Diet and digestive issues with overactive thyroid

[Bannerbabe]

Hi I started taking carbimazole for an overactive thyroid 3 weeks ago and beta blockers. I had terrible digestive issues mainly bad gas and running to the bathroom along with tremors and palpitations and insomnia and then discovered I had an overactive thyroid. At the start of this week it stopped for about 3 days and its back again. Im wondering is it the thyroid do I need to see a dietician go on a gluten free diet ?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Have you had TRab or TSI antibodies tested to confirm its Graves' disease. Or TPO and TG antibodies tested too

Link about antibodies

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

Definitely need vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested.

Yes many with autoimmune thyroid disease (hyperthyroid and hypothyroid) benefit from strictly gluten free diet

Ideally ask GP for coeliac blood test first

amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

[Bannerbabe in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi thanks I will ask for those blood tests. My first appointment with consultant is not until the start of July so dont know if its Graves.

[Valarian]

It’s still quite early days. It usually takes 4-8 weeks for all the excess thyroid hormone in the body to be used up (Anti- thyroids interfere with production of new hormone, but cannot themselves speed up getting through what already exists )

The extent to which production of new hormone is reduced will depend in part on the dose of Carbimazole. People who are hyper are pretty much always referred to an endo, and it appears (in some areas, at least) G Ps may only be able to prescribe a fairly low dose of Carbimazole. How much are you on, and do you know what your thyroid levels were (results and ranges -usually in brackets after the result).

[yerhol53]

Hi

I live in Australia and I am 64. I was diagnosed with overactive thyroid just after christmas 2017. I too, had palpitations, hand shakiness and insomnia and was very tired, and had swollen feet (start of warm weather in November here) but didn't realise anything wrong, but when the swollen feet kept coming back that is when I went to the doctor. I was also tested for graves disease a week later but thankfully didn't have this. I was put on carbimazole , 3 times a day, 5 mg each tablet (15 mg). I was very hesitant about taking medication but I took it with and after food and never had any problems. I have had regular blood tests. My first reading of my T4 was 79 (and it was suppose to be 10 and 20). My next reading after another monthly blood test was 33, then it was 14, and then it went down to 8.4. After a month or so I had an ultrasound and they found a nodule on my right lobe of my thyroid. I continued taking medication, then had a nuclear scan. My doctor said I had thryroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid) so I could start reducing medication. I went from 15mg to 10 mg for a month. When I had my next blood test it had gone down to 8.4 (below the normal reading so my doctor told me to go off the medication and that is where I am at the moment). I did a lot of research. I have been drinking herbal teas (basil tea steeped for 15 mins (fresh basil leaves only) and lemon balm tea and also white tea (good stuff from China). I have started taking Vit D3 in liquid form each day again ( I hadn't taken it for a while) and I also have been having 3 to 4 brazil nuts daily. I have always watched my diet and do not have very much processed food, (if any). I eat a lot of fruit and vegies, fish, chicken and small amounts of read meat (probably once a week only). I also have probiotics (home made kefir yoghurt, kombucha tea and sauerkraut most days). The doctor says anyone can be diagnosed with overactive thyroid at any age and they don't know why. I go back for my next blood test mid May so I will find out the reading then and see if it is in the normal range. (I became very weak in my muscles - I have been doing Pilates for 11 years and I struggled at classes and wondered why, I am getting back to normal now but I had to give it a miss for a few weeks). Anyway I hope this helps. Everyone is different. regards Vicki

[Bannerbabe in reply to yerhol53]

Thanks your your reply. Maybe the trick is just eating healthy no processed foods etc

[Valarian in reply to Bannerbabe]

There is some evidence that gluten free diet may help hypers as well as hypos (search the forum for gluten free and hyper), but making sure you have a balanced diet with as few processed foods as possible is a good start.

In the first few weeks following hyperthyroid diagnosis, our thyroids are probably still working overtime, and a raised metabolism can play havoc with digestion. You may be losing weight rapidly, in spite of having a humongous appetite, and sometimes feeling faint if you haven’t eaten enough.

This usually sorts itself out pretty quickly once you are on antithyroids, but given all of this plus the brain fog typical of untreated thyroid conditions, I think it would be quite a challenge to commit to a gluten-free diet until things have settled down a bit. Obviously a personal opinion.

[Bannerbabe in reply to Valarian]

Thanks for that Valerian. Just looked on 5mg twice a day until I see consultant so hopefully will sort it self out in a few weeks

[Valarian in reply to Bannerbabe]

That’s a pretty low dose Bannerbabe. Do you know what your results and the associated ranges (usually in brackets, after each result) were ? If you’re in the U.K., your surgery should be able to provide you with a copy.

Often GPs can’t prescribe as high a dose of anti thyroids as is required to get your thyroid properly under control, you need to wait until you see the endo for that. This is because hyperthyroidism is considered to require specialist oversight, and quite a lot of monitoring. (It’s not unusual to have blood tests every 4-6 weeks for several months).

The beta-blockers should help with some of the symptoms - eg breathlessness, palpitations and tremor - but your thyroid levels may remain quite high until you are prescribed a higher dose of Carbimazole.

[Bannerbabe in reply to Valarian]

I dont get to see the specialist until 11th of July. Im in Ireland. Rubbish health system unless you have health insurance. Havent a clue about levels. Next blood tests 24th of April. Can I ask GP what they are ?

[Valarian in reply to Bannerbabe]

You’d probably have to wait that long in the UK.

irishhealth.com/article.htm...

It looks as if you should be able to request a copy, but if you post under the title ‘access to medical records, Ireland’ or similar, someone may know for sure.

[Bannerbabe in reply to Valarian]

Thank you so much for your help. All I can do is ask