"After a Long Time… Let’s Talk About Hashimoto’s"

Hello again, everyone!

It’s been a while since I last wrote, and I’m truly sorry for the long pause. After almost six months, I finally felt ready to sit down and share a little update. I hope you’ve all been doing well.

Since leaving my job, I’ve been spending more time at home and focusing on taking better care of myself. One small but meaningful goal I’ve managed to stick to is eating more homemade food and making healthier choices. It might sound simple, but for me, it’s a big win — and I’m proud of the progress I’ve made.

That said, I still struggle with the fatigue that comes with Hashimoto’s, and it continues to affect my life in many ways. Ever since confirming that my hypothyroidism is actually Hashimoto’s, I’ve been digging deeper into understanding what’s really going on inside my body. I’ve spent a lot of time researching, reading, and slowly figuring out how to support myself and feel better.

So, in this blog, I wanted to open up and share how it all started — because this was a major turning point in my life. A time when I felt completely alone, even with so many people around me. And I know there are many others out there who might need a little encouragement to start exploring their symptoms or simply want someone who understands what they’re going through. Whether you’re looking for answers or just craving comfort in real words — not rejection or dismissal — I hope my story offers that.

Just a little reminder: I’m not a medical advisor. But if my experience helps even one person feel seen or supported, then this was worth sharing.

It all began back in January 2020, when I was 23 years old and had been married for almost two years.

I was at my friend’s salon, helping her with a bridal appointment. The bride was someone I didn’t know, but we ended up chatting while getting everything ready — just typical girly talk. At some point, I noticed a small scar on her neck and asked about it. That’s when she shared her story about having thyroid cancer and how her thyroid gland had been removed.

She began talking about the symptoms she’d experienced, and to my surprise, I realized I was dealing with many of the same things — constant tiredness, feeling sleepy all the time, hair loss, weight gain, and a puffier face. I hadn’t thought much of the weight gain, since in many Asian cultures, gaining some weight after marriage is seen as normal. But I showed her a photo of myself from before my wedding, and we could both clearly see how much I had changed. That’s when she gently pointed to my neck and said, “Your neck looks a little bigger, or puffier, too.”

She was the first person who told me, “You should probably get this checked.” That moment really hit me — like my body had been quietly trying to tell me something for a long time. And I’m truly grateful to her. Even though I only met her once in my life, she might not realize how much help she gave me just by pointing out my neck. I did thank her after visiting the doctor, but we never had a chance to stay in touch.

I still remember sleeping through my alarm on most mornings and completely missing the chance to pack my husband’s lunch. It left me feeling emotional and guilty, especially since we were newly married and living with my in-laws.

I should say — my mother-in-law is a very kind and understanding person. But at that time, I just didn’t have the physical or mental energy to help her in the kitchen. Thankfully, my husband was always by my side. He stood strong for me and supported me through it all, even when I couldn’t explain what I was feeling.

The very next day, I went to see our family doctor with my husband. After examining my neck and hearing about my symptoms, the doctor suspected hypothyroidism and recommended a TSH and T4 blood test, along with a neck ultrasound.

The test results were honestly a shock:

TSH: >100 (normal range: 0.30–4.20)
T4: 0.55 (normal range: 0.90–1.70)

Both were far out of range. I still remember sitting in the ultrasound room when the doctor said my thyroid gland looked slightly swollen. He said not to worry — that I’d just need some medicine and things would get better. Soon after, I was prescribed Levothyroxine — the standard medication for hypothyroidism — to help bring my hormone levels back to normal.

At the time, I didn’t know much about thyroid problems. I never imagined this would be the start of something that would affect so many areas of my life — from daily tasks to relationships, motivation, and even work.

About three months later, I had to repeat the tests to check if the treatment was working. The doctor adjusted my dosage, but even then, my symptoms didn’t really improve. Hoping to understand more, I searched online to find what kind of doctor I should see. Eventually, I booked an appointment with an endocrinologist — a thyroid specialist.

The endocrinologist confirmed the same diagnosis. But with the new prescription, my thyroid levels finally returned to normal. I was put on 100 mcg of Levothyroxine on weekdays and 125 mcg on weekends.

Since the numbers were now “normal,” the doctor didn’t seem too concerned. He gave me a few suggestions, like avoiding vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, and soy, which could interfere with the medication.

I also brought up my weight gain. I had been around 40 kg when I got married, but within two years, I had reached 56 kg. He recommended adding regular workouts to my routine and mentioned that it might be genetic — especially since three of my aunts on my father’s side had thyroid issues too.

At the time, that explanation made sense to me, and I accepted it. I remember thinking, “Alright, I have hypothyroidism. I’ll take my medicine every morning, wait an hour before eating — and everything will be fine.”

So, I followed the plan. I ate healthier, did home workouts, and even went to the gym for a while. But despite all my efforts, nothing really changed — not in my symptoms, and not in my weight.

Time passed, and in August 2022, we moved to Dubai. I eventually found my first full-time job as a Guest Service Agent in a five-star hotel. On the outside, everything looked like it was falling into place. I was taking my medication, working hard, and doing my best to keep up.

But deep down, something still didn’t feel right.

(What I didn’t know then — and wouldn’t find out until five years later — was that what I actually had was Hashimoto’s. I’ll share how I found that out in Part 2 of this story.)

I think what held me back from digging deeper was the environment I grew up in. In many Asian cultures, there’s not enough awareness around invisible illnesses. If people can’t see a physical wound, they might not believe the pain is real — and we often just accept whatever the doctor says.

But I was silently struggling — trying to get through everyday tasks with the same energy as everyone else. For me, it felt like running while the rest of the world was walking.

I’m sharing this chapter of my life as honestly as I can, because I truly believe there’s strength in being real. Talking about my test results, my symptoms, and the emotional ups and downs makes this experience more relatable — and hopefully brings comfort to someone who’s going through something similar.

There are so many people — especially women — living with Hashimoto’s or hypothyroidism who feel unheard, dismissed, or stuck. If my story gives even one person a little clarity, comfort, or the courage to ask more questions at their next doctor’s appointment — or to dig deeper into their health — then this was all worth it.

The most eye-opening part of my Hashimoto’s journey actually began after we moved to Dubai — when I started getting sick more frequently and finally realized that something deeper was going on.

I’ll be sharing that next in Part 2 of this story — and I hope you’ll come back to read it. I’m already working on it and plan to publish it soon.

Thank you so much for reading my blog post.
Please feel free to share your thoughts — or even your own story in the comments.
I’d love to hear from you and connect with you. 

Written by: Samadara Abeysinghe
© 2025 Life with Sama. All rights reserved.
This post is based on my personal experience and is intended for informational and emotional support purposes only.