Hypothyroidism better with diet tweaks and supplements.

[Lynh588]

So after 10 years of following doctors instructions to the letter and taking levothyroxine, plus 3 other meds for RA, and not getting any better decided to change things up myself, so far I have noticed an huge difference in how I feel and brain fog is almost gone completely, now I take 50mg of levothyroxine a day and only one med for RA once a week.I cut out cows milk and dairy products plus anything containing gluten, I had a vitamin D deficiency, so take 1.25mg once a month, 1000mg injection of B12 once a month, and 4mg MSM everyday with 500mg vitamin C, and 25mg of selenium. The last 6 months I have been almost completely normal, obviously not completely back to my old self but when I was first tested my TSH was 99.9 and I was very sick and could hardly walk from RA pain.

[MrsWoman]

Hi Lynh588, I found your post very interesting as I have both RA (diagnosed 2008) and hypothyroidism 2019. Im not clear on the last bit of your post are you saying that you suffered severe RA flare and thyroid pre change in diet and now you feel better? If it is well done managing 2 serious health problems is so challenging. Similar to you On diagnoses my TSH was 100 I was also suffering with my wrist but now believe it was thyroid issues rather than Ra who knows these things overlap.

Interested in the B12 injections and what brands you take? I haven't heard of MSM before. I try to eat brazil nuts daily, cos 3 of them give you the selenium and other vitamins too. I try not to consume gluten but I do have a liking for biscuits. However the brain fog thing is pretty bad now I cant remember anything, and dont seem to get things like I use to .I came on the forum to post about the brain fog when I saw your post.

Best wishes and thanks for the post.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to MrsWoman]

Going gluten free does need to be absolutely strictly gluten free to be effective

There are lots of good gluten free biscuits Ava...and loads of good GF recipes for home baking

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies

Ideally........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

This post explains why it needs to be STRICTLY Gluten fre

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

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

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

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

restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...

Non Coeliac Gluten sensitivity (NCGS) and autoimmune disease

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/296...

The predominance of Hashimoto thyroiditis represents an interesting finding, since it has been indirectly confirmed by an Italian study, showing that autoimmune thyroid disease is a risk factor for the evolution towards NCGS in a group of patients with minimal duodenal inflammation. On these bases, an autoimmune stigma in NCGS is strongly supported

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/300...

The obtained results suggest that the gluten-free diet may bring clinical benefits to women with autoimmune thyroid disease

nuclmed.gr/wp/wp-content/up...

In summary, whereas it is not yet clear whether a gluten free diet can prevent autoimmune diseases, it is worth mentioning that HT patients with or without CD benefit from a diet low in gluten as far as the progression and the potential disease complications are concerned

Also essential to regularly retest vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 . Many Thyroid patients need to supplement virtually continuously

[MrsWoman in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks so much SlowDragon for the information on diet, gluten and HT... and the tips for the biscuits

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to MrsWoman]

M&S GF ginger biscuits are yummy.

Walkers do GF shortbread

[shaws Administrator]

Congratulations and to begin to get symptoms resolving is wonderful for you.

Regarding your dose of 50mcg of levothyroxine that is only a starting dose and is usually increased every six weeks until TSH is 1 or lower. Free T3 and Free T4 should also be tested but rarely done in the UK. There are some private labs (in UK) that do home finger pin-prick tests (or can make arrangements for you). Many doctors seem to think that if TSH is somewhere in the range that's ok, but not if patient is still symptomatic.

A full blood test is:-

T4, T3, Free T3, Free T4 and thyroid antibodies.

They always have to be at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between your last dose of levo and the test and take afterwards.

The aim is a TSH of 1 or lower, Free T4 and Free T3 should be in the upper part of the ranges.

(I was also diagnosed with the same TSH as you had, so know exactly how you felt). It was awful to be told the day before - your blood tests are fine and I cried - good job I had also got my own test which showed the elevated TSH.

[magsyh]

Check out Dr Peter Osbourne on YouTube. He gives the best nutritional advice for thyroid problems. He says no grain is gluten free. He also explains the how and why of nutrition for thyroid at every stage of the process. I have searched for this information for years and if you can work out which part of the process fails you you can greatly improve your thyroid function. I don't have hashimotos so I am giving it a go x