My Symptoms Were Ignored for 10 Years: The Autoimmune + Hormone Connection

I remember stepping on the scale at the doctor - 30 lbs gained in a single month. How is that even possible? 

As I sat quietly in the doctor’s, I was reviewing the near inventory of symptoms I had been experiencing for the last three months…

Exhaustion beyond compare? - check 

Panic attacks 1-3 times a day? - check 

Bloating so much it's painful? - check 

Depression and low-key hating life? - check 

And those were only the first four. I was armed, ready to get answers, ready for resolution. That optimism quickly turned into depression when my doctor uttered these two sentences that will haunt me for life…

“Well, everything looks fine. This is common for a woman your age”. 

My hope - shattered. 

After 13 years of being shuffled around from doctor to doctor without any support or resources, I finally was diagnosed with six (6) autoimmune conditions. At that very moment, I felt a twinge of optimism - like it was finally the turning point. 

That flicker of hope quickly faded when I was told that my only option was to use medication for symptom management and that these medications often came with many unpleasant symptoms as a side effect. 

When you live with autoimmunity, not a day goes by without wishing you just felt “normal”. It would be amazing to wake up energized, without any pain, and to feel truly comfortable and confident in your own body. 

Accomplishing this can feel like a pipe dream when day in and out you live with silent symptoms. Symptoms that control your day and that are often not only missed but also misunderstood by friends, family members, and even your doctors. 

As an Integrative Clinical Nutritionist, I understood the power that nutrition, movement, and rest play in my health. When I spoke to my care team about utilizing nutrition and fitness for disease management, I was brushed aside. 

I refused to accept this, for my symptoms to continue to be gaslit, and to just settle for feeling just “okay”. For the past 10 years, I have managed and kept all six of my autoimmune conditions in remission without any medication through integrative nutrition, fitness, and lifestyle changes. I have dedicated my entire career to it and have had the opportunity to support thousands of other women in accomplishing the same.

If you are reading this today, there is hope for you!

The Autoimmune Hormone Connection

Hormones control every single aspect of your health and metabolic function. They are crucial for carrying and communicating messages across systems to ensure that each functions as they should. 

Hormones and autoimmunity have a bidirectional relationship. 

When hormones are disrupted this can impact how systems function and operate. This “misfiring”  has a direct impact on your autoimmunity and can both increase your risk of having a symptom flare and the severity of this flare. 

In an active flare, systemic inflammation can increase hormone disruption, and the cycle repeats itself1. 

This vicious cycle can leave you continually struggling with more and more symptoms and flares leading to chronic disruption. 

Autoimmune diseases occur when your immune system attacks and damages your own cells, tissues, and organs2. Genetics, stress, environment, gut health, and hormone disruption can trigger the onset of an autoimmune condition and it can occur at any stage of life2. 

As women, we undergo multiple major hormonal shifts throughout our lives, from puberty, pregnancy, and postpartum, to menopause. Large shifts in hormones through each one of these phases can have a significant impact on your autoimmunity and serve as the “triggering” event to the active expression of your autoimmune condition. 

Even more complex than this, each month, you move through four (4) distinct hormone phases. During this time, the fluctuations in hormone production and filtration directly influence your energy levels, your metabolic rate, your ability to handle stress, your need for rest, and even your desire to socialize3. 

So, it is no surprise that women constitute about 78% percent of those living with autoimmunity. That’s nearly 37,500,000 million women in America4,5. 

The key to putting your autoimmunity into remission is to move and live in alignment with your hormonal needs. With simple strategies to support your hormones, you will have more energy, thick hair, effortless weight loss, and not feel burnt out just from doing your day-to-day tricks. 

Hormone Balance Strategies 

To unlock your symptom-free self it is time that we start actively supporting our systems. Small changes in how you eat, work out, and rest ensure that you capitalize on your hormonal strengths, not work against them. 

Estrogen Imbalance 

Estrogen is the most prominent female hormone. It rises twice in your cycle and estrogen may actually enhance the inflammatory process of the immune system, meaning it could increase the number of antibodies attacking our tissues6. So the rise and spikes of estrogen in your cycle can make your autoimmune symptoms go wild. 

Signs of Estrogen Imbalance7: 

• Heavy periods with or without clotting 

• Weight gain in hips and arms 

• Bloating 

• Trouble concentrating 

• Increased PMS & mood swings 

Action Steps: 

Nutrition: Support healthy filtration of inactive estrogen out of the body via the liver and gut by incorporating foods high in indole-3-carbinol and glutathione such as broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. The gut is the primary estrogen filtration system, so taking a high-quality probiotic that is multi-strain can help to promote a healthy gut biome. 

Lifestyle: Try to limit exposure to environmental estrogens that can increase estrogen imbalance such as xenoestrogens8 from plastic water bottles and choose organic when possible7. 

Cortisol Balance 

Chronic stress, whether it be mental, physical, or emotional, can disrupt your adrenals and lead to increased cortisol production. Cortisol is your stress hormone and is pro-inflammatory9. Increased inflammation has been linked to autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s and Grave’s), multiple sclerosis, Sjogren’s syndrome, alopecia areata (hair loss), inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis), and many more.

Signs of Cortisol Imbalance10: 

• Rapid weight gain in face and midsection

• Chronic fatigue 

• Trouble sleeping and insomnia 

• High blood sugar 

• Muscle weakness and fatigue

Action Steps: 

Nutrition: Under-eating is the most common cause of chronic stress (whether intentional or unintentional). Focus on eating every 3-4 hours to regulate cortisol and blood sugar levels. A palm-sized serving of protein paired with a fist-sized serving of complex carbs will provide energy while slowing the release of sugar into the bloodstream. 

Lifestyle: When cortisol is disrupted, it can impact sleep quality, which can then lead to more stress. Blue-light exposure increases cortisol levels and disrupts melatonin production. Focus on cutting blue-light exposure 30 minutes prior to bedtime. Try reading a fiction book, taking an Epsom salt bath, or practicing meditation. 

Low Progesterone 

Progesterone is your “pro-gestation” hormone and is only produced after ovulation to support healthy conception and fertility. Progesterone helps to suppress an overactive immune system, which can be proactive in supporting autoimmunity. When progesterone is low, this can lead to heightened immune responses and an increased risk of flares6,11. If you are not actively ovulating due to hormonal birth control or due to chronic stress, this can impact your body’s ability to make optimal progesterone. 

Signs of Low Progesterone12: 

• PMS or PMDD 

• Breast tenderness

• Irregular periods 

• Infertility 

• Bloating or weight gain 

• Trouble sleeping 

Action Steps: 

Nutrition: Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and Vitamin B6 Omega 3 are three essential nutrients for progesterone production. Incorporation of foods like dark leafy greens, sunflower seeds, fatty fish, avocados, and poultry can help to support natural progesterone production13,14. 

Lifestyle: Progesterone is transported through the body via the lymphatic system15. When the lymphatic system malfunctions, or when progesterone's flow is impeded, excess estrogen builds up. Movement is one of the most beneficial ways to improve lymphatic flow. Aiming to hit 8-10K steps per day by taking the stairs, taking walking meetings, or walking the dog. You can also improve lymphatic drainage by hydrating with mineral water daily to support toxin flushing. 

Low Testosterone

Low testosterone is one of the most overlooked hormone imbalances in women. Healthy testosterone levels trigger ovulation, support lean mass and metabolic rate, and regulate T-cell production. Healthy testosterone levels help to regulate immune function and are protective against autoimmune flares6,11. Testosterone can also be broken down to estrogen in an imbalanced state, which increases imbalance and inflammatory markers. 

Signs of Low Testosterone16: 

• Low sex drive

• Low energy and feeling tired 

• Inability to lose weight 

• Irregular period 

• Infertility 

• Hair thinning 

Nutrition: Eating enough high-quality lean protein daily can reduce stress and improve DHEA and testosterone production. Incorporate foods high in zinc and calcium can support healthy testosterone production. Try adding in foods like eggs, pumpkin seeds, and red meats. 

Lifestyle: Strength training is the single most effective way to increase lean mass and support healthy testosterone levels17. To avoid overtraining, focus on cycle-synced strength training 2-3x per week. The key is to adapt intestines, rep ranges, and exertion rates to align with your hormonal strengths to get more without burnout.

You have the power to take control of your health. 

I want every woman to know what I wish I would have known sooner - your hormones are more than just your monthly cycle. They are your key to unlocking your best health. 

Symptoms are your body’s way of asking for support and rather than silently suffering through them with a brave face, you can use them to help understand what is happening so you can be strategic with how you choose to support your autoimmune needs. 

Tasha is an Integrative Clinical Nutritionist, B.S., CPT, Pilates Instructor, and Founder of Happy Hormone Health. After being diagnosed with 6 autoimmune diseases, she found the power of integrative nutrition and hormone balance.  She has coached 2000 women in reclaiming their energy, living symptom-free, and transforming their health through hormone-balanced nutrition. Start your hormone balance journey with her free masterclass.

Citations: 

1. Desai MK, Brinton RD. Autoimmune Disease in Women: Endocrine Transition and Risk Across the Lifespan. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2019 Apr 29;10:265. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00265. PMID: 31110493; PMCID: PMC6501433.

2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Autoimmune diseases. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/conditions/autoimmune/index.cfm 

3. Reed BG, Carr BR. The Normal Menstrual Cycle and the Control of Ovulation. [Updated 2018 Aug 5]. In: Feingold KR, Anawalt B, Blackman MR, et al., editors. Endotext [Internet]. South Dartmouth (MA): MDText.com, Inc.; 2000-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279054/

4. Moyer, M. W. (2021, September 1). Why Nearly 80 Percent of Autoimmune Sufferers Are Female. Scientific American. Retrieved November 15, 2023, from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-nearly-80-percent-of-autoimmune-sufferers-are-female/

5. Autoimmune - FActs. (n.d.). Autoimmune Association. Retrieved November 15, 2023, from https://autoimmune.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/1-in-5-Brochure.pdf

6. McGuire, J. (n.d.). Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone: can they be used to treat autoimmune diseases? PubMed. Retrieved November 15, 2023, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7923746/

7. High Estrogen: Causes, Symptoms, Dominance & Treatment. (2022, February 9). Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved November 15, 2023, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22363-high-estrogen

8. \/. (2023, June 16). YouTube. Retrieved November 15, 2023, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/xenoestrogen

9. Jara LJ, Medina G, Voorduin S, et al. The endocrine system and autoimmunity. In: Anaya JM, Shoenfeld Y, Rojas-Villarraga A, et al., editors. Autoimmunity: From Bench to Bedside [Internet]. Bogota (Colombia): El Rosario University Press; 2013 Jul 18. Chapter 12. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459473/

10. Cortisol: What It Is, Function, Symptoms & Levels. (2021, December 10). Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved November 15, 2023, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22187-cortisol

11. Moulton VR. Sex Hormones in Acquired Immunity and Autoimmune Disease. Front Immunol. 2018 Oct 4;9:2279. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02279. PMID: 30337927; PMCID: PMC6180207.

12. Low Progesterone: Causes, Symptoms, Tests & Treatment. (2023, January 16). Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved November 15, 2023, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24613-low-progesterone

13. Elsevier Inc. Effects of ascorbic acid supplementation on serum progesterone levels in patients with a luteal phase defect. FERTILITY AND STERILITY. 2003. 80(2).

14. Milewicz A1, Gejdel E, Sworen H, Sienkiewicz K, Jedrzejak J, Teucher T, Schmitz H. [Vitex agnus castus extract in the treatment of luteal phase defects due to latent hyperprolactinemia. Results of a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind study]. Arzneimittelforschung. 1993. 43(7). 752-6.

15. Sex Hormones in Lymphedema - PMC. (2021, January 30). NCBI. Retrieved November 15, 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7866787/

16. Low Testosterone In Women: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment. (2023, April 12). Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved November 15, 2023, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24897-low-testosterone-in-women

17. Nindl BC, Kraemer WJ, Gotshalk LA, Marx JO, Volek JS, Bush FA, Häkkinen K, Newton RU, Fleck SJ. Testosterone responses after resistance exercise in women: influence of regional fat distribution. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2001 Dec;11(4):451-65. doi: 10.1123/ijsnem.11.4.451. PMID: 11915780

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Tasha is an Integrative Clinical Nutritionist, B.S., and Founder of Happy Hormone Health. Living with 6 autoimmune diseases, for years she felt ignored and overlooked her wellness journey. Hormones control every single aspect of our health and are key to unlocking our best health. She has coached 2000 women in reclaiming their energy, living symptom-free, and transforming their health through hormone-balanced nutrition. Start your hormone balance journey with her free hormone assessment to get tailored strategies.