Introduction
This update marks just over six months since I was diagnosed with profound hypothyroidism and began medication and nutritional treatment. It is written from a subjective perspective and thus is categorized as part of my personal story, “A Dietitian’s Journey.”
At the beginning of June 2022, our family was in Tofino for the marriage of my youngest son. The groom’s eldest brother assumed that my inability to walk on the sand for family photos or to get up out of a chair was a result of me having “aged.” He had no idea that I was hiking for several hours at a time just the summer prior.
I knew something was wrong. For several months, I assumed my exhaustion and joint pain were carry-over effects from Covid. But a photo taken just before the wedding told me it had to be something else. Gradually, I went from looking fit after losing 55 pounds to looking like I had regained everything. I later found out it wasn’t fat, but an accumulation of mucin in the skin—a hallmark sign of myxedema. You can read more about those skin changes here.
The Challenge of Diagnosis
Two weeks after the wedding, my doctor confirmed a diagnosis of hypothyroidism. It had actually taken almost a decade to get diagnosed because of the limitations placed on which tests doctors can requisition. There is also the reality that the most common symptoms are often dismissed as “just aging.”
Many believe it is normal for older adults to have body aches, fatigue, constipation, or forgetfulness. These are not typical signs of aging; they are common symptoms of hypothyroidism. Because these symptoms are so non-specific, they often go unaddressed in short medical appointments.
Addressing Hair Loss and Recovery
My diagnosis was just the beginning. Three months later, I lost half my hair due to telogen effluvium, a form of diffuse hair loss that can occur after profound stress or thyroid disorders. When the loss continued due to androgenic alopecia, I began researching nutrients with evidence for restoring hair growth, which I wrote about here.
This past weekend was my second son’s wedding, and the difference is incredible. Instead of medical compression stockings and orthopedic shoes, I wore regular dress pumps. While it will still take time for the mucin to fully resolve, my face and legs no longer look swollen and “inflated.” I felt human again and wasn’t self-conscious in family photos.
Being on the correct dose and mix of thyroid hormones has made a significant difference. My hair is gradually growing back, and I even have eyelashes and eyebrows returning. It is my hope that by the time these newlyweds celebrate their first anniversary, the residual symptoms will be entirely behind me.
Final Thoughts…
If you have wondered if your symptoms are consistent with hypothyroidism, you can download a checklist of signs here to help you have an informed discussion with your doctor.
To your good health!
Joy
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Joy Erdile is the Registered Dietitian at BetterByDesign Nutrition Ltd., and has been supporting clients’ nutritional needs since 2008. Joy has a post graduate degree in Human Nutirion, more than 17 years of experience in private practice, and is a published in mental health nutrition. She is licensed in BC, Alberta, and Ontario, and her areas of expertise range from routine to clinically complex cases. Joy is passionate about helping people feel better and restore their health, and believes that there is no one-size-fits-all approach, but that Nutrition is BetterByDesign©.