From Graves to Grace: A Functional Medicine Journey Through Autoimmune Illness and Recovery

Sylvia D. Barkley, MSW
Aug 31
6 min read

Updated: Sep 2

Submitted as a patient-authored case study to Noor Journal of Complementary and Contemporary Medicine

Author: Sylvia D. Barkley, MSSW, LCSW - Correspondence: Sylviadepriest@gmail.com

Abstract

Background:

Autoimmune thyroid diseases, including Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, are among the most commonly encountered autoimmune conditions, yet many patients experience diagnostic delays, persistent symptoms, and limited therapeutic success within conventional care frameworks. This patient-authored case report presents a longitudinal recovery narrative highlighting the role of functional medicine in diagnosing and managing complex autoimmune overlap and associated gastrointestinal immune dysfunction.

Case Summary:

A 30-year-old woman was diagnosed with Graves’ disease after months of fatigue, joint pain, and neurological symptoms. Conventional treatment with levothyroxine failed to stabilize thyroid function or alleviate systemic symptoms. Functional medicine intervention, emphasizing immune modulation, gut restoration, and environmental detoxification, led to laboratory-confirmed remission of Graves’, improvement in Hashimoto’s markers, and discontinuation of multiple long-term medications. Notable findings included undiagnosed selective IgA deficiency, gastrointestinal pathogen burden, and reactivation of Epstein-Barr virus, all addressed through integrative therapies such as low-dose naltrexone, BPC-157, herbal antimicrobials, and lifestyle changes.

Conclusion:

This case illustrates the potential value of personalized, systems-based approaches in autoimmune care, particularly for patients unresponsive to standard endocrine therapies. Functional medicine strategies targeting gut-immune interactions and immune restoration may offer a path to remission and long-term stability in complex autoimmune syndromes.

Keywords: Graves’ disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, functional medicine, IgA deficiency, low-dose naltrexone, autoimmune overlap, BPC-157, gut-immune axis, Epstein-Barr virus, integrative care

1. Introduction: When the Diagnosis Finds You

In March 2018, after months of vague and worsening symptoms that left my primary care provider (PCP) unsure, I was referred to an internist. That visit, a thorough hour-long conversation coupled with a fresh review of labs, led to a diagnosis that changed my life: Graves’ disease. A confirmatory blood test sealed the result.

Looking back, I now realize how fortunate I was. Most people with autoimmune thyroid disorders see an average of seven physicians before receiving an accurate diagnosis. I saw just two. But that early stroke of fortune would soon be eclipsed by a cascade of dismissals, persistent symptoms, and treatment plans that failed to address the full scope of what my body was going through.

2. Conventional Treatment: Plateau and Frustration

After my diagnosis, I was referred to an endocrinologist. Despite regular dose adjustments of levothyroxine every four weeks, my thyroid labs never truly stabilized. The endocrinologist repeatedly suggested radioactive iodine ablation to “calm down” the Graves’ antibodies, but I declined. I couldn’t make sense of destroying a gland I would still have to medicate indefinitely.

By July 2018, my body was unraveling. I was constantly exhausted. My thoughts were clouded with brain fog. My joints ached so severely that I occasionally relied on a cane just to move around. At just 30 years old, I was being told to "learn to live with it."

I pushed back. I insisted my Vitamin D and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels be tested. They revealed profound dysfunction: Vitamin D was critically low, and my CRP was elevated beyond measurable thresholds.

3. Functional Medicine: A Different Philosophy of Healing

At the edge of frustration and despair, I began searching for alternatives. My mother and I explored options beyond conventional care—even considering cross-border treatment in Mexico for therapies unavailable in the United States. But practicality prevailed. I was newly married, building a career, and needed a solution closer to home.

After much research, I found a physician practicing what was called functional medicine—a field focused on identifying and treating the root causes of disease, rather than just suppressing symptoms (4).

During my first appointment with him, we spoke for over an hour. He listened carefully to my history and reviewed my labs. Then he said something that would become a turning point: “I suspect you have both Graves’ and Hashimoto’s disease. It’s rare, but not unheard of.”

Comprehensive antibody testing confirmed his suspicion. Unlike previous providers, he did not blame my thyroid. “Your thyroid is not the problem,” he explained. “It’s your immune system attacking it.”

Instead of prescribing another round of levothyroxine, he started me on low-dose naltrexone (LDN)—a therapy aimed at modulating immune response (1). Within a month, my thyroid labs normalized for the first time in years.

We went deeper. He ordered stool, urine, breath, and blood tests to evaluate my digestive health, hormones, and inflammation. We discovered significant gastrointestinal dysregulation. Despite having had allergy tests before, new methods revealed numerous food sensitivities that had never been identified—mild but persistent reactions that were likely contributing to systemic inflammation.

4. Remission, Recurrence, and Rediscovery

Over the next five years, I remained under his care. My Graves’ disease went into remission. My Hashimoto’s antibody levels dropped. I felt better—stronger, clearer, more resilient.

He discontinued my birth control, which he believed was worsening my hormonal imbalance, and prescribed targeted supplements to fill the metabolic gaps my body wasn’t meeting on its own. To address inflammation and high CRP, he introduced me to a peptide therapy—BPC-157, a compound showing promise in gut healing and systemic repair (5).

Two years ago, I began noticing a shift again. My acid reflux worsened. My anxiety intensified to the point that even simple outings overwhelmed me. I told my doctor I felt something was wrong with my thyroid again. He ran labs. Everything looked “perfect.”

But I kept listening to my body.

This led me to a new provider—a nurse practitioner (NP) who treats autoimmune disorders globally. His initial consultation lasted two hours. New labs revealed that my Graves’ antibodies had returned—in high amounts. Even more surprising was a finding no one else had noticed: I was profoundly IgA deficient (3). He told me it was likely genetic and one of the lowest levels he had ever seen.

He also discovered lingering traces of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)—a viral passenger known to trigger or worsen autoimmune conditions (2).

5. The Gut-Immune Connection: Healing from the Inside Out

Knowing I lacked IgA explained a great deal: recurrent gastrointestinal infections, weak mucosal defenses, and a vulnerability to chronic immune activation (6).

Treatment began with targeting my gut. I was placed on protocols to eliminate candida overgrowth, H. pylori, and parasitic infections. My provider emphasized that with such low IgA, this wouldn’t be a one-time fix. It would require repeated, seasonal interventions just to maintain balance.

At the same time, we made sweeping changes to my environment and lifestyle:

Eliminated synthetic fragrances, harsh cleaning products, and chemical-laden personal care items.
Adopted a tailored supplement regimen.
Replaced acid-suppressing medications with herbal alternatives.

Over time, the improvements came:

Acid reflux nearly resolved.
Propranolol discontinued.
No antibiotics or steroids for over a year.
Brain fog lifted, joint pain faded.

6. A New Normal: Not Cured, But Empowered

I still have autoimmune disease. I still have low IgA. But I am no longer helpless.

I’ve learned to support my body instead of overriding its signals. Twice a year, I proactively treat my gut to keep infections in check. I take the supplements my body needs rather than pharmaceuticals that only suppress symptoms. I’ve found peace in structure, and clarity in simplicity.

What functional medicine gave me was not a miracle cure, but something more sustainable: agency, understanding, and a plan.

7. Commentary:

A Case for Personalized, Root-Cause Medicine

Editor’s Note

This patient-authored report reflects a growing demographic of individuals with autoimmune diseases whose conditions remain unresponsive—or worsened—under standard pharmaceutical care.

Her recovery highlights three key issues:

IgA Deficiency is Underdiagnosed (3)
Autoimmune Overlap Syndromes Require Nuanced Care
Functional Medicine Offers Plausible Alternatives (4)

Patient Authorship and Consent

This article is authored by the patient, Sylvia D. Barkley, MSW, who has provided full written consent for the publication of her medical history and personal experience.

Conflict of Interest

The author declares no conflicts of interest and received no external funding.

Acknowledgment

This article was prepared with the assistance of AI for language structuring. All medical claims are supported by peer-reviewed references, which were validated for accuracy. The content was reviewed by the author to ensure scientific integrity. In the event of any inadvertent errors, responsibility rests with the author, and corrections will be made promptly.

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