Hi, my name is Zia Poe, and this is my story about healing my autoimmune disease. Thanks for visiting, I appreacite your support and encouragement.
Parathyroid Tumor, Hashimoto's Disease and Autoimmune Disease
Two weeks after surgery to remove the tumor I meet with my surgeon and he told me that the surgery was made more difficult because of the condition of my thyroid. He said it had been years since he had seen a thyroid as inflamed as mine. It bleed excessively and I had lost a lot of blood during the surgery. I asked him what happens to the inflammation when we sewed me back up. He looked at me strangely and said "It's inflammation in your body." At the moment I had to face the truth - it wasn't my thyroid that was the problem, it was an autoimmune issue.
Hashimoto's is an autoimmune disease that creates antibodies that attack the normal tissue of the thyroid, eventually destroying the organ. It's the autoimmune issue that creates the problem, not the thyroid. This process creates inflammation in my body! And it not only effects the thyroid, it's systemic. It creates an environment of inflammation in my entire body. After meeting with the surgeon I realized, since I was diagnosed in 1986, I have been treating the symptom, not the problem. Nearly 30 years of taking thyroid medication hoping it would solve the many problems I was experiencing was crazy. My thyroid was the most inflamed my doctor had seen in years, and that's all he does - operate on thyroid glands. Inflammation was my problem, not my thyroid. I had to start looking at the cause - the autoimmune disease. It was a true "light bulb" moment.
Autoimmune Protocol
The timing must have been right. The old saying "when the student is ready, the teacher will appear" was activated and I found Sarah Ballantyne, PhD. She was a medical researcher for many years, then became a stay-at-home mom, then was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. She put her research skills to work for her, developed an autoimmune protocol and put her disease into remission. Then she went to work writing a book to help others called The Paleo Approach: Reverse Autoimmune Disease and Heal Your Body. When I came across her blog, The Paleo Mom, she had just received her copy of the book from the publisher and it was going to be released nationally in a couple of weeks. The timing was perfect. I pre-ordered the book. When it arrived I dug in and haven't looked back. ( While waiting for the book to arrive I began following Diane Sanfilippo's 21 Day Sugar Detox, using the autoimmune modification. (It was recommended by Sarah.) The rest is history. A short history so far, but I am going strong on Day 35 eating the AIP way.
Symptoms
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| Day 1 |
The day before I started the Autoimmune Protocol I decided to write a list of the symptoms I was experiencing. I wanted to get clear on how I was feeling and what I wanted to improve. Here's the list I complied.
- Hashimoto's Disease
- Unbalanced thyroid function
- Obesity - weight gain
- Join pain - knees, back
- Osteoarthritis
- Rosacea
- Chronic Sneezing and Cough
- Elevated Blood Pressure
- Heart Palpitations
- Thin Skin - arms easily bruised
- Constipation
- Food Cravings
- Bloating
- Sleep Difficulty
- Puffiness
- Memory Issues
- Numbness in hands and limbs
- Dry, Itchy Skin
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Low Metabolism Function
- Inflammation
- Acid Reflux
- Irritability
- Low Self Esteem
- Over tolerant of situations, relationships and habits
- Using Food to Soothe
- Lack of Motivation
- Non Existent Libido
- Self-Consciousness
- Self Confidence Issues
- Racing/Monkey Mind
- Deep Feeling of Emptiness
My Plan
For three months I have committed to the following:
- Follow the Autoimmune Protocol Food Plan
- Walk 5 days a week beginning at 15 minutes per day and working up to 1 hour by the end of the three months.
- Reduce Stress - mediation, relaxation, connect with nature
- Improve Sleep Habits - Goal 8 hours per night
- Journal and Record My Progress
This is the beginning of my physical healing journey. I have never approached my health this way before. With the help of my naturopath doctor, I am facing this head on. Focusing on the cause, instead of the symptoms. Along with following the AIP I am also balancing my brain chemistry using amino acid therapy. It is a combination that I feel is going to change the course of my life. This is no longer about my thyroid or the on-going struggles with my weight, it is about healing my body on a deep level. At last.
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UPDATE:
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| Day 20 |
Day 20
It's hard to believe that twenty days passed so quickly. I am surprised at the changes that have already taken place. I feel so much better. No more bloated feeling, I have more energy, and I am sleeping much better. I've also noticed, from comparing the two pictures from Day 1 and today that my skin has changed and looks so much more healthy.
The first week was hard. I had food cravings, especially for sugar. I also had a headache and body aches. It felt like the flu. The second week I struggled with constipation. But as I reached Day 20 things have all worked out and I am feeling really good. The food preparation has become easier and I have found a nice rhythm. I have been finding lots of great AIP recipes on Facebook groups and Pinterest.
Walking is really helping. I find it feels like meditation in motion. I go out behind my house into nature and it feels like a private escape. It is getting easier to walk longer and faster too. I realize that it is also helping me with digestion and sleep. Mild exercise is the only way to go to treat this disease.
I am feeling motivated and excited about continuing my AIP journey. I have lots more to learn.
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Day 35 - 24.8 Pounds Down!
I just retuned from 12 days vacation to Seattle. I was a little apprehensive about following the AIP. Great news, I was clean the entire trip! The first day I went to Whole Foods and bought food, made some ground chicken and pork sausage patties, and prepared some other things. That was key. Preparation is vital to success.
The big news - I have lost 24.8 pounds! I was thrilled and didn't expect to lose that much, but I could begin to feel the changes in my body. My pants and tops were getting looser so I knew something was happening! I have decided to weigh only once a month. This program is not about me losing weight, but it is a happy outcome! If I weigh more often I know it will make me crazy. I have a very unhealthy relationship with the scale.
Food is getting easier and I am getting used to not having bread, rice, dairy, etc. There are so many ways to fix food that taste good. Plus there are so many resources for recipes - books, blogs, Facebook pages. It just takes a little research. I am learning more and more everyday. This month I have decided to make one new recipe and try one new vegetable each week. I realize this is going to be a lifetime change and I must enjoy food and have a variety of meals to choose from. I have to keep a good attitude.
Speaking of attitude, I have come to believe that it is the key to everything. Having an autoimmune disease doesn't have to become me, I don't have to take on that label. It is something I am dealing with, but it doesn't define me. I am much bigger than my dis-ease. I have shifted this poor-me attitude of feeling deprived, not getting to eat"good things" to one of loving myself. When I was visiting my family in Seattle, one of my granddaughters said to me, "I feel sorry for you cause you don't get to eat stuff." I looked at her, smiled and said, "Please, don't feel sorry for me. Be happy for me because I am taking care of myself and getting healthy!" At that moment I realized I was happy, feeling so great that I didn't miss the donuts they were eating one bit. Plus, I am happy to be an example of healthy eating for them. Keeping that attitude is helping me stay on track. Cause I know it's a long road ahead!
As I reflect on the list of symptoms from above, I can say that a lot of them have dramatic improved in just 35 days. Some will take longer. But, I know how much better I feel in such a short time that following AIP may go beyond the three months. But for today, I am taking it one day at a time!
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Day 60 - Down 35 Pounds!
It's been two months! I can hardly believe it. Things have changed dramatically. I have released 35 pounds and am feeling really great. Here is my official report for Day 60.
Check -in
Today is day 60 following the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP). Hard to believe the time has gone by so quickly. I weighed this morning and have lost 35.6 pounds since I started on January 23. I was elated! My body feels a lot different and my clothes are fitting much better.
But, that's not the reason I started the AIP. It was my realization that I had to deal with my autoimmune disease and the problems it was causing. You can read more about my journey here. The goal is to heal my body, get healthy, and prolong my life. I have lots of things I want to do and great grand children to meet.
Here's the report for Day 60. I feel great. A lot of my symptoms have vastly improved, many vanished. No more lethargy, depression or huge mood swings. My thoughts are more clear and my brain is functioning like it did ten yeas or ago or more. My memory has improved significantly. I am getting at least eight hours of sleep every night, and go to sleep quickly and sleep soundly. Just getting good sleep changes everything. I'm walking five days a week and I am walking longer, faster and with a lighter step. No more leg aches or pains. No more knee problems (hooray!) My digestion and elimination are in nearly perfect working order - and that is something that hasn't happened in years. It's amazing what being regular can do for you! (TMI?) Cravings are a thing of the past, and I am leaving food on my plate, and forgetting to eat on occasion - which is crazy! The power the food had over me had been lifted and I am listening to my body more and more.
Sounds great? It is! All it requires is that I say on the path and keep doing what I've been doing. However, it is time to start introducing some foods back into my diet. I am going to start with eggs. There is a entire process I have to go through when I re-introduce something. I'l let you know how that goes in another post. For today I am happy to be feeling so good and losing 35.6 pounds. Now that's something to celebrate!
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Day 90 Update
41 Pounds Gone and Feeling Great!
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| Day 1 Day 90 |
What has changed? The biggest difference is how I feel internally. I have a feeling of self-acceptance that I haven’t had in a long time. I have begun to feel comfortable in my own skin, which has been a lifelong pursuit. Even though I still have lots more weight to lose I have lost the self-judgement and begun to accept myself “as is”. Now, that is a huge shift.
My body is healing as well. There are no longer the aches and pains that I felt daily. I can move my body with more ease and even tie my shoes without cutting off my air supply. My rosacea is clearing up and my skin is much more healthy. I even feel the difference in my hair, stronger and thicker. Big news, no more constipation. I could write a whole blog post about digestion! The difference in my digestion from Day 1 until today is like night and day. No more stomach burning indigestion, gastrointestinal distress, gas or bloating. That alone is worth giving up all the foods I’ve given up.
Speaking of giving up foods . . . I am still pretty strict AIP, but I have added in a few things. I added back my favorite cappuccino - but only occasionally. Decaf, of course. I enjoy the ritual of the coffee shop and the taste of an occasional cup. It is a quality of life thing - honestly. I also tired rice, tomatoes, and some Chinese food. I did okay with the tomatoes, but the rice and Chinese not so much. I could feel the minor bloating and I got a headache from the Chinese. Most likely soy related. I am continuing to eat tomatoes and may try other nightshades to see what happens. But staying true to the AIP as outlined by Sarah Ballantyne in her book The Paleo Approach is best for me right now.
Real Food Recipes The Spunky Coconut Kelly Broyzna - Coming this month! (She also has a free ebook of Paleo Pasta that is fantastic!)
Practical Paleo by Diane Sanfillppo
The Autoimmune Paleo Cookbook: An Allergen-Free Approach to Managing Chronic Illness by Mickey Trescott
Against All Grain: Delectable Paleo Recipes to Eat Well & Feel Great by Danielle Walker
I Quit Sugar Cookbook by Sarah Wilson
The Paleo Approach Cookbook by Sarah Ballantyne, Ph.D
(Coming out in August, you can pre-order. I can’t wait for this one!)
There are also many websites, blogs and Pinterest Boards that are filled with wonderful recipes and inspiration. Check out my Resources Page for a listing .
The AIP Journey and the Amino Acid Protocol in conjunction has been a blessing in my life. If you are suffering from any inflammation related issues I highly recommend this approach. If you have any questions or would like to talk to me privately about this issue, I would love to answer any questions you may have. Just send me note - click here.
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Day 120 Update
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| January 2014 May 2014 |
Celebrating Four Months of Healing!
Here it is - the 120 day milestone! Four months of following the Autoimmune and Amino Acid Protocols. What a learning curve it has been. I’ve begun to really understand my disease and how to heal myself and everyday I am learning more. The good news:
- I feel like a new person, no aches, pains, weird symptoms or extreme moods.
- I’ve lost 45 pounds! Yipee (All my clothes are getting loose.)
- I have lots of energy.
- I feel comfortable in my own skin (a blessing and miracle!)
- My sleep has improved dramatically!
- My self-esteem and confidence has increased in ways I never imagined.
- I’ve lost cravings for sweets, etc., and have no interest in overeating.
- Exercise (moving my body) is so much easier and feels natural.
- I am beginning to listen and understand the messages and signals from my body.
- The “monkey mind” crazy thinking processes ended and I have a sense of peace.
- My mind is sound and I have clarity in ways I never imagined.
- My digestion is completely normal - no more constipation, bloating, gas, heartburn, etc.
- I have a sense of spiritual connection that comes with ease.
For nearly 30 years I have been struggling with this disease and I think that I now have the tools I need to put it in to remission. At last, I finally understand it. For so many years I felt like I was chasing my tail, going from doctor to doctor looking for an answer to why I never felt right and looking for a solution to ease all the crazy symptoms. I remember one time waiting for eight months to see a endocrinology specialist at the Cleveland Clinic who saw me for about 5 minutes, wrote a prescription and said, “Come back in a year.” UGHHH!!! Just one of a long line of doctors who never could put it together and see that it was the autoimmune onset that was responsible for the waterfall of issues. None of them ever taking the time to discover the real issue, what was happening in my body that created an environment that set up the autoimmune response. That’s a puzzle that I am solving piece by piece. There is no doctor out there who can do this for me, no doctor that cares about my recovery more than I do! Thankfully I have found a couple of good ones that have helped me in the past year. It is a complex issue, not one that many doctors have the patience or time to deal with.
1. Continue Healing Autoimmune Disease (AIP)
3. Connecting with Body Wisdom
4. “Yoga of Being” Spiritual Philosophy
5. Simple Living - Downsizing and Living More Fully with Less
6. Speak and Live My Truth - Becoming Zia
“Do not reject a gift because you do not like the wrapping.” ~ Amrit Desai
The picture on the left was taken in San Francisco on vacation in January 2014. I felt terrible and found it really painful to walk, but it didn't stop me from eating sourdough bread morning noon and night! The picture on the right was taken yesterday (May 20, 2014) in the dressing room of Lane Bryant's while I was trying on new clothes, two sizes smaller. I still have a long way to go, but it feels great to be shrinking. It feels even better to be pain free, happy, have tons of energy, and finally be comfortable in my own skin!
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| January 2014 May 2014 |
Thanks for your support and interest in my process.
Big Love and vibrant health,
Join the Whole30 AIP Challenge June 1, 2104!
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