Living with Hashimoto's: A Nutritionist's Personal Story
What I learned living with Hashimoto's thyroid disease, and how it changed the way I work with clients
If you'd asked me years ago what Hashimoto's thyroid disease felt like, I would have described it clinically. Now, I've lived it. And it changed everything, not just how I feel, but how I work with clients every single day.
Contents
It started in 2010
'Your thyroid is fine' (but I knew it wasn't)
2012: when things took a serious turn
Finally, the right dose changed everything
2025: when the symptoms came back
The test that changed everything
The missing piece: T3
The frustrating reality
What I changed
Actionable diet tips for supporting the thyroid
FAQs
It started in 2010
I began feeling off. Not just tired, completely wiped out, even after ten hours' sleep. I was struggling to function day to day, unable to lose weight despite training hard and eating well, dealing with a puffy face, constantly run down with a poor immune system, and experiencing acne, cold hands and feet, and brain fog. I knew this wasn't normal. And as a nutritionist, I also knew something else: basic thyroid testing doesn't tell the full story.
'Your thyroid is fine' (but I knew it wasn't)
My GP tests came back 'borderline normal.' But I wasn't convinced, because here's the truth: you can have normal results and still have an under-functioning thyroid. I pushed, questioned and advocated for myself. Eventually, I was prescribed a very low dose of levothyroxine, essentially just enough to tick a box. It helped a little. But I still didn't feel like me.
2012: when things took a serious turn
Then things escalated. I started feeling dizzy regularly and experiencing repeated fainting episodes. Back to the doctors I went. This time, my TSH was 36, extremely high. My thyroid function had plummeted, my metabolism had slowed dramatically, and my heart rate dropped to 41bpm, which meant oxygen wasn't reaching my brain properly. That's why I was fainting. It was scary.
Finally, the right dose changed everything
My medication was increased to 150mcg levothyroxine, and the difference was huge. Energy came back, weight stabilised, immunity improved, and I felt like myself again. For years, I thought, right, that's sorted.
2025: when the symptoms came back
Fast forward to late 2025. I was fit, active, busy with career, kids and life, I'd even run a marathon in April 2026. But something wasn't right again. I felt flat, low in mood, unmotivated and exhausted, not my normal high-functioning, driven self. This time though, I knew exactly what to do.
The test that changed everything
I ran my own Female Wellness 360 test, a full hormone and thyroid panel, not just TSH, not just T4, the full picture. And there it was: extremely high thyroid antibodies, clear signs of Hashimoto's thyroid disease, and a conversion issue from T4 to active T3. This had never been picked up before, because the NHS had only ever tested TSH and T4, not T3, and not antibodies.
The missing piece: T3
My consultant endocrinologist prescribed combined T3 and T4 therapy. Within four months, I was back: energy restored, training again, thriving.
The frustrating reality
Here's the difficult bit: most NHS practices won't routinely prescribe T3 (liothyronine), largely due to its cost compared with standard levothyroxine, a well-documented issue that thyroid charities have campaigned on for years. So I had to go private and fund my own treatment, at £135 a month. Honestly, that's a real barrier, especially during a cost of living crisis, and there are ongoing efforts by thyroid charities to change this, because many people could benefit from T3 support.
What I changed
Alongside medication, I made targeted changes based on my own results. Important: this is my protocol, based on my own testing, not a one-size-fits-all approach for anyone reading this.
Energy and mitochondrial support. Acetyl L-carnitine and alpha lipoic acid (ALA), to support cellular energy and metabolism.
Stress and hormones. My results showed low cortisol, DHEA and testosterone, so I focused on magnesium glycinate and methylated B vitamins to support stress response and energy regulation.
Inflammation and immune support. High-strength omega-3 (EPA) and NAC, to help reduce inflammation and support immune balance.
Liver support, crucial for hormone and thyroid conversion, helping with detoxification, hormone clearance and T4 to T3 conversion.
Gut health. High-quality probiotics, because gut health influences immunity, and autoimmune conditions often start here.
Actionable diet tips for supporting the thyroid
Eat enough protein. Around 20 to 30g per meal, to support metabolism and hormone balance.
Balance blood sugar. Avoid 'naked carbs,' always combine protein, fats and fibre.
Support key thyroid nutrients. Selenium (Brazil nuts), zinc (meat, seeds) and iodine (eggs, seafood).
Reduce inflammation. Focus on whole foods, healthy fats and plenty of vegetables.
Don't overtrain or undereat. Both can worsen thyroid function.
For meal ideas that fit this pattern, the FIT Recipe Hub is worth exploring.
The biggest lesson I've learned
Testing changes everything, because guessing wastes time, delays progress, and keeps you stuck. Now, with my clients, I don't rely on assumptions. To build fully personalised plans, I use the FIT Female Hormone Balance Test, Female Wellness 360, and other advanced functional testing.
If you feel like something isn't right
Trust yourself. Advocate for yourself. I've been there: feeling dismissed, feeling exhausted, feeling like I should just push through. You don't have to stay stuck.
You might like to read next: Thyroid Health & Weight Loss: Why You're Not Losing Weight.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hashimoto’s
What is Hashimoto's thyroid disease? An autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the thyroid, disrupting hormone production and metabolism over time.
Can you have normal thyroid tests but still feel symptoms? Yes. Many standard NHS tests only check TSH, and sometimes T4, missing key markers like free T3 and thyroid antibodies that a fuller picture depends on.
Why is T3 important for thyroid health? T3 is the active thyroid hormone responsible for driving metabolism, energy and fat burning. Some people convert T4 to T3 poorly, even when their T4 levels look adequate.
Can thyroid problems cause weight gain? Yes, slowed thyroid function reduces metabolic rate and can make weight loss genuinely harder, independent of diet and exercise effort.
Should I take supplements for thyroid health? Ideally based on testing rather than guessing. What worked in this story was matched to specific results, not a generic protocol, and that's the approach worth taking rather than copying someone else's supplement stack directly.
If anything in this article sounds familiar, your body may be trying to tell you something. The good news is, you don't have to figure it out alone.
Take the free Find Your FIT Quiz to discover which test or programme suits your symptoms, or book a free 15-minute Personalised FIT Health Review with Becki for a direct, no-obligation conversation about where to start.
About Becki Hawkins
Becki Hawkins, BSc (Hons), mBANT, CNHC, is the founder of FIT Nutrition & Testing Clinic and a Registered Nutritional Therapist with over 20 years of experience. She specialises in evidence-based personalised nutrition and functional testing, helping clients uncover the root causes of digestive issues, hormonal imbalances, and unexplained symptoms. Becki combines clinical expertise with culinary creativity, translating complex test results into practical, delicious nutrition plans that work in real life. Her approach is simple: test, don't guess. Because guessing doesn't heal. Knowing does.