Hashimoto\'s Thyroiditis Lifestyle Interventions for Finding and Treating the Root Cause

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My Story

I struggled with chronic fatigue for seven years before I was diagnosed with

Hashimoto’s. At first, I attributed the fatigue to being a student in a challenging

doctorate program with an erratic schedule.

After graduation—whenI started to live a more balanced lifestyle—I sought out

multiple physicians to inquire about my fatigue and was told that “everything

was normal.” Most of them suggested that I was depressed. “But I don’t feel

depressed—I’m happy!” I always replied. “I’m just really tired. I need to sleep for

twelve hours each night to function.” After a few years, I just gave up trying to find

a reason and accepted that I simply needed more rest than everyone else I knew.

A few years later, new symptoms started gradually emerging, including

anxiety, acid reflux, hair loss, and cold intolerance. I slept under two

blankets—and this was in Southern California.

The results of one physical showed my TSH was 4.5 μIU/ml (normal 0.4–4.0),

but the physician told me, “Your thyroid function is normal. No need to do

anything else.” He did not test me for antibodies.

The following year, I returned for another physical. This time, my TSH was 8.

Only at that time did the physician recommend consulting an endocrinologist for

my thyroid function.

Meanwhile, I had been experiencing symptoms of hypothyroidism for over

seven years!

CHAPTER SUMMARY

9 Test thyroid function using TSH, free T3, free T4, and TPO

antibodies.

9 Remission is possible with return to normal thyroid function.