my journey with hashimoto’s
Backstory
When I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis in 2021 I knew very little about the thyroid and even less about this auto-immune condition. I’d spent close to a decade suffering from chronic fatigue, constipation, hair loss, dry skin, and extremely cold feet yet my doctor never discussed the thyroid with me or even tested certain markers for it’s function.
Let me back up for a second. Early 2021 I had just quit birth control after 7 years on the pill and felt like my symptoms 10x themselves overnight. Not only was I tired, I was exhausted. I was sleeping 10+ hours a night and still had to nap 1-2 hours each day just to feel somewhat functional. I struggled with brain fog, my constipation worsened, my hair was noticeably thinning, and I always had a bloated belly.
I vividly remember having a Telehealth call with my doctor (it was still Covid times) and explaining how bad I was feeling. She didn’t think further thyroid testing was necessary and basically sent me on my way. I’d felt like sh*t for so long I was pretty used to it but this time felt different. I knew something was wrong.
So I found an OBGYN who took more of a “functional” approach to women’s health. She ran a FULL thyroid panel (T4, T3, TSH, and thyroid antibodies) on me, something I’d never had done in my life. Those results came back same day and my world was turned upside down.
Now this OBGYN educated me a bit on Hashimoto’s and what to expect in the coming months but unfortunately her long-term solution was lifelong thyroid meds to support function. After everything I’d been through I knew there had to be other options out there. Thankfully around this time I had started following a Functional Health Practitioner on Instagram. It was divine timing because she was enrolling her program and I was first on the list to sign up.
That was over 3 years ago now and my life looks a whole lot different today (in a good way). Now I talk to women frequently who received a hypothyroid and/or Hashimoto’s diagnosis and feel lost, just like I did. So let’s discuss what exactly Hashimoto’s is and some ways you can support your body.
what is hashimoto’s thyroiditis?
Hashimoto’s is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. It occurs when the immune system attacks the thyroid gland mistaking thyroid cells as an invader- therefore making it an autoimmune condition. Most people dealing with this condition have common hypothyroid symptoms like constipation, fatigue, hair loss, dry skin, brittle nails, and even vertigo. Testing for Hashimoto’s can be done by measuring thyroid peroxidase + thyroglobulin antibodies. At certain levels one, or both, of these antibodies can indicate the development of Hashimoto’s. It’s estimated that most people develop this condition up to 5 years before a hypothyroid diagnosis.
Autoimmunity is the most common cause of thyroid dysfunction and women are 3x more likely to develop than men. This can be a result of genetic predisposition, gut permeability, and environmental triggers. Women are exposed to waaaay more chemicals in our everyday beauty + personal care products along with medications like birth control.
thyroid fast facts
Gluten
Gluten can set the stage for increased intestinal permeability (leaky gut). Gliadin, the main protein in gluten, increases levels of zonulin in the gut causing further damage to the gut lining. When gluten is consumed and passes through a leaky gut, the immune system tags protein (gliadin) and launches an attack against it. The structures of gluten proteins + thyroid tissue are extremely similar so often times the thyroid becomes a victim of “friendly fire”.
This is why it’s recommended to extremely limit or cut out gluten completely from your diet if you are dealing with a thyroid condition. Some people are able to reintroduce high quality, organic gluten products once their gut is healed but for some they will have to avoid for the rest of their life.
Liver connection
About 75% of T4 (inactive thyroid hormone) is converted to T3 (active form) in the liver. When the liver is congested the ability to convert thyroid hormone + clear excess estrogen is impaired. With T4 -> T3 conversion compromised, total T3 levels dip down, reverse T3 increases along with estrogen. Reverse T3 opposes biological action of normal T3 and slows down the metabolism. Estrogen completes with T3 for receptor sites making it difficult for T3 to bind + be “usable”.
Some common causes of liver congestion include processed foods, excess sugar, alcohol consumption, drugs/meds, stress, and chemical exposure. Low thyroid function can contribute to liver congestion so it’s important to understand how much these 2 organs rely on each other for proper function.
Gut connection
The gut is responsible for converting up to 20% of T4 to T3. Inside the gut is 70% of our immune system as well. Gut inflammation raises cortisol levels which can lower T3 and increase reverse T3. When we have internal dysbiosis like overgrowth of bad bacteria, parasites, H. pylori, or candida, these all produce pro-inflammatory lipopolysaccharides (LPS). LPS can trigger autoimmunity (like Hashimoto’s), reduce TSH, and impact overall thyroid hormone levels. With reduced thyroid hormone levels, transit time in the gut slows contributing to constipation. When we are constipated we don’t clear excess estrogen like we should which creates liver congestion, slows thyroid function and creates this never ending cycle. See how everything is interconnected?
Stress
I’m 99% sure stress was the primary instigator of my thyroid downfall. 2020-21 were some of the most stressful years of my life (not to mention there was a lot going on in the world 🫡). During a stress response our adrenals release cortisol which sends us into that “fight or flight” type of response. Our heart rate spikes, blood sugar soars, and you might feel like you could run through a wall. With cortisol elevated, the conversion of T4 to T3 is slowed lowering overall availability of T3. Also happening during this time is reverse T3 production. Now the simplest way to put it is reverse T3 is the “bad” version of T3. With a bunch of reverse T3 in circulation, receptor sites for good T3 to bind to are limited causing issues with using T3. The combination of slowed T4 to T3 conversion and the production of reverse T3 essentially puts a halt on our metabolism.
Toxic Burden
Exposure to things like BPA, phthalates, paragons, halogens, per fluorinated chemicals, pesticides, and heavy metals disrupt our endocrine system and can cause issues with thyroid function. PCBs from contaminated fish, plastics, and materials coated in flame retardants all compete with thyroid receptors. BPA is a synthetic estrogen that drives up thyroid binding globulin and can cause too much conversion of T4 to T3 (overactive thyroid). Chemicals found in non-stick cookware + food packaging drive down overall thyroid hormone levels contributing to hypothyroid. Heavy metals like lead and cadmium inhibit conversion of T4 to T3 and cause damage to the thyroid gland. Perchlorate’s found in ground water + soil can interfere with iodine uptake and influence overall thyroid function.
ways to support your thyroid
Get a water filter: today’s tap water is full of nasty chemicals and heavy metals. Getting a high quality water filtration system (sorry to say a Brita isn’t going to cut it) can help reduce exposure to these chemicals. Look for a carbon filtration system and even a multi-step filter process. These systems aren’t cheap so I highly recommend focusing on the water you use most (like your kitchen sink + shower). I love brands like Aquatru, Aquasana, Hydroviv, and Berkey.
Give your liver some love: break a sweat daily to support healthy detox. Activities like walking, weight lifting, and sauna can all promote detox. I also like to incorporate castor oil packs a few times a week (when I’m not on my period) to support blood flow to the liver and healthy bowel movements. Digestive bitters + bitter foods like arugula work to stimulate bile production in the gallbladder which in turn helps the liver process the foods we eat.
Clean up your gut: bacteria overgrowth, parasites, and candida can all put extra stress on the gut and activate our immune system. Getting your gut tested can help uncover the WHY of thyroid dysfunction. I highly recommend pursuing GI-Map testing if you are dealing with thyroid issues.
Master the basics: Diet, sleep, exercise, and stress management are the foundations to a healthy life. Clean up your diet and focus on high quality protein, healthy fats, fiber, and complex carbs. Reduce your blue light exposure and get 7+ hours of sleep a night. Move your body daily and incorporate nervous system healing techniques like meditation, prayer, journaling, and stretching.
if you suspect thyroid issues…
Hypothyroid is most common, especially in women. If you’re dealing with chronic fatigue, weight management issues, constipation, hair loss, dry skin, brittle nails, and/or cold extremities, you might have some level of thyroid dysfunction. On the flip side, if you experience rapid heart rate, high body temp, rapid weight loss, and/or anxiety you could have an overactive thyroid otherwise known as hyperthyroid.
Regardless of what side you fall on, here are the markers you should always be asking for from your doc:
TSH: the marker most doctors run without issue. TSH is produced by the pituitary gland which tells the thyroid gland how much T4 + T3 to produce.
Free T4 + T3: the unbound forms of both inactive and active thyroid hormone, gives us clues into hormone conversion + production
Total T4 + T3: bound forms of inactive + active thyroid hormone, gives us clues into how thyroid hormone is being used
Reverse T3: opposes biological action of T3 + slow metabolism
Thyroid antibodies: thyroglobulin + thyroid peroxidase antibodies can indicate if any auto-immune condition like Hashimoto’s or Grave’s disease is present. Remember these antibodies can be present years before symptoms develop.
I always seem to have issues getting my doc to run a full thyroid panel so if you run into the same, I would ask to at least have TSH, free T4 + T3, and thyroid antibodies. Ideally we’d like to see everything but we can use a few markers to make inferences to thyroid health.
