What do you eat / avoid

[Flowerpot108]

Note that I am entirely gluten free

I did the Dr. Wentz diet's in her book 'Hashimoto's protocol' one by one.

When reintroducing I noted that:

- grains didn't cause any symptoms for me

- gluten free pasta caused fatigue, gas, and bloating

- Beans/ legumes caused gas if in large quantities, like a 3 bean chilli, but fine within something like kidney beans in a beef chilli

- dairy used to cause respiratory issues but I tried reintroducing a few months later and those are gone so I can now eat dairy

When well medicated I went back to eating everything and not cutting anything out except gluten and coffee. I was even eating crisps and sweets.

I did slimming world to lose weight which works for me. But I have a binge eating issue and I find being restrictive in my eating causes me to binge.

I read 'Intuitive eating' by Evelyn Trobil and Elyse Resch and that has helped me not to binge and to listen to what my body wants. So now I am not on any diet, I just try and work out what my body wants and needs.

But what I am wondering is whether other people are following strict diets to get their antibodies down? Or if like me you just work to be well medicated and then eat foods that nourish with the occasional treat like a meal out or a packet of crisps with your lunch.

It's just that without getting the antibodies down this disease is going to keep progressing right?

Or is there anyone out there who is now on a perm dose of meds such as Levo and eats a wide variety of food with nothing cut out except allergens/gluten if coeliac and is living a full life?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Flowerpot108

It's just that without getting the antibodies down this disease is going to keep progressing right?

Hashi's is where the immune system attacks and gradually destroys the thyroid, not the antibodies. So this will continue until the thyroid has been completely wiped out. Reducing the antibodies will not stop progression of the disease, you can't cure Hashi's, you just treat the hypothyroidism that it causes.

[Flowerpot108 in reply to SeasideSusie]

That's interesting because there are people out there arent there that claim they have got their Hashis into remission "and you can too!" and it makes you worry that maybe you arent doing enough and are letting the disease progress through laziness. It's reassuring to know this is not the case.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Flowerpot108]

That's interesting because there are people out there arent there that claim they have got their Hashis into remission "and you can too!"

Are they selling something? The cynic in me tells me maybe they are!

Those who claim they have got their Hashi's into remission are very likely mistaking it for a stable period. With Hashi's you can swing from hypo to hyper, it's unpredicatable how long each period will last, then you can stabilise for a while.

Here's some information about Hashi's:

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

hypothyroidmom.com/hashimot...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

[Flowerpot108 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Yeah this is what I mean though. Dr. Wentz claims to be in remission and as in the above links says we need to stop (and she thinks possible reverse) the attack on our thyroid. That's what makes me feel like I'm not doing enough.

I take my Levo, I went gluten free, I did the diets in her book and re-introduced things bit by bit. But I haven't been able to test my hormones because I'm on the pill, but if I dont stay on some kind of hormonal contraception I put my self at risk of getting pregnant (which would be bad rn) and then she says we should check out our metal fillings? I couldn't have all my 7 fillings replaced...I dunno I just worry that I'm not doing enough. Which is why I was wondering if anyone just took the medication and then tried to live a normal healthy life. Like eating a range of nourishing foods but also some treats, not drinking too much alcohol but not never having it. Exersising when it feels good and resting when it doesn't. Stuff like that...

[Flowerpot108 in reply to Flowerpot108]

thyroiduk.org/about-thyroid...

- like here's an example of someone saying diet got her into normal range for thyroid...

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Flowerpot108]

Eliminating gluten and dairy does help some people but not all. There are many instances of members saying they've tried it for xx number of months and it made no difference. It's a case of what works for the individual.

I don't have Hashi's so have no personal experience. Maybe greygoose , who does have Hashi's, will pop along and comment, read her profile (click on her name) to read her thyroid journey.

[greygoose in reply to Flowerpot108]

Nice story, but unverifiable. No names, no dates, no indication what became of that person. I've read so many stories like that on forums. But, after a while, that person usually comes back asking for advise because they've gone hypo again.

I've tried all sorts of diets - cutting out this and cutting out that - and none of it made a scrap of difference to anything. Cutting out gluten will only help you if gluten negatively affects you. Same with dairy. Those things don't negatively affect me so cutting them out didn't make me feel better. I know I have to avoid soy like the plague, eating it makes me feel very bad, even soy sauce. But, cutting it out hasn't done anything to help my thyroid per se. It won't reverse my Hashi's, that's for sure.

So, all these things are worth a try, to see if you feel a bit better, but once the immune system has dammaged your thyroid, there's no going back. Your thyroid can't regenerate, so you're always going to need thyroid hormone replacement.

Having said that. I don't know if it would be possible to stop the autoimmune problem in its tracks if it were caught early enough. But, as I see it, that's never going to happen anyway, given the way doctors are so reluctant to test, diagnose and treat. They try to sweep the slightest hint of a thyroid problem under the carpet, and try and blame 'something else'. So, by the time you do get diagnosed, the dammage is done and it's too late. Plus the fact that hypothyroidism creeps up on you slowly, it doesn't happen over-night. So, by the time you get to the doctors it's probably already too late.

So, don't let these stories make you feel guilty, none of this is in any way your fault. Just do whatever it takes to make yourself feel comfortable, take your little white pills, and live the best life you can.

[Flowerpot108 in reply to greygoose]

Love this. Thank you very much. That makes me feel so much better 😁

[greygoose in reply to Flowerpot108]

You're welcome.

[Flowerpot108 in reply to greygoose]

So my results came back.

Think it all looks good. I'm converting well. I did a liver test because I drank way too much one weekend (I'm usually very good with not bingeing now) and I was sick all the next day and I was worried about my liver 😅 because I've been exhausted since.

Since the thyroid results show I'm not in need of more meds it must just be that I hurt my body and it's taking some time to recover. I have slowly been feeling better and better. Can take the dog out again and stuff so that good. I'll just keep nourishing myself and resting and I'm sure I'll be ship shape in no time.

R.e. the vits and minerals - when i've had them come back before they've always been in range and then most recently they were mostly optimal so I didnt get them done again this time because I was just wondering about the thyroid.

Should I share these with my GP or do I risk them reducing my meds do you think because of the high T4? I think they usually look at TSH don't they? So should be fine...

Thriva Test Results

[greygoose in reply to Flowerpot108]

No, you're not converting well. Where did you get that idea? You need your FT4 quite a bit over-range just to get your FT3 67.57% through the range - and even that might not be enough for you if you still have symptoms. That is called 'poor conversion'.

I can't see any point in showing them to your doctor, as you don't want an increase in levo and your liver is ok. However, you might decide you want to reduce your levo and add in some T3. But, that is an entirely different story.

[Flowerpot108 in reply to greygoose]

Ohhhh. Man I cant say I've looked into the T4 T3 thing before either anyone. Do you think if I load the results on I could speak to my GP about getting T3? Just cuz I am still more tired than I should be and I'm probably just blaming other things when maybe they would help....

[Flowerpot108 in reply to Flowerpot108]

It's hard to find a doctor that prescribes T3 though isnt it?

[Flowerpot108 in reply to Flowerpot108]

Wait...but I'm 82.35% through range? So is that not a good conversion?

[greygoose in reply to Flowerpot108]

I know I'm no good at maths, but according to this calculator:

chorobytarczycy.eu/kalkulator

Your FT3 is 67.57% through the range. Which isn't a bad result, although could be better. BUT, the point is, you need your FT4 at 113% in order to get your FT3 to that level. With good conversion, the percentages should be closer together, something like 75% and 70%. And, the problem is, we do not know the risks of long-term over-range T4. Maybe there aren't any, but we just don't know. So, it we can possibly do so, it would be best to avoid it.

That said, it is difficult to find a doctor to prescribe T3. Because, for the most part, they don't even know what it is! But, especially in the UK because it's so expensive. Which is why so many people source and self-treat with their own T3.

[Flowerpot108 in reply to greygoose]

Yeah I see alot of people asking for T3 here. So the hope is that with T3 treatment you can come down on Levo slightly and that means the T4 comes down a bit to avoid any potential repercussions from keeping T4 elevated. But then do we know the long term effects of T3 treatment? Its difficult isnt it?

That's interesting though I didnt know that, at least it arms me with the info for consultations!

[greygoose in reply to Flowerpot108]

Why should there be any long-term effects of T3 treatment - as long as it's kept in-range? T3 is quite a natural thing to have in your body, your thyroid - when healthy - makes it naturally.

[Flowerpot108 in reply to greygoose]

Ahhhh I see I see good to know. I just got referred to a private endo so will discuss with them!

[Hidden]

For many years, I was under the care of a doctor who claimed that keeping the TSH very low (0.05-0.3) would stop the autoimmune attacks on my thyroid gland and save the remaining hormone-producing tissue. For years now, my antibody levels have been normal (they were >6000 at the time of diagnosis). That did not work. An ultrasound last year (21 years after initial diagnosis) showed a completely atrophied thyroid gland. So, I personally do not believe in advice meant to stop the autoimmune attacks or reverse autoimmune hypothyroidism. Once you have it, you have it. That does not mean that cutting out common allergens such as gluten or dairy cannot be helpful, but I don´t think that will reverse your thyroid condition. It´s more about dealing with issues resulting from your autoimmune condition than healing the autoimmune condition itself.

[Flowerpot108 in reply to Hidden]

This is very reassuring thank you!

[fuchsia-pink]

is there anyone out there who is now on a perm dose of meds such as Levo and eats a wide variety of food with nothing cut out?

Yes - me

I eat whatever I want (albeit within a restricted time window, as I now do the Intermittent Fasting thing as a way of life). Weight is stable; meds (I take both levo and lio) are optimal for me; I'm fit and healthy (do a 5-mile coastal walk every morning) and have lost all the hypo weight.

I have a good balanced diet (I naturally eat a lot of veg, cook from scratch because I like cooking and from personal preference don't eat processed food and ready-meals or lots of fried food or fizzy drinks etc) and don't need supplements (except vit D in winter)

I say this not to brag, but to show it IS possible [and accept I'm really lucky in getting NHS endo x

[Flowerpot108 in reply to fuchsia-pink]

Yay!!!! That's so cheering thank you

[Zephyrbear in reply to fuchsia-pink]

Me too!

[Hidden in reply to fuchsia-pink]

I have to say I find this so encouraging and helpful to read! The other day, I read a newsletter from a so called thyroid doctor claiming that people with Hashimoto´s absolutely cannot eat and drink like others. If others have coffee, we should ask for herbal tea. If they ask for milk with their coffee, we should ask for decaf with almond milk. If they order pizza, we should choose a salad instead. Etc etc. I honestly don´t think it has to be so complicated. It goes without saying that anyone should eat a healthy diet, avoid processed foods, bad fats with too much Omega 6, sugar, artificial sweetners and excessive alcohol, but I don´t think we need to let our disease run our whole lives.

[Flowerpot108 in reply to Hidden]

Hear hear!!!

[fuchsia-pink in reply to Hidden]

Well that sounds no fun! Had a massive Thai meal yesterday - much nicer this time of year than a salad and green tea

[Cavapoochonowner]

Hello there, I am currently being treated for graves disease.I eat what I want basically but I am a picky and regimented eater.For example I normally have the same breakfast and dinner but vary my tea a bit.I feel better doing this.I suffer migraines and find eating at the same time and eating the same foods better.I don't drink or smoke or really eat fast foods.I am struggling a bit at the moment but that is because my medication is not right.My daughter is gluten free as she suffers terrible bloating.I don't know if restricting my foods even more would help me .I love a bit of chocolate and my life would be a bit miserable without it.

[Flowerpot108 in reply to Cavapoochonowner]

Yes that's the thing isn't, we still need to enjoy these little things!