‘MY NEW DIET IS HELPING TO KEEP MY SYMPTOMS AT BAY’

Emma Heptonstall, 43, lives in York. ‘I’ve always had plenty of energy and felt motivated to get things done, so when I started to suffer terrible brain fog and fatigue, I blamed myself: maybe I’d got lazy and lost motivation.

But a couple of months later, my symptoms got worse. I was starting to feel breathless climbing the stairs, getting very tearful and making little mistakes at work. I was also gaining weight at a rate of 1lb a week and didn’t know why. A few weeks later, I spoke to a nutritionist friend, who suggested that I get my thyroid checked.

I ordered an online test and sent a blood sample to be checked. A week later, in March last year, I received a call to say I had Hashimoto’s. My immune system was attacking my thyroid and would eventually cause damage. I was relieved that there was a reason for my symptoms, but I was worried what would happen.

My GP told me there was nothing to help me unless my thyroid became damaged, in which case I’d have to take thyroxine.

I was signed off work for three months and felt worried about the future, especially as I’d started my own business as a divorce coach.

My nutritionist suggested that I eliminate gluten and dairy from my diet – it’s thought this can help improve symptoms and prevent further damage to the thyroid.

At first, it was hard to adjust my eating habits but, after a while, I noticed a big improvement in my health. It took six months for me to turn the corner, but the brain fog has now lifted. The stone I put on is very slowly coming off and I feel back on form.’