Living with Hashimoto’s
Bienvenidas Chulas
I’m so grateful you’re here. My name is Carmen, and I’m the founder of TAH Chula — a lifestyle rooted in cultura, resilience, and wellness for mujeres who are healing from the inside out.
Today, I’m opening up about something personal: living with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. This post is for any woman who’s ever felt dismissed, unheard, or just plain exhausted — physically, mentally, and emotionally.
It took me years to get a diagnosis. Years of thinking it was all in my head. This blog is the beginning of what I wish I had when I was searching for answers. I want you to feel seen, informed, and empowered. Let's dive in.
The Warning Signs I Ignored for Too Long
For as long as I can remember, I was tired. Not just tired — bone-deep, soul-level exhausted. I struggled with:
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Constant fatigue, even after 8 hours of sleep
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Hair falling out by the handful
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Cold hands and feet (even in the middle of a California summer)
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Brain fog so thick I could barely focus
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Bloating after almost every meal
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Mood swings I couldn’t explain
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Unexplained weight gain — and no diet or workout helped
Doctors told me I was “just stressed,” “probably hormonal,” or that I needed to eat less and work out more.
I was gaslit by the medical system. And I believed them… for a while.
The Day Everything Changed
Something in me snapped — or woke up, maybe. I started researching thyroid health and demanded a full thyroid panel, not just the standard TSH test. When the results came back, I finally had a name for it:
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
An autoimmune disease where my immune system attacks my thyroid — the tiny gland that controls everything from metabolism to mood.
I cried. Not because I was afraid, but because I finally felt validated.
Why So Many of Us Have Hashimoto’s Now
Here’s the truth: Hashimoto’s isn’t rare anymore. It’s incredibly common, especially in women. So what’s going on?
Let’s break it down:
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Stress: Chronic stress wears out the immune system and your thyroid.
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Environmental toxins: Pesticides, plastics, heavy metals — they’re everywhere.
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Gut health: Leaky gut and inflammation often trigger autoimmune disease.
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Nutrient deficiencies: Our soil is depleted, and most diets don’t give us what we need.
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Emotional trauma: Unprocessed emotions get stored in the body — especially for mujeres holding generational pain.
We are not broken. We’re responding to a toxic world. And our bodies are asking us to listen.
Why Doctors Are Often No Help
Let’s talk about what no one wants to say out loud:
The medical system is not built for us.
Most conventional doctors only test your TSH. They won’t check your antibodies (TPO, TGAb), Free T3, Free T4, or reverse T3 — which are essential for diagnosing Hashimoto’s. If your labs are “normal,” they send you on your way.
They don’t ask about:
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Your diet
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Your sleep
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Your gut health
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Your stress levels
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Your lived experience as a woman of color in this world
And when you do get diagnosed, you’re often handed a prescription and nothing more. No healing roadmap. No nutrition guidance. No support.
That’s where we come in.
What I’m Doing Differently (And Why TAH Chula Exists)
I created TAH Chula because I was done being silenced.
I was done hiding my symptoms.
I was done feeling broken.
I wanted a space that felt like home — where wellness met cultura, and healing wasn’t just physical but emotional, spiritual, and ancestral.
If you’re living with Hashimoto’s or think you might be, here’s what I want you to know:
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You are not lazy.
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You are not crazy.
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You are not alone.
And most importantly: You can heal. Not overnight. Not perfectly. But you can come back to yourself — slowly, gently, and completely.
What’s Next on This Blog
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing:
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Anti-inflammatory recipes rooted in Mexican traditions 🌽
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Healing rituals and supplements that have helped me
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Lifestyle tips for managing Hashimoto’s naturally
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How to advocate for yourself in a broken system
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Stories from other mujeres who are navigating chronic illness with grace and grit
This is just the beginning, chula.
We’re healing loudly — for ourselves, our mothers, our daughters, and our communities.
Join the Healing Movement 💖
If this post resonated with you, share it with a sister, a comadre, or a mama who needs to hear it.
And don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for updates, recipes, and heart-to-heart talks from one warrior to another.
Con amor y fuerza,
Carmen
Founder, TAH Chula
“We are not fragile. We are sacred.”
— Keeping It Chula ✨