Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Where Your Contribution Counts!
    eNewsletter
    Support Us!

Celiac Disease And Thyroid Issues - Do They Go Hand-In-Hand Or Are They Separate?


Lisa40278

Recommended Posts

Lisa40278 Newbie

First of all, I wanted to say hi! I'm a newcomer here (29f), pending my official diagnosis next week. Fingers crossed!

 

During my time between "let's run the celiac test just to see" and "let's schedule a biopsy", I've done a LOT of reading and realized that this is the miracle diagnosis that I've needed for years.

 

I've read that thyroid issues and celiac sometimes go hand in hand. I have a lot of possible thyroid issue symptoms (fatigue, cold extremeties, facial flushing, excessive sweating, memory loss, no libido) but my TSH levels have always been within range. Actually, all CMP and CBC bloodwork has been in range the past two years. No blood testing prior - no Dr ever suggested it.

 

So my question is, if I get the celiac diagnosis, should I just give the diet time to work and see how many symptoms go away? When should I think about seeing an endocrinologist?

 

Is celiac the cause of thyroid issues or vice versa? Are they separate?

 

Thanks everyone! :)

-Lisa

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



SMRI Collaborator

Neither are the cause of the other but often people have more than one autoimmune disorder, so while many with Celiac also have thyroid issues they do not cause the other.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
julissa Explorer

Hi and welcome. I have celiac and am hypothyroid, but I've never heard one causes the other. I'm sure others will be more knowledgeable on this. I imagine once you're following strict gluten free you'll start feeling better in ways you didn't even realize you needed. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
1desperateladysaved Proficient

I think the two often go together from being on here and reading.  There are more tests for thyroid than just TSH.  My TSH is normal, but some other numbers are out of whack.  From my memory, with the possibility of missing a test, here are the tests one can use to check thyroid:

 

TSH

T3

T4

Reverse T3

Reverse T4

Thyroid Antibodies

 

An endocrinologist is the person who should be able to decipher those tests.  I think my thyroid is helped by gluten free.  I hope that yours will be too, and or that you can figure out and change what is a problem.

 

Dee

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Solandra Rookie

To straighten it out, studies suggest that while the general population has a percentage of about 1% for Celiac, those of us with Hashimoto's (autoimmune thyroid disease), have a 2-4% chance of developing Celiac. There's a lot of stuff online that says untreated Celiac causes it, and that ALL people with thyroid disease need to avoid it, but that's not backed up by any clinical scientific data. It's just that if you have one autoimmune disease, you're likely to get more. Now, as far as normal for TSH, I've noticed GP doctors have used different standards than Endocrinologists. Mine was around 5 and I kept having doctors tell me that was normal. Endo's want it between 1-3. So you might be out of that range and need treatment. You should also get your thyroid antibodies (TPO) checked, because I wasn't diagnosed until they did that and it came back at over 3500, which is waaaay high.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Gemini Experienced

Hashi's does occur frequently with Celiac and I think you'll find that if you have undiagnosed Celiac for long enough, all that inflammation does not just cause damage to the small intestine. The immune system starts to attack other organs and the pancreas and thyroid gland seem to be the most popular targets. My Hashi's diagnosis came 20 years before the Celiac diagnosis but in hindsight, I triggered for Celiac at a very young age. The damage showing on my adult teeth when they came in was proof of that.

I would say that yes, having Celiac can cause other AI diseases to happen, as a result of prolonged inflammation and other genetic factors that may come into play. Ask anyone with multiples, like myself. I don't need a fancy study to figure that out.

I would say to try the gluten-free diet for awhile and see if your symptoms calm down. If they do not, and your tTg remains on the higher side for too long, then thyroid testing would be in order. As suggested, it would help to have your thyroid antibodies checked because that will tell you if thyroid disease is brewing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
nvsmom Community Regular

I agree that thyroid problems are linked to celiac disease. I think celiac disease often kicks off other diseases when we are living undiagnosed for so many years. I ended up with three autoimmune diseases and I often wonder if I could have avoided two of them if my celiac disease diagnosis was discovered 30 years earlier.

 

Newly diagnosed celiacs should get tested for Hashi's right away.  The last stat I saw stated that over 10% of celiacs have Hashi's (although I could be wrong because I can't find my source).  I agree with 1desperateladysaved that many tests should be done beyond the TSH, but I disagree a bit on which ones to run (just based on my own research and personal experience). The tests I would do are: 

  • TSH - Should be close to a 1 regardless of the labs range (2's 3's and above are often too high for someone with a thyroid problem - it is for me)
  • Free T4 and Free T3 - Should be in the 50-75% range of your lab's normal reference range.  It is possible to feel hypothyroid if your results are in the low end of normal range.  T4 and T3 means total T4 and total T3 which are not a good test to tell you want in happening in the blood. The free T's are better.
  • TPO Ab - Should be pretty low but you can still have a thyroid problem when this is normal.  My thyroid doesn't do much but my TPO Ab has always been a high normal.

These tests can vary a fair bit from week to week. I remember suspecting a thyroid problem years ago. When I tseted my TSH it was a bit high (6 something?) but when they retested a week or so later it was normal (4 something) so they dismissed me.  If I knew then what I know now, I would have pursued more tested and begun treatment 15 years earlier.

 

You should also get your nutrient levels tests (off topic but still relevant ;) ).  Have then check your: Fe, Mg, Ca, K, A, D, Zn, Cu, B12, ferritin, and.... I think I'm forgetting one. Anyways, celiacs are often low in these so have them checked.

 

Welcome to the board.  :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Lisa40278 Newbie

Thank you all for responding! Nvsmom, you are a wealth of knowledge! My TSH was 2.6 last year and 3.3 this year. Of course, no cause for concern from my doctor. I am delighted to hear that "1" is where I probably should be.

 

This place makes me feel heard. It is so frustrating to feel unhealthy for years with no explanation. To eventually just accept that it's "all in your head", because the doctors say you're healthy.

 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
nvsmom Community Regular

Thank you all for responding! Nvsmom, you are a wealth of knowledge! My TSH was 2.6 last year and 3.3 this year. Of course, no cause for concern from my doctor. I am delighted to hear that "1" is where I probably should be.

 

 

No problem.  :)  Just remember that that "TSH near a 1" is not true for everyone. A few may find that a TSH at a 2 feels better... I've never met someone who felt best at a 3 - at least not someone who has a thyroid problem.  ;)

 

My TSH is suppressed because I take some T3 along with the usual T4 medication (ex. Synthroid). My TSH was near a 0.011 the last I saw, but my Free T's are right where they should be and I feel okay.

 

Good luck with the doctor and happy Thanksgiving.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
icelandgirl Proficient

Thank you all for responding! Nvsmom, you are a wealth of knowledge! My TSH was 2.6 last year and 3.3 this year. Of course, no cause for concern from my doctor. I am delighted to hear that "1" is where I probably should be.

 

This place makes me feel heard. It is so frustrating to feel unhealthy for years with no explanation. To eventually just accept that it's "all in your head", because the doctors say you're healthy.

 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

There's a reason we call her Dr Nicole!

Never accept that it's all in your head. Only you know what your body is feeling like. Do request that full thyroid panel...it's really tough to get the thyroid to a good spot. I'm working on it now. Keep coming back with other questions too.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Solandra Rookie

My TSH was .89 or somewhere around there.. I feel fine. You'll have to do a little bit of adjusting with medications before you figure out what's right for you. :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Help Celiac.com:
    Donate

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Recent Activity

    1. - Julie Riordan replied to Julie Riordan's topic in Traveling with Celiac Disease
      3

      Any ideas for travelling

    2. - trents replied to SuzanneL's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      1

      Weak Positive Test

    3. - SuzanneL posted a topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      1

      Weak Positive Test

    4. - Scott Adams replied to Braver101's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      2

      Constant sweating with celiac disease

    5. - Scott Adams replied to Julie Riordan's topic in Traveling with Celiac Disease
      3

      Any ideas for travelling


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      120,495
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Zofosho
    Newest Member
    Zofosho
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      120.2k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):




  • Who's Online (See full list)


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Julie Riordan
      I am going to France in two weeks and then to Portugal in May   Thanks for your reply 
    • trents
      Welcome to the forum, @SuzanneL! Which tTG was that? tTG-IGA? tTG-IGG? Were there other celiac antibody tests run from that blood draw? Was total IGA measured? By some chance were you already cutting back on gluten by the time the blood draw was taken or just not eating much? For the celiac antibody tests to be accurate a person needs to be eating about 10g of gluten daily which is about 4-6 pieces of bread.
    • SuzanneL
      I've recently received a weak positive tTG, 6. For about six years, I've been sick almost everyday. I was told it was just my IBS. I have constant nausea. Sometimes after I eat, I have sharp, upper pain in my abdomen. I sometimes feel or vomit (bile) after eating. The doctor wanted me to try a stronger anti acid before doing an endoscopy. I'm just curious if these symptoms are pointing towards Celiac Disease? 
    • Scott Adams
      I'm sorry to hear about what you're going through. It must be really frustrating and uncomfortable. Have you talked to your healthcare provider about these sudden sweating episodes? It might be helpful to discuss this with them to rule out any other underlying issues or to see if there are specific strategies or treatments that can help manage this symptom. Additionally, staying hydrated and wearing breathable clothing may provide some relief. 
    • Scott Adams
      I am not sure where you are going, but we have articles in this section which may be helpful: https://www.celiac.com/celiac-disease/gluten-free-travel/ 
×
×
  • Create New...