(BPT) - Five years ago, in the prime of her fitness career, longtime Peloton instructor Hannah Corbin was teaching several classes a week and never running short on energy. Always having maintained a healthy lifestyle - formerly as a professional dancer, an aerial artist and now as a fitness instructor - Hannah was surprised when she began experiencing extreme exhaustion. Soon she was only able to stay awake for four hours before needing a nap, even after sleeping 10 to 12 hours the night before. Hannah's exhaustion became so severe that she would fall asleep in odd places like the New York City subway, and for the first time, she had to start pulling back from work.
Over the next two years, Hannah visited countless doctors, only to be told her exhaustion was likely due to her physically demanding job and that her weight gain wasn't 'enough' to cause concern. Eventually, Hannah took matters into her own hands, trying different fitness regimens and eating plans, with little success. Then, following an alarming blood test result and discovery of her family's thyroid disease history, Hannah was immediately referred to an endocrinologist. During that consultation, Hannah's endocrinologist found her thyroid was severely under functioning and she was merely a month away from slipping into a thyroid coma.
Jarring, but finally an answer. Hannah was diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease - an autoimmune condition and the most common form of hypothyroidism or underactive thyroid disorder. Hannah's thyroid was producing very low levels of thyroid hormone, causing her energy and metabolism to slow down.
An Eye-Catching Surprise
Many people don't know living with a thyroid condition may also put you at a higher risk of developing other conditions, like Thyroid Eye Disease (TED), a separate but related autoimmune condition that requires separate care.
Symptoms of TED can vary and include:
- Eye bulging, double vision, eye pain, redness, and even vision loss in some cases.
TED can also have a profound effect on people's emotional well-being and ability to partake in daily activities like reading, driving and working.
While everyone with a thyroid condition is at risk, that risk increases if you live with Graves' disease - which is the most common form of hyperthyroidism. In fact, up to 50% of people with Graves' disease may develop TED and women are also 5x more likely to develop TED than men.
'Now that I know my risks for TED, I'm watching my eyes closely, so I don't take any chances,' Hannah said. 'Like I always say, treat your body like it belongs to someone you love.'
Taking 'Autoimmune' to 'Auto-Amazing'
With Hashimoto's under control, Hannah was able to resume her busy, energetic routine. But today, five years since her diagnosis, she's keeping her eyes on something new.
'At first, I felt my body had let me down, but I decided to flip the script and to reframe 'autoimmune' as 'auto-amazing,' in my own mind,' Hannah said. 'Now, I choose to focus on all the things my body CAN do.'
Today, five years after her diagnosis, Hannah feels more like herself. When she's not coaching, leading Peloton enthusiasts through high energy workouts or working out for fun, she's encouraging others with autoimmune conditions to keep finding their strength to press forward, despite their diagnosis. Amid several new projects, Hannah's also sharing what she's learned through her own health journey to help others.
Finding the Right Care Team
If you have a thyroid condition like Hashimoto's or Graves' disease and notice any changes in your eyes - like eye bulging, eye pain or double vision - schedule an eye exam with a TED Eye Specialist. Not all eye doctors have experience diagnosing and managing TED. That's why it's important to see an oculoplastic surgeon or neuro-ophthalmologist. To learn more about TED and to find a TED Eye Specialist near you, visit TEDAwareness.com.
