Hi.
I have posted a couple of times here for me. But my brother has been hypo for many years and today was diagnosed with gluten intolerance today. He has downs syndrome so i am his carer.
Should I push the doctor to test for hashimotos? His thyroid is extremely swollen at the moment.
Thanks
Cazzie,
It's 90% likely your brother's hypothyroidism was caused by Hashimoto's. A confirmation of Hashimoto's won't change your brother's treatment for hypothyroidism. There's no treatment or cure for Hashimoto's. Gluten-free diet, which your brother is going to have to adopt as he is coeliac, can improve Hashimoto's and reduce the the frequency of flares, improve symptoms and eventually reduce antibodies. Keep an eye on your brother's thyroid levels because his absorption of Levothyroxine should improve when he is gluten-free. If he feels over medicated his dose may need reducing.
chriskresser.com/the-gluten...
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
Okay. Thanks. I am just trying to get my head around what he can and cant have now. I am really just wanting to prove a point to my doctors. They dont seem to believe in hashimotos, just want to prove a point but i suppose that is a cost to the nhs. I will move on with the new diagnoses!!!
Cazzie91,
I wouldn't make a big deal about pursuing a Hashimoto's diagnosis. UK doctors are useless about it, probably because they can't do anything about it and a gluten-free diet will help anyway. If you cook from scratch you will easily be able to eliminate gluten but if you give him processed foods you will have to read the labels carefully as practically everything has gluten added. Watch out for some of the G_F ranges which can have a lot of added sugar.
This forum will be helpful healthunlocked.com/glutenfr...
I would ask your GP to order a thyroid ultrasound scan as you've said his thyroid is very swollen. A scan will show the condition and size of his thyroid and whether there is a goitre or nodules or cysts which need monitoring.
Yes, all your doctor needs to do is test for thyroid antibodies to confirm or not he has hashimitos. I think GP should refer him to an Endo re his swollen gland.
It's good that you're advocating for him as people with disabilities often have very poor treatment from the NHS. If he's ok with blood tests, I would ask the GP for the full range of blood tests suggested by Thyroid UK, inc TSH, T4, T3, antibodies, folate, ferritin, iron, B12 etc. I think it's worth getting antibodies tested as then you can monitor if these are affected by diet. Also ask for his swollen thyroid to be thoroughly investigated.
My husband and his thyroid problem
Hypo'para'thyroidism and Bipolar
