Dear readers, we always learn so much from your stories. In fact, we have never covered the topic of Hashimoto’s disease on our blog before. Daniela has had Hashimoto’s disease for many, many years and has experienced many symptoms that have often made her life difficult. In 2025, she found a new way to deal with the disease. Here she tells us about it:
Dear Daniela, you have Hashimoto’s disease – can you explain exactly what that is?
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease, which means it’s a condition where your immune system attacks your own body. In this case, it affects the thyroid gland. The thyroid tissue is gradually destroyed by inflammation triggered by a misguided immune process. Hashimoto’s is the most common cause of hypothyroidism, which can cause a variety of very different symptoms.
When did you first experience symptoms and how long did it take to get a diagnosis?
I was diagnosed at the age of 15, which is unusually early. Most people are diagnosed later in life. I didn’t have any obvious symptoms at the time, at least none that my parents or I could interpret correctly. Looking back, however, there were signs, such as my very early first period at the age of nine.
Hashimoto’s was discovered in my case because of a family history of the disease. The doctor advised that my daughters also be examined, and that is how the disease was diagnosed in me – but without any explanation. I was simply told to take a tablet in the morning on an empty stomach. That was it. As a teenager, it was difficult to understand the significance of this therapy and to follow it consistently.
How has Hashimoto’s affected your life in recent years?
Hashimoto’s has affected me in very different ways at different stages of my life. At the end of my teenage years, I struggled with severe mood swings, weight gain and very painful periods. But at the time, no one linked these symptoms to my thyroid. For a long time, I thought that was just „the way I was“.
It was only in my mid-20s – when I wanted to start a family – that I began to look more closely at the condition. The change in my hormone balance made it difficult to get pregnant. It quickly became clear how many symptoms I had accepted as „normal“ over the years: fatigue, depressive phases, listlessness, constipation, concentration problems. A radiologist who took me seriously and treated me holistically brought about a significant improvement for the first time. During this time, I was able to have three healthy children – a great blessing that cannot be taken for granted with Hashimoto’s disease.
But after pregnancy and breastfeeding, my hormone balance was thrown off again. The symptoms worsened, my weight exceeded the 100-kilo mark and my mood swings put a strain on our family life in particular. The medication dose was increased again and again, without effect.
What did you do then?
At the end of 2023, I finally stopped taking the usual medication – out of frustration. At first, I felt better, but after a few months, I suffered a massive breakdown, both physically and mentally. I cried for days, had trouble sleeping, and felt listless and negative all the time. I also had increasing physical problems: water retention, further weight gain, joint pain. The turning point came at the end of 2024. In a women’s magazine, I read about a naturopath who specialised in thyroid disorders – and described my problems almost exactly. I drove 150 kilometres to his practice and for the first time I felt that I was really understood. Since then, I have been taking so-called bioidentical thyroid hormones, which my body can utilise directly. Presumably, the inability to convert the hormones I was taking was the core of my problem. For me personally, this was the end of a long period of suffering. I am sleeping well again, have lost weight and my mood swings have decreased significantly. I have a positive outlook on life again.
How did the people around you deal with your illness? Many are unfamiliar with it…
Many people – especially women – know Hashimoto by name. However, the common assumption is: „You just take tablets and then everything is fine.“ For many sufferers, however, it is much more complex.
In reality, Hashimoto’s is often a silent struggle – invisible to outsiders, but powerful on the inside. Many people do not see the disease as a „real“ illness. And I can understand that – even I took many years to understand that my symptoms were not imaginary or a weakness of character.
You’ve lost quite a few kilos over the last year. How did you manage that?
Yes, I’ve lost 20 kilos – from grade II obesity to „only“ overweight. I think the biggest factor was the change in my thyroid medication. It gave me new energy. My hunger pangs have changed, and I can interpret my body’s needs better. In addition, I have gradually made my diet more protein-rich and kept an eye on my calories. Without restrictions. I still love pizza, sweets and the occasional fast food.
I also exercise much more. Less joint pain and more energy make it easy. Taking the stairs instead of the lift, walking one stop, YouTube workouts in between – lots of little things that add up to a big difference.
And a lot has changed professionally too – tell us about it.Â
After completing my business studies degree, which I did as a second qualification alongside raising my children, Corona threw my career plans into disarray. So, after my third child was born, I ended up working in the social sector. This was an experience that shaped me. It wasn’t an easy work situation for me, and so my health problems were compounded by professional stress.
I am all the happier that I was able to start working in the civil service of my federal state. I have been employed there for over a year now and feel very comfortable. It is an extremely interesting and varied job that I enjoy very much.
Since September, I have also taken on the role of training manager for our new trainee. The office has not provided training for a long time and we are growing into this new role together as a team. I am proud to be able to play an active part in this.
At the same time, I am completing an in-service training course to further my professional development. The combination of new tasks, responsibility and personal development is incredibly good for me.
What have you learned in 2025?
One sentence has stayed with me throughout this year: „Everything will be fine in the end. And if it’s not fine yet, it’s not the end.“
In 2025, many things took a turn for the better – not by chance, but because I took active steps: career changes, the courage to try alternative treatments, the perseverance to lose weight in the long term, and consciously addressing the division of care work in our partnership, which gives me the freedom to pursue my further education.
In 2025, I have learned to consciously shape my own life again and not define myself solely by my role in the family. I have started to accept myself with all my strengths, my limitations and also my illness. This has allowed me to grow. I am proud of my journey and grateful for my family, who have supported me during this intense time and sometimes lovingly put up with me.
One’s own path is rarely straight. There are often detours and obstacles. But at the moment, I feel like I have arrived at an easily navigable section – and I have enough energy to master any upcoming inclines. I wish this strength upon everyone who is going through something similar.
