More Than Just Exhaustion

I have hypothyroidism, and at 15 I was diagnosed. I’m heavily active and sports and always believed that my exhaustion it was due to overworking myself. On top of athletics, I had challenging honors/ap classes. Many days, I would get home I would take a nap and brush off the exhaustion. This condition runs in my family, which as a result ended up being passed onto me. My thyroid was enlarged, and doctors noticed it when I went to the er for a severe ear infection. The er doctor recommended me to get blood work and I did just that. A few days later my mother received a call. They told her to pick me up from school and go to the endocrinologist. During this whole process, I remained calm and reminded myself that this was something fixable. The doctor ended up showing my parents that my levels for various things were very off. They were surprised how I was still functioning just fine. From this point on I am now on medication that helps the receptors in my thyroid to communicate with my brain and release the proper hormones etc.

Thank you to our storyteller for sharing their experience. Every story shared helps break the stigma surrounding invisible illness and reminds others that they are not alone. If you see yourself in this story, we hope you know that your experiences are valid, your voice matters, and there is a community that stands beside you.

— ChronicNeuro Team