Autoimmune thyroid disease and celiac disease - NICE guidelines.

[210155]

I have Graves Disease and have been gluten free for about 18 months, mainly because of advice seen on this forum.

My daughter has just found out that I should've been offered testing for celiac disease when I was first diagnosed with GD. (In February 2016)

NICE guidelines state, ([NG20] Sept. 2015)

1.1 Recognition of Celiac Disease - offer serological testing for CD to . . .

Autoimmune thyroid disease, at diagnosis.

I was wondering how many other people were aware of this and if it was being offered routinely in other hospital trusts?

I remember asking my endo about the gluten connection to thyroid disease, as well as asking for advice on anything else I could do to help myself. His reply was, "You don't need to go gluten free if you're not anemic, and we don't really know much about thyroid disease." Very helpful!!!!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Only 5% are coeliac.....but around 80% find gluten free diet helps or is essential

Most endocrinologists completely unaware of connection and don’t test vitamin levels either 😩

Have you noticed benefits being gluten free?

Trying strictly gluten free diet for 3-6 months

If no noticeable improvement, reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

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

[210155 in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes, I do feel better being gluten free. I'm not sure about the 'strictly' bit of it as I eat the normal range of cheeses, yogurts, etc.

I have gf porridge with fresh fruit for breakfast, then gf bread/oatcakes, cheese, salad, fruit,etc for lunch.

We've always eaten loads of veg, with meat or fish, so the only difference with traditional dinners is the gf gravy pods, (Knorr). We always cook from scratch and use gf products. To be honest I don't really miss things like Yorkshire puds, pies, pizzas, etc.

I've recently bought a breadmaker so am going to experiment with that as I don't really like any of the bread I've tried so far in the gf range.

It just amazes me how little the experts seem to know about thyroid disease!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to 210155]

All cheeses and yoghurt is gluten free

Best bread I have found is B Free seeded...lovely toasted

I haven’t found any that are good as bread

Permanently astonishing how little medics know about thyroid and it’s links to low vitamin levels and food intolerance. Especially Considering 3% of population has thyroid disease and levothyroxine is 3rd most prescribed medication

[MichelleHarris]

My GP told me to start eating Gluten again as I was being silly. I stopped eating it trying to find out why I didnt feel well. A year later having just discovered I was hypothyroid and still not getting well he was awful to me. I saw another GP who was far from dismissive and discovered I had Sjogrens. I am now Gluten and Dairy free and my mild stomach ache and bowel problems all my life, have gone. It makes me wonder if I’d of been Gluten and Dairy free from birth, would I have health problems now. By the way I eat Emmer bread. Oldest grain - Gluten and Dairy free. Its healing bread, google it x

[Kipsy in reply to MichelleHarris]

Can I please ask how you discovered you had Sjogren’s? I seem to have some symptoms of it but don’t have confidence raising the issue with my GP as I’m nervous I will be seen as a hypochondriac. I’m on T3 via the NHS and feel that I shouldn’t be complaining about anything as I’m very fortunate.

[MichelleHarris in reply to Kipsy]

Hi Kipsy, I had an ultrasound scan of the neck and they could see it x

[Kipsy in reply to MichelleHarris]

For Sjogren’s? Were they looking at your salivary glands? Sorry - bit confused. Thanks Michelle.

[MichelleHarris in reply to Kipsy]

Yes they were x

[Kipsy]

Thank you very much Michelle. Much appreciated.

[Notnip]

Hi Michelle,

Just seen this post as I'm new here.

Can I ask you what were your symptoms before you realised you had hypothyroidism and Sjogren?

I have autoimmune thyroid disease, I was okay but in the last 4 months I have been having gut and skin issues, I feel something is off.

Thanks