My Background and Why…

I am hitting the reset button on my health (yes AGAIN and as many times as it takes)! My name is Terese Millhouse from Hobart, Tasmania. I am turning 40 in October but I feel like I am 30 years older. I was diagnosed with Hashimotos Thyroiditis in my early 20s, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in 2014 and Depression and Anxiety from 2010. I have been living with and maintaining these health issues ever since. I have not been able to work since 2013.

Thyroid disease runs in my family on both sides so I understand this diagnosis. (Hashimotos is specifically an immune disease where my body produces antibodies that attack my thyroid and I don’t get enough T3 and T4 hormone to run my body effectively. Symptoms can include brain fog, fatigue and sluggishness, increased sensitivity to cold, joint pain and stiffness and muscle aches among others. I currently take medication to balance my thyroid function).

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, depression and anxiety were triggered by a life event. My late husband, Matthew Millhouse, was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Depression, Alcohol Abuse and finally Young Onset Dementia, of which he succumbed to in 2015 at the age of 36. Matthew was involved in a car bomb explosion during his military service in Iraq in 2004, causing a silent traumatic brain injury and subsequently his other issues. (For more information and background on Matthew, please see this story that 60 Minutes did in 2015 just before Matthew passed away: https://www.9now.com.au/60-minutes/2015/clip-cikgcvl79002tdpoz76ixcb9m).

So essentially I hit rock bottom, and with the help of medical professionals, family and friends, I have slowly come out the other side in the last two years with a new motivation to seek better health for myself and get back to supporting my family by doing what I love, music and writing.

In 2018 I decided to investigate alternative health therapies when my GP couldn’t do any more for me. I also tried the Liver Cleansing Diet and Isagenix, which helped but with only minor improvements in my energy levels and some weight loss. So I went to see Dr Sally Chapman, an integrative medicine doctor in Howrah, Tasmania. She has already helped improve my energy levels, brain clarity and thyroid function through balancing my gut flora, going gluten free and low sugar, and prescribing a T3 hormone supplement as well as T4 for my thyroid. (I highly recommend Dr Chapman for a fresh view on your issues: https://www.healthchange.com.au). But I am still far from complete wellness or a ‘cure’.

So 2019 sees me raising my 9 year old daughter, Eleanor, and living with my wonderful and supportive Fiancé, Adam and his two children, Bree (12) and Jonty (9).

I still have tired days and am unable to work. This year I even turned our home into a low/no chemical home incase unnecessary chemicals contribute to my symptoms. This included changing my personal products and cleaning products to essential oil based products. (I use DoTerra and make my own cleaners.)

Which brings me to the reason for this blog!! When my beautiful friend, Sham introduced me to the Medical Medium Anthony William and his books two weeks ago, something inside me just lit up! This could be what I’ve been looking for to regain my energy and health fully! All the issues Anthony discusses relates to me in so many ways and he provides real explanations and answers. Anthony has been recognized and recommended by so many other well known medical practitioners and personalities throughout the world (see his website: http://www.medicalmedium.com ).

I bought Anthony’s book, Thyroid Healing, and now I am embarking on proving that his advice works. I need something like this to give me some structure, as, despite being gluten free and low sugar for a year, this hasn’t necessarily meant I’m eating healthy. There are just as many unhealthy chips and chocolate and takeaway foods that are gluten free/low sugar, which I have indulged in when I’ve been tired or emotional, creating a vicious cycle. Eating easy unhealthy inflammatory foods because I’m tired which then makes me tired because they’re easy unhealthy foods!

So I’ll be following Anthony’s healing cleanses, food suggestions and rituals from the book, and posting about my progress to help me commit to it more, and maybe even help to inspire someone else to not just settle for a diagnosis and to keep looking for answers. The world is ever changing and I hope you’ll follow me on my own road to wellness 💚