At 23, I had my first son. I was always that person — active, naturally thin, full of energy. My body just worked, and I never really had to think about it.

Life, however, had other plans.

We put off having a second child — career, finances, timing. By my mid-30s, it became a very real “now or never” moment.

So, we decided to go for it.

I came off the pill and, within three months, I was pregnant. It felt almost too easy. Then, at six weeks, I miscarried. Heartbreaking, but I told myself we’d try again.

Not long after, something shifted. My body didn’t feel like mine anymore. I started gaining weight, felt constantly tired, dizzy, and couldn’t sleep — completely unlike the person I’d always been. Deep down, I knew something wasn’t right.

After a lot of research (because no one really talks about this), I came across thyroid issues. My tests came back “normal”… except for one thing: my thyroid antibodies. That’s when I first heard the word Hashimoto’s — an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the thyroid, often long before hormone levels drop. Hashimoto’s is actually the most common cause of hypothyroidism in women, and symptoms can come in waves: fatigue, brain fog, sleep issues, weight gain — all of which I was experiencing. Standard tests often miss it unless antibodies are specifically checked, which explained why no one had caught it sooner.

Then came another curveball — a nodule on my thyroid. Nodules are common in Hashimoto’s and usually benign, but doctors recommended removal. After doing my own research, I chose to leave it alone. I was determined to prioritize my goal of having a second child, while supporting my body naturally.

At that stage, my thyroid was still functioning, but my GP placed me on T4 medication as a precaution. Something about it didn’t feel right. I wasn’t comfortable being on long-term medication when my body was technically still coping.

I eventually worked with a homeopath — who was also a functional practitioner — and she helped me see the bigger picture. Under her guidance, I was slowly weaned off medication and focused on supporting my body in ways that felt right: reducing inflammation, managing stress, cleaning up my diet, and actually listening to the signals my body had been sending all along.

We went off gluten, dairy, sugar, alcohol, and caffeine, and I slowed down my exercise. I wasn’t sure if I’d fall pregnant again, but she reassured me it was possible. And — almost comically — I fell pregnant that very week.

Fast forward, and at 39, fifteen years after my first child, I welcomed my second. That gap might be long, but it made the journey sweeter, tougher, and so worth it.

This journey has been messy, emotional, frustrating — but also empowering. Hashimoto’s taught me that symptoms aren’t random — they’re signals. And sometimes “normal” test results don’t tell the whole story.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: your body isn’t broken. It’s asking you to finally listen.

Sources & Further Reading:

• American Thyroid Association
• Mayo Clinic
• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• British Thyroid Foundation

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