You know that feeling when you're just off? Not the "I stayed up too late watching Netflix" kind of tired, but a deep, bone-heavy exhaustion that feels like you've been drugged. For years, Grey's Anatomy star Camilla Luddington just assumed she was "slothy." That was her word for it. She’d joke about it with her friends, thinking she just liked naps more than the average person.
But it wasn't a personality trait. It was an autoimmune disorder.
When Camilla Luddington revealed her Hashimoto's diagnosis in August 2025, it sent a shockwave through her fanbase. Honestly, if a literal TV doctor—someone who spends fourteen hours a day surrounded by medical jargon—can miss the signs, what hope do the rest of us have? It turns out, her "slothy" temperament was actually her immune system accidentally attacking her thyroid.
The Slothy Truth Behind Camilla Luddington's Hashimoto's
For a long time, Camilla lived in a state of constant self-gaslighting. We all do it. You're tired, so you blame the kids. You have brain fog, so you blame "mom brain" or just getting older. She's 41, has two kids, and a demanding job playing Jo Wilson. Of course she was tired.
Except she wasn't just tired.
By 11:00 a.m. every day, she felt like she had "chugged Benadryl." Think about that. Most of us are just hitting our stride at 11:00 a.m., but she was ready to collapse. She even thought she might be hitting perimenopause early. It’s a common mistake because the symptoms—fatigue, weight gain, feeling cold—overlap so much with hormonal shifts in your 40s.
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What is Hashimoto's, anyway?
Basically, your immune system gets confused. It starts seeing your thyroid—that little butterfly-shaped gland in your neck—as an intruder. It attacks it. This damage makes the thyroid slow down until it stops making enough hormones. Since your thyroid basically runs the "engine" of your body, everything starts to stall.
- Metabolism drops: You gain weight or get "puffy."
- Energy tanks: You feel like a sloth.
- Body temp fails: You're freezing while everyone else is fine.
Camilla mentioned her husband, Matthew Alan, used to make fun of her because she’d sleep under 40 blankets. It sounds funny in a "celebrity anecdote" kind of way, but it's actually a classic red flag for hypothyroidism.
The Blood Work She Put Off
We’ve all been there. The little lab slip sits on the counter for months. Camilla admitted she’d been putting off routine blood work for way too long. When she finally went in, she wasn't even expecting a big reveal. She just wanted to "get her ducks in a row."
Then came the phone call.
"Everything looks great except this one little thing," her doctor said. That "one little thing" was the marker for an autoimmune disease. Her reaction was pretty much what yours or mine would be: "What the f***?" It’s a scary phrase. Autoimmune sounds like your body is a traitor.
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But then, the relief hit.
If you've ever struggled with health anxiety like Camilla has, a diagnosis can actually be a gift. It means you aren't crazy. You aren't just "lazy." There is a biological reason why your rings won't fit in the morning because your hands are too swollen.
The Road Back to Barry’s Bootcamp
Treatment for Hashimoto's usually involves a medication called Levothyroxine. It’s a synthetic version of the hormone your thyroid isn't making anymore. Camilla started on the lowest dose, and while she’s "still not normal," the change has been massive.
She's back at Barry’s Bootcamp. She’s lifting weights. She’s not "puffy" anymore.
But it’s not just about a pill. Camilla is also navigating the lifestyle side of an autoimmune diagnosis. She’s learning about avoiding gluten and focusing on massive amounts of self-care. It’s a steep learning curve. You don’t just take a pill and get fixed; you have to relearn how to fuel your body when your immune system is on high alert.
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Why her transparency matters
Most celebrities hide the "un-glamorous" stuff. They want you to think they look that way because they drink green juice and do yoga. Camilla being open about the dry skin, the thinning hair, and the "slothiness" of Hashimoto's takes the shame out of it for the millions of other women (and men) dealing with it.
Actionable Insights for Your Own Health
If Camilla’s story feels a little too familiar, don't just sit there and wonder. Here is what you actually need to do:
- Stop the Gaslighting: If you are needing a nap by 11:00 a.m. regardless of how much sleep you got, that is not "just being 40." Listen to that voice in the back of your head that says something is up.
- Request Specific Labs: A standard physical might only check TSH. Ask for a full thyroid panel, including TPO antibodies. That’s how you find Hashimoto’s specifically, rather than just general hypothyroidism.
- Check for Inflammation: Notice if your face or hands are "puffy" in the morning. Note if you are abnormally cold or if your hair is changing texture.
- Advocate Like a Lead Character: Camilla mentioned the importance of trusting your body. If a doctor tells you your levels are "fine" but you still feel like a sloth, get a second opinion.
Hashimoto's is a lifelong journey, not a one-time fix. Camilla Luddington is fresh into that journey, but by talking about it, she’s making the path a lot less lonely for everyone else. Whether you're a Grey's fan or just someone who's tired of being tired, her story is a reminder that the answer is often just one blood test away.
Keep an eye on your energy levels and don't be afraid to demand answers. Your "slothy" days might just be your body asking for help.
Sources & References:
- Call It What It Is Podcast, episode featuring Camilla Luddington and Jessica Capshaw (August 6, 2025).
- Mayo Clinic: Hashimoto’s Disease Overview and Symptoms.
- Camilla Luddington's exclusive interview with People magazine (October 2025).