Category: General
"Everyone thought I had burnout. It turned out I had Hashimoto's."
For years, Sanne thought that stress or burnout was causing her symptoms. Testing for anti-TPO and anti-Tg antibodies finally provided an explanation: Hashimoto’s disease.
“You have two kids, a busy job, and a thousand things on your mind at once. Of course you’re tired.” That’s what Sanne (41) heard for years—from friends, colleagues, and even herself. And it made sense. Until the fatigue stopped feeling normal.
"I woke up feeling as if I’d already been up all day. After work, all I could do was sit on the couch. I couldn’t exercise anymore. I lost my ability to concentrate. I was always cold and was slowly gaining weight."
Everyone thought it was stress, burnout, or menopause. But none of those explanations quite felt right.
"On paper, I was healthy"
Sanne had her blood tested several times. “My iron levels were fine. No anemia. No obvious vitamin deficiencies.” Yet she kept feeling worse and worse. “The frustrating thing was that everyone said everything was fine, while my body was telling me something completely different.”
One question changed everything: Has my thyroid ever been checked?
During a conversation with a friend, the topic of her thyroid came up. “She asked if my thyroid had ever been thoroughly examined.” It turned out that it hadn’t.
During her search, Sanne read about Hashimoto’s for the first time—an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the thyroid gland. Many of the symptoms were painfully familiar to her.
More Than Just TSH: What Are Thyroid Antibodies?
What Sanne didn’t know is that thyroid problems aren’t just reflected in TSH or free T4 levels—thyroid antibodies can also play an important role. The most well-known ones are:
Through Bloedwaardentest, she decided to have these levels tested.
Finally, an explanation
The results showed elevated anti-TPO and anti-Tg antibodies. “I wasn’t sad. I was relieved.” For the first time, she had an explanation for the symptoms she’d been dealing with for years. “It felt like I could finally believe in myself again.”
Not everything is stress: when is it worth digging deeper?
Of course, not everyone who experiences fatigue has Hashimoto’s, but Sanne’s story shows that long-term symptoms sometimes have a cause other than stress, a busy lifestyle, or aging.
"If your gut keeps telling you that something isn't right, keep asking questions. That's what ultimately made the difference for me."
Getting Tested for Anti-TPO and Anti-Tg Antibodies
Would you like to know if you might be experiencing an autoimmune reaction against the thyroid? If so, testing for anti-TPO and anti-Tg antibodies can provide additional information alongside standard thyroid test results.
More information: Comprehensive thyroid evaluation
This test examines the most important thyroid antibodies that may be associated with Hashimoto’s or other autoimmune thyroid diseases. A doctor is available by phone to provide explanations, and a lifestyle consultation is also an option. Blood samples can be drawn at more than 1,000 locations throughout the Netherlands, and if any abnormal results are found that require immediate medical follow-up, you will always receive a call first from a doctor or medical expert.
Have a question about your results?Leave a comment. Our specialists are happy to help you.
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