gluten free and medication

[mandy-white]

I have been gluten free now for 3 months and just recently I have started getting very hot at times and lightheaded.  Could it be that it has lowered my antibodies, and would that mean that I wouldn't want so much medication. 

[Marz]

The only way you will know for sure is to have another blood test to see how the T4 is converting into T3.  Being gluten free can help to heal the gut and therefore improve absorption.

Remember blood tests are only a guide - it also good to go by how you feel.  How are your levels of Ferritin - B12 - Folate - VitD ??

[mandy-white in reply to Marz]

Thankyou for replying.  I am on T3 only and just trying to think why I am now feeling hot and dizzy when I have been ok.  That's why I wondered if being gluten free could of effected my medication.  Blood test isn't an option as my GP doesn't like me being on T3 anyway, so it would be a good way of my GP blaming it on the T3.     If I am absorbing the T3 better would that mean that maybe I wouldn't need so much?  I don't know my levels for the others but I do supplement them........maybe not enough though.  Thankyou

[greygoose in reply to mandy-white]

The only way to find out is to reduce your dose slightly, and see if it helps.

[mandy-white in reply to greygoose]

Thankyou greygoose.  I will try reducing slightly and see if there is any change.

[greygoose in reply to mandy-white]

[greygoose]

I Don't think there's any direct link between the number of antibodies and the amount of Levo you need to take.

You need to take Levo because your gland is being destroyed and can no-longer make enough hormone on its own. Even if you entirely rid yourself of antibodies, the gland will not repair itself, so you'll still need the same amount of thyroid hormone replacement.

However, Marz has a very good point there about the gut!  

[mandy-white in reply to greygoose]

Thankyou.  It is only since I went gluten free that I have started feeling hot and dizzy so I just wondered if it was connected.  Thankyou for your reply.

[Clutter in reply to mandy-white]

Mandy-white,

Ideally you will have a FT3 test to check level before making any adjustment.  You can order a private thyroid test from Blue Horizon or Genova via thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Intolerance to heat can be a sign of over medication.  If you are unable to do a blood test reduce your T3 dose to see whether symptoms improve. 

_________________________________________________________________________

I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions.

[mandy-white in reply to Clutter]

Thankyou clutter.  I will try reducing meds and see if I am any better but also order a testing kit to try.  Thankyou.

[lambrusco21 in reply to greygoose]

Greygoose 

I am puzzled over these antibodies and wondered if you could answer the following question please. Should there be ANY thyroid antibodies present at all? TPOAS are less than 33. Is this ok. Many thanks .

[greygoose in reply to lambrusco21]

It is always said that having some antibodies is 'normal'. It's when they're over-range that they are said to be a problem.

How much research has gone into that conclusion, I Don't know. Not a lot, I Don't think. But, on the other had, some people are said to have Hashi's without having raised antibodies. And I think they find that out by doing a scan to see how much damage has been done to the gland.

However, I suspect that the whole subject is far more complicated than they want to admit. And it all comes back to the unreliability of blood tests, in the end. They are arbitary, at best, and certainly the ranges are not set in stone. A lot of people that were tested to set the ranges possibly had Hashi's without knowing it. So, they have to be used with a certain degree of intelligence - and that's where most doctors fall down.  

[riannabri]

I went Gluten free, Wheat Free, Lactose Free No carbs whatsoever and was on the stoneage diet for 3 years I was so very strict I was following everything my doctor told me. My antibodies stayed sky high, I was so very unwell mentally and physically. I then got a terrible dose of salmonella and the only thing I could tollerate was toasted pitta and rye and gradually I introduced more foods. After 3 years on the restirctive diet I changed my diet back totally introducing a small amount of carb with every meal, eating wholemeal Pitta, having a very nutricious balanced diet with Protein, Veg/Salad, small amount of carbs and stopping every vitamin the doc recomended. I AM TOTALLY different, I am not well but I am mentally improved, have much better mental clarity have not had a hashis flare in 4 months (they were continual before) and am enjoying every meal - My antibodies have not changed a bit.

So for me despite following the strict diet regime to the letter it made me much worse, I consulted with a nutritionalist and she was horrified that I was made to stop carbs and asked to eat a massive amount of fat etc etc with such a restrictive diet, so personally I would check you antibodies and see if they have lowered/higher and then make a choice for yourself

I feel so much happier that I am eating normally again, I always had to say no to dinner invites, had to carry special foods and could never eat what I wanted, that in itself made you feel like a ill person!!!

x Good Luck

[mandy-white in reply to riannabri]

thankyou for your reply. I must admit I did wonder why I have bothered with such a diet if I cant feel any benefit. x