Coeliac and Hashimoto’s

[Kizzygirl]

Does anyone have gut problems as well as Hashimoto’s? I now have alternating constipation and diarrhoea, severe in both cases! Dietary changes have no effect. I’ve had a normal colonoscopy so nothing nasty going on. I learnt recently that coeliac disease is often associated with autoimmune disease. I also have vitiligo and mild psoriasis. I’m wondering if I should ask for a blood test for coeliac.

[Peanut31]

Hi

I have Hashimotos and use to suffer with constipation and terrible popping sounds and bloated tummy with pains.

I had a gluten intolerance blood test and it came up negative, but, I decided to give up gluten as a trial that was back in 2017, and I felt so much better so I stuck with being gluten free and will continue.

I later had a more in-depth private blood test and it did show I can’t tolerate gluten.

Why don’t you give up gluten for a while and see how you feel.

Best wishes

Peanut31

[Ell17]

Agree with Peanut 31. I have Hashimoto's and Celiac's. But, the trouble of getting diagnosed (Celiac) isn't worth it in my opinion. Gluten intolerance and Celiac's are both treated the same way... complete avoidance of gluten. If you get off gluten and feel better, having a definitive diagnosis (which is much harder to get than you might think) isn't going to change a thing. Because you are going to avoid gluten to feel better, regardless. Gluten free and avoiding other sensitivities (food/chemical/environmental) can also also be helpful with eczema and psoriasis, in my experience. For vitiligo, getting leaky gut resolved, treating gut infections, and taking plant or spore based probiotics to rebuild microbiome can be beneficial (for that and all skin conditions, really).

Good luck.😊

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Reading your other posts it's likely that the inappropriate dose reduction in Levothyroxine has upset your gut and then gluten intolerance can start or get much worse

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 or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first

Assuming test is negative you can immediately go on strictly gluten free diet




(If test is positive you will need to remain on high gluten diet until endoscopy, maximum 6 weeks wait officially)




Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

amymyersmd.com/2018/04/3-re...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...

when were vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 last tested Get GP to test these too.

Come back with new post once you get results and ranges

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw). This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all 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 special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

Medichecks currently have an offer on of 20% off

thyroiduk.org.uk/index.html

Since your Levothyroxine was reduced your FT3 is too low

You either need Levothyroxine increased or addition of small dose of T3

There is endocrine Centre in Kent that tests for DIO2 gene on NHS and offers T3 if you test positive

More info on improve Thyroid Treatment campaign on Facebook. This is a closed group, so you have to request to join. Once joined search "Kent" in posts. Jan 2018 post all about it

Will send you private message too

Dr Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist, states in Pulse Magazine,

"The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l.

In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l.

Most patients will feel well in that circumstance. But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l.

This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l)."

You can obtain a copy of the articles from Thyroid UK email print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor

 please email Dionne at

[e-mail]

Do you have test results from when on higher dose of Levothyroxine, that show previously FT3 was higher?

If so use these to persuade GP for trial increase back to 150mcg Levothyroxine

Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12, very likely low when under medicated