Hashimoto’s

[DottyF]

hi all I found my way here from Thyroid UK. I have just been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s. I’m 59 and pretty fit so I have had a low heart rate for a while now but I noticed (through my Apple Watch) that it was dipping lower than normal every now and again. I was lucky to be seen by a fabulous locum when I got my appointment. She requested a huge raft of blood tests although we both suspected that thyroid would be the issue. I am a vegan and all of my tests came back normal including my vitamin B12 (59 years of eating marmite nearly every day) the two that didn’t were thyroid and pre diabetes. I started on 50mcg yesterday. I’ve found friends that have other forms of hypothyroidism one of whom suggested going gluten free I’d love to hear what others think. I’m

Going to copy and paste this into my bio, get my blood results from my GP and learn to live with my condition

Val

[SlowDragon Administrator]

welcome to the forum

Please also add folate, Ferritin, vitamin D as well as B12 results and ranges

What vitamin supplements do you take

How long have you been vegan

Which brand of Levothyroxine have you started on

Always take Levothyroxine on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after

No vitamin supplements within 2 hours

Some like iron, magnesium, calcium, vitamin D tablets all at least 4 hours away from Levothyroxine

Has GP done Coeliac blood test

If not get that done before considering trial on gluten free diet

[DottyF in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks so much I’ll take all that on board no coeliac test but will contact the surgery and ask for one. I take a multivitamin (vegan friendly) haven’t taken for the last couple of days so good to know that advice. I’ve been vegan for 5.5 years and eat soya yogurt everyday but I see suggestions that I should avoid soy

Val

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to DottyF]

Yes definitely avoid all soya

Stop any vitamin supplements that contain biotin 5-7 days before all blood tests

Generally multi vitamins not recommended. But as vegan you needed to be very careful to maintain iodine

Now you are starting on Levothyroxine this contains iodine so possibly don’t want any extra

As vegan you probably need to test iodine levels

As GP if they will do so

If not

Genova Diagnostics for iodine test

thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...

Click on "Read the list of available tests" and on page 3 of the pdf you'll see

Urine Iodine Test:

Specimen requirements: Urine

Cost: £76

Order Code: END25

Turnaround time: 5 - 10 days

Iodine is an essential trace element, vital for healthy thyroid function. Adequate levels are required to enable the production of T3 and T4 thyroid hormones, whilst also being required in other areas of health.

Deficiencies can lead to impaired heat and energy production, mental function and slow metabolism. Urine iodine is one of the best measures of iodine status. This test is not performed as a loading test, but can be used to establish existing levels or to monitor iodine supplementation.

[DottyF in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks again I shall be making an appointment with my GP. I’ve been a psychiatric nurse for over 30 years and I’m used talking to GP’s so as long as I don’t go into patient mode armed with this information I’m hopeful of getting what I need. I’ll make sure to have a list ready

Thanks again

[Disey]

sorry to butt in your conversation but I was reading that slow dragon said no soya, I’m hypothroid and on 50 levothyroxine and I drink soya milk all the time, am I meant to be avoiding it?

Dotty F ….really hope you get sorted and settled, this site is amazing…fabulous advice, far more knowledgeable than my docs have been

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Disey]

Yes, Soya is a thyroid disruptor best avoided, I'll tag in greygoose as she might like to elaborate 🤗

[DottyF in reply to TiggerMe]

Thanks Eeyore good to know

[greygoose in reply to DottyF]

Yes, soy can stop thyroid hormones getting into the cells, so that even if you have good levels in your blood, you'll still be getting hypo symptoms.

[DottyF in reply to greygoose]

Thanks 🙏

[Spritze in reply to greygoose]

Does this apply only to Thyroid medication or to naturally produced hormones too ? Thanks

[greygoose in reply to Spritze]

I think it applies to naturally produced hormones, too. But, the difference is, a healthy, working thyroid, can compensate for that. But, don't take my word for it. I don't know all the details.

[DottyF in reply to Disey]

Jumping in is very welcome 🤗 I can see I’ve got a lot to learn off to get myself som deliciously Ella coconut yoghurt. Thanks for the welcome 🤗

[Disey]

thank you, I shall wean myself off it and learn to love a cup of tea with normal milk lol

[FallingInReverse]

Just be careful to avoid milk too close to thyroid meds, as the calcium will also interfere with thyroid ned effectiveness.

It’s out of the frying pan and into the fire, as they say : )

[DottyF in reply to FallingInReverse]

Thanks I’m a vegan so dairy isn’t an issue but finding an alternative to soy is 😀

[arTistapple in reply to DottyF]

I use Coconut AMINO. It’s a substitute for soy. It’s not as salty but you could add salt if that’s what you crave. I would say it’s also sweeter. However it makes a great base for ‘Chinese, Japanese. And Thai dishes. Amazon off course but you can get it elsewhere.

[DottyF in reply to arTistapple]

Ooh not heard of that I’ll have a look thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to DottyF]

Oat milk is excellent

[DottyF in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes I like oat milk and koko plus alpro almond sadly it’s the yogurt I’ll miss the others have so little nutritional benefit although I love deliciously Ella’s ☺️

[arTistapple in reply to DottyF]

My memory is not what it was but …. many years ago I was informed that ‘proper’ yogurt (live) was changed at such a basic level, it was no longer considered ‘dairy’. It’s dealt with entirely differently by the body. Like kefir etc it becomes an excellent source of fermented food which is very good for the gastro intestinal tract. I find in the winter it’s just not attractive enough to eat and I don’t get great benefit because I just don’t enjoy it - I need heat and I have buckwheat porridge instead with walnuts/seeds/fresh berry fruit/frozen berry fruit/dash of cinnamon. It’s GF, warm, sweet, soothing and to die for. Helmsley recipe. If I find it easy to make, you will too. It’s in-line with the kind of thing that Dr. Sarah Myhill recommends in her diet.

[DottyF in reply to arTistapple]

I do like buckwheat I’ll give this a try thanks 🙏

[FallingInReverse in reply to DottyF]

Disey also should have tagged you too here re the milk, calcium & substitutes!