Hashimotos and mental decline

Hi all, I’ve been hesitant about writing this as I don’t want to worry anyone but I get the impression you are all far more level headed than me! I’ve been reading up more about Hashimotos recently because tbh I wasn’t sure I had it but now I know I have and want to know how I can best help myself. In my research I’ve discovered that Hashimotos also inflames and attacks the brain so leading to dementia. I haven’t seen it mentioned on here.

[wanttobenormalnow]

Can you share where you read that?

[Hidden in reply to wanttobenormalnow]

Hi, many articles. I google Dementia and Hashimotos.

[radd]

Juanita1957,

I previously suffered ‘head stuff’ in my first few years of medicating thyroid hormone meds & glandulars. Not that I attribute ‘head stuff’ wholly to meds/glandulars but more of a perfect storm caused by years of undiagnosed hypthyrodism, an unbalanced and so reactive immune system, and poor T4-T3 conversion. I spent years reading everything I could find on Hashimoto encephalopathy (HE).

Datis Kharrazian claims an auto immune response caused by Hashimotos can create a permeable blood brain barrier similar to that of the gut. And like the gut becomes inflamed causing the brain fog many of us suffer, and may accelerate brain degeneration by thyroid antibodies binding to brain tissue.

The way to overcome is to concentrate on the usual path to well-being: optimal thyroid meds that are working by being supported with; optimal nutrients, vits and iron; supporting adrenals; addressing gut issues; removing triggers that are activating the immune response (usually gluten, dairy, etc) to remove general inflammation; and eating a clean & varied diet.

Brain stuff sounds awfully scary but remember brain inflammation like other inflammation is reversible, and today I am clear thinking. Although quite old now I would still recommend a book called Why Isn't My Brain Working? By Datis Kharrazian.

drknews.com/poor-brain-func...

[Hidden in reply to radd]

Good morning,

This confirms what I’ve been reading and yes inflammation is reversible but the antibodies binding to brain tissue doesn’t sound reversible. Once they’re bound do they continue to do harm?

I’m working hard on my diet and taking a Medicheck test as soon as it arrives to determine which vitamins I need.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Are you on strictly gluten free diet

Leaky gut with Hashimoto’s frequently leads to issues with gluten

Absolutely strictly gluten free diet often significantly improves brain fog

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

Good morning, yes I am now. I don’t particularly have brain fog issues but more concerned about deterioration.

[HowNowWhatNow]

Mental decline is exactly my experience of Hashi’s. It’s clear that thyroid issues are not well understood by other branches of medicine. The things that we thyroid patients discuss here that are accepted symptoms of thyroid disease even after it is medicated by the only medication the NHS offers don’t make it onto the NHS or other websites or into practice guidelines. How do we change this?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to HowNowWhatNow]

The need for addition of T3 prescribed alongside levothyroxine is becoming increasingly accepted by the medical establishment

A few medics do recognise that development of food intolerances are common complication of Hashimoto’s

[HowNowWhatNow in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes I very much agree that a few medics are aware. Yet for a person who is newly hypothyroid and looking in the obvious NHS places there is next to very little to tell you about these connections, in my experience. Whereas there is a lot on the more alternative thyroid sites.

Eg. I found it easier to find about coeliac and thyroid on sites that specialise in coeliac disease, than I do on sites that are mainly about thyroid disease. Until those NHS websites say what we know to be true, it’s impossible to see mainstream take-up.

[mellew]

Did a doctor diagnose you with hasimotos?

[Hidden in reply to mellew]

No but my antibodies were very high when I was first diagnosed with hypothyroidism.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hidden]

High thyroid antibodies confirms autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s

They are the same disease

[blacklabs]

Hi Scrumbler I have high cholesterol low thyroid low heart rate I was seeing things that were not there at one point. Now being treated and nothing now is happening thinking better. A scary example at one point a sand bag looked like a dead swan I actually saw as that until thankfully my brain adjusted. I was seeing so many things altered. Doctor actually told me I was ill ordered tests on heart liver in fact all organs thankfully ok. What I just couldn't figure out was that I was on a pretty good diet and walked every day.