My daughter was diagnosed with Hashimoto's last spring at age 7. She is on a combination of levothyroxine and naturethroid. Does anyone have

[cynthialj]

experience with children and Hashi's or any advice? Greatly appreciated as I want to do everything possible to help her immune system and thyroid.

[Clutter]

Until those with experience are back from the school run and can help have a looked at the pinned link healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

I hope your little girl is doing well on her meds.

[Hidden]

How is she feeling?

What dosages is she on? Does she always get the same levo?

Latest thyroid bloods with the Paediatric ranges would be handy too....

This information will help people to better offer informed support...

L

x

[kiltis]

I've read many times that a gluten free diet is very important for people with Hashi's. Perhaps your daughter is already gluten free. I hope you get some answers from people with personal experience.

[shaws Administrator]

This person is a pharmacist and has Hashi's. I don't know whether she had it as a child but some who have bought her book say it is informative:-

thyroidlifestyle.com/

[kosmickaz]

The book, 'hashimotos thyroiditis, lifestyle interventions for finding and treating the root cause' by Izabella Wentz (who is a pharmacist with Hashimotos) is a useful book.

It has gaps in the research and some topics are covered only briefly, but it provides a useful framework for educating yourself about the disease. It offers dietary advice, supplement advice etc I found it very helpful. One suggestion the book makes is supplementing with selenium - saying that over a year antibody load can be deduced by between 20 and 50% (according to a statistically significant study) - I have no idea how much selenium supplementation a child should receive though...

I would say a gluten free diet is also essential - due to the role gluten is believed to play in the autoimmune destruction of thyroid gland.

I do hope you have a supportive and informed GP and Specialist - good luck to you and your little girl - I do hope she is feeling ok...

[cynthialj in reply to kosmickaz]

Thank you, I will get this book you recommend. My daughter is gluten free and I do give her selenium. Her antibodies have reduced by 90% in 6 months and she is doing well. I just wish we could cure it completely. Maybe some day.

[kosmickaz in reply to cynthialj]

It might also be worth looking into Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) - this and T3 therapy for me personally (as I couldn't tolerate levothyroxine) have been amazing. I was very ill for 5 years before I switched my own treatment.

LDN is an immune system modulator. You Tube has some good videos on explaining how it works:

youtube.com/watch?v=fWrG_UQ...(Not working as expected?) (there are 3 parts to this)

Check out for info:

ldnresearchtrust.org

lowdosenaltrexone.org

dicksonchemist.co.uk/new/

LDN can cause instability when taking thyroid hormone - and blood monitoring is required - so she would need someone to monitor her very closely. Is she on much in the way of thyroid hormone?

There is also a supplement izabella wentz talks about in the book that mimmicks the stress signal to the dying thyroid hormone tissue and so acts as a decoy - giving the thyroid gland a rest....

She has a Facebook page - doing a search trying to find the supplement I found this summary:

OVERCOMING HASHIMOTO'S SUMMARY

There's so many of you that are just beginning your Hashimoto's journey to find your own root cause! My aim is to empower you! Below you will find a summary of my approach.

You will start with the simplest modifications, by removing triggers, followed by repairing the other broken systems to restore equilibrium, allowing the body to rebuild itself. You will dig down to why the immune system is imbalanced in the first place and this will tell you how you begin to finally feel better, reduce your thyroid antibodies and even take your condition into remission.

FIRST, we REMOVE the things that may be irritating your thyroid and causing it to send out a stress signal.

Iodine, fluoride, and toxins can cause thyroid inflammation as a result of oxidative damage, causing the thyroid to send out a stress response, which becomes picked up by the immune system.

Gluten and food intolerances promote intestinal permeability, making our immune system unable to recognize our own cells. Food that is poorly digested feeds the bad bacteria, making them stronger.

Stress weakens the thyroid through its actions on the adrenals, and can help the negative bacteria proliferate.

SECOND, we REPAIR the intestinal permeability through a leaky gut diet, broths, and glutamine. Protomorphogens are used as a decoy for thyroid and adrenal glands, and help rebuild the organs.

THIRD, we REPLACE the depletions that are present to help the body strengthen and jump back on a cycle of wellness. This includes thyroid hormone!

FOURTH, we REINOCULATE, giving the body enough beneficial bacteria to displace the pathogenic bacteria. Probiotics and raw lacto-fermented foods are used.

LASTLY, we REBALANCE the adrenals, immune system and our detoxification capabilities. The adrenals respond well to adaptogens.

REMOVE

• Iodine

• Infections

• Fluoride

• Toxins

• Difficult to digest food

• Food intolerances

• Stress

REPAIR

• Healing diet

• Protomorphogens

• Broths

• Glutamine

REPLACE

• B12

• Zinc

• Selenium

• Ferritin

• Other vitamin and mineral depletions

• Thyroid hormone

• Digestive enzymes

REINOCULATE

• Probiotics

• Fermented Foods

REBALANCE

• Adrenal adaptogens

• Anatabine/Curcumin/Omega-3’s

• Green juices, smoothies, vegetables

You will have to create your own health timeline. Look back at your overall history as far back as you can remember. Look for infections, periods of sever stress, the use of medications (especially antibiotics, antacids, and oral contraceptives), accidents, and exposure to toxins. These are events that may have contributed to Hashimoto's. Once you do, you will know what types of changes you need to implement to make yourself feel better.

I've gone to great lengths to make the material in the book accessible and approachable to the patient. I hope you consider picking up a copy through the link below

thyroidpharmacist.com/book

For future updates, please follow us at Thyroid Pharmacist, Dr. Izabella Wentz

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to kosmickaz]

Is there any relevant information about the use of naltrexone in paediatric patients?

[kosmickaz in reply to helvella]

I would suggest contacting Steve Dickson the Pharmacist at Dickson chemist, to find out. The info on adults is largely anecdotal - due to the lack of funding for research...its a cheap medicine and not in big Pharma's best interests to do the trials.

It would be weighing up the risks v benefits for paediatric administration - looking at the available evidence. Why shouldn't a child benefit? I certainly wouldn't rule it out although I did think twice about posting this suggestion as its relating to a child - but thats all it is...a suggestion. Its up to those involved to look at the evidence and make an educated decision about it - plus it has to be prescribed.