Hypothyroidism and Coeliacs disease - first endo appt

[HDub]

Finally had first appt with Endo today. Went through symptoms I have despite being on 200mcg levo.

She ordered raft of blood tests and asked about bowels (sorry if tmi). She spoke about gluten intolerance potentially affecting absorption. Does anyone else have these two things together?

I wasn't expecting a solution to feeling crappy but I did feel listened to... Its a step in the right direction.

[Lalatoot]

Yes gluten intolerance is mentioned a lot on here. You don't have to be coeliac to be gluten intolerant. Gluten free diet may help.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Are you already diagnosed as coeliac?

Hashimoto's frequently affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels

Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone

Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten intolerance. Second most common is lactose intolerance

According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find strictly gluten free diet reduces symptoms, sometimes significantly. Either due to 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

While still eating high gluten diet 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 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...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

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

restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...

Once on gluten free diet will need thyroid and vitamins tested after few weeks

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Ask GP to test vitamin levels

Gluten intolerance often linked with low vitamins

You may need to get full Thyroid testing privately as NHS refuses to test TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are negative

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood 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

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

For thyroid including antibodies and vitamins

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

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3 £29 (via NHS private service )

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

Come back with new post once you get results

[Geetal in reply to SlowDragon]

I had my antibodies tested by a German firm. It contained Gluten and 6 grains on its list of items tested. For the first time in years I have been eating wheat(but not in large quantities) and no longer have that "always hungry" feeling. What was really interesting for me was that i had often wondered about the"superfood" Quinoa as the day after id eaten it my weight shot up. I now see that on the list of seeds tested Quinoa came up as one of my antibody foods. I am not suggesting for one moment that others will have similar results to me.

What I have done is cut out all the foods mentioned as the highest of my levels of antibodies and see how I felt-which was considerably better. I will then bring them back one by one to see if they were really false positives. Once I have completed that and know which are true positives I will work on the next level down.

I would highly recommend such a test to anyone who can afford it(I put off buying the test for some time, because I was told by so many people about false positives and false negatives and its expense)) Knowledge is power and this way instead of a vast and lengthy elimination diet I was able to start with 8 foods I eat more than rarely. Of those only 2 completely suprised me-tannin and yeast.

[Caz40 in reply to Geetal]

Can you provide a link for the test you got? I’d like to give this a try. I eat a gluten free and low grain diet but often get migraines due to low blood sugar from not eating enough. Thanks.

[Arlie123 in reply to Geetal]

I think the evidence for the effectiveness of tests like these is pretty ropey.

eaaci.org/attachments/877_E...

[Arlie123 in reply to Arlie123]

aaaai.org/conditions-and-tr...

[Geetal in reply to Arlie123]

ImuPro. I did the 270 foods test,but only because there were a couple of foods in the 180-270 group that I wanted tested,like Sea Bass my favorite fish and I had already guessed I might have a problem with it and yes it showed that I did. I recieved my test from a practitioner in Kent. I dont know how to send name details privately-or I would. Maybe one of the administrators can do a post again on how to send private details.

Good luck

[fuchsia-pink in reply to Geetal]

To send a private message, click on the person's name, and it takes you to their page, then on the right click on "message"