Food sensitivities

[Gillybabe48]

Does anyone else suffer from food sensitivities with thyroid disorder.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Estimated that approximately 5% of autoimmune thyroid patients are coeliac, and approx further 80% are gluten intolerant or find strictly gluten free diet helpful

Approx 70% autoimmune thyroid patients are reckoned to be lactose intolerant (seems a bit higher than we see on forum)

Other foods that can be an issue

Nightshades - tomatoes, peppers, aubergines

Eggs

[waveylines]

I am gluten intolerance (confirmed by a specialist) been strictly gluten free for a year now. Heaps better!

[elwins]

I find that being gluten free helps a lot, have had a under active thyroid for years, was told it was colitis after having tests, which was causing my problems with my gut.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

I tested negative for coeliac twice….20 years apart

But endoscopy confirmed severe gluten intolerance exactly as if coeliac…..going absolutely strictly gluten free was astounding revelation…..pity I wasted 20 years after first negative coeliac test

[Aswell in reply to SlowDragon]

Hello, can you please tell me a bit more as to how you got to do the endoscopy? was it for something else? like another condition? was it presribed by a GP? and if yes, how did you get them to prescribe the endoscopy? thank you

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Aswell]

I had to pay ….private endoscopy £1600 in 2016 ….plus consultation fees

NHS obviously weren’t keen as coeliac test was negative and I had absolutely zero gut issues

But I was completely immobile and unable to walk

so Gastroenterologist said we need to do endoscopy immediately …and that I was too ill to do 6-8 weeks gluten challenge (gluten at every meal)

So I had endoscopy done 2 days later ….

going absolutely strictly gluten free has been astonishing

I now can’t tolerate the tiniest speck of gluten …..

instead now prescribed addition of 3 x 5mcg T3 alongside levothyroxine, significant and ongoing vitamin supplements and lead completely normal life ….typically walk at least 10k steps per day

More on my profile

[Gillybabe48 in reply to SlowDragon]

Brilliant. Shows hope for all of us.

[Anthea55]

My main intolerances are wheat, oats and potatoes (another of the nightshades). There are others such as alcohol. I'm not coeliac so I have to be careful with gluten free foods such as gluten free oats as it's the oats I'm sensitive to, not the gluten.

I have to read ingredients lists carefully as manufacturers have a habit of putting potato starch into food which they then declare is gluten free - which it is, but I can't eat it. It took me some time and a few upset stomachs to discover that most stock powders include potato starch.

I've yet to find g.f. flour without potato starch in it. G.f. bread is difficult too.

[Aswell in reply to Anthea55]

Hello, I wan to ask you about oats as it is meant to be a super tolerant food-as far as I know. How did you find out you were intolerant to oats? and what symptoms did you have? thank you

[Anthea55 in reply to Aswell]

Several years ago my joints were beginning to seize up. I knew my daughter had food intolerances so I thought it might be worth getting myself tested. Top of my list was oats, then wheat, then alcohol, various food colourings etc. I'd been eating porridge for breakfast for months! Alcohol has always been problematic.

After 2 or 3 months my joints improved considerably and the indigestion and bloating which I'd had for years also improved.

The potato problem I found later when I was getting occasional stomach problems and I guessed it might be potato, so tried it out.

[Aswell in reply to Anthea55]

Thank you for sharing. I am at a loss as to what foods to take out, as if I take all suggested, there will be nothing left to eat....

[Anthea55 in reply to Aswell]

From my experience the best way is to have food intolerance testing. This will be specific to you. My intolerances are not the same as my daughter's.If you don't test, then it's a process of elimination which must be done one at a time and can take ages.

[Aswell in reply to Anthea55]

I have done an elimination diet for 3 months a few years ago for a different condition. Have you used a specific intolerance test that you believe is valid and accurate? as in backed up by your own experience?

[Anthea55 in reply to Aswell]

My test was about 20 years ago. Many more tests are available these days. My results show me that it gave the right result for me.

So did that elimination diet suggest any intolerances? And if so have you continued to omit those foods from your diet?

[Aswell in reply to Anthea55]

I did the elimination diet for 3 months for migraine headaches and I got amazing results with a long list of definite triggers. I excluded all from my diet for years. Some I re-introduced in a controlled way and was ok and others I re-introduced and bang migraines straight away! However, as far as my Hashimoto is concerned I can't see how the elimination diet would be of use, I don't have any gastrointenstinal symptoms whatsoever or other obvious symptoms related to food.

[Anthea55 in reply to Aswell]

I don't know much about elimination diets, but maybe you are sensitive to some of the triggers that didn't give you migraines.

[nellie237]

I tested negative (blood test) for coeliac when I was diagnosed Hashi's in 2007. I tested positive for Coeliac Nov 2020 (blood test & biopsies).

If I had known in 2007 what I know now I would have given up gluten then, and saved myself a whole heap of crap.

[Arkenstone]

Sadly, I can confirm, from my own experience that suffering from Auto immune thyroid problems does predispose you to allergies and intolerances.

I am allergic to cornflour ( for years everyone thought it was wheat), Kiwi fruit, dairy, and some herbs. Eating in restaurants is a nightmare but many are kind in helping to keep me safe.

[Aswell in reply to Arkenstone]

Hello, how did you find out which foods you were intolerant to? through a test? other means? or did you have any symptoms straight after consuming foods? and if yes, what symptoms did you have please?

[Arkenstone in reply to Aswell]

I had to remove one type of food at a time, after getting a reaction. Eg I was getting a reaction of bloating, cramps, feeling of weakness and body ache after having a certain meal. I then try an eliminate of one type of food for about 6 weeks. If there was no reaction, I tried the next. It was a slow process but when I removed ( eg. Cornflour) from my diet my symptoms magically vanished. It was such a relief.

I know it is a slow process but trust me it makes all the difference when you do find the food group that you are intolerant too. All the best and I wish you well.

[jgelliss in reply to Arkenstone]

I had for many years intolerances to wheat dairy corn night sheds oats eggs. When I would consume any of these foods I needed to sleep about 20 minutes later or I would start itching and breakout . And in more severe cases Palpitations would start. It took me a while to make the connections. I was diagnosed eventually with Hashimoto Thyroiditise. Consequently had TT for papilary cancer.

Listen to what your body is communicating. And Trust it.

[Happysmile]

Yes, anaphylaxis reaction to wheat and nuts. Can manage without the wheat, but do miss nuts.

[Slocombe]

Lactose intolerant plus severe egg allergy.

[Gillybabe48 in reply to Slocombe]

Oh dear. I do not know why they put it in levothyroxine then. Do you.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Gillybabe48]

High percentage of thyroid patients have lactose intolerance

Teva and Aristo are lactose free in U.K.

Or (most) liquid levothyroxine

[Arkenstone in reply to SlowDragon]

May I check if there are any brands in U.K. that are both lactose free and gluten free?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Arkenstone]

All levothyroxine is gluten free

Aristo (100mcg only) and Teva are only lactose free tablets in U.K.

[Arkenstone in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for your reply.

[Cavapoochonowner]

hello, I have graves disease and used to love eggs.I ate them almost every day.Recently I can't tolerate them .I get terrible stomach cramps, almost akin to labour pains(excruciating) .I am ok with eggs in things ie cakes etc. but just not on their own.

[Lovecake]

I did a food and drink intolerance test before I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s. (About 4 years). I’m slightly dairy intolerant, so cut it completely and found that soy (especially the milk/yogurt products) give me migraines. I now only have a teeny bit of dairy. I can’t bear my cup of tea with anything but semi skimmed milk. I tried going gluten free and found that corn alternatives give me tummy ache. If I d gluten free very difficult, but I know many people are and it helps them. I need to be more disciplined.

I’m also intolerant to chilli peppers, found that out after growing some and adding them to a salad. They make the inside of my nose close up and I get a migraine. I don’t think this has anything to do with Hashimoto’s - or does it? I used to be ok with chillis, so is it an age thing?

[albowkis]

I am gluten intolerant and nightshade green peppers .

Need to be stricter with omitting gluten from my diet this year

[Hedgeree]

Hi Gillybabe48,I have hypothyroid symptoms but yet to be diagnosed (hopefully that will change soon after my endo appointment)

It's only from reading and learning from this forum that I've become aware that my sensitivities could be due to thyroid problems/low hormone levels.

I have issues with sulphites (used as a preservative) and now avoid them. I got unwell after unknowingly consuming high amounts of sulphites in mixed nuts/dried fruits and concentrated orange juice; it started with very sulphurous belching and severe digestive upset. I was too fearful to eat much other than apples for about a month. I worked it out myself what the problem was and now read labels (GP no help!)

I know when I've been 'sulphited' particularly in the mornings as I wake up feeling hungover, wheezy and with a headache though not had any alcohol.

Intolerant of aubergine, instant reaction so don't eat them anymore.

Also some sugar alcohols, maltitol (used as a sweetener in some sugar free biscuits that I ate) a fairly rapid reaction, vomiting and bad headache.

Blue food colouring (forgot the E number) but is added to foods like mushy peas to make them green, again fairly rapid digestive upset and headache.

I now read labels and avoid those ingredients that cause me problems. As I said GP no help whatsoever so it's been an elimination process. Lots of reading and information gleamed from the internet.

Best wishes.

[Arkenstone]

Sadly, many of us have food allergies and intolerances. I family get very irritated at the list I have to give a waiter when we are at a restaurant. So, to keep everyone happy, I eat out rarely and at very, very few places.