Natural Remedies for Hashimoto's?

[ForestFamily1]

Hello everyone,

I'm new here and this is my first post. I'm 45 years old and I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's last year (my levels were 3 times normal), but I haven't gotten on the meds yet - I'd like to try some natural remedies first. Has anyone else tried anything that has worked? I've suffered with absolutely horrible fatigue for the entire year (I literally couldn't get out of bed some days) until 3 months ago when I got on a series of vitamin, mineral and amino acid supplements that I'd given to my sister with cancer. I have zero fatigue now. But...I still have insomnia and a problem with my eyes where they sometimes get blurry and feel like there's a thin film coating one of them - I believe this is inflammation, so I've started taking Bromelain; I'll report back here when I see if that helps.

I've read that there's some evidence of a connection between the thyroid and problems with the gut.

Any thoughts on this would be appreciated!

[Clutter]

Welcome to the forum, ForestFamily1.

Hashimoto's causes 90% of hypothyroidism. There is no treatment for Hashimoto's but 100% gluten-free diet may slow progression to hypothyroidism which is treated with Levothyroxine.

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

If your GP has offered you Levothyroxine taking it may help reduce the frequency of Hashimoto's flare ups and antibodies and will improve the fatigue and other symptoms caused by low thyroid hormone.

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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.

[ForestFamily1 in reply to Clutter]

Hi Clutter - it's nice to meet you!

I also have Celiacs (yay!), so I've been on a 100% gluten free diet for about 4 years now. I have a severe medication anxiety (I have a panic attack if I have to take an unfamiliar medication), so my doctor said she'd start me on the lowest dose of medication, but she didn't tell me the name of it...

Do you know if insomnia is common with Hashimoto's? Is there anything to cure it (or does the medication cure it)?

Thank you for the info!

[Clutter in reply to ForestFamily1]

ForestFamily1,

Levothyroxine is the preferred UK treatment for hypothyroidism. The smallest dose is 25mcg but that is unlikely to be a therapeutic dose. It usually takes a few months to titrate dose every 6-8 weeks to the required dose.

Hashimoto's/hypothyroidism seems to cause extremes, either sleeping 18 hours a day or insomnia. I found insomnia improved after I was optimally medicated and I sleep well mostly now.

[ForestFamily1 in reply to Clutter]

Oh that's great to hear! Thankfully I work from home, or this would be absolutely unbearable. I'm in the U.S. and I stay awake until between 5am-9am (it's 4:08am here right now and I'm still wide awake) and then sleep typically 9 hours. Usually, I'll fall asleep around 11pm but I'm only able to stay asleep for 2 hours before my body wakes up. No matter what I do, I can't get that to switch to sleeping at night and staying awake during the day - it's so strange.

[Clutter in reply to ForestFamily1]

ForestFamily1,

It will be a while before you are optimally medicated so Googling "Sleep Hygiene" may be helpful. I was sometimes awake for 3 nights and was very spaced out/hallucinatory when I saw my GP who prescribed 7 x sleeping pills per month in case I became addicted.