mystery gluten?

[AnneBSunflower]

Hi. I am looking for mystery gluten in my diet due to having a GI map done recently and the results found gluten antibodies. However, let me provide a bit of background.

I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's 15 years ago. Ten years ago I consulted with a functional medicine doctor who put me on the AIP diet due to gastrointestinal distress. She did not diagnose me with celiac disease, but my thyroid antibodies skyrocketed when we reintroduced gluten after 6 months on the AIP diet. I have been maintaining a gluten free diet for 10 years. I have on again, off again gut issues, cannot lose weight, chronic vitamin deficiencies despite a diet focused on whole foods, and my thyroid numbers are whacky even with medication (my T3 is good, T4 chronically low, TSH low). My doctor diagnosed me this week as having celiac in addition to the Hashimoto's.

Again, I have been eating gluten free for 10 years. My doctor says there is something I am eating that my body is reacting to that has gluten and I have inflammation in my gut. I don't buy anything that is processed without reading the label and it stating it is gluten free. I know things like soy sauce, salad dressing, potato chips (I haven't eaten a potato chip in probably 30 years), roasted nuts, lunch meat, etc. can have gluten. What else?

Does Armour Thyroid have gluten? Kirkland Almond non-dairy beverage (doesn't say gluten free, but there are no ingredients that would indicate gluten)? Philadelphia Cream cheese plant-based cream cheese says it is gluten free but it contains maltodextrin, could this still be a source of gluten? If the plant-based cream cheese with maltodextrin could be a source of gluten, could anything labeled gluten free but containing maltodextrin still be a source of gluten?

[trents]

Welcome to the forum, @AnneBSunflower!

Can you be more specific about the gluten antibodies? Which ones were found? Do you have access to the report and can you post the results?

What is a "GI map"? How was this done? Is this a fecal matter test?

Are you still consuming oats? Even "Gluten-free" oats?

Have you checked all meds and supplements for possible gluten fillers or casings? Oral hygiene products?

Are you sharing cooking facilities with wheat eaters?

[AnneBSunflower]

I don't have access to the report and don't know which antibodies were found. I can email my doctor and ask her for it.

GI Map: It is a fecal, microbial assay. It was done through https://www.diagnosticsolutionslab.com/tests/gi-map

I don't consume oats-- because I don't like them.  I am trying to figure out if my Armour Thyroid has gluten in it. It is looking like a likely culprit. Tom's of Maine says that all of their toothpaste is gluten free. I share a kitchen with my son who eats gluten. Mostly, this translates to him eating his own bread. He eats my gluten free pasta and other items when we have a shared meal.

[trents]

Maltodextrin is typically made from corn.

[Scott Adams]

You can search this site for prescriptions medications, but will need to know the manufacturer/maker if there is more than one, especially if you use a generic version of the medication:

To see the ingredients you will need to click on the correct version of the medication and maker in the results, then scroll down to "Ingredients and Appearance" and click it, and then look at "Inactive Ingredients," as any gluten ingredients would likely appear there, rather than in the Active Ingredients area.

• https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/ 

I didn't notice any gluten ingredients in Kirkland Almond non-dairy beverage, however it does contain Locust Bean Gum. Some gums may cause IBS-type issues in some people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity:

 

 

[knitty kitty]

Welcome to the forum, @AnneBSunflower,

I have Hashimoto's, too.  I've learned some things that have helped with mine.

This study says it's common to find anti gluten antibodies in Hashimoto's.  So antibodies aren't necessarily due to gluten ingestion.  

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31149170/

 

Take a B Complex supplement and Benfotiamine, a form of thiamine shown to promote intestinal healing, and Vitamin C.  This study found a higher rate of thiamine and Vitamin C deficiencies in people with Hashimoto's.  

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37278003/

 

Try cutting back on the amount of iodine in your diet.  Iodine, even in small amounts, can stimulate the thyroid which in turn stimulates the immune system which increases antibody production.   Dairy and eggs are high in iodine.  Switch from iodized salt to Pink Himalayan salt.  

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9703374/

 

Supplement with Selenium, a mineral that helps the thyroid function and calms the immune response in the thyroid.  

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37033262/

Hope this helps!  Keep us posted on your progress!