Thyroid · Hashimoto's · Energy · Metabolism

Hashimoto's & Thyroid Health Coaching in Greenville, SC

Q: Do I need a Hashimoto's diagnosis to work with you?

No. Many women come with symptoms and normal results. If anything suggests you need a medical evaluation, I'll tell you.

By Maria Merlo, AFMC-certified Functional Medicine Health Coach · Updated November 2026

Your TSH is "normal," or your dose was just adjusted, and you still feel exhausted, foggy and stuck with your weight. Thyroid health is the heart of my practice. I help you understand what else may be affecting how you feel, and build a plan that works alongside your doctor's care.

Book Your Free Wellness Clarity Call

30 minutes · In person in Greenville or virtual · Se habla español

Maria Merlo, thyroid and Hashimoto's health coach in Greenville SC

Does this sound familiar?

Tired no matter how much you sleep
Weight gain that doesn't respond to eating less or exercising more
Brain fog, low mood or feeling "flat"
Cold hands and feet, dry skin, thinning hair or eyebrows
Constipation or sluggish digestion
Heavy or irregular cycles
A Hashimoto's diagnosis and no guidance beyond "take your pill and we'll recheck in six months"

Why a "normal" result doesn't always match how you feel

Many routine checkups test only TSH. It's the standard first test, but it's one number. Free T4 and thyroid antibodies (TPO and thyroglobulin) add to the picture, and the antibodies show whether an autoimmune process like Hashimoto's is involved. Hashimoto's is the most common cause of an underactive thyroid in the US, and it's 4 to 10 times more common in women, often starting between 30 and 50.

Whether you need more testing is a decision for you and your doctor. My role is to help you understand your results, ask better questions at your appointments, and work on the daily habits that support thyroid health.

What else affects your thyroid

Your thyroid doesn't work alone. These areas are often part of the picture, and they're where coaching makes a difference:

Key nutrients: iron, selenium, iodine (enough, not too much), zinc and vitamin D.
Digestion: absorption, gut health and food reactions.
Blood sugar: swings in blood sugar affect energy, cravings and weight.
Stress and sleep: your stress response and thyroid function influence each other.
Sex hormones: perimenopause, PCOS and birth control can all change how thyroid hormones behave.

How we work on it together

Free Wellness Clarity Call (30 minutes)

We talk about your history and whether my approach fits.

90-Day Whole Systems Optimization Plan

It starts with an in-depth Gameplan Session: questionnaires, a review of your previous labs and medication list, and a clear starting plan. Then coaching every two weeks using my Hormone Dance Method: metabolic nutrition, digestion, adrenal balance, metabolism, movement, sex hormone balance and detoxification. Functional lab testing when it's useful.

Book Your Free Wellness Clarity Call

See the 90-Day plan →

Working with your doctor, not instead of them

I don't diagnose thyroid disease, and I never start, stop or change thyroid medication. That stays between you and your prescribing doctor. Many of my clients take levothyroxine or another thyroid medication, and coaching works alongside it. If something in your history needs medical attention, I'll tell you and encourage you to see your provider first.

Thyroid and weight

When your thyroid is underactive, metabolism can slow down, and many women notice weight gain they can't explain. Eating less often backfires. We focus on protein and blood sugar balance, strength-building movement, sleep and stress, so your body has what it needs to respond.

Thyroid lab testing in Greenville

Through our lab partner Evexia you can order a full thyroid panel, including antibodies. Inside your 90-day plan, results are reviewed in context for education and planning, not diagnosis. Share them with your doctor too.

What clients say

"With Maria's program, I… have my energy back… I learned many things about food and hormones from Maria that no one had ever explained to me before."Laura D., Social Worker

A note from Maria: "Laura" came to me with a thyroid condition. While we worked together on the foundations on this page, her follow-up thyroid labs improved and her doctor adjusted her medication. Every body responds differently, and medication decisions always stay with your doctor.

Individual results vary. Testimonials reflect each client's personal experience and are not a promise of results. Client names have been changed to protect privacy.

Maria Merlo is an AFMC-certified Functional Medicine Health Coach (School of Applied Functional Medicine) and Integrative Nutrition Health Coach (IIN), coaching women in English and Spanish since 2014. She is not a physician and does not diagnose or treat disease. Read Maria's story →

Frequently asked questions

Can you help if I'm already on thyroid medication?

Yes. Many of my thyroid clients are. Coaching focuses on nutrition, digestion, stress, sleep and movement; your medication stays with your doctor.

Do I need a Hashimoto's diagnosis to work with you?

No. Many women come with symptoms and "normal" results. If anything suggests you need a medical evaluation, I'll tell you.

Can diet cure Hashimoto's?

No. Hashimoto's is a lifelong autoimmune condition. Nutrition and lifestyle can support how you feel and how your body functions, and we work on those together.

Do I have to go gluten-free?

Not automatically. Some women with Hashimoto's feel better without gluten, and celiac disease is more common in people with autoimmune thyroid disease, but the decision should be individual. We look at your own symptoms and history, and celiac testing is a conversation for your doctor.

Should I take selenium or iodine supplements?

Not without guidance. Research suggests selenium may lower thyroid antibodies in some people, and people with Hashimoto's can be sensitive to too much iodine (kelp and seaweed supplements included). We look at your diet and labs first, and check with your doctor.

¿Trabajas en español?

Sí, todo el programa está disponible en español. Agenda tu llamada →