Recently told I have Hashimoto Disease - next s... - Thyroid UK

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Recently told I have Hashimoto Disease - next steps ?

Tiredcoldachy profile image
15 Replies

I posted on here a few weeks ago before and after having more in-depth blood tests done at my GP Surgery. I have been told that I have Hashimoto by Thyroid Uk when my results were interpreted and that I needed to increase my levothyroxine does to 125mg from 100mg which I now have done and take supplements etc .

I related this to the Nurse Practitioner at my GP’s and she has increased the dose and said retest in 6 weeks time . I am concerned that I’ve been told I have Hashimoto but the Nurse did not say anything when I told her and probably didn’t know what it was to be honest . Should I make an appointment to see my GP to discuss it ? I’ve read a little info online about the disease but don’t know what steps to take now. Thank you .

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SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Medics ignore the autoimmune aspect of autoimmune hypothyroid disease (hashimoto’s)

They just treat the subsequent hypothyroidism

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high TPO and/or high TG thyroid antibodies

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

You should have a coeliac test is still eating gluten

Tiredcoldachy profile image
Tiredcoldachy in reply toSlowDragon

Thank you . I am still eating gluten . I’ve been on meds for decades and only found out about the vitamins I needed to check up on 2 weeks ago . So now I need to also check on gluten .

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toTiredcoldachy

Not an uncommon story

I wasted 25 years with only TSH and Ft4 tested on NHS ….more on my profile

Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels

Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working

Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances.

Most common by far is gluten.

Dairy is second most common.

A trial of strictly gluten free diet is always worth doing

Only 5% of Hashimoto’s patients test positive for coeliac but a further 81% of Hashimoto’s patients who try gluten free diet find noticeable or significant improvement or find it’s essential

A strictly gluten free diet helps or is essential due to gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and may slowly lower TPO antibodies

While still eating high gluten diet ask GP for coeliac blood test first as per NICE Guidelines

nice.org.uk/guidance/ng20/c...

Or buy a test online, about £20

Assuming test is negative you can immediately go on strictly gluten free diet 

(If test is positive you will need to remain on high gluten diet until endoscopy, maximum 6 weeks wait officially) 

Trying gluten free diet for 6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

amymyersmd.com/2018/04/3-re...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

Non Coeliac Gluten sensitivity (NCGS) and autoimmune disease

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/296...

The predominance of Hashimoto thyroiditis represents an interesting finding, since it has been indirectly confirmed by an Italian study, showing that autoimmune thyroid disease is a risk factor for the evolution towards NCGS in a group of patients with minimal duodenal inflammation. On these bases, an autoimmune stigma in NCGS is strongly supported

nuclmed.gr/wp/wp-content/up...

In summary, whereas it is not yet clear whether a gluten free diet can prevent autoimmune diseases, it is worth mentioning that HT patients with or without CD benefit from a diet low in gluten as far as the progression and the potential disease complications are concerned

restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...

Despite the fact that 5-10% of patients have Celiac disease, in my experience and in the experience of many other physicians, at least 80% + of patients with Hashimoto's who go gluten-free notice a reduction in their symptoms almost immediately.

Similarly few months later consider trying dairy free too. Approx 50-60% find dairy free beneficial

With loads of vegan dairy alternatives these days it’s not as difficult as in the past

Post discussing gluten

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Recent research in China into food intolerances with Hashimoto’s

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Tiredcoldachy profile image
Tiredcoldachy in reply toSlowDragon

Thank you . I’ve been on Omneparazole and then Lansaprazole for a long time now as my throat burns most of the time and they said it was acid reflux . It’s never cleared up . I’m thinking now that’s it’s been down to my thyroid all along . I don’t have indigestion or anything but I have a lot of bloating as soon as I’ve eaten as well as sore throat .

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toTiredcoldachy

The increase in dose levothyroxine may help reduce acid reflux symptoms

Test for coeliac then trial strictly gluten free diet

Sasah profile image
Sasah

How was you diagnosed? What is the criteria?

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toSasah

Autoimmune thyroid disease (hashimoto’s) diagnosed by testing TPO and TG antibodies

Sasah profile image
Sasah in reply toSlowDragon

My doc has sent for these now after ENT refused after my hemi.

Thanks

Tiredcoldachy profile image
Tiredcoldachy in reply toSasah

I asked for TPO levels.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

If you were negative coeliac at last test it’s unlikely changed, but you could retest first BEFORE cutting gluten out

jgelliss profile image
jgelliss in reply toSlowDragon

SD cutting out Gluten was nothing less than a Blessing. Before I was diagnosed as having Hashimoto Thyroiditise I knew something didn't feel right . After eating anything with Gluten in it 20 minutes later I would just fall asleep. This happens even today for me.

momindenver profile image
momindenver

There's also a genetic test for a tendency to celiac disease and other autoimmunity. It does not fluctuate with intake of gluten. It's called HLA DQ2 and HLA DQ8.

Sasah profile image
Sasah in reply tomomindenver

Cheers

Sasah profile image
Sasah in reply tomomindenver

Thanks do you deveip celiac with hypothyroidism...

momindenver profile image
momindenver

There is an increased risk of celiac disease with autoimmune hypothyroidism. Also, Type 1 diabetes. There's a theory that gluten causes a leaky gut and autoimmunity.

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