Hiking with Inflammation

What is Hashimoto’s Disease?

Hashimoto’s is an auto-immune disease where the immune system doesn’t recognize hormones. Particularly, the hormones produced by the thyroid. My own immune system attacks my thyroid. This disrupts how my body uses and produces energy and in turn effects many other organs and how they function efficiently. Finding remedies for inflammation is so important in managing auto immune diseases. Hiking with inflammation is one of many difficulties I have with this disease.

My Story

Before I tell you about how I stay active with something that tries to keep me laid up, I want to tell you this isn’t a sponsored post. No corporation or business asked me to create this. I want to share my experience with you, and tell you about something deeply personal to me.

I was out on a trail in the Valley of Fire, it was early spring in Las Vegas but already in the high eighties. Even as an experienced hiker, I knew to bring plenty of water and go early before the heat could get overwhelming.

Water or not, it didn’t matter, while I was out I had a flare up. It was only a short hike, I’d hydrated the night before and before the hike. I thought that was the best remedy for inflammation. I even had a camelback with me. My ankles swelled up, I got super dizzy. My first assumption was dehydration but this was before I was diagnosed. There wasn’t anything I could do for hiking with inflammation so I simply pushed through unaware of the damage it was doing to my joints.

Dangerous Results

I was only half a mile from my car and I thought I was going to die. I didn’t think I could make it back before I passed out. I did, thankfully. I sat in my car with the ac on full blast and chugged water like a fish.

My hands were swollen, it looked my calves were eating my feet. I couldn’t think and I was sore for days afterword. The kind of sore that felt like I’d been ran over by a bus. I’d pushed myself to hard, and my nerves don’t handle the heat very well. I know, now, what happened but at the time I couldn’t understand why I’d had such a strong reaction to a short mile and half walk through a somewhat flat area.

What did this mean?

Moments like the hike in the Valley Of Fire came to mind, when I began to learn more about this disease and it’s symptoms. The inflammation created a very dangerous situation that had nothing to do with my preparedness The circumstances could not have been worse for a flare up.

Hashimoto’s can cause brain fog. I’d like to think I’m a fairly intelligent person but on occasion my fatigue and the low hormones can make it hard to think clearly, or even process conversations when someone is talking to me. A non-addictive solution that doesn’t cause even more problems was something I thought was impossible.

CBD oil is a life changer, literally. It has helped so much. For a long time, I wouldn’t go on long hikes, or go far from my car or camp. Remedies for inflammation, even auto immune induced, are available. It limited me physically from doing my favorite thing is this world. Even safe trails could become quite dangerous for me.

What Does It Feel Like

To understand how this feels, remember having the flu? If so, think back to that first day you started feeling better. You weren’t sick anymore but you were still weak and sore. Everything hurt and it took more energy to do simple, every day things you hadn’t even thought were things. Like picking up a glass of water, now takes both hands and it’s still a strain. It hurts to go from moving to stillness and back to moving. Once you’re up and about it feels better until you start to get fatigued and exhaustion sets in quickly. However, going from moving to sitting still also hurts.

That’s what living with Hashimoto feels like. Every day I’m recovering from a flu I didn’t have because my immune system attacks my organs as if they are producing the flu virus. It’s manageable and I can still be productive but it takes a strict diet and a lot of will power.

This disease also puts a strain on my muscles and joints. Being in a constant state of ‘recovery’ makes it difficult to retain muscle mass and staying active. My ankles and joints swell up for no reason or if I push myself too hard.

Remedies

The inflammation can get intense and painful. Social CBD oil and gummies have helped me keep up with my work and hobbies. I love hiking, and I love being outdoors but it’s a battle to go long distances when my joints, particularly my knees and ankles start to swell. I’m not ready to give up on my passion so I use Social CBD as a remedy for inflammation. They have a lot of options to keep me on the trail.

I love the muscle relief roll on gel made by Social CBD. When I push it too far the gel gives me that relief I need getting off the mountain without injuring myself and I know I don’t have to give up my passion, I can keep hiking with inflammation. The swelling in my joints can make it difficult to walk, and throws off my balance. The roll on gel gives instant aid so I can get back home safely.

This reduces the inflammation instantly and gives me that extra time I need to continue on the path. This ointment doesn’t create a high, or intoxication so it was safe. I could feel good about the choices I’m making. It’s a natural alternative to a serious condition without taking medications that all have side effects of their own.

Conclusion

I know CBD is still a little taboo but products without THC have a lot of medical benefits without the danger and the inebriation. So many medications can create horrible symptoms and can be as dangerous as what they’re treating. For someone with a disease that doesn’t have a cure, after all I don’t want to rid myself of my immune system, but knowing there’s safe, sober alternatives to medication that keep me doing the things I love is a blessing for me.

Looking for a promocode. Since you’re a Dashboard Destinations fan, I’ll get you an extra %20 off your order at Social CBD with promo code DashboardDestinations20

I would love to hear about your adventures and any tricks you may use when you’re hiking with inflammation. Comment below and let me know how it goes.

As per usual, I took way more pictures than I could possibly post on here so if you’d like to see more I have several accounts that I’ve posted more images on.

P interest
TripAdvisor
AllTrails
Facebook
MeWe

Happy Travels.
And I hope to see you out there.

Hey look, it’s me.

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