My Hashimotos Diagnosis
“I knew something was wrong for years, but my concerns were never taken seriously. It was so incredibly frustrating.”
Just over a year ago I made the decision to slow down my business, to stop the “busy-ness” and to focus on my health and wellness. I didn’t feel well and I knew it was something I needed to figure out if I was ever going to feel right again. This wasn’t a decision I took lightly, as my graphic design business is something I am so proud of and have worked so hard building. But I just had this gut feeling that I need put it on a simmer for bit and focus on my health.
I would say that for a majority of my adult life, I have struggled with gut issues. For someone that lives a pretty clean, healthy and active lifestyle, I knew something was wrong but my concerns were never taken seriously. It was so incredibly frustrating. Then in what felt like overnight, I gained 15 pounds, developed this odd rash on my face, and got shingles! My body was screaming at me to pay attention and would no longer be ignored.
So, I decided to make the investment of working with a functional medicine doctor. After lots of researching I found one (DM me if you want some direction on where to look.) Since day one of working with her, I felt seen, cared for, and listened to. We went over EVERYTHING that has ever happened in my 45 years of life. After several different tests and a few rounds of bloodwork, I finally received a diagnosis in October. Not only did I have leaky gut and SIBO (no wonder my stomach hurt all the time!!!), I was also told I have Hashimoto's Disease, an autoimmune disorder stemming from the thyroid.
This was not great news, given my family history of autoimmune disease, BUT it was such a relief to get answers at the same time. I would now be on medication for the rest of my life, a hefty dose of supplements on the daily, and will try to adhere to a pretty strict diet as well. And even though that feels really challenging sometimes, it’s so worth it to feel better.
If you get anything from this post, I hope it reminds you to advocate for yourself. For a long time, I was gaslit when I shared my concerns. No one should never have to feel doubted when seeking help for health concerns. Receiving a diagnosis, regardless of the time it takes, is the first step toward receiving proper care and feeling good again. I found functional medicine and a compassionate doctor who really listens to me, and I feel incredibly grateful.
Thank you for reading, friends.
Talk soon, Annie