Gluten Effects On Thyroid

[msnessa]

What is the relationship between gluten intolerance and thyroid? I have been tested for sluggish thyroid but doctors don't agree and I fall in the "normal" range.

Since turning 40 in 2002 and going through a divorce my hair has thinned, my skin is irritated and scarred, my weight is up 30 pounds (I walk 20 miles/week and do resistance training 3 days), I never have the urge to eliminate my bowels (only with enemas), I'm tired when I wake up, etc.

What are the possibilities of gluten causing these problem? I appreciate any input or suggestions.

[carrielynn]

What kind of thyroid tests did the doctors do? What were your results?

I see a thyroid expert (nationally known, written a prominent book, etc.) and he says I probably have hashimoto's disease based on how my thyroid feels and also a sonogram. He can't say definitively without doing a biopsy. I've been taking thyroid medication for 4 years. The last time I saw this doctor (6 months ago) I told him about my inability to lose even a pound and my chronic constipation and he shrugged and said my thyroid was balanced with the medication and that I may need to see another doctor about this problem.

I got tested for gluten sensitivity through Enterolab and the results came back positive for gluten and dairy -- I'm showing an autoimmune reaction to both. I have been off of gluten and dairy for 3 months and have experienced a pretty dramatic change in my bowel habits. Within 1-2 weeks of going gluten-dairy free, I went from really bad constipation to daily diarrhea, which is VERY unlike me. I had diarrhea for about 2 months and am now "regular" without diarrhea. I've also lost 5 pounds because I basically can't eat the crud I used to eat, and I feel a lot less bloated.

I think dairy may be more a problem for me. I tried going gluten free for 2 months last year and had no detectable changes. It wasn't until I cut out both gluten and dairy that I noticed the big changes.

So I don't know what to tell you. You may well have a problem with your thyroid that the doctors don't detect. And you may also have a gluten and/or dairy sensitivity. You could spend a lot of money and find out with Enterolab. You could also just go gluten/dairy free for 2-4 weeks and see if you notice anything. Report back.

[disneyfan]

What is the relationship between gluten intolerance and thyroid? I have been tested for sluggish thyroid but doctors don't agree and I fall in the "normal" range.

Since turning 40 in 2002 and going through a divorce my hair has thinned, my skin is irritated and scarred, my weight is up 30 pounds (I walk 20 miles/week and do resistance training 3 days), I never have the urge to eliminate my bowels (only with enemas), I'm tired when I wake up, etc.

What are the possibilities of gluten causing these problem? I appreciate any input or suggestions.

You sound like you have the symptoms of hypothyroid. If your doctor did the correct tests, you may be within the "normal" range, but it may not be the right level for you. If my tests results fall in the normal range, it depends if its "low" normal or "high" normal. Usually, I feel much better if my TSH remains under 2. Your doctor should be listening to your symptoms and not just looking at the numbers. Find another doctor if you need to. As far as the connection between thyroid and celiac, they are both autoimmune disorders and if you have one, you generally tend to have the other.

I have had thyroid disease for years and just recently found out I have celiac. The hair loss, weight gain, and exhaustion are signs of low thyroid, and also low iron. I have been gluten free for about 2 months, and the hair and energy have improved alot. Don't give up on the thyroid testing because you really need to get that under control.