Years of ‘Normal’ Tests Hid Her Thyroid Disease—‘I Knew Something Was Wrong’
Test after test came back normal—until Carly finally unraveled her medical mystery
Carly Scaduto, 43, was tired of feeling tired. She’d dealt with years of exhaustion that no physical exam or blood test could explain. Still, she refused to give up. After taking matters into her own hands and advocating for herself, she finally found answers in the form of a sneaky thyroid disease. Keep reading to see her inspiring story and how she got her life back.
Something didn’t feel right
“This doesn’t make sense,” I thought as my doctor discussed my normal lab results during a physical. I was always thrilled to hear everything checked out and I was considered healthy at annual physicals. But at the same time, I was also frustrated. I had chronic, unexplained tiredness and I consistently felt a little off.
At each check-up, my doctor offered possible explanations like having young kids or high stress levels because my bloodwork never revealed anything was wrong. Having a family history of thyroid disease motivated me to press the doctor for a blood test to check my thyroid hormone levels. As a spectator to my sisters’ thyroid health issues, I knew unexplained exhaustion can be a symptom of poor thyroid function. I also carried the nagging suspicion that I’d follow in my sisters’ footsteps, but my levels were always normal.
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More mysterious symptoms
A few years ago, a new symptom conspired with my exhaustion: unexplained weight gain, despite not changing my diet or daily exercise regimen. Assuming the change on the scale was caused by inching closer to perimenopause and a slower metabolism, I amped up my daily activity. But I saw no improvement in my weight or energy levels.
Not long after, I began having unexplained heart palpitations, which required me to wear an around-the-clock monitor for several days. Thankfully, once again, the results revealed I was healthy. However, I remained confused about my mounting inexplicable symptoms.
When my primary care physician retired, I set out on a mission not only to find a new doctor, but also to finally get to the bottom of why I never felt completely well. I sought the advice of a functional medicine provider who was also unable to pinpoint a cause.
Then in the fall of 2024, I developed scleritis—chronic inflammation of the white of the eye—and was shocked when the ophthalmologist indicated the root cause was often an autoimmune disease. Suddenly, the pieces began falling into place.
Thyroid disorders can be hard to diagnose
After the urging of one of my sisters, I spoke to my OB about my overall health. She explained that over the years, I had always had a basic routine thyroid function test to check how the small, butterfly-shaped gland located on the front of the neck was functioning. This time, though, she ordered a more extensive thyroid blood panel that measures multiple hormones, binding proteins and antibodies that help diagnose thyroid disease.
All my symptoms, including the diagnosis of scleritis, indicated that I could have Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune disorder that causes an underactive thyroid, with common symptoms like weight gain and fatigue. The new blood test did indeed hint that I may have Hashimoto’s disease, which ironically, my allergist suspected more than 10 years ago. But my primary physician had always ruled it out due to my normal bloodwork results.
Because my bloodwork was still inconclusive, I was referred to an endocrinologist. After waiting eight months for an appointment, she finally cleared the confusion and confirmed my diagnosis of Hashimoto’s disease, a condition where my immune system attacks the thyroid gland and causes hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid). But to my surprise, she also diagnosed me with Graves disease—an autoimmune condition that causes the body to produce too much thyroid hormone.
Finally finding an answer
All the pieces of my health puzzle finally fell into place when the endocrinologist explained that since I had biomarkers for both Hashimoto’s and Graves disease, they were likely canceling each other out and causing false normal results in all the basic blood tests I had over the years. At last, having a clear and accurate understanding was such a relief.
For years, I knew my symptoms were signs of thyroid disease, but no one took my urging or physical symptoms seriously enough to take a deeper look into my health issues. After countless doctors had dismissed my clinical symptoms of thyroid disease—unexplained exhaustion, weight gain, heart rate irregularities and eye health issues—I had begun to wonder if it could possibly be all in my head.
As hard as it was to hear a definite diagnosis, it felt validating to finally have an answer for my decade of struggles.
Treating my thyroid disease changed my life
The endocrinologist let me know that I would likely require prescription medicine to address my thyroid disease at some point. But for now, it was recommended that I take a daily 200-mcg dose of the antioxidant supplement selenium with a meal. Selenium reduces inflammation in the thyroid to promote healthy levels of key antibodies that help manage symptoms.
Stress can also trigger a flare of exhaustion, so I try to stick to a healthy, balanced diet, get adequate sleep and practice stress-management techniques like daily exercise, self-care and saying no to extra activities if I know I need a break.
This experience taught me the importance of fighting for yourself and listening to your inner wisdom when something in your body continually feels off. The validation that I do know my body and I can feel when something isn’t right has helped me manage my overall health.
I want everyone to know that just because bloodwork might not indicate signs of an issue, you should always advocate for yourself.
How to manage symptoms of an underactive thyroid
Whether you’re dealing with symptoms of hypothyroidism or simply suspect your thyroid gland might be a little sluggish, here’s how you can give it a boost:
Increase your exercise
Research has shown that after eight weeks of aerobic or strength workouts, adults with underactive thyroids saw drops in thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)—a hormone that rises when the thyroid is under strain. Lower levels suggest the gland isn’t working as hard.
Not sure where to start? SilverSneakers GO is a free app with safe, effective workouts designed with older adults in mind to help you get the right amount of aerobic exercise to ease strain on your thyroid.
Switch up your diet
Nutrition is key when it comes to supporting thyroid health. Research published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences found that selenium (the same nutrient Carly adds to her diet), iodine and iron are essential for healthy thyroid hormone production. Good news: They are naturally found in foods such as eggs and seafood, including salmon, cod, oysters, shrimp and sardines.
Keep a lid on stress
Stress doesn’t just raise anxiety—it may also put your thyroid under extra pressure. A study in Medical Science Monitor: International Medical Journal of Experimental and Clinical Research found that people recovering from thyroid surgery who reported higher stress also had higher levels of the hormone that helps regulate the thyroid, suggesting chronic stress may disrupt healthy hormone balance. (Discover our best stress-busting tips.)
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This article originally appeared in the March 30, 2026 print issue of Woman’s World.
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