Gluten free - what change to meds?

Can I ask if going gluten free resulted in a need to reduce meds for anyone? Similarly anyone it had no effect on?

Thank you! X

[shaws Administrator]

Going gluten-free is to reduce the thyroid antibodies which attack the thyroid gland until the person is hypothyroid.

If antibodies are present (Hashi's) they attack the thyroid gland and wax and wane until the person is hypothyroid. So gluten-free helps reduce antibodies which make the person feel, at times, hyper or hypo.

[Hidden in reply to shaws]

Thanks shaws. So that would I assume affect meds do you think? I’ve been 2 years v strictly gf since coeliac diagnosis, no change in thyroid meds. Still problematic with symptoms and wondering if I should chase doc for thyroid check. I’ve assumed my problems are coeliac related but wondering if they should be looking at thyroid too. Thanks again. Tilly

[shaws Administrator in reply to Hidden]

I am not medically qualified but gluten-free should not affect meds. You need a new blood test: the earliest possible: fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose of thyroid hormones (if you take any) and test and take afterwards.

[Hidden in reply to shaws]

Thanks

[shaws Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Put a copy with the ranges of your new results onto a new post for comments.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Ask for a Full Thyroid Function Test - TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies.

B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate. If GP or lab wont do all of the thyroid ones we have two private labs that do home pin-prick tests. GP should certainly do all of the vitamins/minerals.

Medichecks and Blue Horizon are the labs and make sure you are well-hydrated if you decided to do this. Make sure hands/arms are warm Fr Blood Draw.

[Marz]

It should improve absorption of meds and supplements. Are your lingering symptoms due to Low B12 - Folate - Ferritin - VitD ?

[Hidden in reply to Marz]

hi Marz - I'm still suffering with diarrhoea most mornings though am religiously GF, have tried all exclusion diets, and recent biopsy has shown my coeliac damage is starting to mend, tho still some way to go. The days I have diarrhoea I am completely exhausted by the afternoon - wiped out (luckily self employed but were i employed I would be in trouble). Doc is sympathetic and has organised loads of tests including those you mention, but it crossed my mind my symptoms might also be my being slightly hyper. As Shaws said I guess I need to organise new bloods. Thanks for the reply.

[Marz in reply to Hidden]

You could be absorbing thyroid meds better due to gut healing. Have you tried the water I mentioned ? Works a treat !

[Marz]

Have just read your Post/Replies on the PAS forum ! Jarrow Methycobalamin B12 from Amazon are often suggested here - an under the tongue lozenge. They are 5000mcg and 1000mcg. Try the first one to boost suspected low levels and then go to the lower dose. Also a good B Complex is needed - like Thorne Research. Further testing whilst supplementing will skew results.

San Pellegrino Mineral water is high in Silica - so can be very helpful in preventing a runny tum ! I have Crohns and Hashi's - and a B12 issue.

[Harthill42 in reply to Marz]

Thanks for this useful information, should this read San Pellegrino? Or another take on SP?

[Marz in reply to Harthill42]

Yes

[Hidden]

thanks Marz that's really useful. I guess I need to hold off supplementing til bloods done but good to know.

[jimh111]

Gluten free has no effect on hypothyroidism or antibodies. The large majority of hypothyroid patients have never heard of gluten free and in spite of this happily recover.

Tilly, as you have coeliac disease this can affect your absorption of levothyroxine and play havoc with your dose. Diarrhoea will reduce levothyroxine absorption, on the other hand if your gut improves your absorption of levothyroxine will improve. As your diarrhoea occurs in the morning it would be better to take your levothyroxine before bedtime. This will give you more stable absorption and make it easier to titrate your dose. I would switch to evening dosage (if you don’t do so already) and ask your doctor for another blood test after a couple of weeks. Be sure to tell the doctor about your symptoms so that they can look at the whole picture and not just the blood test.

If you take your levothyroxine at night you can have the blood test the following day without postponing a dose. Levothyroxine has a small effect on the blood test results for a few hours after taking the tablet. There is no need to fast before a thyroid blood test, it makes no difference. One flawed study seemed to show an effect but when the same team corrected their mistake and carried out a follow-up study they found fasting had no effect on.

[Hidden in reply to jimh111]

thanks that's useful - I hadn't thought about the fact that my now much-improved gut lining will be absorbing more meds (hopefully). I take the thyroxine in the very small hours (i always wake 2 ish) so hopefully that's far enough away from the morning diarrhoea. Thanks again.

[Marz in reply to Hidden]

jimh111 is adamant that being GF is not helpful with Hashimotos. It is only suggested when people continue to have issues long after starting treatment - and it is just that a suggestion. It is patient to patient information that has proved helpful for many here. It seems many are Gluten sensitive - wheat ain't what it used to be !

Have you had a read of Izabella Wentz's website and signed up for her Newsletters ? Great source of information - sssh ! - don't tell jim

[Hidden in reply to Marz]

my lips are sealed

[jimh111 in reply to Marz]

'It is only suggested when people continue to have issues long after starting treatment'. I've no problem with this recommendation, unfortunately patients are often told they absolutely must go gluten free from day one.

(I'm aware of Wentz but I prefer to keep my wallet closed until I can get to a nice patesserie).

[Marz in reply to jimh111]

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