Hashimotos and asthma treatments

[Rita-D]

Hi everyone, I've had Hashimoto's disease for over 7 years (more like 20+ years undiagnosed) and I've just been diagnosed with possible asthma. I've been prescribed a brown "preventer" inhaler and a ventolin inhaler. I'm on a 6 week trial of these to see if there's any improvement and I'm having a chest x-ray tomorrow. I'm currently on 125 mcgs T4 and 20 mcgs T3 daily and most of my symptoms have virtually gone (only lingering symptom is inability to lose weight).

Anything that I should be aware of? Will these inhalers affect the thyroid treatment? I would be grateful for any advice. Thank you.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

You may already know this, the brown inhaler is a steroid inhaler.

I use 2 inhalers but neither are steroid ones.

I take my thyroid meds in the early hours of the morning to keep them away from anything else.

NICE have a useful section on their website where you can look for interactions for any drugs

bnf.nice.org.uk/interaction/

As the inhaler goes directly into your lungs, and thyroid meds are swallowed, there wouldn't be any affect on absorption.

I'd check the patient information leaflet to see if there is anything listed there.

[Rita-D in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you Seaside Susie. Appreciate the advice.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Have you tried or considered dairy free diet to see if that's actually the problem

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

Are your vitamin levels optimal?

[Rita-D in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi SlowDragon, Not sure if my vitamin levels are optimal as I haven't had them tested for 12 months. I was dairy free for over 5 years in my 30s and didn't see any difference in my cough, have a bad morning cough for a very long time and just learned to live with it. Had family to stay over the Easter period and they nagged me to get it looked at. My mum and my 2 sisters all have a problem in that if we get a cold, it always goes to our chest and lingers for a long while. My sister has post-nasal drip and I asked the GP if it was that, but he said he thought a more likely diagnosis is asthma given the symptoms that I told him. He thinks she still has asthma too (she had it as a small child).

I did have hayfever when I moved to the village where I currently live, but it went away when I got the Hashimoto's diagnosis (weird). I've had no hayfever symptoms since being on thyroid medication.

I changed all my feather and down bedding to wool bedding 4 years ago to help with hot flushes and also possible allergies.

I've not had milk for over 30 years due to gall bladder inflammation, although I do eat cheese - been trying unsuccessfully to do Keto diet. Dairy free diet might be worth considering. Thanks for the advice.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Rita-D]

I think sheep or goats cheese may be ok

Perhaps cut totally to start with, then reintroduce goat or sheep

[Rita-D in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes, might be an idea. Would probably help both thyroid and asthma.

[Marz]

I once posted about a persistent cough and LOW B12. Connected to the Vagus nerve ... 😊 There is a research paper out there - will find it once on PC if needed ...

[Rita-D in reply to Marz]

Hi Marz, that would be useful if you still have it. I did supplement B12 a couple of years ago, but stopped as bloods showed I was over-replaced.

[Marz in reply to Rita-D]

Testing B12 whilst supplementing is of little or no use as results will be skewed - Docs should know this. Off to the computer .... 😊

[Rita-D in reply to Marz]

Thanks Marz, I do appreciate your help.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Rita-D]

Suggest you retest vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

[Rita-D in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks. Something to consider.

[Marz in reply to Rita-D]

Really important ti have VitD over 100 - B12 over 500 - Folate & Ferritin mid-range.

vitamindcouncil.org

Scroll own to the very bottom of the link above then click Health Conditions to view how important VitD is - helps prevent chest problems ..

[Marz]

Google - Low B12 & persistent cough Pub Med - then the research paper and other info will appear.

[Rita-D in reply to Marz]

Struggling to find anything. Can only find something about Gabapentin and persistent cough.

[Marz in reply to Rita-D]

academic.oup.com/ajcn/artic...

One of many papers Did you add Pub Med to your Search ? Pub Med is a resource/website containing research papers from around the world ...

[Rita-D in reply to Marz]

Thanks Marz, yes I did add Pubmed to the search. I went on the Pubmed website too. Obviously not looking in the right place. Thanks for this, I'll read it.

[Hidden]

Hiya you mention a chest x Ray tomorrow , could I ask why ? Please give each inhaler a chance and only consider x Ray in an emergency, I have not found them beneficial in my thyroid treatment, qiute the opposite tbh .

❤Tam x

[Rita-D in reply to Hidden]

Hi tamihotpants, The chest x-ray is for the asthma, not for the Hashimotos, it's just to make sure that there's no issue with my lungs.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Rita-D]

I used ot have a chest x-ray every 6 months as a child (for asthma) all it showed was that my ribs had become distorted from poor breathing and that my lungs were "damaged", and didn't change the treatment at all. As an adult, I've decided I'd rather not be irradiated. T3, bioHRT and some dietary changes have practically eradicated my asthma after 50 years or so.

[LowB12]

I was diagnosed asthmatic almost 30 years ago and meds have been increased over the years. Whilst most symptoms / triggers are definitely asthma I have improve significantly since self injecting B12. Not as SOB. I was below range 3 years ago but not treated and just in range last year after self oral supplementation, so must absorb some. Definitely worth getting B12 tested if not already done.

[Rita-D in reply to LowB12]

Thank you for the advice LowB12.

[Rita-D in reply to LowB12]

I understand what you're saying, but he just wants to x-ray to rule out anything sinister, which is sensible. If it's all clear, then I won't be having any more x-rays and I will ask for a thyroid shield too.

I plan to do as he says and try the "preventer" for 6 weeks. If this shows no improvement, then I will resort to the B12 and other suggestions, but I feel that I should give the GP a chance to sort it.

Thanks for your advice.

[LowB12 in reply to Rita-D]

I would definitely have the X-ray, as you say it’s a tick as what is not causing it. I am not suggesting you don’t take the asthma drugs, just if B12 low that it’s worth considering too.

Good luck

[Rita-D in reply to LowB12]

Thanks LowB12. I had the x-ray this afternoon. Asked for the thyroid protector - he said "oh nobody ever asks for that". I have Hashis, so I want to preserve as much of the thyroid as I can!

We used it and then he left me for about 10 minutes - got me worried as everyone else was in and out in a couple of minutes, so of course I thought the worst! Anyway the technician had spoken to the consultant about the x-ray to make sure he could see enough with the thyroid protector in place - consultant said it was OK.

I'm happy with that as it was only my lungs that GP wanted them to check. Now it's done, I don't plan to have any more x-rays.

[HLAB35]

Steroids can cause confusion in the pituitary gland and adrenals - it will mention contraindications in the leaflet that comes with your brown inhaler. I would do all you can to find a root cause of the asthma from all the great suggestions above to avoid being on steroids for the long term.