Jade's Journey with Hashimoto's and Low Dose Naltrexone

Jade from South Africa talks about dealing with Hashimoto's and her journey with Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN). Jade was diagnosed with Hashimoto's in 2010, but she only discovered LDN in 2019 after stumbling upon it in a Hashimoto's Facebook group. She consulted with a functional doctor in South Africa who prescribed LDN for her. Before receiving her Hashimoto's diagnosis, Jade experienced severe hair loss, which prompted her to seek medical attention. Although she didn't exhibit typical symptoms such as weight gain, she suffered from fatigue, which she later learned was related to Hashimoto's. Initially diagnosed with an underactive thyroid, it took years before she was informed of her Hashimoto's condition.

After moving to Germany in 2016, Jade's symptoms worsened, leading her to research and seek out support groups to manage her condition better. Despite making dietary changes, she found that her antibodies remained high, which motivated her to explore LDN as a potential solution. Since then, she has seen significant improvement, with her antibodies dropping to remission levels.

Obtaining LDN in Germany proved to be challenging, as many doctors were unfamiliar with the medication. Ultimately, Jade continues to source her LDN from her doctor in South Africa and relies on family members to bring it to her when they visit.

Jade started LDN at a low dosage of 0.5mg, gradually increasing the dose each week until she reached 4.5mg. Initially, she experienced vivid dreams and fatigue for the first few weeks. Overall, Jade's journey with LDN and Hashimoto's highlights the challenges of accessing specialized treatments and the importance of advocating for oneself in managing chronic conditions.

In addition to managing her Hashimoto's with LDN, Jade continued taking LDN throughout her pregnancy. Despite some doctors advising against it during pregnancy, she did her own research and found a supportive community. She believed LDN potentially helped her from having a miscarriage and had a positive impact during her pregnancy. She had a healthy pregnancy and a smooth birth, and her baby is now three months old and healthy. She values the importance of doing her own research and seeking second opinions from doctors and is grateful for the positive experience she had during her pregnancy.