Levothyroxine and food allergies. Is there any link?

[DandyButch]

Hi everyone, I was having a moment, thinking, or maybe overthinking, and it is a common discussion point about Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism and sensitivities to wheat and dairy, and advice to cease consuming these to promote wellness.Whilst I understand that anyone can develop an allergy at any age, it has always concerned me that all people with Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism are advised to change their diet.

Question 1:

Is this because people have Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, or, because they are taking levothyroxine.

Question 2:

Could levothyroxine be the cause of the food intolerance.

Common factors?

Question 3:

Do people with Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism who are taking a different medication to levothyroxine, e.g. dessicated thyroid, have the same sensitivities?

Anyone with any knowledge or comments, please let me know.

Thanks 😊

[greygoose]

Whilst I understand that anyone can develop an allergy at any age, it has always concerned me that all people with Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism are advised to change their diet.

Well, gluten-sensitivity isn't quite the same thing as an allergy. And people aren't actually advised to change their diet, they are advised to try going gluten/dairy-free to see if it helps (one at a time, not both together). If it doesn't help then there's no point in staying on it. I tried gluten/dairy/sugar/soy-free diets and the only thing that helped was soy-free. So I've gone back to consuming gluten/dairy/sugar and don't feel anyt the worse for it.

These diets are not going to cure/get rid of your Hashi's, but it is true that Hashi's people do tend to have these sensitivities more than usual. So, these diets are sensible things to try.

Could levothyroxine be the cause of the food intolerance.

Highly unlikely. Poor levo tends to get the blame for everything! I don't know why. When the usual culprit is the hypo itself.

Do people with Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism who are taking a different medication to levothyroxine, e.g. dessicated thyroid, have the same sensitivities?

Some do. Some don't. But not everyone with Hashi's, on levo, has them either. I don't.

[DandyButch in reply to greygoose]

Thank you for your reply. I shall have to stop overthinking.

[greygoose in reply to DandyButch]

😁

[Jazzw in reply to DandyButch]

No, never stop overthinking! We’ve trusted so-called experts with our health for too long. Even if we’re wrong, it’s good to challenge.

[TiggerMe]

I wasn't dairy intolerant until starting on Levo... 🤷‍♀️

[Lotika]

my personal theory (not scientific at all, just how I imagine it, so I am 100% speculating) is that our tummies get trashed whilst we’re becoming hypo, before diagnosis, and I can imagine intolerances arriving as a result of this: I am not sure if they stay for everyone who develops one or if they don’t! Be fun to get some research happening on that!

[DandyButch in reply to Lotika]

Yes, I concur on all aspects.Maybe this could become interesting.

I wonder too, if some people take T3, if this can reduce the sensitivity?

[Lotika in reply to DandyButch]

I have no idea! When I first started taking T3 I felt like I was struggling less with various foods, but… in retrospect I’m wondering if that was a placebo effect! In my case, these days I still find that if I have too much gluten over a couple of days, that’s not good, but a little is fine, in my case! All so different.., I had this idea that the intolerances would go away when I was optimally medicated; these days I no longer believe optimal medication is possible for me, it’s just nearly optimal. Until such a day as they invent slow release T3 or whatever, I am where I am and I try not to think about it so much

[DandyButch in reply to Lotika]

Hi Lotika Are you on T4 also?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Doesn't answer anything, but might be a couple of minutes of thought:

helvella - Lactose, Lactase and Hypothyroidism

A speculative discussion about why lactose might have specific issues when used in levothyroxine medicines.

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

[DandyButch in reply to helvella]

Hi helvella, It's all very complicated, isn't it? I have seen people on the forum talk about fillers etc, and their intolerance. When I was taking any form of levo, even liquid, that I had tried, even when I was supposedly 'optimally medicated', my whole digestive system seized up and I experienced pain in my liver area.

Since I have been on T3 only, no digestive problems.

I cannot prove anything, other than symptoms. Certainly T3 has been beneficial for me, although it doesn't work for everyone.