOTOS AND FIBROMYALGIA…
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/pain-hashimotos-and-fibromyalgia/
TURMERIC FOR YOUR THYROID AND HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/turmeric-for-your-thyroid-and-hashimotos
Ronni- Thank you so much for letting me know. It should be working now. You may also be interested in checking out the Root Cause Recipe Portal. It is full of autoimmune paleo and paleo recipes. You’re able to organize weekly shopping lists, meal planning, etc. Hope you check it out.
http://rootcauserecipes.com/
Mary- Here is an article you may find interesting!
WHAT’S CAUSING YOUR LEAKY GUT
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/whats-causing-your-leaky-gut
When I was first diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, I felt so alone. My doctor didn’t think it was a big deal, and none of my friends or co-workers had it. It wasn’t until I started to research online that I found others who were going through the same thing.
A couple of years after my diagnosis, I found Hashimoto’s 411, a closed Facebook group run by Alice Berry McDonnell. This group is amazing! It is comprised of an army of highly motivated, smart, supportive women and men (now 45,000+ strong), and each of them sharing ideas of what worked for them, things they were planning to try, and offering support to one another. The comfort I received from knowing that there were others going through the same challenges as I, was enormous.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/hashimotos411/
Ask questions. Post your thoughts. Scan the files. It is an absolutely amazing resource. Best of all it’s kept private from spammers.
Wendy- When I was first diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, I felt so alone. My doctor didn’t think it was a big deal, and none of my friends or co-workers had it. It wasn’t until I started to research online that I found others who were going through the same thing.
A couple of years after my diagnosis, I found Hashimoto’s 411, a closed Facebook group run by Alice Berry McDonnell. This group is amazing! It is comprised of an army of highly motivated, smart, supportive women and men (now 45,000+ strong), and each of them sharing ideas of what worked for them, things they were planning to try, and offering support to one another. The comfort I received from knowing that there were others going through the same challenges as I, was enormous.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/hashimotos411/
Ask questions. Post your thoughts. Scan the files. It is an absolutely amazing resource. Best of all it’s kept private from spammers.
Elizabeth- There are quite a few options for thyroid medications. In my experience, what works for one person may not work for another. If your doctor will not prescribe the medication you are looking for, ask your local pharmacist for doctors in your area who prescribe the medication you are looking to try. Have you read these articles?
WHICH THYROID MEDICATION IS BEST?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/which-thyroid-medication-is-best/
TOP 11 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THYROID MEDICATIONS
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-11-things-you-need-to-know-about-thyroid-medications/
Hashimoto’s 411 on facebook
https://www.facebook.com/groups/FTPOThyroid/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/5772507259/
Try these groups for great support and information!
Jeannie- When I was first diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, I felt so alone. My doctor didn’t think it was a big deal, and none of my friends or co-workers had it. It wasn’t until I started to research online that I found others who were going through the same thing.
A couple of years after my diagnosis, I found Hashimoto’s 411, a closed Facebook group run by Alice Berry McDonnell. This group is amazing! It is comprised of an army of highly motivated, smart, supportive women and men (now 45,000+ strong), and each of them sharing ideas of what worked for them, things they were planning to try, and offering support to one another. The comfort I received from knowing that there were others going through the same challenges as I, was enormous.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/hashimotos411/
Jayne- Most thyroid conditions result from the immune system attacking the thyroid because the immune system is out of balance. Even when the thyroid is taken out surgically, is ‘dead’, or treated with radioactive iodine the autoimmunity still persists in most cases. Many people will have their thyroids removed, and will develop new autoimmune disorders such as Lupus, Rheumatoid arthritis, etc. The immune system just finds a different target. We need to re-balance the immune system to prevent this (sometimes the autoimmunity can be reversed as well). The gut determines your immune system. With the exception of discussing proper thyroid medication dosing, the majority of my website and my book focuses on balancing the immune system. The info I present is based on my own research and journey for overcoming my autoimmune thyroid condition.
Hashimoto’s Root Cause
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20
Hashimoto’s Protocol
https://smile.amazon.com/Hashimotos-Protocol-Reversing-Thyroid-Symptoms/dp/006257129X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1482698453&sr=8-1&keywords=Hashimoto%27s+Protocol
Amy- There are quite a few options for thyroid medications. In my experience, what works for one person may not work for another. If your doctor will not prescribe the medication you are looking for, ask your local pharmacist for doctors in your area who prescribe the medication you are looking to try. Have you read these articles?
WHICH THYROID MEDICATION IS BEST?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/which-thyroid-medication-is-best/
TOP 11 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THYROID MEDICATIONS
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-11-things-you-need-to-know-about-thyroid-medications/
Pat- Here are a couple of articles about diet that you may find interesting or helpful.
TAILORING YOUR THYROID DIET
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/tailoring-your-thyroid-diet-to-your-needs
BEST DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S AND HYPOTHYROIDISM
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/best-diet-for-hashimotos-hypothyroidism
Jeni- Here are a couple of articles about diet that you may find interesting or helpful.
TAILORING YOUR THYROID DIET
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/tailoring-your-thyroid-diet-to-your-needs
BEST DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S AND HYPOTHYROIDISM
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/best-diet-for-hashimotos-hypothyroidism
Marie- Recovering from adrenal fatigue and hypothyroidism when following a vegetarian diet is very challenging, as vegetarian diets are often carbohydrate heavy.
Vegetarian sources of protein such as legumes (beans), dairy, grains, soy and some seeds may be incompatible with trying to heal a leaky gut, which is almost always present with Hashimoto’s. Pea protein is an alternative that may be easier to digest and is less likely to cause food sensitivities (I use NOW Foods brand).
Eggs, some seeds, and nuts would be the preferred sources of protein for vegetarians, however, some people with Hashimoto’s may be intolerant to those as well, especially in the early stages of starting a healing diet.
Being a vegan is even more challenging, and nuts and seeds would be the go-to source of protein, which are usually too difficult to digest for many in the beginning of their thyroid healing journeys.
While vegan and vegetarian diets have been reported to be extremely helpful with autoimmune and chronic conditions, I have not been able to find reports of people recovering from Hashimoto’s by following a vegan diet. Even devout vegans who are nutritionally conscious still struggle with low body temperatures, hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s.
Additionally, many former vegans have reported improved symptoms of Hashimoto’s following transitioning to a Paleo diet. Based on this, I believe that animal proteins must play an important role in building back the health of people with Hashimoto’s.
That said, while meats and fats are important for healing, eating them exclusively will produce an acidic environment in the body; hindering healing, and thus the diet should be balanced with plenty of nutrient rich vegetables (suggested ratio may be 20% meat/80% veggie).
Additionally, vegan and raw vegan diets can be extremely helpful for cleansing and detoxifying, especially for those with persistent protein digestion issues. A vegan diet can be followed for a few days to a few weeks and may help the body detoxify. B12 and iron or ferritin supplements should be utilized at this time to prevent deficiency.
AUTOIMMUNE PALEO DIET
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/autoimmune-paleo-diet
Trudy- Did you know that if you live in the United States, the UK, Australia, Europe and most developed countries that add iodine to the salt supply and take thyroid medications, there’s a higher probability that you do have Hashimoto’s?
Depending on the source, estimates are that between 90-95% of those with hypothyroidism have Hashimoto’s.
But most doctors will never tell people that they have Hashimoto’s, or that their own immune system is attacking their thyroid. People are told that their “thyroid is sluggish”, and that these things happen with age and “Just take this pill, you’ll be fine.” I hope you check out these articles that I wrote.
ARE YOU DOING EVERYTHING FOR YOUR THYROID BUT NOT YET WELL?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/are-you-doing-everything-for-your-thyroid-but-not-yet-well/
DO YOU HAVE HYPOTHYROIDISM OR HASHIMOTO’S OR BOTH?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/do-you-have-hypothyroidism-or-hashimotos-or-both/
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 6 THYROID TESTS FOR DIAGNOSIS
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-6-thyroid-tests/
Focusing on success stories to create more success stories! I love it! That’s so important to what we need. It can be so easy dwelling on the negative. Thank you Dr. Wentz for sharing these with us Hashimoto’s warriors!
Laurie – you are very welcome! I appreciate your support! 🙂