Did Your Hypothyroidism Go Away On The Diet?

[emeraldskies]

Since hypothyroidism can be autoimmune and can also be caused by celiac disease, has anyone had their hypothyroidism disappear while going gluten-free? I am also curious if anyone has gotten hyperthyroidism while taking thyroid hormone for hypothyroidism and going on the diet (from the thyroid gland "healing" or if the antibodies were to something involved in the production of thyroid hormone).

[Guest nini]

prior to dx and going gluten-free, my thyroid levels were considered borderline for going hypothyroid but not enough to classify it as such... even though my dr. told me that they were changing the parameters on dx of hypothyroid, that the numbers could be more in the borderline range and still be hypothyroid. Anyway, at my first checkup post dx, my numbers all came back completely normal and that was only 6 months into it! Every check up ever since has had all of my numbers completely normal.

[KaitiUSA]

I'm sort of the opposite but I had Graves Disease(hyperthyroid) go away while on the diet and I never took meds for it. They are still monitoring it because it could change but I found that to be pretty cool that the diet helped with it at least for now.

The diet can help.

[Rachel--24]

I had Graves Disease and occasionally had to take meds for it. It wasnt a big deal to me. Then in 2002 I had symptoms that wouldnt go away even with the meds...I assumed the symptoms were caused by overactive thyroid. Since the meds werent helping I got Radioactive Iodine and went Hypothyroid shortly after. All my symptoms were still there though + I had hypo symptoms on top of it now. I started taking thyroid hormone and got in the normal range witin a couple months but 2 years went by and the symptoms never got better...I had every Hypo symptom there is...except weight gain..I was losing instead. I was increasing my meds and tests showed that I was taking too much and was Hyper but I wasnt feeling that way at all. I was still feeling very Hypo...no change in symptoms at all even though my TSH was waaaay too low. The first few days after starting gluten-free/Candida diet ALL of my hypo symptoms dissapeared...it was amazing. I finally could feel that I was taking too much thyroid and was able to lower the dose. I'm now comfortable, in the normal range again and without Hypo symptoms. I'm waiting to find out if I really have celiac disease or not but if I end up testing positive I'm sure it was the reason for my symptoms all along....probably never was my thyroid to begin with which is why neither the meds or the radioactive iodine were able to relieve symptoms. So to answer your question YES...my Hypo symptoms went away from going gluten-free and YES...I did go Hyper from the meds once I started the diet. I DO have to take the meds for life now that I dont have a working thyroid anymore but I dont think the Graves would have ever went away on its own. I had it since 99 and I always got hyper symptoms whenever I got stressed out. I know stress "triggered" my Graves & if I have celiac disease it was stress that "triggered" that one as well.

-Rachel

[nikki-uk]

Just curious-what are the symptoms of hyper/hypothyroid?

How often do you monitor your levels?

[Rachel--24]

Nikki,

There are many symptoms but here are some of the more "classic" symptoms.

Hyper symptoms are almost the exact opposite of Hypo symptoms.

Hyperthyroidism:

Heat intolerance/excessive sweating

Hair Loss

Heart palipatations

Eye irritation

Weight loss

Diarreah

Shakiness

Muscle weakness

Behavioral and emotional changes

Anxiety

Increased hunger

Increased frequency of bowel movements

Shortness of breath

Exhaustion

Hypothyroidism:

Fatigue

Depression

Weight gain

Dry/pale skin

Dry/brittle hair

Feeling cold

Hairloss

Muscle/joint pain

Constipation

Memory loss

Brain fog

Decreased libido

Slow heartbeat

Decreased sweating

Heavy menstrual periods

Brittle nails

Muscle cramps

numbness/carpal tunnel

Oh yeah...I check my levels every few months

[emeraldskies]

Nini: Do you know what your TSH was? A lot of doctors won't treat hypothyroidism if it is between 3-6, even though a healthy person has a TSH of 1 or 2. There may not be severe symptoms between 3-6, but it can still cause fatigue, low body temperature, and brain fog. But I wonder if taking enough thyroid hormone may actually be harmful in the long run and if a treated or suppressed thyroid gland won't normalize. I'm still trying to figure that out in myself.

Kaiti: Your situation is quite interesting to me because it shows me that an abnormal thyroid gland can somehow become normal with the diet. I have just been told over and over that thyroid disease is a lifelong illness.

Rachel: It seems like I could be going hyperthyroid from the medication as well. This is actually the main reason why I asked the question. I think I am needing less and less thyroid hormone. I always thought it would be better than hypothyroidism because you have energy, but the amplified anxiety and the nervous energy are no fun. Plus, my neck and ankles are wasting away, and my muscles have atrophied. And adult-sized clothing will not fit me. Low magnesium causes a lot of the same symptoms as hyperthyroidism. Magnesium can be lowered during times of stress, and low levels can increase susceptibilty to getting autoimmune diseases. I am going to do more research on its connection to celiac disease and will post the results on this board.

[hollybeth]

Since hypothyroidism can be autoimmune and can also be caused by celiac disease, has anyone had their hypothyroidism disappear while going gluten-free?  I am also curious if anyone has gotten hyperthyroidism while taking thyroid hormone for hypothyroidism and going on the diet (from the thyroid gland "healing" or if the antibodies were to something involved in the production of thyroid hormone).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'll let you know after I have blood tests later this week. I was borderline for hypothyroidism for a few years, then it became worse in January and I was put on a low dose of medicine for it. My thyroid levels are being checked later this week along with a test for celiac disease--which I am pretty sure I have. My uncle was diagnosed with celiac sprue at middle age (but had suffered most of his life--incorrectly diagnosed as a young adult with pernicious anemia.) He died relatively young-- in his early 60's--of lymphoma. I have been suffering with digestive problems for years and finally went gluten-free. All of my digestive problems have disappeared--I feel like I did when I young again (before puberty--when my problems started.) I don't know if having gone gluten-free will affect my thryoid numbers. I'll find out and let you know.

[emeraldskies]

I found out more information while researching the topic. Three of these abstracts demonstrate improvement in thyroid function while on the diet.

Leave it to the Italians to come up with this study (I think they have excellent celiac disease research). The main point of interest in this abstract is that subclinical hypothyroidism was normalized in most of the patients studied, as long as the diet was strictly adhered to for a year:

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This article shows that those with autoimmune hypothyroidism needed a reduction in thyroid hormone dosage after treating their celiac disease:

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Here is a study of an infant born with celiac disease and hypothyroidism. After two months on the diet, the child's thyroid function went back to normal. "Thyroid function impairment is suggested to be related with the active phase of coeliac disease":

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This website dashed my hopes of having my thyroid levels return to normal. It says that the anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies are associated with thyroid gland destruction if you have Hashimoto's, but not if you have Grave's. The last time I had my levels checked, I had high amounts of that particular antibody. So, being exposed to those antibodies for 11-12 years couldn't be kind to my thyroid. I will still significantly reduce my dosage of thyroid hormone and get my levels tested to see if I have any improvement:

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[Guest nini]

Emeraldskies...

To answer your question...

My TSH was 6...

my cholesterol was mildly elevated at that time too, but it is now completely normal

and to date since my dx and going gluten-free, I have lost OVER 80 pounds!!!!! I just went through my closet again for the 3rd time, and got rid of 3 bags of clothes that were too big for me. I donated my too big clothes to a charity that provides work clothes and makeovers for women recently released from jail or who have moved out of abusive situations...