‘I WAS PLEASED I WAS LOSING WEIGHT, BUT I WAS REALLY ILL’

Alison Edgar, 49, is married to Neil, 46, and lives in Chippenham with her sons, Keiran, 16, and Connor, 14. ‘I’ve always been on the heavy side but in 2005, after having two children, I went on a big health drive. I’m the sort of person who never does anything by halves, and I started doing daily workouts and eating healthily. The weight fell off

me and after six months I’d lost 5st.

But I was constantly buzzing with energy and not sleeping well. One day, I went to drink some water and my hands started shaking uncontrollably. I went to my GP, who found my heart rate was racing and ordered blood tests. A day later, I was told I had an overactive thyroid, which may lead to heart problems, and that I’d need medication to bring the hormone levels under control.

I then developed eye problems. I permanently had conjunctivitis and found it painful to look up or to the side. I was diagnosed with thyroid eye disease, a complication of my hyperthyroidism, and would need radiotherapy or risk losing my sight.

It was terrifying. My two boys were only four and five at the time, and they had to see mummy going to the hospital every day for weeks. I couldn’t drive and was off work for two months. Fortunately, the treatment worked. But my thyroid still wasn’t under control so, in 2011, I agreed to have it removed.

The experience was scary, but I got through it and realised that I’m a strong woman. It galvanised me to set up my own business, too, where I now teach small businesses how to sell their services.

I’ll be on medication for life, but it could have been far worse. I have my sight and my health is good at the moment. Thyroid problems don’t have to stop you from living your life.’