I've just had a call out of the blue from the doctor to arrange a thyroid blood test, presumably because I haven't had one for a while...
In talking he asked how I was and I said I'm doing well and told him I had started self medicating with T3. He didn't seem too perturbed by this, but went on to suggest I had a celiac test along with my thyroid test.
But of course you have to eat gluten for this test to work...and this goes right against the grain (!!) as I have been on a keto diet for 6 months which is naturally gluten free and I'm really struggling to bring myself to eat gluten for the next 4 weeks before the test, as I know it will make me feel rubbish and put on weight!!
I had a test about 2/3 years ago and this was negative...does anyone know if it's likely to be any different now??
He said that it was my folate and vit d deficiencies that has made him think it's worth checking celiac too, as he says it's unusual to have a folate deficiency (I thought it was quite common with hashimotos but he connected it more with celiac!?) And he reckoned that if it was positive there was more that could be done/looked into...!? Mentioned bone health, and gut health??
He wasn't too bad to talk to, to be fair...but I feel a bit like I was pushed into agreeing to the test (and to eating gluten beforehand!) So I would love to hear of others experience as to whether it's worth it or whether I should cancel it?!
I feel so much better having added T3 to my T4, and have lost weight on keto... I'm really worried about messing all this up!!
Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance!
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Molly161018
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If you have already had a negative coeliac test there’s no point doing test again or gluten challenge
Suggest you remind him you have already had coeliac test
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. 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
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
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
Despite the fact that 5-10% of patients have Celiac disease, in my experience and in the experience of many other physicians, at least 80% + of patients with Hashimoto's who go gluten-free notice a reduction in their symptoms almost immediately.
Thanks Slowdragon, very helpful and thus confirms what I thought...
Having got this far and feeling as good as I am, and knowing how delicately balanced thyroid hormones are, I am afraid to risk undoing the good that has been done, especially if it is for no benefit!!
Vitamin D deficiency is frequent in Hashimoto's thyroiditis and treatment of patients with this condition with Vitamin D may slow down the course of development of hypothyroidism and also decrease cardiovascular risks in these patients. Vitamin D measurement and replacement may be critical in these patients.
Evidence of a link between increased level of antithyroid antibodies in hypothyroid patients with HT and 25OHD3 deficiency may suggest that this group is particularly prone to the vitamin D deficiency and can benefit from its alignment.
The only benefit you would get from a positive coeliac test would be that you could get a bit of GF pasta and some cotton-wool type bread on the NHS. It is not worth risking your health for that! Stay on your diet.
I'm prepared to be corrected if wrong ...... but i believe that 'diagnostically' that the blood test for coeliac , is not viewed as definitive by the NHS anyway, They always confirm it with a biopsy taken during an endoscopy. I was told before Endoscopy that this was because the blood test can give false negatives.
So i wouldn't bother if they are only offering a blood test and you have previously had a negative one ............. unless you really fancy having an endoscopy.
I was in the same dilemma a few weeks ago but as I’d been Gluten and Dairy free for 6 months (apart from mishaps) and it can take up to 6 months for the gut to start healing if you are Caeliac, I didnt want to waste that healing time.
My GP knew I’d been Gluten free that long and said it “didnt matter” so I checked with another who said the same! Only the third female GP knew you had to start eating Gluten for the test.
I still have a pappy stomach though and still vomit a couple of times a month so not sure that it is but think its worth a try persevering so I’m keeping it up. Like you Ive lost weight and Diabetic blood marker has significantly lowered, not that it was borderline anyway but still seems beneficial for that to happen x
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