28 days of gluten free and more!

As usual things got very busy and I hadn't had a chance to catch up on  my blog.      However, I wanted to give a little update.     I belong to a Hashimotos Thyroid information group on Facebook, it has been very insightful.    Recently, I was informed that my current endocrinologist is no longer going to be taking my insurance, so PANIC  mode set in.    I posted on the board, and someone directed me to a group that is on Facebook that is San Antonio based.   What a blessing it has been, they recommended a group of doctors who are MD's but also believe in functional/holistic medicine.   I was very leery at first, thinking oh here we go it's just another doctor who is going to get all my crazy idea and blow me off.   Wow, was I surprised not only did they listen to me  and ask me how I was feeling they listened to my crazy ideas and took them into consideration.      The doctor basically said if you have Hashimotos that you should avoid gluten regardless if you have Celiac or not.  He also informed that corn is a problem for a lot of people because it is genetically modified, as well as soy.  I was shocked when he mentioned corn,  I knew about soy but corn!!!      He then put me on a modified elimination diet, and suggested I do a "cleanse", which of course invovled buying some protein powder and probiotics from their office but it is stuff I use anyway so for me no big deal.    I am currently and my 6th day of being completely Gluten free as well as eliminating some other stuff.  The first 3 days were pure torture and I was craving all kind of things, things I don't even like (hamburgers with lots of bread).  I am now over the hump and I truely believe that my stomach is starting to settle down.   I have a long way to go, and not sure what will come out of all this but for those of you considering giving up gluten just to see how things go I highly recommend.    I am basically doing something similiar to the autoimmune paleo diet, however  I believe if you google modified elimination diet you will find some information. 

Just an an FYI, after the 28 days I have a list of foods that I am supposed to incorporate every 3 days, and see how I feel.    I have heard some people are able to add everything back in and some people realize that they are sensitive to something and just never new.            Also, my main reason for doing this was because of my last theory :   Since my thyroid was removed and Hashimotos attacks your thryoid, then that is the reason for suddently developing food allergies.  My body has decicded to attack food.         I was also given the recommendation to read a book called:   Hashimoto's Thyroiditis: Lifestyle Interventions for Finding and Treating the Root Cause by Izabella Wentz , Pharm D.        I just received the book earlier this week, and as soon as I read it   I hope to give everyone an update.   Basically, I was told that this book goes along very well with my current theory, so I am itching to read it.

If any of you are interested in reading it here is the link on amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Hashimotos-Thyroiditis-Lifestyle-Interventions-Treating/dp/0615825796


I will also keep ya'll posted at to how my 28 days of gluten free, corn, dairy, soy, red meat, and "fake" sugar, and nuts  goes.   It's been interesting and I have had to be creative!      Luckily this week, a personal trainer from another gym has offered to prep 5 days worth of meals for me that meet this guidelines.      I am a little excited by also a little nervous!       

If any of you are in the San Antonio area and or seeking a total wellness center then I recommend Vital Wellness Center here is the link:  ( I was lucky and they did take my insurance, but not sure if they take everyone's)  

http://www.vitallifewellness.com/

I am also trying to keep up with my exercise so I am currently working out 3-5 days a week from low intensity to high intensity.     I have felt stronger, and I did lose some inches but it's a daily struggle!     Don't give up, if your struggling with this just take it day by day and keep on pushing.       

Finally,  I cam across this recipe on pintrest  I swapped pumpking for sweet potato  they looked really ugly but very tasty!!! 

http://pinterest.com/pin/172473860704495397/


I hope everyone is well!!! 

Food allergies and Thyroid is there a connection?

Hello everyone,

I know it's been a while since I have posted.    As usual, I got very busy with work and school!  I have a break form school right now so I decided it would be a good time to write something. I wanted to share my question, see if anyone has an answer, so here it goes!
  As we all know problems with the thyroid often means problems with something else.   Well, I have now discovered a new problem.    Sometimes I feel like I should be my own experiment,  just when you think you have things under control you are given a present.  A present that throws you off, and reminds you that you aren't under control, and that you aren't "normal"!      Don't you just love those kinds of presents, they are kind of like little reality checks, like ha ha I got you now!!!  But,  I refuse to let this presents take a hold of me, instead I am on a mission to figure them out!
Before I present my hypothesis that I need to research let me give you a little background.

   It was probably around February that I started getting itchy skin.   I wasn't concerned at first, because in the winter (well what is considered winter for Texas), my skin gets itchy and dry so I thought it was just my yearly itchy skin.    Fast forward to March,  and I was still itchy!   Figured it was probably just stress.   Around the same time a friend of mine who also doesn't have a thyroid was also experiencing itchy skin.  She went to the allergist and low and behold some food allergies were discovered.    I continued about my way, scratching and scratching noticing little bumps on my skin but being the stubborn mule that I am I just chose to ignore.    Until, one day after eating a snack pack of mixed nuts I noticed hive like bumps.    Uh-oh, maybe I am allergic to nuts, no not me I always eat nuts never had a problem.   I LOVE nuts, it can't be that.     After being convinced be a family member that maybe I should get checked just in case, off I went to the allergist.       I discovered I now have several food allergies: rice, egg white, pistachios, cashews, yeast, and salmon.   Yeast and Salmon have come up before but I don't eat Salmon and yeast is in everything so I typically avoided yeast rolls and stuff just seems like it would be filled with more yeast then normal,  but now my list got longer!             I was given a epi-pen just in case, and told to keep a food journal and write down my reaction to foods.   I was told to pick one category and if I continued to itch then move to another category.   So, I started with eliminating nuts ( not just the ones that came up positive , but all nuts) .   In case your wondering why I eliminated all nuts, well one because I got freaked out with the thought that a nut could send me into shock, and two because of cross contamination.      Hip Hip Hooray, eliminating nuts has helped tremendously, but I have noticed some itchy skin reactions with eggs , and also beer.     I am now starting to convince myself to eliminate eggs, and more yeast from my diet.         It's not easy, but if it means feeling better then one step at a time right?       Of course, I am also trying to figure out if it's in my head, or if it really is making me itch!

So,with these food allergies comes questions.  My friends and family have said that's so weird that you would get all these food allergies, and then they typically follow up with a question.  Is that normal, for adults to get allergies?    My answer, thanks to google and a little bit of  "research" : why yes people can develop allergies at any age, they can also be allergic at one point in their lives to something and then no longer allergic.            

Being the curious person that I am, I have now developed a hypothesis or maybe it's more of a research question.   
Remember back to when I said my friend also developed some food allergies around the same time, surprisingly one of her allergies is also rice.      So,  I started thinking hmm is their a connection between being thyroidless and developing allergies?       Maybe, but she doesn't have Hashimotos, but maybe there is something some kind of connection.    Of course I got on google right away and started hunting for an answer.  Unfortunately,    I didn't come across much information.  This could be because it was a quick hunt, and I haven't had much time to really "research" this.       Then from there I started thinking, really thinking.   If Hashimotos is an autoimmune disease that attacks your thyroid then maybe ,just maybe since I don't have a thyroid anymore my body has decided to attack food??       Some people say, well yeah but no thyroid means you don't have Hashimotos anymore: WRONG!!!  Most things I have read say taking out your thyroid doesn't mean Hashimotos goes away.   Oh!!!!!!! is the reaction I get when I say that.       So what about my friend the one who doesn't have a thyroid and doesn't have Hashimotos, well that goes back to my original question. Is there a connection to food allergies and no thyroid or thyroid problems for that matter?      I do plan to do some google research on this, I am sure there are others out there, or maybe no one has really looked into this.     Either way, I think it worth looking into!    

Any of you thyroidless friends or thyroid issue friends noticed any new food allergies? If so, have you found any info on this?  Please share, I am very curious!

New Year doesn't always mean New Goals!

It's been sometime since I have been able to sit down and write.   I ended my last semester with A's in both my classes, and getting ready to start a new semester.     However, this semester I decided to slow down a little and only take one class.    I am hoping that this time around  I will be able to make an A, and get back into the exercise (in particular running) groove.     A friend of mine and I decided to get back on our 1x a month 5k.   We are supposed to do one on the 25th, which is coming up, and  I have yet to start running.   I have been using my stationary bike/elliptical trainer at home though, but I know it not enough!  Unfortunately, not to far from me a woman was stabbed to death at a park where many runners, walkers, bikers often go. She was young (I think 24), and studying to become a Physician's Assistant.  She had come home for the holidays to visit family, and of course turns out that many of my friends and family knew here.    I myself often went there to find peace in the outdoors, and enjoy a nice run, walk or bike ride.  However, after this incident the whole running community has been shaken up.    I in particular have been really shaken up, since I often went by myself.   I had pretty much stopped going after one time I saw a unusual looking male walking opposite the direction I was running.  After that incident,  I decided that I needed to be prepared to defend myself.    Well, because of work and school I never had a chance to look into this the way I had intended.    Now, since the woman's death,  I have decided to take action.   I am attending several self defense classes.   I am hoping this will make me feel safe again, but I have also decided that I need to probably start running on a treadmill until I can get over this fear.    I do not want this fear to impact my love for running and walking. 

 I am also hoping that I will have more time to cook my own foods, and monitor my food intake!  Those of you with thyroid issues know that exercise and proper nutrition is key to feeling good.      Recently, I have been hearing so much about nutrition and eating properly.  It seems the trend is to eat my vegetables and fruits,  cut back on processed foods, and even dairy.  Last weekend I made a Vegetable Kale Soup.  It was delicious, while this is not the exact recipe I did here is one that you can try.    It  looks pretty similar except I used red beans, and black beans and used vegetable broth instead of cubes so I didn't need to add water.     I have mentioned Kale before in previous posts, and it's benefits.   It is bitter but, once mixed in the soup it was delicious, I know my dad loved it and so did I. 

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/vegetarian-kale-soup/

  While it is a New Year, and I most people make resolutions, I decided since I didn't really accomplish many of my goals that why not just continue on my journey.   Why add more to my plate, when I have yet to accomplish everything I have set forth to do??    I think that if  and when I accomplish my goals it will be more rewarding then letting go of the goals I have set forth, because then I can say I finally accomplished my goals.     I think I said this last year to ha ha , but hey who ever said anything about setting a time let on tough goals.  One thing at a time right?!   
Did any of you set any new goals??