I found myself staring at a sink filled with dark red strands of hair. There was also hair scattered on the floor and clogging up my shower drain. It wasn’t in clumps, but it was noticeable and concerning. This was happening daily for weeks. My hair, once thick and glossy, had become dull, lifeless, and increasingly thinner. I swept it up off the floor, tossed it in the trash, and tried to carry on. Maybe it was just seasonal shedding, I reassured myself—nothing to worry about.
However, looking in the mirror, I hardly recognized the person staring back at me. My face was swollen, my eyes sunken in, and my complexion was pale. With summer long gone, perhaps I had simply lost my glow. Maybe it was just water retention? I do have high blood pressure, after all. But that didn’t explain why my clothes were fitting tighter even though I wasn’t eating much.
Alongside the thinning hair and puffy face, my skin was persistently dry and itchy. I developed painful eczema on my knuckles that cracked and bled. I attributed it all to the cold, dry winter air. I was scratching to the point of flaking skin, yet there were no bumps, bites, or rashes—just relentless itchiness. Surely, it was nothing serious. My partner, however, wasn’t convinced.
Soon, I was exhausted all the time. With two small children—one just two years old and the other under a year—I was juggling a full-time job and found myself drained every evening. I’d make dinner, put the kids to bed, and collapse into my own sleep. I barely spent any time with my partner; all I wanted was my pillow. Before long, I was napping after work every day, even before preparing dinner. This alarmed him.
“Maybe you’re pregnant again?” he suggested. Nope, the test came back negative. Having previously battled an eating disorder and depression, he was worried that I was slipping back into those struggles. I assured him I was fine. I wasn’t upset, sad, or particularly angry; I just felt… off. No, I felt like I was losing my mind.
He genuinely believed I was going crazy. The array of symptoms was perplexing. I couldn’t make sense of it all. I felt terrible as a mother and an even worse partner. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t pull it together. One morning, it all boiled over, and he insisted I see a therapist, convinced I was grappling with a severe form of depression. I didn’t believe that was the case, but I was out of options and agreed to go.
I scheduled an appointment with a psychiatrist for the following day, determined not to waste any time. After filling out numerous forms and discussing my medical history, the doctor mentioned that I might be experiencing depression but wanted to run some blood tests to rule out other factors. I thought, “Fine, but what could he possibly find? I’m a healthy 31-year-old.”
Less than an hour after leaving the lab, my phone rang. It was the doctor informing me that my TSH and T4 Free tests were extraordinarily abnormal. What did that even mean? It turned out it was my thyroid. To be honest, I had heard of the thyroid but had no real understanding of its function. He recommended I see an endocrinologist immediately for treatment.
Fortunately, my brother, who is a juvenile diabetic, had seen the same endocrinologist for years, which allowed me to secure an appointment quickly. When we discussed my results, the doctor expressed shock at how high my numbers were, stating he couldn’t believe I was functioning at all. I was left wondering what this meant and, more importantly, how could I fix it?
I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism, a condition where the thyroid gland fails to produce essential hormones. This gland plays a critical role in regulating various bodily functions, including metabolism, heart function, and even brain development. When it malfunctions, you can feel utterly drained and out of sorts. Thankfully, treatment is often straightforward and can start immediately.
My doctor prescribed a high dose of Synthroid, a synthetic thyroid hormone that helps the body function as if it were producing its own hormones. Within weeks, I began to experience relief. Gradually, my body returned to normal; I lost weight, my facial puffiness decreased, and my hair and skin improved. I felt like myself again. Over several months, my TSH and T4 levels stabilized to those of a healthy individual. I have since reduced my medication dosage and now maintain a daily maintenance dose. This will be part of my routine for life. However, the beauty of it is that once my levels are balanced, I’m good to go. Just one pill a day.
I am incredibly grateful to my partner for encouraging me to seek help and to the doctor who examined every possibility before arriving at a diagnosis. Eleven years later, I still take my little blue magic pill daily and feel wonderful. I knew I wasn’t imagining my symptoms; they were real. But I failed to trust myself and listen to my body. If something feels off, it probably is. Don’t get so lost in your head that you neglect your well-being.
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Summary:
This article recounts the author’s struggle with undiagnosed hypothyroidism, detailing the physical and emotional challenges faced during this time. After a series of alarming symptoms, including hair loss and fatigue, she sought medical help and was promptly diagnosed. With treatment, she experienced significant improvements in her health, ultimately regaining her sense of self. The narrative emphasizes the importance of listening to one’s body and seeking help when something feels wrong.