Graves’ disease : could I ask you all a question... - Thyroid UK

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Graves’ disease

MeandMaisie2012 profile image
6 Replies

could I ask you all a question please.

I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism last year. I have been looking up on line and finding information myself. The GP didn’t explain anything to me and just put me on carbimasole.

I found a E book on line and I bought the E book.

it explains the disease and how to heal your gut. There is a 12 week food plan to help heal your gut. I just wanted to see if anybody else has done anything like this before and did it work.

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MeandMaisie2012 profile image
MeandMaisie2012
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PurpleNails profile image
PurpleNailsAdministrator

Welcome to forum.

Was your Graves diagnosis confirmed with positive TSI / TRab antibodies. Doctors often assume hyper Graves without checking. TPO & TG antibodies signify autoimmune but not specific to Graves,

Many cases of Graves go into remission. Carbimazole controls levels until the disease stops causing the immune system to stimulate thyroid.

Doctors aim for around 18 months but many find it’s better to stay on carbimazole longer term.

What is you current dose of carbimazole?

Do you have any results? TSH, FT4 & FT3.

Have you had key nutrients tested Folate, ferritin, B12 & vitamin D?

I haven’t read any ebooks on treating Graves as my hyper isn’t autoimmune but I have read about gut issues being common with thyroid & autoimmune. Gluten is often an issue for example & many have intolerance to gluten with can’t be tested for as tests are for allergy.

There a good chance that following a healthy regime will improve your health and many Graves symptoms along with it.

Many will go into remission without following special diet and there likely isn’t research to determine how great factor it will make.

Hopefully someone who has followed the book and found it helpful will be able to share their experience.

BenHall1 profile image
BenHall1

I do not have any officially diagnosed Thyroid issue, but do have a low TSH (?) reading. I have used the 'healing the gut' process with another condition I still have, Atrial Fibrillation, a heart arrythmia.

I did not follow a text book, rather, once blood tests my GP had organised back in the day gave me the all clear I consulted a Nutritionist. Healing the gut is not a quick process, can take some years as in my case. My personal philosophy was .... "well its taken me years and years to damage my gut - no reason why it should heal in any less time".

The Nutriotionist put me on a course of Probiotics, then got me gluten, wheat and oats free and showed me how to monitor my food. As a result my 'Free From' diet now even includes a range of veggies and dry food stuffs. I learned it isn't just food per se, its all the tiny ingredients that can do the damage too.

End result, it tamed my gut, improved gut health and enables me to say that I can't remember when my last heart wobbly (Atrial fibrillation) was, at least 18 months ago.

John

pennyannie profile image
pennyannie

Hello MeandMaisie and welcome to the forum :

The most well rounded of all I researched is that of Elaine Moore's books and website.

elaine-more.com

No two people's journey is the same and why Graves is a poorly understood and badly treated Auto immune disease.

There is likely a genetic predisposition with a relative maybe a generation away from you with a thyroid health issue and stress and anxiety seem to be common triggers but quite why your immune system has decided to turn and attack your body rather than defend it is the 64 million $ question - and you are likely best placed to know the answer - if there is one.

Can you please share with forum members your original TSH, Free T3 and Free T4 readings at diagnosis and an antibody blood test reading showing which antibodies were found positive and over range in your blood and the medical evidence of Graves Disease ?

All the Anti Thyroid drug does is put you in a ' holding position ' while we wait for your immune system response calm down, by semi-blocking your new daily thyroid hormone production so your T3 and T4 should slowly fall back down into the ranges and hopefully your symptoms alleviated.

What symptoms were you dealing with - hopefully these are now resolved - and what, if any, symptoms do you have now - and what are your current T3 and T4 readings ?

As your T3 and T4 fall back down the ranges the AT drug is titrated down otherwise you risk falling too far through the ranges and suffering the equally disabling symptoms of hypothyroidism.

When metabolism is running too fast as in hyperthyroidism - or too slow as in hypothyroidism - the body struggles to extract key nutrients through food and this can compound your health issues further so it will be good idea to get a ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D run and we can advise you of the optimal values you need to maintain to carry your through this first phase of the disease.

The most recent research we have is suggesting the longer the patient stays on the AT drug the better the longer term outcome for the patient :-

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/338...

Highroid profile image
Highroid

You should ideally be getting follow-up blood tests from your GP to ensure your carbimazole dose is correct, and not leaving you with too much or too little thyroid hormone. I have been tested every 6-8 weeks (TSH, FT4 and FT3, plus initial test of antibodies to confirm the diagnosis). Carmbimazole dose should be adjusted by your GP to ensure your TSH, FT4, FT3 are in range. My journey with Graves over the past few months has been a real roller coaster swinging between very hyper and very hypo. Sure everyone's journey is different, but without close attention from medical professionals I would have been in a much worse position. My Graves could not have been dealt with only by addressing diet/gut health, although I am sure eating a healthy diet and ensuring a healthy gut is a good thing to do for general health.

Good luck, and hope you can convince your GP to take this more seriously that they seem to be doing.

Highroid profile image
Highroid in reply to Highroid

I should also have said my GP was getting advice (and access to FT3 and antibody tests) via hospital endocrinologist.

asiatic profile image
asiatic

With Hyperthyroidism you should be referred to an Endocrinologist. GP'S cannot run the necessary antibody tests ( TSI or TRAb ) to confirm Graves. They should be running full thyroid panels regularly but they lack the knowledge to interprete them as I found to my cost. On Carbimazole you can become hypothyroid with symptoms eg weight gain. Gut health is important but monitoring TSH / fT4 / fT3 is top priority and experienced people on the forum will advise if you post your results.

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