Hyperthyroidism - fish or no fish

[Happybunny100]

Hi there, I'm new to this group so please bare with me. I have been diagnosed now for 6 years, 2011, albeit I have had a couple of breaks from my medication. I have until August to make a decision to either have the radioactive treatment or the removal of the thyroid - neither do I want. So I have taken to trying to change my diet over the next 6 weeks and go gluten free, flax oil, bugle weed tea, amongst other changes. However I am still confused somehow as to whether I can eat fish, which contains iodine, or I have to avoid fish with overactive, I have read two areas which say different things - so help would be appreciated - thank you.

[HyperJessi]

I'm not much help, was diagnosed 3 years ago with a marginally high T4 and a very low TSI and thought I would get better after my body normalised after pregnancy. Now after second baby, my T4 has apparently shot through the roof and I'm also looking to try changing my diet or healing naturally of at all possible

[Happybunny100]

Hi there HyperJessi

Arhhh sounds like you have your hands full and so sorry your T4 has shot up after your second child. I have just had more results but they omitted the T3 which was silly. Yes it's been too long for me so major diet changes - I used to be on 8 coffees a day. - now it's herbal tea! 😂 I feel better though. Just not sure about fish, think I have to avoid. Hopefully will know soon.

[Clutter]

HappyBunny10,

There's no need to avoid fish because you are hyperthyroid. Iodine used to be used to treat hyperthyroidism. You may be advised to adopt a low iodine diet for 3-4 weeks prior to having RAI if you decide to have it.

[Happybunny100 in reply to Clutter]

Thank you so much clutter. It's the low iodine diet sheet I'm looking at which is why I was confused and now thanks to u and teenarocks its to be fone before RAI which I didn't realise. Double salmon tomorrow then for lunch xx 😂😂😂

[Clutter in reply to Happybunny100]

Happybunny100,

I was looking forward to paella when my low iodine diet ended after RAI.

[Happybunny100 in reply to Clutter]

Ohhh so lovely to talk to you if you have had RAI. R u ok clutter? Did it take long for you to get back to your normal self? I am worried it will all go wrong, they won't get the levels right, if end up as fat as anything and b depressed!!! Was it ok for you and do u know a lot of people have had success? X

[Clutter in reply to Happybunny100]

Happybunny100,

I had thyCa so the RAI was to mop up remnant thyroid cells after thyroidectomy. I'm okay but not as okay as I was prior to thyroid trouble.

What levels are you worried about? The nuclear physicist will work out the RAI dose. It usually makes people hypothyroid within 6-12 months. Once you are hypothyroid you will be prescribed Levothyroxine replacement. The dosing will be guided by your thyroid levels.

My sister had RAI for Graves hyperthyroidism and has been fine on Levothyroxine although her thyroid eye disease got a little worse. She's always been active and is more so now, running several km 3 times a week and doing pilates and yoga too.

[Happybunny100 in reply to Clutter]

Ohhh bless you clutter - this is the trouble - such a major impact any change to our thyroid makes to our emotional and physical state - which is why I'm being stubborn 😂

I hope you feel more yourself soon and your sister to have graves too is hard, I am lucky so far I have not had this.

It just annoys me when the TSH goes from 0.05 to 1.5 and they say - right that's it back in your tablets!!! 😂

I just have to say to myself - what will b will b and it is what it is!!!! But I'm gonna try and rest more too which I don't-just like your sister x

[Happybunny100 in reply to Clutter]

Hope you enjoyed your paella then x

[Clutter in reply to Happybunny100]

Happybunny100,

I can't remember. It was 6 years ago.

[teenarocks]

Bunny, there doesn't seem to be a lot of information on this. But if you put "fish" in the search box above you will see a few entries that might help. Most of the people on this forum seem to be hypo not hyper. You also might search RAI and thyroidectomy. I wish you the best.

[Happybunny100 in reply to teenarocks]

Thanks Teenarocks

Yes I did notice most entries were hypo so glad I'm a little bit different 😂

I will now pop salmon on my diet sheet - I do recall now the low iodine diet sheet is for those having RAI - silly me!!!

I don't want RAI nor have it out so they will just have to keep me on the tablets longer! 😂 Which I presume they can't afford to do hence they want me to make a decision. I also read a lot of conflicting blood test results and still yet to find a site that gives u normal readings - hay hooo - google isn't that good for everything now thenveh!! 😂😂😂 thank you for getting back to me - take care and hope u r ok

[Silver_Fairy in reply to Happybunny100]

The reason they want you to have RAI or surgery is so they can discharge you back to your GP.

With ref to 'normal readings', do you mean levels? Levels are mostly individual, it's how you feel that is important.

What dose Carb are you on and how do you feel?

Carnitine is used in hyperthyroidism. The dose is between 2-4g daily. Lemon balm, bugle weed and motherwort are supposed to work too (but you may need something stronger than a tea)

[Happybunny100 in reply to Silver_Fairy]

Hi Silver Fairy

Yes your right about referring back to GP - already done that twice cause hospital and doc thought the other was looking after me so got missed in the system for a year 😂

I'm on 5mg a day now and feel ok just go a bit hyper during the day sometimes 😂

Yes I have neat bugleweed in a bottle so all good - gotta give it a go right xx

[madge1979]

Hi .. I have Graves .. and eat fish many times a week ... I've never eaten red meat in my life ... so fish is a staple for me ..

I wouldn't worry too much about that Best of luck

Mx🌹

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

The document below lists the iodine content of several fish - it varies quite a lot. Scampi = high; prawns = low. (I'd need to be convinced that this was the same in warm and cold water prawns and from all sources.)

bda.uk.com/foodfacts/Iodine...

It also identifies the considerable iodine content of dairy products.

There is a special food available for hyperthyroid cats which is low in iodine. The idea is that if the intake is low enough they simply don't have the raw material to manufacture the excess thyroid hormone.

That approach is controversial. As is the cause of feline hyperthyroidism which used to be very, very rare - and now seems common.

[Happybunny100 in reply to helvella]

Thank you helvella, this is so interesting. You do point out though this point about people with hyperthyroidism could benefit from a low iodine diet so as not to produce excessive thyroxine - so it is worth me trying this low diet for a while and probably limit fish and high iodine foods just for 6 weeks to see any change in blood levels. Xx

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Happybunny100]

Cats not people!

Might not be a good idea for humans. I really don't know.

[Happybunny100 in reply to helvella]

😂😂😂😂 I'll try anything xx