Diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis? Here’s how to take back your health
Disclaimer: This is not to be intended as medical advice. I am not a doctor or licensed healthcare professional. Think of me as your friend, sharing what I’ve learned and what helped me, in hopes that there is something that can help you, too. This post is meant for educational purposes only.
Were you recently diagnosed with Hashimotos and want to take steps to feel better, but don’t know where to start? Or maybe you’ve had Hashimoto’s for years, and you’ve never been told that medication alone won’t make you better, but something is telling you there has to be more you can do. I’m here to help! Here is everything I wish I would have known when I myself was diagnosed with Hashimotos nearly 5 years ago.
What is Hashimotos?
Let’s begin by understanding what Hashimotos is. Hashimotos is an autoimmune disorder of the thyroid. Simply put, your body thinks that your thyroid gland is a foreign invader and begins to create antibodies against it. Our thyroid is a very important gland that controls metabolism. In the case of Hashimotos, the tissue of your thyroid gland is slowly being attacked. When left undiagnosed or untreated, your thyroid can become destroyed, leaving you unable to produce thyroid hormone.
Why this happens is not entirely known, but there are usually genetic, environmental, and other factors that can contribute like infections, inflammation, toxins (like mold), vitamin or mineral deficiencies, impaired detox pathways, chronic stress, just to name a few. With autoimmunity, there is often a root cause, and underlying issue that triggers dysfunction in our bodies.
Understanding Hashimotos, What are the Symptoms?
It’s important to note that Hashimotos is the autoimmune manifestation of an overactive or under active thyroid. You don’t automatically have Hashimotos if you suffer from thyroid dysfunction, however it is possible that if you don’t treat it properly you can develop it. The confusing part of this autoimmune disease is that you may have symptoms and a diagnosis of either hyperthyroidism (over active) or hypothyroidism (under active) or both when diagnosed with Hashimotos. It is more closely associated with hypothyroidism while hyperthyroidism is closely linked with another, more serious, autoimmune condition called Graves’ disease.
According to the NIH some common symptoms of hypothyroidism include:
fatigue
weight gain
Brain fog
Intolerance to cold
joint and muscle pain
constipation or other digestive issues
dry skin or dry, thinning hair
Brittle nails
Loss of lateral third of eyebrow
heavy or irregular menstrual periods or fertility problems
slowed heart rate
While common symptoms with a hyper active thyroid are the opposite:
rapid weight loss
Increased appetite
Rapid heart rate
Mood issues like irritability or nervousness
Anxiety or panic attacks
Intolerance to heat
Shakiness
Insomnia
Digestive issues like diarrhea
Muscle weakness
How is Hashimotos Detected?
There are a few ways to detect or be diagnosed with Hashimotos.
Blood Tests
One of the preferred ways to be diagnosed is through blood tests which can determine markers for low thyroid function. If you are looking to rule out autoimmunity, make sure your antibody levels are tested, as this is the best way to know if you antibodies attacking your thyroid.
Ask your doctor for a full thyroid panel with the tests shown below:
The problem, however, with blood tests is that many people have subclinical thyroid dysfunction. This means that your thyroid is being attacked on a cellular level, and you may be feeling symptoms but bloodwork is showing “normal” levels.
Did you know that it can take up to 10 years to be diagnosed with Hashimotos?
Just think of how many years you’ve been living with nagging symptoms just to be told everything is ok when in reality your symptoms are a red flag. So what are normal thyroid hormone levels?
Save this graphic to access your thyroid levels, these are the reference ranges of numbers you want to see when checking your bloodwork.
If your bloodwork is looking normal but you’re still not feeling your best, check out this article from thyroid health and Hashimotos expert Izabella Wentz.
Thyroid Ultrasound
An ultrasound may can detect thyroid disease by checking for inflammation or nodules (swelling in your glands) within the thyroid. If growths are found, your doctor may suggest it be removed and biopsied to make sure it isn’t cancerous.
An ultrasound works by using high-frequency sound waves to produce images of the thyroid gland. This is the best way to check the size, shape, and quantity of any nodules that may be present.
How Do I Naturally Treat My Hashimotos?
Is there a cure for Hashimotos? Sadly, no there isn’t. And while medication can help a great a lot when you’re struggling with symptoms, it’s only a tool to help you feel more yourself again. Relying on medication alone and not addressing the root cause of your illness will be a huge disservice to you and your thyroid. Even after going on medication, your antibodies may stay elevated, which will continue the attack on your thyroid, causing further damage. While you can’t be “cured”, remission is possible.
Here’s what Izabella Wentz, remission is defined as:
“the state of absence of disease activity in patients with a chronic illness, with the possibility of the return of disease activity.The remission stage is the point where a person has addressed their underlying triggers and has eliminated them. The person will have a healthy gut and adrenals, be cleared of toxins, have appropriate levels of macro and micronutrients, and will likely have seen a significant drop in their thyroid antibodies”.
While I mention it’s best to have no antibodies against your thyroid, clinically, if you get them down to <35 IU/mL. on your bloodwork, this can indicate you may be in remission.
Here are a few important natural methods to try if remission is your goal:
Optimize Your Nutrition
This isn’t always easy since it’s very individual to each person but the best place to start that’s a helpful tip for anyone is eat less ultra-processed food and enjoy more whole, natural foods. Eat plenty of colorful vegetables and fruit, whole grains and complex carbohydrates, and quality sources of protein like eggs, chicken, grass-fed beef, and wild caught salmon. I wouldn’t suggest a vegetarian or vegan diet for someone with Hashimotos because it may be hard to get the adequate protein needed to heal from plants alone. I know this can be controversial and you may not agree, but animal protein is the easiest way to make sure you’re hitting your protein goals, while avoiding nutrient deficiencies. If you don’t eat meat because it’s a personal or religious conviction, work with a nutrition professional to make sure you’re getting all the vitamins and minerals your body needs on a plant based diet. It’s important to make sure your meals are balanced and aim to get at least 30 grams of protein per meal. This will keep you feeling satiated and leave less room for cravings and sugary snacks which may alter your blood sugar— causing blood sugar spikes which can be a stressor to your healing thyroid.
Some other common dietary considerations for Hashimoto’s are avoiding gluten, soy and possibly dairy. Elimination diets or therapeutic diets like the AIP (autoimmune paleo protocol) are also options but these tend to be restrictive making them harder to adhere to. If a healing diet is going to cause you stress and anxiety about wondering what to eat, is it really helping you heal? If you choose to go this route, support is key! I strongly urge you to work with a practitioner skilled in these protocols that will guide you on your journey, by providing resources, answer your question and offer a listening ear when things get tough.
Important considerations when going gluten free
If deciding to go gluten free, consider avoiding most alternatives as well unless the product has minimal ingredients, or you make it yourself. Gluten free packaged food is still heavily processed and tends come with lots of other inflammatory ingredients for people with autoimmune disease like corn, hydrogenated seed oils, soy and added sugar. I understand this is hard to completely avoid, sometimes you just want to bring a treat to a party without having to bake it yourself. Some brands I prefer over the conventional gluten free swaps to check out are Simple Mills, Enjoy Life, Jovial, and Seite, to name a few. These brands all have simple ingredients and taste good too!
Foods that support a healthy gut microbiome will also be amazing for healing with Hashimoto’s since poor gut health is a common root cause in many autoimmune illnesses. And to be honest, we could all use a little extra help in this area even without Hashimoto’s.
Lifestyle Tips While Healing
While addressing diet is a great place to start, and easily the hardest, many environmental and lifestyle factors are just as important. Here are some other ways to support your body while healing.
Lower Your Stress Burden
Address adrenal health, if you’re chronically fatigued, it could be a sign your adrenal glands need support.
Begin a gentle daily movement practice and avoid over exercising or intense cardio
Breath work to relax; 4,7,8 breathing can be helpful when feeling stressed
Lower Your Toxic Burden
check quality of personal care products using the EWG skin deep database to see if the products you’re using contain endocrine disruptors
heavy metals
mold
Prioritize Sleep
proper sleep environment; dim lights in house after sundown, dark bedroom, avoid blue light 30 mins to an hour before bed
healthy bedtime
avoid alcohol at least two hours before bed, alcohol can have a negative effect on REM sleep
wind down routine to relax before bed; take a hot bath, diffuse essential oils, relax and read a book
Address Mindset
let go of limiting beliefs
avoid toxic or unsupportive people and practitioners
trust yourself through the healing process
Conclusion
Getting diagnosed with a lifelong autoimmune condition can feel scary, isolating and overwhelming. It’s easy to get discouraged when doctors don’t offer solutions and you’re left feeling unheard and alone. Don’t give up. The journey is long, but it’s worth it. You owe it to yourself to get your health back on track. Healing is possible, but it takes time. Just imagine how long it took your body and thyroid to reach such a level of dysfunction to reach autoimmune status. Remember that your journey won’t always be linear, there will be ups and downs and sometimes twists and turns. Be patient and kind with yourself, trust the process and make sure you have a good support system in place.
I hope these tips were helpful in getting you started on feeling better after being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s. You don’t have to do this alone.
Be Well,
Aria
Sources and References:
What is Hashimoto’s:
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/endocrine-diseases/hashimotos-disease
Diagnosing Hashimoto’s:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/thyroid-nodules/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20355266
Stages of Hashimoto’s
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/5-stages-hashimotos-thyroiditis/
Common Root Causes of Hashimoto’s
https://chriskresser.com/the-root-cause-of-thyroid-disorders-with-izabella-wentz/
