Thyroid Health, Pregnancy Loss & Advocacy: Matilda’s Journey with Hashimoto’s

In this episode of Below Her Surface, Lily is joined by Matilda Spooner to share a raw and insightful look into navigating Hashimoto’s, thyroid dysfunction, and the path to conception. After years of being told to simply "up the dose" of her medication, Matilda shares how she moved from being a fatigued mum on the couch to reclaiming her vitality through a science-led, food-first approach. This conversation pulls back the curtain on the "hidden" side of autoimmunity - where looking fine on the outside doesn't match the internal reality of shutting down. Lily and Matilda discuss the importance of advocating for yourself in a medical system that often overlooks the nuances of female biology and the impact of lifestyle on thyroid markers. In this episode, Lily and Matilda explore: - The Post-Pill Reality – Navigating 90-day cycles and the surprise pregnancy that followed years of hormonal suppression. - The Fatigue Wall – What it’s really like parenting a toddler while struggling with undiagnosed thyroid crashes and the guilt of "not being able to get off the couch". - The Fasting Trap – Why fasted cardio and skipping breakfast are often the worst choices for women with Hashimoto’s and thyroid issues. - Fuelling for Recovery – The daunting but essential shift of increasing food intake, eating protein before training, and using carbohydrates to blunt cortisol. - Pregnancy Loss & Preparation – Processing a miscarriage through a physiological lens and using bloodwork to find the confidence to try for baby number two. - The Medical Gap – Why standard thyroid treatments often ignore root causes like iodine deficiency, selenium, and poor methylation. - Self-Advocacy – Why you shouldn't feel "dramatic" for seeking a second opinion when your intuition tells you something is wrong. This episode is a powerful reminder that "normal" blood results don't always equal optimal health. It’s an invitation to stop settling for "fine" and start working with a practitioner who looks at the full landscape of your biology to help you feel human again.