Editor’s Note: Patient Worthy is honored to share part 1 in an ongoing 10-part series, written and shared with us by Elena Genik.

When Everything Felt “Off”

Looking back, I can see the early signs clearly. Trembling hands, restless energy, a heart that felt like it was beating in my throat. At the time, I blamed everything on stress. I was working long shifts as a pharmacist, drinking too much caffeine, skipping meals, and running on pure adrenaline. Feeling rundown felt normal to me.

But there is a kind of intuition your body has. A whisper that something deeper is happening. I ignored that whisper longer than I should have.

By December 2022, the symptoms became impossible to ignore.

My resting heart rate was in the 130s or 140s even when lying still. I was sweating through my clothes despite winter weather. My emotions felt unstable. My hands shook constantly.

Still, I kept telling myself that I was simply stressed.

The Moment Everything Shifted

Everything changed during a Zoom call with a potential functional medicine coach. I was excited and nervous. Then, without warning, the entire left side of my face went numb.

For a moment, I thought I was having a stroke.

I went to urgent care immediately.

The Labs That Changed Everything

My labs showed extreme thyroid activity.

• TSH less than 0.02
• Free T4 2.1
• Free T3 11.2

Hyperthyroidism.
Further testing confirmed Graves’ disease.

Hearing the Diagnosis

The endocrinologist called and delivered the news in a quick, clinical tone. He prescribed methimazole, explained a few risks, and told me to begin right away. What he did not explain was the emotional impact or what having an autoimmune condition would mean for my entire life.

There was no discussion about:

• root causes
• antibodies
• lifestyle triggers
• stress or immunity
• how to protect my mental health

The diagnosis felt heavy and confusing.

Starting Methimazole

Methimazole helped quickly. Within a week, the anxiety and racing heart softened. Physically, I improved. Emotionally, I felt lost.

I kept wondering what this diagnosis meant for my future.

The Misconceptions Patients Face

I wanted guidance. I wanted compassion. Instead, I was given lab numbers and medication instructions. I still did not understand why this happened or how to support my body through it.

There is a loneliness that comes with chronic illness. It arrives quietly.

Becoming My Own Advocate

Months later, when my Free T3 and T4 were in optimal range, I began experiencing hypothyroid symptoms. Exhaustion, cold intolerance, digestive changes, brain fog. I told my endocrinologist, but he insisted everything was fine because my labs were technically in range.

I realized I was being treated as a lab value rather than a person.

This was the moment I became my own advocate. I learned everything I could about autoimmune thyroid disease. I studied clinical papers. I explored functional medicine research. I spoke with other patients.

I discovered how much more there was to the story.

A Shift in Understanding

Graves disease changed me. It reshaped my understanding of health and healing. It pushed me to advocate for myself and eventually for others.

Diagnosis is not the end. It is the beginning of reclaiming your power.

For Anyone Newly Diagnosed

You are not alone.
You are not imagining your symptoms.
Your experience matters.

You deserve a provider who listens.

About the Author

My name is Elena and I am a Graves Disease and Thyroid Eye Disease patient advocate, integrative pharmacist, and functional health coach specializing in autoimmune thyroid conditions. It is my passion to help others reclaim their health and take their power back. I founded Thyroid Love Club and host free monthly workshops at thyroidloveclub.com.