Any other Hashimoto people grain-free?

[hashi53]

In my exhaustive reading anything I can find on Hashimoto's it seems many are grain-free with the idea that grains can cause inflamation in autoimmune suffers, maybe not all but any way...I am eating buckwheat instead of rice or other nongluten grains I was using...my stomach seems less distended and that makes me happy...I have hated that pregant look for years. Will keep you posted.

[redheadaussie]

I went gluten free many years before I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's. At the time, it helped me feel better but only marginally. It was the underlying Hashi's not being diagnosed which caused MORE problems than having gluten in my diet. That is not to say, the gluten intolerance was fun!. The symptoms of eating any gluten were terrible! But the Hashi's was worse. In fact it was a year after stopping gluten that I really started to question, was it something else and not just gluten intolerance.

  Gluten free will not stop/cure/help the Hashimoto's. Hashimoto anti-bodies attack thyroid tissue and that is all. Gluten antibodies attack the intestine and that is all. You feel lousy on both counts as the antibodies are rampant and make you feel rotten (Think flu, your body sends out antibodies to kill off the bad germ, and your body feels like a war zone)
  MANY people who have Hashi's also are gluten intolerant, but they are not the same thing.  It seems the body when suffering one auto-immune disease sets itself up to not recognise the natural processes in our bodies. The immune system is very complex.

  I hate to say it, but my Hashimoto's (I had cancer and multi-nodules and large goitre) caused me to lose my thyroid. The damage was great and it was like a rock and too damaged to save. So even without the cancer in it, it was going bye bye anyway.
I still have high antibodies 3 years after my thyroid was removed.

  That is NOT to say that is the case for all Hashi patients. No way, no how! Some live the rest of their lives with their thryoids intact and do well on meds. It is highly individual, and no one should EVER read into one person's experience as the norm for everyone else.

  Eat well, live well, recognise the good and bad days and live around them, that's the life of a Hashimoto patient.

[hashi53]

thanks Danie...every time we share we start to understand and learn. So again, thanks.

[danie17075rm]

I have went gluten free due to hashimotos, and I was having an allergy to everything.  If I accidentally get glutened now I get really sick.  I have been going through a hashimotos health crisis in the last 6 months.  I would say that I don't think gluten free has helped the hashimotos, but it must have helped it a little because I barely take any of my meds now.  I read the book saying it was helpful, but again, I'm not sure it really helped me.  The people here are really helpful and can get you on the right track to taking meds and getting you feeling where you need to be.  Take care.

[hashi53]

I have been gluten free for years, even before I even knew I had a thyroid problem so it is not a sacrifice...I used to have red itchy blisters on my face and headaches and migraines and could not sit still and stomach problems and without gluten those things (except stomach issues) have disappeared from my life and I will never ingest gluten again.
I don't do alcohol, but hadn't for years so that again was no sacrifice and eliminating caffeine was no bigggee...sugar was hard but I have not had candy for six months and I was a candyaholic so that was hard...and so it goes...no soy, no eggs...and now no grains...and the distended stomach situation is better...so for me it works.

Getting late...good night everyone. HUGS

[ShelleyN720]

I have tried the gluten-free food plan a couple of times (short term) and I did feel better although I'm not sure (and don't think) the "feel better" was related to my auto-immune condition (hashis) Gluten is a protein founf in many grains that give dough & other products their elasticity. The thought that gluten free may be better for hashis people,is that the molecular structure of the proteins in gluten are similar to that of the thyroid tissue. The antibodies that attack the thyroid are increased because 60% of the immune system is located in the digestive tract according to Datis Kharrazian also known as Dr. K and explained in hos book "Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms When My Lab Tests are Normal?" I bought the book but am undecided about his medical opinions. It seems to be quite controversial on this forum - the gluten issue.
But you know, this is a journey to wellness and I like to read what others have to and consider it myself.
On another note - I thought rice was gluten-free. I used rice or quinoa spaghetti during my gluten-free test periods.
Something else I do to help alleviate the constipation that often afflicts me regardless of my good labs is using scented epsom salts in my bath (in addition to taking adequate magnesium with my calcium)
I believe that one of the causes of weight gain with hypothyroid is our sluggish digestive systems in addition to the metabolis slow-down of every cell in our body.
Also...scented epsom salts is a nice way to pamper ourselves - heaven knows we need those relaxing moments!
Now to get back to your question - I do believe going gluten-free or even reducing it, as well as eliminating (or reducing) refined sugar & processed foods do have a positive impact on anyone - hashimotos patient or not. Although I do eat gluten containing foods from time to time, I remain cautious, and try to not eat it on a daily basis to give my digestive system a break.
Not everyone will agree, but thats what I do : )

[LazyMoose]

I am not being condescending at all, we all learn here. I'm trying to help you understand. I knew very minimal about thyroid care when I was Dx'ed, still learning today. At one point a doc gave up on me saying I had Fibromyalgia, with there is no lab test to confirm. People here helped me, by telling me what I didn't know. I learned that my Hashimotos condition was under treated since Dxing 10 years prior.

It is very unfortunate that we need to learn about this disease before we hand our health over to doctors. Many people are not aware that is our right to get copies of labs. This is help full for you to have copies of labs.

Many, including myself, found the details of thyroid disease confusing at first. It can be info overload compared to what the doctors tell us. I am surprised at your doctors explanation on the decision. The nodule must have been substantial in size.

Hoshimotos itself, if treated properly (not many docs know how to treat all Hashi patients) is a livable condition with thyroid intact, not usually a justifiable reason for removal.

There are many details that help with feeling better. One is for your doctor and yourself to track your Free T3 levels. For many that is the answer to feeling better as many doctors do not even test this, as they might be un-informed them selves. Many doctors over look many solutions to treating  thyroid disease.

I do know someone with gluten intolerance, and gluten effected her thyroid hormone out-put. She does not have Hashimoto, had non-autoimmune hypothyroid from gluten. With her, no gluten, no hypo.

Peace also,
: )