Hashimoto's and immune system question.

[mids_thyman]

Hi,

I’m type 1 diabetic and hypothyroid, so assume I have Hashimoto’s (never confirmed).

I recently decided to try and improve my health - changed my diet to focus on gut health, micro biome, etc. They say the immune system mainly lies in the gut. 

I was wondering if that could cause problems if you have Hashimoto's or are prone to auto-immune conditions?

Does it make the immune system better so that is runs as normal and is less likely to over-react and cause/worsen auto-immune conditions ie ‘better modulated’?

Or does it turn your immune system into a menace, much better at taking out perceived threats, sometimes incorrectly and thus creating/worsening auto-immune conditions?

My own personal experience is that after trying to improve my health, I started to develop a number of things out of the blue that I'd never had before, including peripheral neuropathy that still persists. Doctors tell me that's caused entirely by my diabetes, but I've never had any problems before and the timing seems really coinicidental. I'm of the opinion that there's something else going on, possibly auto-immune.

It’d be interesting to hear people’s thoughts on this. It seems counter-intuitive to think you shouldn’t eat healthy foods. But could be very important in this case.

Thanks in advance,

JC619.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

What are your most recent thyroid and vitamin results

ALWAYS test thyroid levels early morning, ideally just before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

With hypothyroidism, especially Hashimoto’s it’s extremely common to develop low B12, folate, vitamin D or ferritin levels

Essential to test vitamin levels at least annually

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

So are you now on gluten free diet and/or dairy free diet

[greygoose]

Depends on your definition of 'healthy', doesn't it. For example, some people think that cutting out all fat is 'healthy'. It isn't. Others think soy is a health food. It isn't.

And even more people think that going vegetarian is the best they can do for their health, and end up with B12 deficiency. Neuropathy can be a result of B12 deficienty, as can the hypo itself. So, your GP shouldn't make bald statements about the cause without checking the facts.