Expert Q&A

What I learnt as a physician about having Hashimoto for myself and what helped: how to talk to your doctor about this

My Personal Hashimoto's Journey as a Physician

When I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, it felt like a betrayal from my own body. As a practicing physician focused on metabolic health, I had spent years helping patients with similar struggles, yet suddenly I faced the same reality: crushing fatigue, stubborn weight gain despite clean eating, and joint pain that made even short walks exhausting. My TSH was "normal" at 4.2, but my free T3 and T4 were low, and my antibodies were sky high. This is the classic pattern I see in my middle-aged patients who feel dismissed by conventional care.

Hashimoto's isn't just a thyroid problem—it's an autoimmune condition where your immune system attacks the thyroid gland. For women in their 40s and 50s, hormonal shifts around perimenopause amplify the chaos, making blood sugar unstable and weight nearly impossible to lose. In my book, I detail how addressing root causes rather than just symptoms changed everything for me and hundreds of clients.

Key Lessons That Transformed My Health

First, standard TSH testing alone misses the full picture. I insisted on a complete thyroid panel including free T3, free T4, reverse T3, and thyroid antibodies. Optimal TSH for most with Hashimoto's is under 2.0, not the lab range up to 4.5. When my doctor adjusted my levothyroxine and added a small dose of liothyronine (T3), my energy returned within weeks. Second, inflammation control became non-negotiable. I eliminated gluten and dairy completely for 90 days—both are common triggers that spike antibodies. My anti-TPO levels dropped from over 800 to under 100.

Third, gentle movement replaced intense exercise. With joint pain, high-intensity workouts worsened my symptoms. Instead, I focused on daily 30-minute walks and resistance bands at home. This approach fits busy schedules and doesn't require expensive gym memberships that insurance won't cover. Blood sugar management through balanced plates—protein, healthy fats, and fiber-rich carbs—helped stabilize my diabetes markers while shedding 28 pounds in six months.

How to Talk to Your Doctor About Hashimoto's

Bring data, not demands. Print your symptom journal tracking energy, weight, joint pain, and mood. Request specific labs: "I'd like a full thyroid panel including antibodies because my symptoms persist despite normal TSH." Share that you're following an evidence-based autoimmune protocol and want to partner on optimizing treatment. If dismissed, consider finding a functional medicine practitioner who understands thyroid optimization.

Ask about nutrient deficiencies common in Hashimoto's—selenium 200mcg daily, vitamin D to reach 50-60 ng/mL, and zinc. These supported my recovery dramatically. Remember, you're the expert on your body. My methodology emphasizes sustainable changes that fit real life, not restrictive diets that fail long-term.

Building Sustainable Progress With Hashimoto's

Focus on sleep, stress reduction through short breathing exercises, and consistent but simple nutrition. My patients see the best results when they stop chasing perfection and build systems that last. The joint pain eased as inflammation dropped, and managing blood pressure improved alongside the scale. You've tried every diet— this isn't another one. It's understanding your unique physiology and working with it, not against it.

💬 What the Community Says

The community shows a mix of frustration and cautious hope around Hashimoto's management. Many in their late 40s to mid-50s describe years of being told their TSH was normal while battling fatigue, weight gain, and joint pain that makes movement feel impossible. A common theme is distrust of standard doctors who dismiss symptoms or refuse full thyroid panels; several report switching to functional practitioners yielded better antibody reductions and energy. Lived experiences highlight success with gluten and dairy elimination, though some debate how strict to stay long-term. Insurance barriers and time constraints for meal prep come up frequently, with users appreciating simple, realistic approaches over complex protocols. A vocal minority warns against over-relying on supplements without testing, while most appreciate stories from physicians with the condition sharing practical doctor-conversation scripts. Overall sentiment leans toward empowerment through self-advocacy but acknowledges the emotional toll of feeling unheard in medical settings.
Cite this answer
Clark, R. (2026). What I learnt as a physician about having Hashimoto for myself and what helped: . *CFP Weight Loss*. https://ask.cfpweightloss.com/ask/what-i-learnt-as-a-physician-about-having-hashimoto-for-myself-and-what-helped-how-to-talk-to-your-doctor-about-this
Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN, FNP-C, APRN
About the Author

Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN, is the founder of CFP Weight Loss in Nashville and CFP Fit Now telehealth. Over 35 years in healthcare — Army Nurse Reserves, Level 1 trauma ER, hospitalist — he developed a 30-week protocol integrating real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 30–90 pounds. He and his wife Anne-Marie lost a combined 275 pounds using the same protocol.

📖 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — Get the Book →
Get Personalized Guidance From the Author
Every weight loss journey is different. Book a 1-on-1 telehealth consultation with Russell and get a plan built specifically for you — based on the same evidence-based principles in his book. Available to patients in all 50 states.
Book Your Consultation →
Have a follow-up question?
More Questions 200 answered
▸ Is it just me or is Hashimoto’s greatly underrepresented on a low-carb or ketogenic diet — what the research actually says? ▸ Good calorie amount? Advice to get high volume low cal and more protein when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances — what the research actually says? ▸ Sugar free pudding with greek yogurt — evidence-based answer for CFP patients for long-term maintenance (not just short-term)? ▸ How I Lost 22lbs in 3 Months (155→133lbs at 5'8") after not being able to lose weight for a long time if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide during the weight loss plateau phase? 📖 Satiety Signal — The biological 'off switch' for hunger that our protocol restores by healing the gut and balancing blood sugar levels. ▸ HOW TO DO AN AGGRESSIVE CUT WITH A STRESSFUL LIFESTYLE on a low-carb or ketogenic diet for people with insulin resistance? ▸ 42yom Im finding it much harder to lose weight, what are some things I can do now to start losing weight? ▸ Those of you with Reta experience how does this protocol look for people with insulin resistance when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances? ▸ Estradiol Cypionate- I’ve been underdosing- what dose are you at — what do certified weight loss coaches recommend when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances? 📖 Adipose Tissue Signaling — The way fat cells communicate with the brain; our goal is to fix these signals so the body stops defending an unnaturall… ▸ Anyone remember the metal lid you had to use a butter knife to pop off: what to track and how to measure progress: best practices and common mistakes to avoid? 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ Weight loss without GLP-1 — what does the research actually say while doing intermittent fasting? ▸ Have you cut out snacking in between meals and what are the benefits and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels during the weight loss plateau phase? ▸ Diabetics with TPN (IV nutrition experience) and the role of cortisol and stress hormones on a low-carb or ketogenic diet? 📖 Insulin Resistance — A condition where your cells stop responding to insulin, locking fat in storage; our protocol is designed to unlock thes… ▸ My weight loss progress so far as a 23 year male who stared eating less unhealthy and does little to moderate exercise. Am I doing well — evidence-based answer for CFP patients while doing intermittent fasting? ▸ Can autophagy regenerate muscle during physically active prolonged fast and how it connects to gut health and inflammation and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels? ▸ If a random dance partner app existed .. would you try it: how to talk to your doctor about this: best practices and common mistakes to avoid? ▸ Compression socks. Worth it? Any recs — how a functional medicine approach differs for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? 📖 Anti-Inflammatory Protocol — A way of eating that prioritizes whole foods and eliminates triggers to quiet the internal 'fire' that prevents fat cell… ▸ When you want something sweet but still try to keep things somewhat low-carb and how it connects to gut health and inflammation on a low-carb or ketogenic diet? ▸ Anyone stopped responding to Mounjaro and had better results with retatrutide for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? ▸ What’s your favorite toothpaste for people with insulin resistance — what the research actually says? 📖 Hormonal Chaos — The internal state of imbalance caused by modern grains and refined carbs that overrides willpower and forces the body t… 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ LDN is changing my life, will this last: best practices and common mistakes to avoid: what to track and how to measure progress? ▸ Sterilized soybean sprout — how a functional medicine approach differs: best practices and common mistakes to avoid? ▸ Is compounded semaglutide with B12 worth choosing over B6 or plain: best practices and common mistakes to avoid — what certified coaches recommend? ▸ What to do if you have to eat late dinners?? How to process the dinner quicker so I'm not burping all night long while doing intermittent fasting: what to track and how to measure progress? 📖 Tirzepatide — A dual-acting medication targeting both GLP-1 and GIP receptors, providing a more comprehensive metabolic signal than si… ▸ Low TSH, Low T4, and Low T3 simultaneously on Levothyroxine — anyone experienced this and the role of cortisol and stress hormones — what certified coaches recommend? ▸ What do you eat grain/carb wise, and why — how a functional medicine approach differs for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? ▸ What are the wegovy doses in order on a low-carb or ketogenic diet for people with insulin resistance? ▸ Has anybody heard of or experienced improvement from neurological disorders through fasting and autophagy if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide: best practices and common mistakes to avoid? ▸ What is a super quick "Mix some of this in" to make coconut oil (purely in liquid form) taste ok to make it easy to consume: how to talk to your doctor about this during the weight loss plateau phase? 📖 CICO (Calories In, Calories Out) — An outdated model of weight loss that ignores the role of hormones; we challenge this by focusing on food quality and ho… ▸ Testosterone how long does it take to work while doing intermittent fasting if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide? 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ Do yall ever daydream of who you were before your diagnosis when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide? ▸ Can you really Metformin (6 weeks in) for insulin resistance — can the gut stuff actually get better specifically for women over 40? ▸ I am on my second week of mounjaro (2.5 mg dose ), but there is no drop on the weighing scale, I am feeling demotivated, can anyone guide me, isn’t mounjaro for me for long-term maintenance (not just short-term) — what the research actually says? ▸ Anyone know where to purchase pork rind tortillas — what do certified weight loss coaches recommend when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances? 📖 High-Dose Dependency — The pharmaceutical trap of staying on maximum medication doses indefinitely, which we avoid through our smart cycling me… ▸ Coke Zero gave me heart palpitations: what to track and how to measure progress for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? ▸ What is the connection between Metformin (6 weeks in) for insulin resistance — can the gut stuff actually get better and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels? ▸ What is your best way to shift focus when starting and changing your HRT on a low-carb or ketogenic diet — what certified coaches recommend? ▸ Good calorie amount? Advice to get high volume low cal and more protein when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? ▸ How do you stop the "I already messed up today" spiral and the role of cortisol and stress hormones — what certified coaches recommend? ▸ What happens when Has anyone here experienced skin benefits from autophagy for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? 📖 Bio-Individuality — The understanding that every patient’s metabolic journey is unique, requiring a personalized approach to dosing and diet… 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ How do you deal with traveling when you're on a peptide protocol specifically for women over 40 if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide? ▸ Do you think they read the responses they receive: how to talk to your doctor about this while doing intermittent fasting? ▸ Is it possible that low carb is the only way I can eat specifically for women over 40 and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels? ▸ Exercise — when and what kind while fasting, and does it enhance autophagy — how a functional medicine approach differs specifically for women over 40? ▸ How long does it take to Is Autophagy? 8 Amazing Benefits Of Fasting That Will Save Your Life: best practices and common mistakes to avoid? ▸ If a random dance partner app existed .. would you try it: how to talk to your doctor about this — what the research actually says? 📖 Strategic Fat Loading — A critical 48-hour phase at the start of the reset where we prime the body with healthy fats to trigger the transition f… ▸ Why cant i lose weight and am gaining weight when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances while doing intermittent fasting? ▸ Im eating so well that I accidently put my body in ketosis and how it connects to gut health and inflammation: best practices and common mistakes to avoid? 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ What is the connection between Metformin (6 weeks in) for insulin resistance — can the gut stuff actually get better and how it connects to gut health and inflammation? ▸ What are the wegovy doses in order on a low-carb or ketogenic diet when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances? ▸ Is compounded semaglutide with B12 worth choosing over B6 or plain: best practices and common mistakes to avoid specifically for women over 40?