My Hashimoto’s Story

Hi, I’m Whitney, a mama of two kiddos (and one Doodle!), a wife, a Registered Dietitian, and a Hashimoto’s Warrior. Want to get to know me? Here’s my story…

My passion for real foods and non-toxic living stems from personal experiences. I work with men and women all the time who cannot pinpoint where it all went wrong – but they know they’re not feeling well or living their best life. Sometimes they’re in the thick of a family health crisis and they know change has to happen now.

I have always educated myself and worked hard to bring the most current, evidence-based information to my clients. It wasn’t until I was pregnant with my first child that everything began to unravel into the most trying, yet most eye-opening (mind blowing, really) experience of my life.

While I was pregnant with my son, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I had complained about not having the famous “second trimester energy” that my doctor and friends raved about. So about halfway through my pregnancy, my very basic lab panel came back and my Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) was a bit high. On to medication I went, but only to come off of it two weeks after giving birth (per doctor’s order) and never re-tested.

Six very long months later I was an absolute mess. So was my son. And obviously our conditions greatly impacted my husband’s life, health, and our marriage. I had zero energy. I had lost half my hair. I was puffy-faced, but rail thin. My breastmilk supply was a constant struggle, so I was supplementing my son with formula. He was a screaming, crying, gassy mess with reflux that required medication. He projectile vomited multiple times per day (and night). He had diarrhea. And worst of all, his doctors said it was pretty normal. He couldn’t tolerate his reflux medication compounded at the pharmacy, so I had to play chemist in my kitchen, making new medication weekly with a special product and the over-the-counter antacid. He was intolerant to dairy and soy (MSPI). Sensitive to corn. Eventually we learned he was allergic to eggs. All of his first year of life was a big science experiment, and I was the head scientist. Thank goodness for my strong science and nutritional education.

After struggling to even carry my son around the house for six months, I finally researched integrative medical doctors in my area, chose one, and was given a thorough lab work-up. My labs were so bad, my doctor thought there was a lab error. She literally walked me down the hall to be re-tested. Those results came back the same: off the charts high TSH, elevated cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugars, and elevated thyroid antibodies. I was given the diagnosis of autoimmune Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

Women are 7 times more likely than men to have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and it is the most common type of hypothyroidism in the world. Unfortunately, undiagnosed and untreated hypothyroidism is linked to fertility struggles and miscarriage in pregnant women. It is believed to have both genetic and environmental components.

It took us a full 18 months to recover from our illnesses, and we both required extensive gut healing protocols and dietary modifications to get there. Though I tried my best to avoid environmental exposure of toxins, to eat a “clean” diet, and to keep active during my pregnancy, there was still SO MUCH I didn’t know.

My mission is to inform, educate, and guide women and their families to a lead a healthier life living with Hashimoto’s and without unnecessary chemicals. I want to share the nutrition information that serves to support your body’s natural detoxification pathways, supports your immune system, supports your fertility (both men and women), and supports your gut health.

There is a lot of misinformation out there, but I am here to help you sort through it, prioritize where to begin making changes, and stay on track.

The foods, drinks, makeup, skincare and hygiene products you choose to use really do impact your whole body, as well as the genetic makeup of your children and their future generations. Your skin is your largest organ, and a massive absorptive surface.  To save you time on your journey, I have vetted (and continue to research) the safest alternatives for you and your family, because I’ve been there, and now I’m here for you.

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