You know that feeling when you're just... done? Like, it’s 11 a.m., you’ve had a full night’s sleep, but your brain feels like it’s floating in a vat of warm syrup? That was Camilla Luddington. For a long time, the Grey’s Anatomy star just figured it was life. She’s 42. She has two kids, Hayden and Lucas. She’s filming a high-intensity medical drama where the hours are notoriously brutal.
She called herself "slothy." It was a joke she’d make with her friend and co-host Jessica Capshaw on their podcast, Call It What It Is. But eventually, the "slothy" thing stopped being funny and started being scary.
Why Camilla Luddington Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism Diagnosis Was a Relief
It’s weird to say you’re happy to hear you have an autoimmune disease. But for Camilla, hearing the words Camilla Luddington Hashimoto's hypothyroidism was actually a massive weight off her shoulders. If you’ve ever dealt with health anxiety, you get it. You start thinking you’re crazy. You think you’re gaslighting yourself into being tired.
“I was like, ‘Nothing’s wrong, like I’m crazy,’” she admitted recently.
Then the blood work came back. Her doctor told her everything looked great—except for one "little thing." That little thing was a high level of antibodies attacking her thyroid.
The symptoms that wouldn't go away
Camilla wasn't just tired. It was a whole laundry list of "vague" stuff that most of us just ignore:
- The Swelling: She’d wake up and her face would be "puffy." Her rings wouldn't fit on her fingers.
- The Cold: She was freezing. All the time. Her husband, Matthew Alan, used to joke because she’d sleep under about 40 blankets.
- The Brain Fog: This was the worst part for her work. Being on a set and feeling like you can't quite "be present" is a nightmare for an actor.
- Hair and Skin: Dry skin and thinning hair—the classic Hashimoto's calling cards.
She actually thought she might be in perimenopause. It makes sense, right? The symptoms overlap so much. But Hashimoto’s is a different beast. It’s when your immune system decides your thyroid—that little butterfly-shaped gland in your neck—is an enemy and starts trying to take it out.
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Managing the "New Normal" on the Grey's Anatomy Set
Living with Camilla Luddington Hashimoto's hypothyroidism meant she had to change how she functioned. In October 2025, she gave an update that things were finally looking up. She started taking Levothyroxine, which is a standard thyroid hormone replacement.
The change was pretty wild.
She went from not having seen the inside of a gym in years to actually going back to Barry’s Bootcamp and lifting weights. The inflammation went down. The "sloth" started to move again.
It’s a journey, not a fix
One thing Camilla has been very vocal about—especially during her appearance on Good Morning America in early 2026—is that this isn't a "take a pill and you're cured" situation. It’s a literal journey. You have to check your blood every six weeks. You have to adjust the dosage.
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And then there are the flares.
Stress is a massive trigger for Hashimoto's. And as Camilla pointed out, working on a show like Grey’s Anatomy isn't exactly a zen experience. When stress hits, the symptoms can come roaring back. She’s had to learn to advocate for herself, to say "no," and to actually prioritize self-care.
The Gluten-Free Pivot and Diet Changes
Diet is a hot topic in the Hashimoto’s world. While some doctors say diet doesn't matter, a huge chunk of patients—Camilla included—find that cutting out certain triggers makes a massive difference.
She’s currently navigating the world of gluten-free living.
It’s about lowering that systemic inflammation. When your body is already attacking itself, you don’t want to give it more reasons to be angry. For Camilla, this meant a total overhaul of her "self-care" routine. It's not just about face masks and bubble baths; it's about the literal chemistry of what she’s putting in her body.
Actionable Steps If You’re Feeling "Slothy"
If Camilla’s story sounds a little too familiar, don't just "push through it." Here is what you should actually do:
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- Demand the "Full" Panel: Don’t just get your TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) checked. Ask for T3, T4, and specifically TPO antibodies. Many doctors miss Hashimoto’s because your TSH might still be in the "normal" range while your antibodies are through the roof.
- Track Your Flares: Notice if your "puffy" face or brain fog gets worse after a stressful week or a specific meal.
- Check Your Temperature: People with hypothyroidism often have a lower basal body temperature. If you’re always the one with the space heater under your desk, tell your doctor.
- Be Patient with Meds: Levothyroxine takes time. It’s not an ibuprofen. It can take months to find the "Goldilocks" dose where you feel human again.
- Look Into Anti-Inflammatory Habits: Whether it's going gluten-free like Camilla or just cutting back on processed sugar, reducing the load on your immune system is key.
Camilla Luddington’s experience with Hashimoto's is a reminder that even people who look like they have it all together might be struggling to just keep their eyes open. Trust your gut. If you feel like something is off, it probably is.