My wife has hashimotos. Her normal breakfast is Weetabix's Crunchy bran with milk. (and has been for years) Shortly after being titrated to 200 mcg she mixed and matched some different sized tablets and accidentally od'd on 400 mcg and felt almost normal which suggests the Crunchy Bran and Milk are a prime mover in reducing the amount of T4 being absorbed.
Does anyone have any palatable alternative she can try that's easily put together?
We really need something out of a box. Looking in our Cereals cupboard all we have is stuff loaded with bran related products. For example the aforementioned Crunchy Bran, Shredded Wheat, Corn Flakes, Crunchy Nut Honey laden Cornflakes etc, but nothing without the dreaded Gluten related stuff.
Looking at our diet there's actually only a very small proportion of gluten in our diet so I'm wondering if there's any need to make too many modifications
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Always take Levo on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after.
Many take early morning, on waking, but it may be more convenient and possibly more effective taken at bedtime. Though not everyone gets on with bedtime dosing
If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's
Essential to keep vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at optimal levels
Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels.Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working
Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten. Dairy is second most common.
According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)
Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies
Ideally ask GP for coeliac blood test first
It's not uncommon to have absolutely no gut symptoms
I found your reply very helpful to me. Prior to being diagnosed with hashimoto's I had my descending colon removed. This was due to recurrent diverticulitis. I was fine for a few years but have started getting it again. My gastroenterologist wants to remove more colon but i said no. I have been gluten, casein and soy free for about 7 months, but I am still being affected. How long does it take for the colon to heal? I am also drinking tumeric tea for its antinflammatory properties. Thank you.
Suggest you put up a new post of your own. Others with diverticulitis might reply then
Rude health do a range of lovely cereals. Not sure if it is gluten free though. I also wonder of you might find some nice protein bars. They are quick and easy. Rice chrispies perhaps.I dont think there is a gluten in rice. Maybe take the levo at night as others have suggested.
It's not about the gluten, that doesn't affect absorption. It's about getting too much fibre, and not leaving enough time between taking her levo and eating - especially the milk - as I explained in your last thread.
If you're not gluten-free - and gluten-free has to be 100% or nothing - why not have toast?
Not sure that's going to go down well. Toast was breakfast of choice in my early years but fitter then. Think we need to get the steroid exercise out of the way and investigate alternative brekkies. Xmas is next week and Friday I go into hospital for a colostomy. After 2 years of back trouble with unchanging MRI showing bulgy disk with a tear in it but symptoms incompatible with the evidence and unsuccessful Physio and back classes, my GP referred me to Orthopaedics who sent me to a triage nurse who thought the problem was neurological. She proposed further MRIs but only neck and chest. I asked about a lumbar MRI and answered No on the grounds of "cost" and "won't see anything". Odd given I was in for pretty much the rest of my spine. I then saw a Spanish locum Neurologist whose `English was little better than a 5 year old who again refused an MRI despite a 90 min exam that showed (at least to me I didn't have a back problem but something more serious and all he organised were nerve conduction tests. Normal as I expected and senior neurologist proposed brain scan and if that was ok shuffle me off to pain clinic.
At this point he got a blistering email (2014) from me and I got my lumbar MRI which showed a vein draining my spinal cord was connected to an artery so the cord was being flooded with arterial blood causing walking and bowel problems. I had to wait 5 weeks for the repeat MRI to confirm this.
It then took 3 spinal angiographies sizzling on an X-ray machine 2 hours at a time to find it over 2 months and they operated 2 weeks later. Originally successful but failed after 5 days and took 8 months to get them to admit after further MRIs that my spinal cord may be being stretched (tethered). Talk about fob. They went in did half a job as hours after the symptoms returned as I was tethered in two places and hospital op records show they didn't check the bottom one they said they'd check only the top one the found straightaway. Was shown it on MRI by surgeon before op! Had to get a 2nd opinion in Liverpool (I live in Norwich) at the Walton Centre - extremely good hospital who looked at existing MRIs and said I was still tethered on the spot. Took 2 years from the original op to get that done but damage done. Now walking affected in extreme pain and need sticks crutches and wheelchair. I've lost count of the MRI's tests, Consultant appointments, GP appts, drugs one of which put me in A&E with Atrial Fibrillation which had to be zapped.
You'd think that was grounds for negligence but medico legal opinion says not and I'm out of time to sue.
I have complained to my local hospital because in a reply to my complaint to Addenbrookes they said there were subtle signs of the joined up artery and vein on the chest MRI from 2013 which I was not aware of. They'd been sitting on it. As the join was in my pelvis my spinal cord was filling up from the bottom to top. Lumbar MRI in 2013 might have shown less subtle changes and given a longer treatment window.. Surgeon at first hospital was a jobsworth "I've done my bit you are discharged" and second time around didn't do the 3/12 post op follow up as was off ill and done by nurse instead who wasn't qualified to do anything. Had they gone in again then or immediately after the op I may only have minimal disability. I am now knackered from the waist down in urinary retention and need colostomy to remain alive.Also in constant pain due to consequences of tethering.
Damage to spine is permanent so the NHS for the sake of a couple of hundred quid on a lumbar MRI in 2013 has probably spent at least a ¼ to ½ million quid on me. Wrecked my retirement as medically retired just before 60 and will probably have lost 10-20 years retirement. My family in general are long lived. Talk about spend a pound to save a penny, and this penny pinching on T3 (the cost has gone from 600k a year to £34M due to the NHS being price gouged) is appalling given they are throwing 1bn at the DUP and other dead end projects like cross rail and HS2. Angry isn't in it.
Apologies for the rant. We can thank Cameron and Osborne for this. I won't say what I'd call them but sure you can imagine.
Well, it's not just the NHS that is incompetent. I live in France. I 1999 I had terrible back ache, and my problem was the reverse! The surgeon would not accept, after numerous tests, that there was nothing wrong with my spine. Upshot was, he operated on a herniated disc that I didn't have and buggered up my spine and causing me tremendous unnecessary suffering. Subsequent specialists, looking at my scans and xrays, assure me I never had a slipped disc and I should not have been operated on. It has taken me many years to get over that, including a spell in a wheelchair. The only positive side to that debacle was that I finally got diagnosed with Hashi's. But, only by mistake! And it was probably the hypo causing my lower back pain, anyway.
But, back to breakfast, how about crumpets! Crumpets are delicious - but not Marks and Sparks! If you get Warburton's they don't contain any soy! Fantastic. But, as I said, it's not so much that your wife is eating the wrong breakfast, but that she isn't leaving enough time between taking her levo and having her breakfast. It should be at least an hour.
What a chapter of disaster. Alas, it doesn't surprise me. The NHS has been abolished and we have a hotch-potch of private agency-supplied medicos who seemingly don't have to care. And as all the quality staff have departed for saner working environments, the situation can never improve.
As to being time-limited: I'm not a lawyer but I have some legal knowledge and I feel sure that in a situation like yours, you are NOT bound by any statute of limitations. This is a prime example of where the European Court of Justice could intervene and help you (one of the reasons why the "shower" in government are so keen to split with this noble institution). Europe, in particular it's court of appeal (ECJ) are a bastion for obtaining justice in an unfair world. I know of cases where this supposed time limit has been overturned in the higher courts as the details are so manifestly worse than negligent: criminally negligent I would say. How far have you gone with your case? Do not give up - you deserve serious, serious compensation. As you say, this mafia band that is in power in this country can shower umpteen billions on preparing to force through this Brexit plot by having sci-fi scenarios like stockpiling medicines, food, gigantic lorry parks where once there were roads, etc. etc. etc. Plus the examples you mention. The situation is almost post-apocalyptic, and it feels to me like we're in a parallel universe now where people don't seem able to see and identify what's in front of them, or remember a time when things were otherwise: when we had doctors, functioning public transport, libraries, roads without potholes, weekly bin collections, population in work and able to afford to live and have a contented life...... ......... ..... .
I would contact your MEP (if he/she is not a UKIPper - they don't represent anybody and never turn up to sessions, just collect the cash) and get their advice, input, as to how to get your issue before the ECJ. The usual route is via a referral from a national high court, but there is a route, and justice is supposed to be free and available. That's how things used to be. Your MEP has a duty to help you with this.
I'm not sure where I stand on this. We went to my Union solicitors on a no win no fee basis and the evidence isn't there. It looks like Addenbrookes either spotted the subtle signs in my thoracic MRI in 2013 and sat on it or only discovered it when my complaint was reviewed. Still waiting to find out. The Local Hospital has yet to respond to my complaint about getting me diagnosed. Union says lack of lumbar MRI is insufficient to persuade insurers for legal action to reopen and medico legal opinion either sided with the medics or said failure to properly record what or wasn't done was for the surgeon to explain to the court(!). We don't have funds to pay for legal advice and recovering from a successful colostomy is an uncomfortable exercise when your mobility is restricted. Currently flat out in bed as I picked up urine infection in hospital and treatment tightens tendons which on top of the existing tightness is excruciating & all I can take is paracetamol & diazepam.
We've seen MP and she's going to have to take it up with the Lord Chancellor and another high up.
So sorry to hear you are further burdened with the urinary infection. (Is it too heavy an infection for D-Mannose plus Cranberry extract to deal with? This really good stuff won't tighten up your tendons for you, or anything else nasty. And it should clean things up.
I really am sceptical about the theory that lack of MRI evidence protects them from legal scrutiny: the botched and ill-justified surgical messing about, with terrible results for you the patient, should by itself provide ample proof of malpractice. Plus, the person you should contact is your MEP (European Parliament member). If the folks in your section of the country (sadly, all too likely in Norfolk) have elected a Brexit-supporting MEP then they won't be motivated to engage European law to provide clout for you. If you're fortunate to still have a genuine representative in the European Parliament, you can access them in the usual way (via their constituency office) to ask advice.
There has been so much bungling of late in the NHS that it's not surprising they're trying to dodge any more compensation claims. If your usual channels can't help you, then European law might be your best option.
I'll try to find out via people I may still know what the best course is. It's exhausting, I know, for you. It's meant to be like that now because they know you'll give in first out of sheer exhaustion from being given the run-around.
Hardly anybody has the financial means to engage private legal counsel, and Legal Aid has pretty much been got rid of too, so justice can only be for the very rich now.
What about the General Medical Council and the Royal College of Surgeons (at least their disciplinary bodies)? It's a thought.
But I'll trawl through some sources of information and see what might be done. Think about substituting your Current antibiotic treatment with D-Mannose and Cranberry Extract. You don't exactly need the tendon pain to boot.
Tx will look at that asap. We have other issues that are a bit more pressing read this with sorrow. Wonder where the money goes. I ain't the only one I'm sure....
Think we need to get the steroid exercise out of the way and investigate alternative brekkies. Xmas is next week and Friday I go into hospital for a colostomy. After 2 years of back trouble with unchanging MRI showing bulgy disk with a tear in it but symptoms incompatible with the evidence and unsuccessful Physio and back classes, my GP referred me to Orthopaedics who sent me to a triage nurse who thought the problem was neurological. She proposed further MRIs but only neck and chest. I asked about a lumbar MRI and answered No on the grounds of "cost" and "won't see anything". Odd given I was in for pretty much the rest of my spine. I then saw a Spanish locum Neurologist whose `English was little better than a 5 year old who again refused an MRI despite a 90 min exam that showed (at least to me I didn't have a back problem but something more serious and all he organised were nerve conduction tests. Normal as I expected and senior neurologist proposed brain scan and if that was ok shuffle me off to pain clinic.
At this point he got a blistering email (2014) from me and I got my lumbar MRI which showed a vein draining my spinal cord was connected to an artery so the cord was being flooded with arterial blood causing walking and bowel problems. I had to wait 5 weeks for the repeat MRI to confirm this.
It then took 3 spinal angiographies sizzling on an X-ray machine 2 hours at a time to find it over 2 months and they operated 2 weeks later. Originally successful but failed after 5 days and took 8 months to get them to admit after further MRIs that my spinal cord may be being stretched (tethered). Talk about fob. They went in did half a job as hours after the symptoms returned as I was tethered in two places and hospital op records show they didn't check the bottom one they said they'd check only the top one the found straightaway. Was shown it on MRI by surgeon before op! Had to get a 2nd opinion in Liverpool (I live in Norwich) at the Walton Centre - extremely good hospital who looked at existing MRIs and said I was still tethered on the spot. Took 2 years from the original op to get that done but damage done. Now walking affected in extreme pain and need sticks crutches and wheelchair. I've lost count of the MRI's tests, Consultant appointments, GP appts, drugs one of which put me in A&E with Atrial Fibrillation which had to be zapped.
You'd think that was grounds for negligence but medico legal opinion says not and I'm out of time to sue.
I have complained to my local hospital because in a reply to my complaint to Addenbrookes they said there were subtle signs of the joined up artery and vein on the chest MRI from 2013 which I was not aware of. They'd been sitting on it. As the join was in my pelvis my spinal cord was filling up from the bottom to top. Lumbar MRI in 2013 might have shown less subtle changes and given a longer treatment window.. Surgeon at first hospital was a jobsworth "I've done my bit you are discharged" and second time around didn't do the 3/12 post op follow up as was off ill and done by nurse instead who wasn't qualified to do anything. Had they gone in again then or immediately after the op I may only have minimal disability. I am now knackered from the waist down in urinary retention and need colostomy to remain alive.Also in constant pain due to consequences of tethering.
Damage to spine is permanent so the NHS for the sake of a couple of hundred quid on a lumbar MRI in 2013 has probably spent at least a ¼ to ½ million quid on me. Wrecked my retirement as medically retired just before 60 and will probably have lost 10-20 years retirement. My family in general are long lived. Talk about spend a pound to save a penny, and this penny pinching on T3 (the cost has gone from 600k a year to £34M due to the NHS being price gouged) is appalling given they are throwing 1bn at the DUP and other dead end projects like cross rail and HS2. Angry isn't in it.
Apologies for the rant. We can thank Cameron and Osborne for this. I won't say what I'd call them but sure you can imagine.
I love bran flakes but they always left me with a sour stomach. I found something called spelt flakes. It is an ancient grain with a low level of gluten. It isn't gluten free but it tastes yummy and I don't have a sour stomach with it. Oh.... and it almost tastes like bran flakes.... very little difference.
I am in the US and this particular brand is the one I like and it runs about $ 4.00 a box. I found this brand on Amazon UK but I think the price is outrageous so maybe you can check the ingredients and find a similar brand of spelt that is produced in the UK and more reasonably priced?
I have Gluten free porridge with water or almond milk also avocado on toast with an egg. I think you'll be fine with a small amount of milk as long as its not within the first hour. Good luck
I don't think you can draw any conclusions from your wife's "overdose". As I understand it Levothyroxine works over several weeks, so just one day of taking an extra 200 mcg would average out at a very small increase.
Avoiding calcium-rich food should, over time, make more of a difference though.
For gluten free breakfasts, try the following flakes (one type or any combination) which you can toast (low heat in the oven) and put in a container, ready to eat: rice flakes, buckwheat flakes (iit's not wheat by the way), quinoa flakes. You can add sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, nuts, dried coconut, goji berries, grated apple, d dried fruit/honey/black treacle/maple syrup (if these can be tolerated). You can make a porridge from these as well. Only takes a few minutes. Weetabix and 'normal' toast are full of gluten and sugar. A good sweetener is slices of baked sweet potato: on top or stirred into the porridge plus any sliced fruit. I've been eating gluten free breakfasts for 30 years now and find these work well. There's a range of protein options too but you were interested in ready-to-eat breakfast cereals.
Spelt is another alternative (old strain of wheat along with kamut which are both low/free of gluten) . Or you can add rice bran to the 'muesli'. Home made is better than purchased boxes as they always contain a very high level of sugar (masquerading frequently as 'fructose' 'fruit juice' 'treacle' etc).
It’s not the cheapest cereal but this granola is made with healthy ingredients which don’t irritate the stomach and is gluten free and not pumped full of preservatives etc.
I have mine with Greek yoghurt and fruit but can be eaten with milk or anything you like.
I’ve just bought the large bag as it lasts ages and it’s so nice it’s worth the extra in comparison to everyday cereals out there.
I need carbs too, or I’d fall over, plus get a migraine.
My favourite breakfast which sustains me the longest is pancakes.
GF plain flour (I do by sight, so approx 50-70g) one large egg, coconut milk.
Make like normal batter. Then cook in olive oil. I usually get 3 medium/largish pancakes (or sometimes 4). I have fresh lemon juice on them and some fresh blueberries. Also a teeny amount of caster sugar if I feel I need it.
I eat the first one whilst the 2nd is cooking, so doesn’t take up loads of time. 😋☺️
I've been diagnosed with autoimmune hypothyroidism in July
this year and I obsessively started reading literally everything I could find on internet about the causes and triggers
of autoimmune diseases. So far I've read couple of books on hypothyroidism/autoimmune disease and all of the sources are categorical about the gluten and dairy. So, the prime recommendation is to go 100% gluten and dairy free (there are also some other restrictions, if you want to follow autoimmune paleo diet), but
those are two major starting points when changing your diet in these ''autoimmune circumstances''.
My breakfast has changed a lot since then, and it consists of:
- 1 avocado
- 1 cup of berries
- hydrolyzed beef protein powder (chocolate taste)
- 2 teaspoons of cinnamon powder
- 2 teaspoons of carob
powder (or cocoa, if not on strict autoimmune paleo diet)
- coconut milk/yoghurt
Mix those ingredients in a blender, and you have really delicious breakfast.
It has healthy fats, proteins and fiber, don't cause spikes in blood sugar and keeps you satiated.
This is on my regular menu, every morning in the last 5 months and I my gut seems pleased with it.
Do you have time to make porridge? If so, then organic. It's quite lovely made with whole or raw milk, if you are allowed milk. I went gluten free 2 years ago.
Hope I've not repeated what someone else may have suggested.
If you’ve got time, eggs are a winner. I eat this for breakfast or lunch and it can be portioned up ahead to save time.
I have 3 eggs, a few slices of spicy chorizo, a handful of spinach, a handful of cherry tomatoes and about 20g cheese if at lunch time. You can have this all prepped in boxes in the fridge ready to go.
When you’re ready, break in the eggs and microwave for 4mins, stirring half way through.
It’s totally gluten free, not very high in fibre and calcium is low if you remove the cheese. You can substitute in whatever veggies you have and make it meat free if you need.
An alternative to homemade muesli, if you want something hot, porridge is very quick to make, a couple of minutes if that and you can add seeds to increase nutrition and fruit.
The breakfast is a part of the problem. All those ingredients are full of sugar. Quick highs and extreme lows. Oats are one of the best breakfast cereals. No sugar, no gluten. Have it with Yogurt and fruit. A good sustaining start to the day. Maybe a couple of eggs for protein to set up the day. Breakfast like a king. Then light dinner for good sleep.
Re Levothyroxine, it does not work. T4 only. Need to change to NDT. The difference will be unbelievable. Stop eating food out of packets. Processed food is poison.
I don't understand why there's been so much about gluten free on this thread. It might help some people but won't make any difference to the fact it's calcium that interferes with Levothyroxine absorption. Things like milk, eggs, cheese and (if I remember right) tea and coffee that shouldn't be taken for at least 4 hours. I take my Levo with a vitamin C tablet (helps absorption) when I get up to the loo in the small hours (usually between 2.30 and 4 am). Any later and I would have to wait for my morning cuppa, and breakfast (usually porridge or cereal) till after 8.
Calcium is an issue as you say, but thyroid digestive problems and intestinal issues are very often linked and it's been well documented. I'm going to try the Vit C tab - thanks for the tip.
I'm now going off line as I have to prepare for my op. Anti microbial shower and again tomorrow against the background of bowels that aint working. I will return.
The thread is too long for me to read everyone's responses, so please forgive me if I repeat something somebody else said.The fact she felt better after taking a much larger dose says this to me:
The standard dose was not getting to her cells and hence she was still hypothyroid.
When I was on levothyroxine, I would feel better when the dose was increased -- for about a week. Then I felt worse. After doing the 23andMe Health and Ancestry test and getting access to my raw genetic data, I found I had DIO variants that cause me to not process the LT4 properly. I was never going to feel well and be healthy on levothyroxine. I have to take T3 exclusively.
Letting someone's hypothyroidism go with treatment that's not working is writing that person a sentence for even worse chronic diseases over time -- atherosclerosis, heart failure, orthopedic problems from hyper mobile joints, for example -- all provoked by hypothyroidism.
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Bbc breakfast this morning 
Breakfast advice for Levo takers
What do you eat for breakfast? 
Chris Steele says take thyroid meds after breakfast :(
BBC Breakfast Genome Testing - Owen late diagnosis Thyroid issues
