Yahoo Lifestyle What it's like to have Hashimoto's thyroiditis
Photography Carine Thevenau
Chloe Gale 29, midwife, has Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
The diagnosis
Cramming for her HSC, 18-year-old Gale was hit with what she thought was a nasty flu. Breathing difficulties and a swollen airway made her hotfoot it to hospital, where she was told she had acute bacterial tracheitis and was admitted for a week and given intravenous antibiotics.
A month later, Gale’s windpipe was healing but she developed a goitre, a swelling of the thyroid gland.
“My thyroid initially went into overdrive causing hyper-thyroidism [think: racing heart, weight loss and sleepless nights] but then switched to hypo-thyroidism [think: slow heart rate, a drop in body temp, fatigue and weight gain].”
Medication and an optimistic endocrinologist meant Gale expected the condition to resolve within six months, with a likelihood of recurrence at less than five per cent. To Gale’s dismay, it came back a few months later.
“Steroids and an increase of daily thyroxine medication from 50mcg to 175mcg couldn’t hold it off.”
The treatment
A diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) also compounded her struggle with weight, so in 2009 Gale took action with a personal trainer.
“She taught me to appreciate what my body can do. I exercise four times a week with a mix of strength, cardio and swimming.”
Gale also knows keeping stress at bay is key. “If I’m overworked or sleep deprived, my neck becomes tender, the goitre enlarges, my throat becomes sore, my voice changes and I become incredibly tired – I can sleep 17 hours and not feel refreshed.”
Monthly kinesiology sessions for a year further helped Gale. “It’s taken three years, but I’ve lost 16kg and my thyroid is under control.”
Today
“I know I’ll be on thyroxine for the rest of my life, but if that’s all that life throws at me then I’m pretty lucky.”
