Grey's Anatomy Star Camilla Luddington Reveals Hashimoto's Disease Diagnosis
'You've known that I joke about being slothy, just a little slower,' Luddington said. 'Slower, tired, wanna be in bed, love a nap. It never occurred to me that there could be a medical reason for that, and that's where we've landed.'
She went on to note that routine blood work she'd been putting off helped lead to her diagnosis.
'My doctor was like, 'Everything looks great, except this one little thing,'' she recalled. 'And I remember hearing the words 'autoimmune disease' and thinking, 'What the fuck?' And then being told that I had something called Hashimoto's hypothyroidism and that it was very common.'
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, Hashimoto's disease ― also known as Hashimoto's hypothyroidism ― is a condition where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid gland, leading to inflammation and, eventually, an underactive thyroid.
Symptoms of the condition may include fatigue, joint pain, weight gain and constipation. It's also most common among women between the ages of 30 and 60, and may begin during pregnancy.
Luddington, whose credits also include Californication and True Blood, said she came to view her diagnosis as a bit of a relief, given that she 'knew something was up' prior to her doctor's visit.
'I felt like I had the answer for something that I've been knowing is going on,' she explained. 'And I have health anxiety, so there was a part of me that was like, 'Am I gaslighting myself?''
These days, Luddington said, she's 'on the road to recovery,' though she was quick to acknowledge that it's 'going to be a journey.' Her fans, however, can expect to be kept updated as often as possible.
'We set out to share all the things in the hopes that sharing our stories might resonate with somebody else, or make somebody feel a little less alone in their experience,' she said.
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21 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
Grey's Anatomy Star Camilla Luddington Reveals Hashimoto's Disease Diagnosis
Camilla Luddington, best known for her portrayal of Dr. Jo Wilson on Grey's Anatomy, confirmed this week that she has Hashimoto's disease. The actor discussed her diagnosis on Wednesday's episode of the iHeart podcast Call It What It Is, which she hosts with her Grey's co-star Jessica Capshaw. 'You've known that I joke about being slothy, just a little slower,' Luddington said. 'Slower, tired, wanna be in bed, love a nap. It never occurred to me that there could be a medical reason for that, and that's where we've landed.' She went on to note that routine blood work she'd been putting off helped lead to her diagnosis. 'My doctor was like, 'Everything looks great, except this one little thing,'' she recalled. 'And I remember hearing the words 'autoimmune disease' and thinking, 'What the fuck?' And then being told that I had something called Hashimoto's hypothyroidism and that it was very common.' According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, Hashimoto's disease ― also known as Hashimoto's hypothyroidism ― is a condition where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid gland, leading to inflammation and, eventually, an underactive thyroid. Symptoms of the condition may include fatigue, joint pain, weight gain and constipation. It's also most common among women between the ages of 30 and 60, and may begin during pregnancy. Luddington, whose credits also include Californication and True Blood, said she came to view her diagnosis as a bit of a relief, given that she 'knew something was up' prior to her doctor's visit. 'I felt like I had the answer for something that I've been knowing is going on,' she explained. 'And I have health anxiety, so there was a part of me that was like, 'Am I gaslighting myself?'' These days, Luddington said, she's 'on the road to recovery,' though she was quick to acknowledge that it's 'going to be a journey.' Her fans, however, can expect to be kept updated as often as possible. 'We set out to share all the things in the hopes that sharing our stories might resonate with somebody else, or make somebody feel a little less alone in their experience,' she said.
New York Post
21 hours ago
- New York Post
What is Hashimoto's? Grey's Anatomy's Camilla Luddington's disease explained
'Grey's Anatomy' star Camilla Luddington revealed this week that she's battled an autoimmune disease. The actress, 41, said on the 'Call It What It Is' podcast that she'd been feeling constantly 'slothy' and 'tired' — but figured at first that it was just her age or even hormonal changes. 'I thought, I have two kids, I'm in my 40s. This is what 'the 40s' is. I have jobs to do, maybe I'm perimenopause,' she said. Advertisement 'It got to the point where, by 11 a.m., I felt like I had to chug Benadryl, and I needed to nap. It didn't matter how much sleep I'd gotten the night before. There was no pushing through the day.' 4 'Grey's Anatomy' star Camilla Luddington revealed her Hashimoto's diagnosis this week. Richard Cartwright But after getting blood work done, she was diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease. What is Hashimoto's? Hashimoto's is a chronic autoimmune disorder that can cause hypothyroidism or an underactive thyroid. The condition is characterized by the immune system's creation of antibodies that attack thyroid cells as if they were bacteria, viruses, or some other foreign threat. Advertisement The thyroid gland, a butterfly-shaped organ in the front of your neck, produces hormones that regulate metabolism, support growth, and promote brain development, among other vital functions. The primary function of the thyroid is metabolic regulation. In patients with Hashimoto's disease the thyroid doesn't produce enough thyroid hormone for the body, slowing the metabolism and leading to a slew of symptoms. Named for Dr. Hakaru Hashimoto, the physician who identified the condition in 1912, Hashimoto's disease is also known as Hashimoto thyroiditis, Chronic autoimmune thyroiditis, and Lymphocytic thyroiditis. Advertisement Hashimoto's is a common condition, affecting 5 in 100 Americans. Hashimoto's can develop in any sex at any age, but women are 10 times more likely to be diagnosed than men. Diagnosis typically occurs between the ages of 30 and 50. People with existing autoimmune conditions like Addison's disease, Celiac disease, Lupus, Pernicious anemia, Rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome and Type 1 diabetes are more likely to develop Hashimoto's. 4 She'd initially dismissed her fatigue as normal for being a mom in her 40s. FilmMagic Advertisement What causes Hashimoto's disease? In patients with Hashimoto's, the immune system erroneously enlists disease-fighting agents that damage healthy cells. The exact cause of Hashimoto's is unclear, but experts believe the onset of the disease may be related to genetic factors or environmental triggers like stress, infection, and radiation exposure. Hashimoto's symptoms Patients with Hashimoto's disease may not have any symptoms at first. As Hashimoto's progresses, the thyroid gland may swell and enlarge, a condition known as a goiter. This is often the first sign of the disease. The symptoms of Hashimoto's progress slowly over the course of several years. Eventually, the decline in thyroid hormone production can result in the following symptoms: Fatigue Weight gain Increased sensitivity to cold Dry skin Enlarged tongue Constipation Muscle weakness Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness Joint pain and stiffness Irregular or excessive menstrual bleeding Depression Problems with cognition Swelling of the thyroid (goiter) A puffy face Brittle nails Hair loss 4 As Hashimoto's progresses, the thyroid gland may swell and enlarge, a condition known as a goiter. Orawan – How is Hashimoto's diagnosed? Advertisement Hashimoto's is tentatively diagnosed by symptoms and a physical exam and confirmed through a series of blood tests, including a Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test, a Free thyroxine (T4) test, and/or an Antithyroid antibody test. In some cases, providers may recommend a thyroid ultrasound to assess the size and quality of the gland and deduce if thyroid growths are present. How is Hashimoto's treated? Not all patients with Hashimoto's will develop hypothyroidism. In these cases, healthcare providers monitor thyroid levels but eschew treatment. When/if Hashimoto's leads to hypothyroidism, the gold standard in treatment is the medication levothyroxine, a synthetic form of the hormone T4 produced by the thyroid. Advertisement 4 Luddington revealed that she's been prescribed Levothyroxine and is now 'on the road to recovery.' Getty Images for MPTF NextGen Luddington revealed that she's been prescribed Levothyroxine and is now 'on the road to recovery.' 'I do feel a lot better. My energy's a lot better,' she said, adding, 'It's going to be a journey.' If hypothyroidism goes untreated, it can lead to serious health issues, including pregnancy complications, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, depression, and in some cases, myxedema coma, a rare condition in which the body's functions slow to the point of being fatal Is there a cure for Hashimoto's? Advertisement There is no known cure for Hashimoto's, but medication like Levothyroxine, eating well, exercising, adequate sleep, and stress management can support the immune system. Famous people with Hashimoto's In addition to Luddington, other famous people who have been open about their Hashimoto's diagnosis include supermodel Gigi Hadid, who has previously shared how the disease has affected her body. Zoe Saldana, Kelly Clarkson and Oprah Winfrey have also spoken out about having the condition.
2 days ago
'Grey's Anatomy' star diagnosed with Hashimoto's: What to know about the disease
"Grey's Anatomy" star Camilla Luddington recently revealed she has been diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease, an autoimmune disorder. The British actress, known for her role as Dr. Jo Wilson, shared the news on the "Call It What It Is" podcast in an episode aired on Wednesday, which she co-hosts with fellow "Grey's Anatomy" star Jessica Capshaw. Luddington explained that, for some time, she had felt unusually tired and sluggish, often joking about being "slothy." However, she didn't consider that there might be a medical reason behind it. After finally completing routine blood work, Luddington received the surprising diagnosis. "My doctor was like, everything looks great except this one little thing," she recalled. The news hit her hard. "I remember hearing the words 'autoimmune disease' and thinking, 'What the f---?'" Luddington said, though she later learned that hypothyroidism caused by Hashimoto's disease is quite common. Capshaw asked how Luddington processed the news, and Luddington admitted that she had suspected something was wrong with her health. "You know what? I knew something was up," Luddington shared. "Because even when I was having my blood drawn, the doctor said to me, 'Is there any, you know, particular thing you're concerned about?' And I said, 'Look, I'm really f---ing tired all the time.'" Initially, Luddington thought her symptoms might be due to perimenopause, a phase before menopause. But after learning about her autoimmune diagnosis, she said, "When they said it's really common, I was like, 'well, that sucks, but okay.'" Luddington has been part of the "Grey's Anatomy" cast since 2012. In addition to her role on the ABC drama, she has starred as Kate in "William & Kate: The Movie" and appeared on shows like "Californication" and "True Blood." What to know about Hashimoto's disease Hashimoto's disease is an autoimmune disorder that can cause hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) or, in rare cases, hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The thyroid, a small, butterfly-shaped gland in the neck, becomes damaged in people with Hashimoto's, NIDDK states on its website. The immune system produces antibodies that attack the thyroid, leading to the accumulation of white blood cells which destroy thyroid's cells that produce hormones. This condition is also known as Hashimoto's thyroiditis, chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, or autoimmune thyroiditis, according to NIDDK. While the exact number of people affected in the U.S. is unknown, Hashimoto's is the leading cause of hypothyroidism, which impacts about 5% of Americans. NIDDK notes that early on, Hashimoto's may not show symptoms, but as it progresses, it can cause fatigue, weight gain, cold intolerance, joint pain, constipation, dry skin, irregular periods and a slowed heart rate. It often leads to hypothyroidism, but in its early stages, it can cause symptoms of hyperthyroidism. The thyroid may also enlarge, creating a swollen neck or goiter, which can shrink over time. According to NIDDK, the exact cause of Hashimoto's is unknown, but it is often linked to a family history of thyroid disease. Several factors, including genes, viruses like hepatitis C, certain medications, and exposure to toxins such as nuclear radiation, can contribute to its development.
