Gluten free diet?

[vcle1909]

I have been reading that a 100% gluten free diet should be followed when suffering from hypothyroidism. As I've only recently been diagnosed and still feeling terrible I am willing to try anything that helps. Does anyone on the forum have any experience of this or believe it could be advantageous ?

[Jazzw]

It might. It might not. We have forum members who've reported both outcomes!

If you have the autoimmune form of hypothyroidism (and the majority do), then it may help, as anything that reduces autoimmune activity can be beneficial.

Personally, I've found it's wheat rather than gluten that I have to avoid, but I don't seem to have the autoimmune form of hypothyroidism (go figure - that is to say I've never shown thyroid antibodies on a blood test, which apparently doesn't necessarily mean it isn't autoimmune. Very confusing business, this thyroid lark!).

It might be worth a try at some point. Personally I'd wait to see how I got on with thyroid replacement hormones first before trying gluten free.

If it doesn't seem to make any difference, then gradually reintroduce gluten foods again and see how you go. There's no point in depriving yourself of foods unnecessarily - life with hypothyroidism can be miserable enough!

[humanbean in reply to Jazzw]

My circumstances are much like those of jazzw. I've never had positive antibodies despite being tested a few times.

I resisted going gluten-free for a long time because I thought it would be a huge hassle (I was right, it is, and I still resent having to be gluten-free), but eventually felt I had no choice because I wasn't getting better. In my case I got an improvement within a week, but not in my gut health as I was expecting. Instead I found that my temper improved immensely, I have much more control of myself, I don't get angry for no reason, and I'm much more mellow and laid back. I also have a problem with staggering and balance - I would never be able to pass a roadside sobriety test, even though I'm teetotal. Removing gluten from my diet has helped reduce (but not cure) the staggering problem.

I read something on the web quite recently, on the blog of someone who doesn't eat gluten. It said "For instant asshole, just add gluten". It fits me perfectly!

[polly3]

I went gluten free years ago, a few years after I was diagnosed with uat and definitely say its helped me a huge amount only with me I have no idea of what kind of under active thyroid I have, I was never told but now mine is taking up valuable space in my neck lol! . I can be quite ill if I continue to eat it I have my cheat days but I get headaches body aches if I do. X

[Pink_Bear]

I'm one of the people it has helped too, and yes, it might help you. But you're recently diagnosed and I think it's wise to take only one step at a time. So if I were you, knowing what I do now, I'd give myself some time to see if levothyroxine works. You didn't exactly say, but I assume that is what has been prescribed for you? What might not have been made clear to you is that it isn't an overnight cure, and it can take time for you to start to feel better. With me it was several months, with adjustments to the dose after each blood test. Once I got to that point I then decided it was worth trying a gluten free diet to see if it made any further improvement - and it did. If you try too many things at once you will not know what is making the difference. Do post back and let us know how you get on.

[mado]

Definitely advantageous. I have been gluten free since January. I was getting terrible flaky itchy skin all over. It went within days and returned after I had gluten again. I lost a few kg since January too. Dropped two sizes. So try it and see. It's hard at first, then it's fine

[Hidden in reply to mado]

This is interesting, I've had itchy skin and a peeling nose for a while. I became Hypo after recent radioactive iodine treatment. I also had/have B12 deficiency... Looks like going gluten free is next on my list for trying to improve my health.