Hashimotos and Autoimmune Remission

[Welchy1]

Hi all, I'm in the autoimmune camp.

I have had Alopecia Areata and Hashimotos for at least 6 years (formal diagnosis). I see alot of talk and the promotion of functional medicine practices and including the praise of its thought leaders on this platform.

This is fantastic, because we should have the freedom to explore alternative methods of treatment which might help resolve our conditions and it is troubling how little knowledge conventional medicine seems to have on the root cause or treatment of autoimmunity .

It's the hope that this generates which i sometimes draw my strength from. That being said I have not met anyone, yet, who has successully managed their condition into remission.

If you have I would be very grateful to hear from you and how you did it... and if you're happy to share a picture of your antibodies reduced that would be amazing too.

I live in the UK and am motivated to find at least one successful remission story... in all my searching over the last 6 years I haven't met one yet...

Yours hopefully,

Welchy

[Nanaedake]

I didn't know that functional medicine claimed to offer remission to people with Hashimotos does it? I thought it was more about optimising health despite antibodies but then I don't know much about it.

Generally on this forum I've noticed the advice is to optimise levothyroxine dose, correct any vitamin deficiencies, improve gut health and check the evidence for biochemical status though the use of reliable blood tests before making decisions. It seems common sense to me. You can read 38 success stories on the right hand side of this page within the links.

[Heloise]

In the Betrayal Series there were some complete remissions of autoimmune disease. The most notable was a middle aged woman who was in a wheelchair with multiple sclerosis and in one year was walking again. She has been ill for ten years. To me, this means the destruction must have reversed to some degree. They did say that the brain could remake the connections if they weren't too far apart. I can't remember the terminology.

Your body is destroying cells and creating cells all the time, so Dr. O'Bryan said if you are creating more than you are destroying you may heal. They didn't specifically say the thyroid gland would be restored but it probably depends on what kind of shape it's in.

[Danielj1 in reply to Heloise]

Crikey, it depends how narrowly you define success. Is it getting to the point you can live exactly the same life you had before the symptoms ever started.

I know a close relative who has achieved this.

Ie zero tiredness, flares etc etc . But she never got tested for more than TSH interesting to note she

Always filters tap water and this is never really. Mentioned here and I think may be rather important.

[Heloise in reply to Danielj1]

Yes, fluoride and chloride are halides which compete with iodine. Water is important and I also learned taking a shower with chlorinated water is the same as drinking a gallon of chlorinated water. So get a filter for your bath as well.

[crisstine in reply to Danielj1]

Hi, please can you help me with information about your relative. How can someone manage to do that?

[crisstine]

Yes, please somebody who really knows if remission is possible for Hashimoto. I've read many stories here about that. But they needed to be more specific. Please share information with us. I am newly diagnosed.

[Danielj1]

As I say, if you can live the fullest life you want what more matters - does this mean 80% 90% 99% or 100% remission I am not sure I care ?

This may not answer your question my journey here is to get great health again rather than be solely focussed on a TPO number that is hard to directly control.

[Welchy1]

Thank you for taking the time to read and reply to my post Danielj1. A number of integrative and functional practitioners say remission from autoimmunity is possible when you follow their protocols. I am just interested to learn who on this forum has achieved successful remission following this approach (or any). It was not my intention to ignite a debate on the definition of 'successful'. Apologies if my post mislead you.

[Danielj1]

Please don’t apologise as I too really want to learn more - it feels like a majority view on this board is the illness will progress until you lose your thyroid and little can be done to halt the tide - yes supplements /diet can mitigate symptoms but not the damage.I am working from the assumption that restoration is possible but I also would like to know anyone here who achieved this. I know from my relative it can be done but some other case studies will be instructive.