5-Tips-To-Keep-You-Thyroid-Healthy-With-Thyroiditis
Divania Timmal, Contributor
Thyroid Nation

Divania shares her 5 tips for wellness with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis sucks. You will never hear me say otherwise. It makes the simplest things, like eating out or taking a shower, complicated and sometimes traumatic. However, it has taught me a few useful lessons about myself and my body.

1). Listen to your body

Your body will tell you when something is wrong: don’t ignore it! Had I not started losing hair, I would never have taken any notice of my emotional instability or unbeatable fatigue. Yep, the superficial stuff got my attention first. Don’t try to “stick it out”. And don’t discount what feels unusual to you just because they are not “serious” problems.

2). Have patience

Results take time — with anything in life, be it exercise, healthy eating or ones overall wellness. My blood test results have been progressively better, but it has been slow going. My body is going through a lot, fighting more battles than it should be. This knowledge has brought me a small measure of patience, a virtue I have lacked in my life thus far. Drinking bone broth, eating coconut oil, giving up gluten and having an arsenal of supplements is healing me. I have come to realise I cannot expect results overnight, in the same way that I am not going to have an epic ass after a month of exercise. I have also drawn on my new pool of patience to not bitch-slap people when they give me the “But you look fine” line.

3). A support system is essential

There is no way in hell I could have done this alone. There have been so many times Adam has comforted me while I cried about having no energy, or talked me off the “I JUST WANT PIZZA!!!” ledge. Kate is always trying out gluten-free recipes to give me ideas. The point is, we need people. Dealing with anything alone makes it hurt so much more, and an autoimmune disease is no exception. Putting on a brave face for the world is great, but the facade is difficult to maintain. Having people around who listen and genuinely care makes all the difference.

4). Be grateful

I know it sounds preachy, but hear me out. I used to complain daily about my wild hair: the frizz, the thickness, the sheer amount. Now, I want to weep when I wash it and avoid brushing it at all costs, because I inevitably pull out handfuls. All I’m saying is, be thankful for the small things that make you YOU. My big hair has always been a part of who I am, and losing it has been heart-breaking. Is it superficial? Probably. Nevertheless, I genuinely regret every second of whining because my hair wasn’t straight or shiny, and bemoaning the humidity because of the frizz-fiesta it would bring.

So, before a few years pass and I regret complaining about something else, I’m going to say what I am grateful for. I am thankful for the new relationship I have with my body. I treat it with a lot more respect now than I did pre-Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. I exercise, eat right (for the most part) and can now immediately tell when something inside is out of sync.

5). Real food > processed crap

Going gluten-free was a turning point for me. Not only did I give up gluten, but I also cut out most (not all) of the processed nonsense I had previously eaten. Five fmonths of eating whole, real, nutritious food (with the occasional Cadbury’s indulgence) has definitely contributed to my improved health. A few days ago, we had vienna sausages at school. Without thinking, I ate quite a few little sausages (and thoroughly enjoyed them too, might I add). A few hours later, I was nauseous. My stomach was clearly hating me. And there goes my desire to ever eat food with mystery ingredient lists again.

I usually keep it very simple. Veggies, meat, chicken, fruit, rice and nuts make up the majority of my diet. To keep my sweet tooth satisfied, I use my Deliciously Ella cookbook to make healthy treats.

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis Disease is a part of who I am. Many of my decisions now depend on what effect they will have on my health:

Divania: “Okay, you know what, screw it. I am going to Pizza School and no one can stop me!”

Voice in head: “You’re the boss! But don’t complain when you’re sick for the next three days…”

Divania: *throws tantrum, stays home, and Googles pictures of pizza*

It is a pain in the ass, but I am more self-aware for it. I guess this is me finding the silver lining of a really pesky cloud.

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About the Author

Divania Timmal is an avid writer (and book reader). For any thyroid patients in the Chungnam area and surrounding, 단국대학교병원 (Dankook University Hospital) is a really good hospital. She see’s a lovely doctor who speaks great English. He is so helpful, and listens to all of her concerns and numerous questions. Check out her website, DivAndBeanWrite, with her friend Kate (Bean). Click here to check out her typical weekly meals. Be sure to follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

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