It's a Healthy-esque Thing

 You deserve an update: A lengthy, detailed (read: boring) update on me.  I am going to fast forward with dot jots: - CoVid started in March 2020 and has everything upside down. My kids have been home for 6 months and it's been a struggle to keep them optimistic and motivated - My marriage went through the ringer with all this added stress. We started Couples 'Book Club', code for therapy and it has made all the difference. We're happy and in love again. - I am still working at the clinic, but it has gotten exponentially harder, with screening and masks.  - School is supposed to start, but I doubt it will on time. Schools have left all their planning and prepping to the last possible second. That's all I am going to say, as I don't suspect that is a popular opinion. - I finished with Natural thyroid having gained 60+ pounds over 8 months. I started back on Synthroid and continued to gain and feel miserable, despite having 'good' numbers.  - I am going fo...

That could mean a number of things, but sadly it means that I am over 40lbs gained this year.  In fact, I have gained 40lbs in 7 months. Since I switched to NDT, since my thyroid numbers leveled out. WHAT. THE. FUCK. It was gradual-ish, a little over a pound a week. I wished it away as water weight, an off day or a wonky scale. I thought it would mellow out once the meds kicked in, but my friends they have kicked in.  Look. Those are great numbers, normal... nothing to complain about.  But I am up 40lbs, I am full of brain fog, wearing glasses, exhausted and grumpy.  WHAT DO I DO NOW? And maybe you're thinking... but muscle weighs more than fat and that is true, but I also haven't lost any inches.  You've heard the list before of all the things I think I am doing right... but it doesn't matter.  I didn't feel as pessimistic as I expected. I assumed my numbers would be terrible and that I could blame this crummy thyroid for...

Let's play a bit of catch up, I always wanted this blog to be about helping other people with less time than I have. People who have similar ailments, but limited resources. I have time, I listen to every health podcast (and true crime). I read every article, I am a complete information junk. I spend my free time figuring out what works, on my own and with professionals, I read self help books. But I am just me, I am not a professional, I don't have a wall of certifications, so this blog turns into more of a journal entry that you might pull wisdom from. Let's get all caught up; The Weight Loss scam grant; I completed a full year with the program which doesn't tell you anything. In that year I paid $3000 and I spoke with a dietitian 3 times, a counselor once and a fitness girl 5 times. The company I started with went bankrupt, the company that took over my contract wasn't registered with the program and would require my final weigh in to be at another cli...

I continue the crusade to persuade everyone (myself included) that I am not just lazy, something is wrong. It’s been a full couple of weeks with a new team. It started with a trip to my family doctor and an hour of dialogue with his nurse practitioner who actually heard me, when I said ‘something is wrong’. She asked a ton of questions and I walked away with a req’ for an ultrasound, a handful for blood work and an appointment to send a scope down my throat to see everything along the way. I’ve been having chest pain, heart burn and trouble swallowing for the past couple of months, enough that I need that resolved before I can be well. Not everyone knows, but I have a long history with Bulimia and without knowing it*... caused a lot of damage to my esophagus.   The scope should check the scar tissue and damages and go all the way into my stomach to see what’s causing all the trouble. Waiting for the results I find myself hoping for something, something to show I am no...

Frank is still a thing, it's been 3 months since my last post and still I have no good news. It is the most frustrating experience, I started in June on a quest to get my thyroid functioning and my life in order. I know all of my obsessions will be solved with an active thyroid. My biggest obsession is my weight and my appearance; as I am learning neither will be what I want as long as I have a defunct system. I drink 6+ litres of water a day, I sleep 8+ hours a night, I exercise for 30 minutes everyday (I practice active recovery), I track everything I consume, I meal prep and calorie count. My NRF2 is activated. I supplement with NDT and still take my Synthetic Thyroid. I work with a Naturopath, Dietitian, Kinesologist, Psychologist and more... I am sure there is more. All of that and in the last 2 months I have only gained, inches and pounds. I am working to curb my obsession; I can only weigh in once a week and I have to listen to my body when it comes to strength train...

Have I become a victim of my own ambitions? I wonder if I have too many balls in the air, if my system is confused and bumping into itself trying to figure out what I am trying to achieve. I made a list on the weekend and was astounded; Mental and Physical improvement is a long list. And I know from the Willpower Instinct, its human nature to fail at secondary tasks. We have willpower for one thing; dieters tend to spend more, reformed shopaholics eat more etc. So here is my list; Weight Loss Grant Program (Dietitian, Kinesologist, Behavioural Therapist Dental Overhaul (cleaning, extraction, fillings) Cogitative Behavioural Therapy to correct the OCD and manage the GAD Thyroid Dysfunction; working with a Naturopath and my GP unsuccessfully Kidney Infection and heavy meds Spinal Health; working with a Chiropractor Complete overhaul of my office; including converting the clinic to paperless My Mental Health;           Meditation ...

I survived Thanksgiving with one big meal and all the prep without gaining anything. I made mistakes and couldn’t be trusted near the apple crisp cups, but I paired that with extra exercise with the boys and lots of water. I managed to stick to my eating hours with only a tea in the evening and no snacking. 3 hours ago I wouldn’t have called it a win, but today, the Tuesday after the weekend of consumption I saw my Naturopath. She brings me calm. It feels like she is helping, when everyone is just judging me and my consumption. She asks how I am feeling and how she can help. She actually listens and shares my frustrations. And she was as equally puzzled by my latest test results. Reward offered! The results where my TSH and T4 remained the same, but my T3 plummeted, all while taking an increased dose of synthetic T4. She said it just doesn’t make sense and she was genuinely frustrated. She also had wonderful things to say about the Weight Loss Grant program I am...

It’s the last day of the first week and I just had my consultation and testing. Talk about fascinating stuff. Also, let’s touch for a moment on how my mood can swing from side to side so quickly. I was feeling a little lost and frustrated by my current predicament. Now I am completely enthralled, excited and engaged. So today I met with Sarah the Registered Dietitian (RD). She started the Melanie package with an introduction and an overview of the system. Then we spent 90 minutes talking about me (my favourite guilty pleasure). We discussed my normal day, my food choices, my medical history and my vices. She listened and took intense notes. She will be creating my program based on this appointment and all my test results. I made it very clear; I don’t eat fish. I started the meeting nervous that it was the same as all the other programs that were a ton of work and lasted a few months, but never stayed long term. I thought about all the charts, contemplation and time the...

It's time to discuss Frank again, as I am not sure what he is up to. It's been 2 months since I started the thyroid battle, two months of supplements and increased doses. I. Feel. Worse. I thought I was feeling better, but then the weight started to pile on, my sleep started to suffer and my skin started to flake (painful eczema on my fingers). My anxiety and mood swings have been off the charts and I don't know why. I can't blame everything on Frank, August was a hard month for my scheduling, with vacations, sick kids, work holidays and long weekends. My stress was all over the place and I spent most of the month overwhelmed and angry. Because of above conflicts I had to move my doctors appointment out of September and in to November, so I ran my blood work October 1st, to split the difference. I want to know what's happening as I start the weight loss grant, a wonky thyroid could really stall my progress. Continued...  It's the next day and I have ...

Bye, Frank. I should start with, my Doctor determined I do not have a goiter at this moment. Sorry, Frank you've been let go. I met with my GP this past week to discuss the outcomes of my test and the lack of utility in my thyroid gland. He's heard this speech from me before, so I expected the same results, but after the pre-determined lecture, ' Eat Less, Exercise more '*, with a bit of ' A lot of over weight people just want to blame their thyroid for their bad decisions '** and ' you can't believe everything you read online '***. He elevated my dosage of Synthetic Thyroid, the very thing I have been asking for for years. This week I started on an elevated dosage along with my Thyroid support supplements and I already feel different, maybe because I won the first battle. Wish me continued luck, Yours in Health-i-esque, Melp PS - For the original post click here *I can't eat any less, I am only consuming 1400 calories a day. ...

I've fallen down the well of Podcasts and conspiracies. I'll put together a list of the best ones (on the side) so you know where to find all of the actual details. I am learning my inability to regurgitate information. (It reminds me of Tim Taylor on Home Improvements*, Wilson would bestow upon him amazing wisdom and than Tim would, at the worst time, spout his interpretation that was always wrong. In the right spirit, but wrong). *Richard and I are binge watching this show and feck, it is so funny and still very relevant to our lives.  On that note; I will try to share what I have been learning... Hypothyroidism;   also called underactive thyroid or low thyroid, is a disorder of the endocrine system in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. It can cause a number of symptoms, such as poor ability to tolerate cold, a feeling of tiredness, constipation, depression, and weight gain. I practice Intermittent Fasting, a great tool for an OCD foodie...