Ideas on Dietary Changes with Hashimoto's

[sotomihsah]

Hi, I'm new here and I've been diagnosed with Hashimoto's for over a year now and the levothyroxine has done nothing to cure my symptoms yet my blood tests always seem to come back 'normal'. I have been reading online that changes in diet such as going gluten free has helped people relax the symptoms. If anyone has any experience with this can you give me any tips?

[Sotonowl]

I see what you've done there with your username.

They reckon going gluten free can help significantly for some people.

I'm just trying to find out what's wrong with me and I started an elimination diet 3 days ago. I don't want to tempt providence but I think I may be feeling a little better in some ways but the first day or so I was all over the place. I'm not quite right now to be honest but I've put some of these enhanced symptoms down to gluten withdrawal.

If you do try going gluten free I'd advise you to do it just prior to the weekend and give yourself some time to adjust.

[Jazzw]

We often say here that “normal” is simply an opinion.

Do you have your blood test results? If you do, please post them so we can see how normal normal is. If not, ask for a printout from your doctor. Chances are you’re undermedicated.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

First how much Levothyroxine are you currently taking and do you have any recent blood test results and ranges you can add

Very often we are on too low a dose

All thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Do not take Levothyroxine dose in the 24hours prior to test, delay and take immediately after blood draw. This gives highest TSH and lowest FT4. (Patient to patient tip, not to be mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Is this how you do your tests?

Low vitamin levels are EXTREMELY common with Hashimoto's and need regular testing and supplementing to improve and maintain at adequate levels

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and also very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Add any recent results that you have and members can advise

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or vitamins

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money

Before starting on gluten free diet best to get coeliac blood test first from GP or privately

But yes gluten free diet does help very many of us

[sotomihsah in reply to SlowDragon]

My free T4 was 19 pmol/L with TSH at 1.31 mU/L and Parathyroid was 4.9 pmol/L, I always have taken my levothyroxine before my blood tests maybe this is where I have been going wrong. My vitamin D is at 79 nmol/L however I have just finished a course of Vitamin D as in April it was at 29. My dose for levothyroxine is at 50micrograms which the specialist mentioned that it is low for a person of my height which is 5ft8. I don't have any results for T3 as I request it everytime but it seems to never get done, I also take daily supplements of vitamin B and Iron as I know this can be a problem.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to sotomihsah]

Strongly suggest you get FULL private thyroid and vitamin testing

Make sure it’s early morning and fasting and no levothyroxine 24 hours before

If you normally take Levo in morning just delay until after test

If take a night then if testing on a Monday morning, on Saturday evening delay dose until Sunday morning. Then Sunday night dose delay until after blood test

Stop any supplements with biotin in 3-5 days before any blood tests. Eg vitamin B complex

The low vitamins reflect that you are probably under medicated

[Hidden]

gluten free is a must, and look into the aip diet, that helps a lot of people 😊

[Josiesmum]

Lots of good info here:

thyroidpharmacist.com/?s=Food