Grey’s Anatomy star Camilla Luddington says she’s learning to live with Hashimoto’s disease after receiving the diagnosis at the start of summer. In an on-the-record chat at Step Up’s 2025 Inspiration Awards in Los Angeles, the 42-year-old described how starting levothyroxine has reduced puffiness, lifted her energy, and even got her back to lifting weights at Barry’s. She called this phase “a lot of self-care,” as she experiments with what helps, including cutting back on gluten.
How the diagnosis surfaced
Luddington first spoke publicly about her condition on Call It What It Is, the podcast she co-hosts with Jessica Capshaw. In the August 6 episode, she shared that routine blood work she had put off finally explained months of exhaustion and “brain fog.” The initial shock of hearing “autoimmune disease” quickly gave way to relief that her symptoms had a medical cause. Coverage from entertainment outlets the week of her disclosure highlighted the same themes: long-standing fatigue, difficulty focusing, and a decision to get tested that led to answers.
The symptoms that finally made sense
Before treatment, Luddington experienced persistent tiredness, cognitive “fog,” and visible puffiness—classic features of an underactive thyroid. Clinically, hypothyroidism from Hashimoto’s can also bring cold sensitivity, dry skin, hair thinning, weight changes, and mood shifts; because these develop gradually, many people—especially women in midlife—initially chalk them up to stress or perimenopause, just as Luddington did.
What the treatment involves
Hashimoto’s commonly leads to hypothyroidism, and the standard, evidence-based treatment is levothyroxine, a synthetic form of thyroid hormone. Dosing is individualized and guided by lab monitoring; early on, clinicians typically recheck levels and adjust every few weeks until symptoms and numbers stabilize. When taken as prescribed and monitored, levothyroxine is safe and effective at reversing symptoms and restoring normal thyroid levels. (Important safety note: it isn’t a weight-loss drug and should not be overused.)
Lifestyle tweaks: what’s known (and what isn’t)
Luddington says she’s avoiding gluten as part of her self-care. Expert guidance here is nuanced: a gluten-free diet helps when celiac disease or proven gluten sensitivity coexists, but it isn’t routinely recommended for all Hashimoto’s patients. If someone wants to try it, clinicians suggest doing so with a dietitian to prevent unnecessary restriction or nutrient gaps while tracking whether symptoms and labs actually improve.
Why Hashimoto’s is common—and often missed
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system gradually damages the thyroid, lowering hormone output over time. It’s among the most common causes of hypothyroidism and is especially prevalent in women. Because fatigue, low mood, and brain fog are nonspecific and can creep up slowly, many people delay testing—Luddington’s experience mirrors that pattern. Standard blood tests (TSH and free T4) plus thyroid antibodies typically confirm the diagnosis and guide therapy.
Back to work and family life
Since starting medication, Luddington says she feels “more herself,” with more reliable energy on set and at home with her two children. Regaining the capacity to exercise—she mentioned returning to Barry’s and lifting weights—fits the expected course once thyroid levels normalize. Many patients also report clearer thinking and steadier mood as hormone levels are restored through treatment.
The event where she spoke
Luddington’s update came during Step Up’s Inspiration Awards, the nonprofit’s annual Los Angeles fundraiser in support of mentorship programs for teen girls and gender-expansive youth. The 2025 event took place on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, at the Skirball Cultural Center, where honorees and attendees rallied support for Step Up’s programs.
Quick primer: Hashimoto’s, in brief (evidence-based)
- What it is: An autoimmune attack on the thyroid that often causes hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone).
- How common: Affects a meaningful share of the population; hypothyroidism from autoimmune disease is a leading cause in the U.S.
- Testing: TSH and free T4 are the core labs; thyroid antibodies help confirm autoimmunity.
- Treatment: Daily levothyroxine, adjusted over time based on labs and symptoms.
- Outlook: With the right dose, most people feel significantly better and resume normal activities—mirroring Luddington’s early experience.
Why this matters beyond one celebrity story
Luddington’s disclosure underscores a broader public-health point: persistent fatigue and brain fog warrant evaluation, not self-blame.
Early testing can shorten the time to diagnosis and treatment, helping people avoid years of symptoms. Her experience also highlights the trial-and-learn phase at the start—dose adjustments, follow-ups, and experimenting with supportive habits—which is normal and expected in the first months.
The Information is Collected from IMDb and AOL.
