My 10-Year Thyroid Journey: What I Wish I Knew From Day One
Knowledge Heals
Action Transforms
In this Newsletter:
➡️ My Hashimoto’s diagnosis at 23
➡️ Secrets doctors skipped about autoimmunity
➡️ The early warning signs I missed
➡️ What I wish I had known from the start
➡️ Importance of medication
Ten years ago, I got hit with a diagnosis that changed everything.
I was 23, sweating through my sheets every night, exhausted all day, and constantly anxious. My heart felt like it was skipping beats. I actually saw a cardiologist first — she laughed and told me to “just relax.” Spoiler: it wasn’t my heart.
A few doctor visits later, I found out I had Hashimoto’s thyroiditis — an autoimmune condition where my body attacks my thyroid. My TSH was sky-high. So were my antibodies.
My doctor handed me a prescription and said something that still echoes in my head:
"You’ll have to be on this medication for life. There’s nothing else you can do."
No one mentioned inflammation. No one said the word autoimmune. And definitely no one asked about my diet, lifestyle, or stress.
🚩 Warning Signs I Ignored
Looking back, the symptoms were adding up. But because I didn’t “look sick,” I kept pushing through:
Extreme night sweats
Brain fog and extreme fatigue
Anxious feeling in my heart
Hair loss
Constantly feeling cold or unable to adjust to temperature changes
Random pains or rashes I couldn’t explain
Some symptoms continued even after I was on meds. I saw doctors across different countries, but the answer was always the same. My labs looked ‘normal,’ yet I never felt like myself.
👉 Note: Other signs that may also indicate your thyroid is off: weight gain or trouble losing weight, dry skin, depression or low mood, sleep disturbances (insomnia).
🚫 The Traditional Approach: A Band-Aid, Not a Solution
Every endocrinologist I saw gave me the same script — literally and figuratively:
💊 “Take your meds.”
🧠 “It’s fine.”
🙅🏻♀️ “Lifestyle changes will not make a big difference.”
But deep down, I knew something wasn’t right. I was surviving, not thriving.
So I started digging.
🔍 What I Discovered Years Later
When I finally began learning about functional medicine, it felt like someone turned on the lights. I realized I was still only treating symptoms, not the root cause.
Here's what I wish I had known at the start:
🌱 Hashimoto’s Is an Autoimmune Condition
That means it’s not just a thyroid issue — it’s an immune system issue. The thyroid is the victim, not the villain.
🔥 It’s Triggered by Inflammation
Common root causes include:
Gut issues (like leaky gut or dysbiosis)
Chronic infections (like Epstein-Barr)
Toxic overload (heavy metals, mold, plastics)
Food sensitivities (gluten, dairy, soy)
Blood sugar imbalances
Chronic stress
🧪 Tests That Could Have Helped Me Early On
Functional labs go beyond the basics, they can help identify root causes. Here are a few I wish I’d done back then:
GI Map or Gut Test
Heavy Metals Test
Environmental Toxins Test
Mold/Mycotoxin Testing
Food Sensitivity Testing
Adrenal Cortisol Panel
Over a year ago, I did all of these tests. It appeared that my gut microbiome is severely disbalanced, I have environmental toxins in my body and my cortisol levels were skyrocketing. Working with my functional medicine doctor, now I have a plan how to address the root causes which eventually may lead to healing my thyroid at its core.
Not sure where to start? Ask your doctor about these - or find a functional practitioner who will help.
👉 Note: when checking your labs for thyroid function, it’s best to look into full thyroid panel: TSH, Free T3, Free T4, Reverse T3, TPO & TG antibodies
💡 What Helped Me Feel Better
In addition to thyroid medication, here’s what made the biggest difference:
✅ Anti-inflammatory nutrition
✅ Strength and resistance training couple of times a week
✅ Stress management – breathwork, meditation and yoga
✅ Targeted supplements – selenium, zinc, magnesium, and adaptogens (more on these in a couple of weeks!)
✅ Functional medicine testing – looking for root causes and address issues at their core
These changes weren’t overnight magic, but gradually I had more good days. It felt empowering to support my body.
👉 Note: Always check with your doctor before starting any news practices.
💊 A Quick Note on Medication
If you’ve been prescribed thyroid medication, please know that it’s an essential part of managing Hashimoto’s. It helps replace the hormones your thyroid can’t make — and it truly does make a difference.
Everything I’m sharing with you — from anti-inflammatory eating to lifestyle practices — is meant to support your healing, not replace your medication. In fact, with time and consistency, some people may be able to reduce their dose - but only under close supervision from a healthcare provider.
👉 Note: Always work with your doctor, monitor your labs regularly, and make informed decisions. Your health deserves a full team effort.
🛑 If You’ve Just Been Diagnosed — Read This
Here’s what I wish someone had told me 10 years ago:
Your diagnosis is not a dead end — it’s a starting point.
Medication will help, but it’s only part of the bigger picture.
Lifestyle changes can reduce symptoms and support healing at the root.
Functional testing can uncover the “why” behind your condition.
Don’t stop your medication without talking to your doctor — it can make things worse.
Autoimmune flares can look random, but they’re your body’s way of signaling imbalance.
Even small daily shifts in food, stress, movement, and toxins can create real change.
🌼 You Deserve to Feel Well
No matter where you are on your journey — newly diagnosed, years into it, or just feeling “off” with no answers — please know this: you’re not alone, and you’re not imagining things. I know what it feels like to be dismissed, to not feel like yourself, to search for answers that never come.
But I also know that healing is possible.
It might take time, trial and error, but it’s worth it.
You deserve to feel well. You deserve to feel like you again.
And I’m here cheering you on every step of the way.
Warmly,
Viktorija 💛