To start off, I was born to a family that has many generations of untreated thyroid-ism.  My mom was born without a working thyroid and is dependent on medicine for the rest of her life.  I was born with a goiter and had no issues until I was 5.  I started losing weight rapidly and had a hard time swallowing my food, I was in kindergarten and weighed 25 lbs.  After many visits to the doctor's, I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism.  I was put on Synthroid for roughly a year.  After that, all my test results came back fine and doctors thought there was no reason to continue me on any medication.  I experienced no more symptoms until the summer of '97. 

I was about to start my Freshman year of high school and I gained 30 lbs over the summer.  I had no idea how it could have happened.  I didn't have any change to my diet and I was active in sports.  My mom took me in to start seeing the family physician who referred me to an Endocrinologist.  My self esteem took an absolute nose dive.  Not only did I have to deal with being a hormonal teenager, I also started getting teased relentlessly by kids at school for being "fat".  I was roughly 5'5 and weighed 145 lbs. 

I battled seeing numerous doctors and specialists from there on as my symptoms weren't matching what the blood results were showing.  They diagnosed me with Hypothyroidism but having Hyperthyroidism symptoms, they put me back on Synthroid, and tested my blood monthly.  Every month, my dosage would need to be changed and my symptoms would get worse.  Depression is very real and upsetting.  I had every test in the book done from sonograms to radio active iodine.  I was getting no results and incredibly frustrated.  As I got older, the weight kept coming, especially after each birth of my kids.  I tried every diet known to man....nothing was working.  After having kids and being scared of passing on my condition, I made my last effort to see another specialist.  I told him my diet, which was low fat, counting calories.  He ran some labs and his final diagnosis to me was that I was morbidly obese and I needed to watch my cholesterol.  I gave up.  I wrote off ALL doctors and anyone that tried to give me "advice" on getting fit and quit taking the pill I came to hate, Synthroid.  I honestly thought it was breaking more of my body than it was fixing, and the fixing it did was very, very limited!

My rock bottom is when I bought a scale and taking another try at losing weight.  I had always avoided scales because I hated to see the ugly truth.  I couldn't believe what it tried to tell me I weighed and I cried like a baby.  There was NO WAY that I was 259 lbs.  That just wasn't right!!!  I still maintained an active lifestyle with my family.  I didn't eat bad food.  I was in a serious panic.  I met Andrea right after I moved to AZ and she told me she worked at a Wellness Center and they could help me, right after I had my scare with the scale.  I wrote her off, like everyone else that had the perfect solution for my life.  I was definitely in no position to be lied to, force fed chemically based medication that broke more things in my body than fixed, and ultimately waste more money.  Andrea was always there as a support to me, and never pushed me to come in.  I knew it was an option but was not ready for that yet.

I started working out in the early AM with an accountability partner and counting calories again.  It seemed like it was working...which every other time started off good too...I wasn't hopeful but kept it up.  After 3 months, I lost 20 lbs.  I was ecstatic.  I always had a hard time losing weight and keeping it off was nearly impossible.  Of course, like all the other times, it all started coming back to me...I literally put back on all 20 lbs in 3 weeks.  3 months of torture for it to come back so quickly.  Frustration wasn't even the tip of the iceberg anymore.  When I hit the point of seriously considering weight loss surgery, I knew I needed to give the Wellness center a try before I went through with such a drastic surgery.

My 1st visit with Brimhall Wellness Center in August 2011, here were my initial symptoms: obese, issues losing weight, hair loss, hard time catching my breath, stress, headaches, stomach issues, brittle finger nails, etc. etc.  I had already lost my gall bladder 2 years prior in an emergency surgery due to my declining health.  I met with Dr Brimhall and Andrea.  I was very skeptical to say the least.  Dr B asked me 1st off what were my personal goals with being seen by the team.  It took me back a little bit...because no one asked me that.  I was just told what needed to happen and the pills to take.  My goals are: to be HEALTHY and not go bald.  I had labs done, worked with Dr B on a nutritional plan to help fix not only my thyroid but ALL of me.  I started working with Andrea on the LZR7 machine and my diet.  Dr B and Andrea really helped me see that education was a huge part of my recovery.  Knowledge is power and can help transform not only my thinking but help me put healthy things in place for positive change. 

Immediately, we were able to identify from the LZR7 machine that I was allergic to wheat/gluten.  This worked hand in hand with the Hashimoto's Disease that Dr B was discussing with me, a disease I've had since birth but never properly diagnosed and educated on.  Andrea helped work with me on my diet, learning to live a gluten free life.  I continued to see Brimhall Wellness each week to have allergy testing done and see Dr B for adjustments, education, and treatment for my Hashimoto's disease.  With Andrea's help and education, I've been able to make healthy changes for not only my diet but also my families' diet.  Good food in your fridge and pantry lead to good eating...don't buy it and you won't be tempted to eat it! 

It is exciting to challenge myself to face what I felt was impossible before.  I'm not setting limitations on myself but setting positive, healthy, OBTAINABLE goals that are right for me and my body.  Since August, I'm down to 221.  I am continuing to see positive changes in my body.  I've gotten creative when cooking for my family to get in more protein and veggies.  I'm going to be the person to break the cycle of obesity and Hashimoto's in my family.  I eat breakfast every day, when I never used to.  I've NEVER felt better!  I have accountability with a friend on my workout plan.  My hair is growing back!  For once in my life, I have hope that I do not have to continue living the way I did for the past 28 years.  I will continue to see Dr. Brimhall and Andrea every 3 months for continued treatment and support.  Now, when I look in the mirror, I can say that I'm looking healthier and healthier every day. 

Melanie (New Mexico)
Dec. 2011