Flowers from my hubby.
My health has not been the greatest over the past few years and it has been a big frustration for me. When I am unwell, I am not as able to give my all to my kids and my tasks as a homemaker and homeschool teacher and this can get me pretty down.
For the past few years I’ve been really tired and just having continual infections and illnesses. I am grateful that for the most part, they are nothing too serious, but it is still frustrating to me. I found out in March that I have hypothyroidism as well and was prescribed a medication for that that I don’t like having to take. It’s frustrating because I never used to have all of these ailments and I wonder what the cause of these are all of a sudden, or if this is just normal as I am getting older and that I have to just get used to it.
I always have tried to lead a healthy lifestyle. I don’t smoke or drink at all, I walk and do yoga daily, and am mostly vegan with some vegetarian days in my life. We all eat organic as much as possible too. I just don’t know what else I can do to help myself feel better. Sleep would be something, but that’s not exactly something I can help with a baby.
Pheonyx, my smiling cutie, 8 months old.
Amidst all of this, I am grateful still. I look at my kids and my life and feel so blessed. I remind myself that no matter what my circumstances are, things could always be worse and there are people with more difficult things to deal with out there.
Today I felt like writing out a gratitude list.
- I am grateful that I get to stay home with my kids.
- I am grateful that my husband works close to home and is never too far away.
- I am grateful for our big home and our beautiful, big yard.
- I am grateful for my son. I never saw him coming and couldn’t have imagined how great life would be with a little man in our lives.
- I am grateful that Pheonyx is a healthy and happy baby and is meeting his milestones.
- I am grateful for Serafina’s carefree spirit and happy laughter.
- I am grateful for the love and admiration Kesa has for me and Craig.
- I am grateful for how good a big sister Autumn is and how helpful she is to me.
- I am grateful to have a mother who I can talk to and complain to and who listens to me and cares about my feelings.
- I am grateful for my cousin, who is like a sister to me.
- I am grateful for the green leaves and grass that are all around us now and am looking forward to summer.
- I am grateful for the food we have and the availability of the abundance of food in this part of the world.
- I am grateful for the safety where we live.
- I am grateful for the health that I do have and I do not take it at all for granted. I truly believe that it is a gift to be mentally, physically, and spiritually healthy and I would never do something consciously to negatively affect any bit of my health.
I think we could all truly benefit from recognizing our health once in a while. You never really know health until you are sick and then you yearn for that healthy state so badly.
Instead of being in a bad mood or feeling down about whatever might be bothering you in your life right now, try and think of what you have to be grateful for. Even being able to read and write and think is a gift. Things could always be worse and I believe that everything that happens to us in life is meant to teach us a lesson.
I think one of my lessons in all of this sickness is to see how truly blessed I am in so many ways and to never take a bit of it for granted. I feel like I wasted a lot of my time in my early twenties wishing to be healthier and healthier based on blogs I followed and things I read and watched, when really I was a healthy person already. I used to want to be fitter and thinner and able to feel even better, but as I was, I was healthy.
Now I have trouble with fatigue, migraines, and easily catching illnesses, that I never had to think about even three years ago and I wish my younger self wouldn’t have taken that state for granted.
I am hoping I find more answers at my doctor appointment this Friday and maybe she can see an underlying issue for all of these things.
I wanted to also throw it out there, if any of you reading have had thyroid issues or know someone with thyroid issues, if there was anything you/they have done to naturally heal your thyroid besides medication? I would love for you to leave a comment! Any advice is appreciated.
(I hate to make so many blogs on sickness and health, but this is my life right now, so sorry if I sound like a broken record.) ❤
Live. Learn. Love. Eat. 
Have you tried taking kelp?
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We used to have that but I’m not a fan of fishy tastes. It’s funny because my husband actually mentioned this to me a little while ago. I’ll have to look in it.:)
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Kelp can be not good concerning thyroid issues. It depends on the sort f Problems one has with the thyroid. Before taking kelp, i would look for information… in some cases it makes the thyroidproblems greater!
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I started on http://www.happyhormones.com.au 3 months ago. I works to re-balance the endocrine system not just target one hormone with a synthetic replacement. I am sleeping,can think more clearly and am less anxious & stressed. This sounds too good to be true but it has been great for me, There is a facebook group where others have posted their stories and I’m not he only one. I am a Mum of 3. I have struggled with inflammatory illnesses & hormonal issues for years. I encourage you to have a look at the website. There are lots of resources there to read & you can join the facebook group without obligation. All the best.
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Thank you for your comment, Jen. 🙂 I will definitely check it out.
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Hallo Tiffany, I send you an email about this topic. By gmail accunt. I hope it doesnt go to your spamfolder… That why i leave this message here, so you know to look for it. I wish you all the best, Natascha
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Thank you! I got it and will read it. 🙂
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Hi Tiffany,
I too was just diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I have decided not to take the medication because I want to see if I can balance out my thyroid on my own. Have you heard of Aviva Romm? She is an amazing doctor who practiced as an herbalist/midwife for 20 years before going to medicinal school. She specializes in women’s health and healing people holistically. She has a website and an awesome podcast. She’s goes into detail about ways to balance your thyroid without medication. Definitely look her up! Also, hypothyroidmom.com is a great resource! Since being diagnosed I have eliminated gluten and soy from my diet which seems to be helping. I do eat meat and have read/heard that eating a paler like diet can help with thyroid issues (sorry that’s probably not what you want to hear). There are many different herbs that are also helpful with hypothyroidism such as ashawagandha (I think spelled that correctly). Anyways, I am just starting to learn about natural ways to heal my thyroid. I am also taking an herbalism course which I hope will help me along this journey. I will keep in touch with you! Hope you start feeling better!
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Hi Juliet! Yes, I’ve heard paleo can help. It would be hard for me though. I definitely want to try some natural things. This medication has given me anxiety like crazy which I don’t need and some insomnia as well but it’s probably different for everyone. Some people have no side effects at all. I will check out the what you have shared! Thanks so much! I’m back on Facebook again so if you look me up (Tiffany Pidruchny) on there and add me we could keep in better contact. It’s good to know I’m not alone with this issue. ❤
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Hi tiffany,hope you are feeling better.Not sure if any of this info be any use but i also developed thyroid problems and a large nodule after 3 pregancies. Some of the things ive done was to go gluten free,stop drinking flourinated water(live in ireland its added here),add alot more protein into my diet.mostly nut butter to everything but also free range egg few times a week.i took a thyroid supplement with iodine and selnium for a few months.take on and off since.i didnt take medication as i was borderline and felt could try help myself,bloods normal at minute but nodule remains.i follow andrea beaman and stop thyroid madness,you might find something useful on those sites.i hope you find something to help you feel better.your such an inspiration with your positive attitude and your kindness shines through your blog.
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Thank you for sharing! I feel bad saying it but I’m glad I’m not the only one with thyroid problems. The tiredness is the main thing. I want to read so much of what you all have shared but I feel so exhausted. I also want to find out more about this, like if I have a nodule or what was/is the cause. I currently stopped taking my medication because I want to try some natural things. I bought selenium and magnesium supplements and started them and I bought a natural thyroid product as well but it says not to take while breastfeeding so I think I’ll wait a while on that one. I was listening to something on YouTube of “stop the thyroid madness”. It sounded really good! Once I get a bit of money I plan to order some books and read a bunch. I thank you also for your kind words. I hope I can get my energy up some more and be able to write and share more often. 🙂
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Its so hard to get time to research when your tired.i am still overwhelmed with the amount of info after 6 years of reading about it.i was vegan for my last 2 pregancies but not a good one,relied on alot of cereals,fruit,baked goods but barely any protein and fat.think this played a part for me and mammy exhaustion from no sleep etc.lots recommend paelo which doesnt feel right for me.im not fully vegan anymore either.its a learning expericence for sure!i hope your energy returns soon.😀
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