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[Sooze62]

Diagnosed with hashimotos few years ago, prescribed levothyroxine 125mg. Changed few months ago, alternating 125 & 150. Symptoms not improved. Have heard aboutI'm due a blood test next week. What should I be asking dr about results? No clue where to start. Thanks

[greygoose]

Ask him for a print-out, with the ranges, and then post them on here. People here will tell you all you need to know about them.

[Sooze62]

Thanks grey goose, will do.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Have you had vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin levels checked? Common with Hashimoto's to be low in some or all of these.

Have you considered gluten free diet? Many find it helps. It needs to be strictly 100% gluten free to be effective, you could try it for 3 - 6 months to see how you get on. Be good idea to track antibodies and see if they fall too.

[Sooze62]

Have been put on B12 injections, 3 monthly, only had 1, next due July. There was some query over the B12 intrinsic blood test but gp put me on b12 anyway. Isn't it harmful to go gluten free if not allergic? Think I saw something about it? I have only 1 kidney and take ramipril; also have osteoarthritis but because have 1 kidney, can't take arthritis meds, on painkillers instead, pegabalin & longtec. This is due to arthritis being in spine, L4 & L5 plus one prolapsed disc. The underactive thyroid is not helping.

[TSH110]

I never heard it was harmful to go gluten free - given the junk food that is piled high with wheat/gluten, I'd say as long as you avoid processed "gluten free" products you will find the diet much healthier than one full of wheat products even if yours is exemplary. It may even help alleviate some of the other very unpleasant problems you have like arthritis.

The thinking behind it is to try and reduce autoimmune attacks (arthritis and autoimmune hypothyroidism are caused by ones body attacking itself - not sure if your kidney problems are autoimmune as well) as some believe gluten provokes the immune system into incorrect attack mode of ones own tissues. Others think it is hokus pokus but I understand it is accepted as medically correct for those with Crohn's disease. You could try it and see if you get any benefit and revert back if you see no improvement. I can't see why you would need gluten for good health, all these cereals are unnatural foods we only started eating in large quantities comparativey recently in our evolutionary history.

I immediately felt better for going gluten free (I admit to not being a purist...I tend to keep it simple and just avoid wheat and barley). I have atrophic autoimmune thyroiditis, ankylosing spondylitis, arthritis (and possibly myasthenia gravis).

[Sooze62 in reply to TSH110]

Thank you. I'll look into it.

[TSH110 in reply to Sooze62]

Sooze62

I do hope the appointment goes well and you can clarify a few things with the doctor. I found it very difficult due to my impaired mental state - just getting through the day moment by moment took all my energy until I was better optimised, even then it was hard.

🍀☘️🍀

[Sooze62 in reply to TSH110]

Hope you're feeling better. It is awful, get so tired sleep for at least 24hours straight. Frustrating to give up life to this illness. I'll post my results when I get them. Thanks everyone for your advice. x