For actor Camilla Luddington, a recent blood test held the key to understanding her โslowerโ and lower-energy demeanor.
The โGreyโs Anatomyโ star on Wednesday opened up about her health, revealing she has been diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder known as Hashimotoโs disease. In an episode of her and co-star Jessica Capshawโs โCall It What It Isโ podcast, Luddington said she often feels โslower, tired, [wants] to be in bedโ and that โit never occurred to me that there could be a medical reason for that.โ
Luddington, 41, told her co-host she had blood work a couple of months ago and her doctor flagged โone little thing.โ Though she was โa little freaked outโ to hear the words โautoimmune diseaseโ from her doctor, Luddington said they reassured her that Hashimotoโs hyperthyroidism is a โvery commonโ disorder.
Hashimotoโs disease affects the thyroid gland, which is responsible for producing hormones and regulating many bodily functions, according to the Mayo Clinic. The slow-progressing disease can bring about a range of symptoms including fatigue and sluggishness, increased sensitivity to cold, dry skin, hair loss and weight gain.
Luddington said she experienced a handful of the symptoms associated with Hashimotoโs, but dismissed them as signs of aging and perimenopause. Relieved to learn the cause of her symptoms, Luddington offered her own understanding of the disorder: โMakes you a little slothy.โ
โI didnโt realize how exhausted my body was,โ said Luddington, who stars as Dr. Jo Wilson on โGreyโs.โ
Since receiving her diagnosis, Luddington said she has been taking medication to manage her disorder and has also returned to exercising. During the podcast episode, she and Capshaw also talked about the pitfalls of medical advice from TikTok โdoctors,โ and encouraged listeners to share their experiences with autoimmune disorders.
Luddington joins several other stars, including โThe Boysโ star Erin Moriarty and โStar Warsโ actor Daisy Ridley, who have been open about their autoimmune disorders in recent years.