I wanted to reach out to see if any of the people on this board have any good information regarding Hashimoto's Disease. My Fiancé has just been diagnosed with it and we are both scrambling to gather information about it. We are both fairly healthy eaters and make most of our meals at home. Neither of us really bother with fast food, and mostly stay away from processed foods. Getting the jabs wasn't even an option for either of us and honestly my fiancé really doesn't partake in Western medicine for the most part.
We did find a great nurse practitioner that is in line with the Frontline Doctors that has been very helpful in helping us determine what might be causing these ailments. I am looking for any information that is helpful towards diet and lifestyle changes that might curb or reverse the effects of this disease. My fiance has been very lethargic lately (which is not normal for her), felt very weak (muscular) and had achy joints. She has taken a couple of blood tests, which have pointed us towards Hashimoto's, but I do think that there are other tests that might make sense to assure we aren't dealing with a mis-diagnosis. My fiance has noticed that she feels better when she cuts dairy products out of her diet, and sadly has noticed worse symptoms when the stress of her job is greater.
Any information that anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated as well as thoughts and prayers.
I appreciate this community greatly and how there are so many people that are willing to offer up education that they have on subjects or links they have that are helpful to other people.
Honestly, I consider this group of people to be more of my family and friends than those individuals I have grown up with and who don't currently see the world through a critical perspective in both social and political views.
Thank you for taking the time to read my plea for help. She is my world and all that I ask for in life is for her to be healthy and happy.
Hashimoto's can very often be the consequence of celiac disease, which is an allergy to barley, rye, oats and wheat. Actually, there is a long list of conditions that result from celiac. If she feels better off dairy...then by golly stay off dairy. My daughter was diagnosed with celiac in her late teens...that explained all the congestion she had for so long. I was able to keep her fairly healthy but it was important to find the underlying cause of her problems. She then had some thyroid issues, which were treated and today she is doing well. She said when she went off the items I listed, she never knew what it was like to feel good. In the 90's they determined celiac through a blood test but today I think they like to take a piece of the small intestine. Food (or any) allergies can wreck havoc on the body because the body is constantly trying to neutralize the substance that is causing the immune system to work overtime. A good endocrinologist is helpful when trying to find help with these things...my daughter benefited a great deal from their treatment. If she is allergic to dairy, make sure she checks all the topical stuff she uses also. With testing, you can determine exactly which substances in the dairy category she is reacting to. Once she gets everything fixed up, she will feel like a new person...it is just a process. God bless you both...she is lucky to have such a caring partner...
Thank you for your information. I have not seen any research yet that connects Celiac to Hashimoto's, but that is a good angle to look at. I have no doubt that the fact that all of your grains have been replaced with GMO options, has been detrimental to our social dietary needs.
I try to purchase Non-GMO grains, but it is almost impossible these days (although that does not deter me from trying).
I am glad that your daughter is doing better and is able to manage it.
It is I that is the lucky one, I can assure you of that. God Bless you and your family too!
Does your wife have problems with dark circles under the eyes? Dry, patchy skin on her elbows? These are common symptoms for many with detectable antibody levels brought on by diet.
If so, I highly recommend trying to go completely gluten free for at least a month; longer if she can handle it.
I had detectable levels of antibodies after my concussion. Going gluten free for a year sent them back to zero. Got rid of my under eye bags, fatigue, and skin issues, too. I still cheer sometimes for special events, but going GF fixed my Hashimoto’s « diagnosis. »
General overview article about gluten, inflammation, and thyroiditis.
More specific info about Hashi’s and gluten.
My original endo was skeptical to suggest going GF at first, but since it worked for some previous patients, she told me to try it, too. The blood results made her a believer.
You could ask her doc about Low Dose Naltrexone too. It can work wonders for some inflammatory issues, especially for thyroid problems.
And if she doesn’t start to see improvement on medication, consider asking if you can try either compounded T4/T3 or at least Tirosint for T4 replacement. The tablets have gluten and synthetic dye in them, and generics suck no matter what the FDA says. Tirosint is still brand name but has coupons, and is totally dye and GF.
Also discuss timing of medication if no improvement; my levels didn’t budge until I started taking my replacements at night.
Thank you very much for your information and links. I will look into the articles provided. It would not be a problem for her to go Gluten Free.
Thanks for taking the time to respond.
I avoid high gluten and a lot of dairy in my diet and I have seen improvement in my overall health. Too much dairy and histamines in my diet can trigger a hives outbreak all over me and severe sinus congestion. So what I do is make sure to have enough fiber in my diet and to space out meals that have histamine and gluten. I try to avoid also meals past six or seven oclock which gives my body time to process it all. Because of my health situation I have to limit caffeine consumption as well.
if I have to eat gluten I make sure to have fiber intake alongside and protein so I don't rely too much on gluten to provide energy and it doesn't trigger a hives outbreak. A lot of Greek and Italian dishes rely on heavy fiber and fish (and other proteins) to go along with pasta as an example. My family is from the Mediterranean so following a diet from there fits naturally like a glove to me.
Ironically I was watching Yogi Cameron on a health related channel years ago. And he advised those with severe sinus, lethargy or hives outbreaks to cut back or cut out dairy. That is how I started on my journey and he also advised that raw or organic milk is your go to when you do have dairy in your diet.
Eastern medicine is far ahead western medicine when it comes to diet and how different body types respond to certain diets. But I suspect the western world like the Greco-Roman civilization were aware of this as well. It is simply knowledge lost to time from a western medicine perspective while that tradition held strong in eastern medicine.
If my fiance had to give up caffeine it would be the end of the world as she knows it.
Her family also is from the Med.
thanks for your input.
there is a ton, one usually precedes the other and even if not full blown celiac definitely a gluten intolerance.