Living with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

For one woman, what started as unexplained fatigue and subtle symptoms in her teens eventually led to a complex journey with an autoimmune condition. 

Hypothyroidism explained

The thyroid gland, found at the base of your neck, makes two main hormones: thyroxine (T-4) and triiodothyronine (T-3). These hormones affect every cell in your body, so if your thyroid is underactive and doesn’t make enough hormones, known as hypothyroidism, this can cause havoc.

“Hypothyroidism can only be properly diagnosed through a blood test, as some of the symptoms may present as part of other health issues,” says Dr Chris Greyling, a specialist physician and endocrinologist at Mediclinic Durbanville. “The test will show higher levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and lower levels of free thyroxine (free T4).”

Hypothyroidism in women in their 40s or younger could be a result of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease that causes your body to attack and destroy your thyroid gland. “Symptoms are often subtle but typically worsen over time,” says Dr Greyling. “Telltale signs include depression, fatigue, and constipation.”

My journey with hypothyroidism

Catherine, a young woman who lives with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, shares her story:

“The problems with my thyroid began when I was about 13 years old. I was suffering from extreme tiredness, skin problems and irregular/absent menstrual cycles. The tests revealed that my thyroid was overactive but, more important was that my thyroid antibody levels were off the charts.

My T4 and TSH levels were monitored throughout high school and eventually normalised when I was around 16. It was only when I began work at age 23 that I once again started experiencing extreme exhaustion, constant fatigue, and recurrent urinary tract infections.

“Doctors then discovered that I now had hypothyroidism, and I was put on Eltroxin (levothyroxine sodium). The years that followed are a bit of a blur with my dose being increased or decreased depending on what the often-incomplete test results showed. Unfortunately, my antibody levels weren’t monitored closely enough. After several years, things came to a head when I began having significant problems with my eyesight. At the time I happened to be working for an optometrist, who urged me to see a specialist.

“In a matter of 2-3 months, I lost almost 10kg, became drastically short-sighted and my left eye was bulging out of its socket. I consulted an oncologist, thinking radioactive iodine therapy was the way to go. But he recognised that my situation was far more complex than it appeared and referred me to a specialist physician. Over the next few months, I was in and out of hospital 10 or more times, having every test conceivable to find the underlying cause of my symptoms.

“My specialist concluded that I had Hashimoto’s thyroiditis combined with adrenal fatigue syndrome and a severe vitamin D deficiency. Years of taking less-than-optimal doses of Eltroxin had also affected my liver and kidneys.

“My doctor has a very progressive approach to treatment regimes. He’s optimised my Eltroxin dose, prescribed vitamin D in the form of calciferol, and recommended an imported liver support/detoxification supplement. I must also be admitted every six weeks for further vitamin therapy and liver detoxification.

“In addition, I’ve adopted a strict gluten-free diet because gluten plays a big role in leaky gut syndrome, which in turn is involved with the autoimmune aspect of Hashimoto’s disease. My experience has taught me that thyroid disease is very complex, and you need ongoing clinical support.”