My thyroid treatment is WORKING. Just look at my neck

Hi, all, I know I've been hammering this book: www.thyroidbook.com

and my gluten free diet as well as testing and treating for TH1/TH2 dominance in patients with Hashimoto's/hypothyroidism.

Well, since going gluten free and taking herbals to balance out my TH2 dominance, my goiter has shrunk. Please look at the pictures I've posted. I've got some ugly before pics (not too proud of the fact that my face swelled up and I looked like Professor Snape from Harry Potter) and now a pic I took today where my neck looks normal again. My facial swelling is gradually subsiding as well.

http://www.medhelp.org/user_photos/show/136782

:) Tamra

[Super_sally888]

Hi TamraW,

that's wonderful news.

I personally also believe that gluten plays havoc on our thryoids and am also doing gluten free (finally).  But no good results to report yet..... Was hoping it would help on the weight loss front.

S

[TamraW]

I've only lost five pounds, but, alas, I've been experimenting with breads, cakes and pancakes that are gluten free. I suppose if I'd cut out the carbs, then I'd lose more weight. LOL.

I begin the Clearvite diet next week. Read www.thyroidbook.com about this diet which cleanses the gut. Cleansing the gut and eliminating the toxins is the first line of defense in defeating thyroid disease.

I will be on the diet for 24 days. No home baked breads, etc. So I'm pretty sure I will lose more weight. I get to drink two gluten free protein shakes per day (I've already tried them, and they are DELICIOUS), plus healthy snacks and fish or lean, organic chicken salads, grilled, and plenty of veggies. I won't be hungry, just eating  healthy. My other friends have lost about 10-15 pounds on this diet.

:) Tamra

[TamraW]

BTW - This is my AMAZING new doctor. He will be treating my adrenals after my saliva tests come back in three weeks.

http://www.drcharleswebb.com/doctor/chiropractor/8L/san-antonio-chiropractor/Contact-Us.htm

:) Tamra

[magpieannie]

That's remarkable! Does your San Antonio Doc. have any associates in the Dallas/Ft.Worth area?

[TamraW]

There are doctors in Dallas that practice Dr. K's method. I had their names at one time and can't find the list. Go here and type your email and your city. Tell them you want a doc who treats Hashimoto's. This is what I did and Dr. K. sent me Dr. Webb's contact info:

http://www.thyroidbook.com/contact-and-clinic-info.html

:) Tamra

[TamraW]

BTW - These docs treat more than just Hashimoto's. I was sitting in Dr. Webb's office yesterday by this woman who was probably in her 50s. She looked remarkable and healthy with long graying hair. She said that she began having periods again since seeing Dr. Webb. She was pleased because she said she was drying up and becoming wrinkly from menopause.

Another woman sitting next to me said she was taken off her diabetes meds. These doctors treat the WHOLE body. They begin with the gut, spine and nervous system, changing eating habits and introducing proper exercise, and everything else falls into place.:)

They only make you exercise 40 minutes, three times a week, and most of it is strength training. Weight lifting actually burns more fat than aerobics if done correctly.

Tamra

[Super_sally888]

Sounds like you've hit Jackpot with your new doctor.

I am going to check out the book for the diet.  I'm not in US so can't make sue of these doctors.

[LazyMoose]

Tamra, what you have found out is interesting.

I know someone (female) that was hypothyroid per labs (but not Hashis) and improved (symptoms and labs) from going gluten free, weight too. She was gluten intolerant but never took a celiac test - should have.

So yes, people that cant digest gluten can have hypothyroid as a result. Sound like this is your case, but you also additionally have Hashimoto.

Lets look at this from another angle: So, in a way, you might look at it as two separate issues, hypo from Hashis, and additional hypo from gluten. If your still dropping thyroid dose down the road, would be beneficial to check antibodies again - I'm sure you thought about that already.

Several books that say gluten can be the reason for raised antibodies in some people, (possible, I suppose, we dont really know do we?), now you can test this theory for the community!

Back three years ago on my seventh year on T4 only med, I went gluten free for three months. This was to improve digestion and calm my night acid reflux, improve gut PH ect., and improve gut bacterial saliva test. I felt better digestively. My thyroid levels, or med requirements did not change though. When I finally added T3 to the mix, that was the final fix for healthy digesting for me.

I still never eat 100% white bread anymore. It will make a morning saliva test go haywire too, a sign of whats going on in your stomach. For pasta I buy gluten free Tinkyda - its gaining popularity in chain stores, getting cheaper, and is better tasting than regular past I think. You dont get that after pasta meal 'fullness' either - (that bloated, dead raccoon on the shoulder of the road feeling)! Tried other brands of gluten free pasta - threw them away too! Tinkyda brand is by far the best.

I do still eat other gluten. I'm a granola bar junkie. And granola bars are bad for you I will admit. Gluten grains adhered together by corn syrup. It is important for all to experiment with their gluten tolerance level. We are what we eat. Sad but true.

[alfonsina]

I am glad the diet is working for you. I tried the diet dr. Kharrazian suggests in his book. The cleansing gut one.

I started two weeks ago. I lost two pounds which was good but not my objective.

After a week on that I felt pretty good ( less bloating), but at the beginning of the second week I started to feel very hypo, then hyper and then super hypo again.

Do not know what hapened but I crashed. By the 7th day I decided I had to eat gluten because I was having some kind of absortion problem. I started gluten and had stomach pain and bloading but I gained energy and headacke got better.

I am still not consuming eggs, daily, yeast and corn. I am just concerned about my calcium  intake.

I had bloodwork these days and I will see my doctor next week.

Is it difficult to get a gluten intolerance test? (difficult to perform or get accurate results?)

I still do not know if the problem was caused due to the dose I am taking or the gluten free diet. I do not have hashis.

[LazyMoose]

"Is it difficult to get a gluten intolerance test?"

- There is no such test. 'Gluten intollerance' is a non medical term for the 'gray area' between true celiac disease and people that have no issues with Gluten.

A Celiac disease test, shows that you have a definite reaction of a certain level to gluten. - its a simple blood draw test like thyroid, easy, I took it years ago.

But to be ACCURATE YOU HAVE TO HAVE HAD GLUTEN IN YOUR DIET. If you go gluten free and then get a celiac test, its inaccurate and pointless. So many that have discovered gluten does not agree with them have to purposely eat gluten for a few weeks, then take the test. Point: If gluten gives a person stomach pain (not bloating, but PAIN), they most likely have Celiacs disease.

So this is like adrenal testing. You can be in the 'gray area' with symptoms, but look ok on tests.

[Galsal59]

so bloating would be intolerance.  quite interesting.  do have to believe removing gluten could be so very helpful to large numbers of people since I know that removing white foods and sugar from my diet allowed me to feel loads better from the Fibromyalgia and Arthritis.  

will have to look this up, how to go about eating gluten free.  

[dawnangela]

To get a true dx of celiacs disease, you need a biopsy of the lining of your stomach..well they do that in oz:)

[LazyMoose]

Yes, that is the next step here too if the blood test is found positive. Its re-confirmation.

With true celiac, the inner lining of the small intestines are disturbed. The micro villi, (spelling), are essentially destroyed from a type of antibody attacking the the wall lining where traces of gluten have been. That is how Celiac is another autoimmune disorder - antibodies are present. And under 5% of 'thyroidians' have this.

Galsa:

This link doesn't really take account the difference between intolerance and celiac disease (they are different), so that part is not very accurate (i'm surprised). The rest is good.

http://thyroid.about.com/cs/latestresearch/a/celiac.htm

[alfonsina]

It is the constant bloading, gases and discomfort that made me think there was something related to gluten (or milk). I am aware that celiac causes pain, but I still think there is something on my diet causing the trouble. I feel wonderful when I starve myself.

I guess you are saying intolerance to gluten has milder symptoms than celiac.

I will ask for that test (bloodwork) you mentioned.

[LazyMoose]

It can be other foods / issues in your case as well.

A few moths back here there was a gluten thread, with info on digestive bacterial overgrowth - common with people that are still hypo. Goggle it, and the morning spit test. Gluten can cause that as well, as it tends to 'stick' to the small intestine wall. And many feel better eliminating dairy milk. You need to experiment.

[TamraW]

In order for your antibodies to go down, giving up gluten alone might not always work. You should also be tested and treated for Th1 and TH2 dominance and also consider other potential causes: caffeine, soy, dairy, caesin (sp?), corn, refined sugar...

I had the Celiac panel and tested negative, but I sure feel better without gluten.

I totally agree with you on the T3 thing. What a difference!

:) Tamra

[TamraW]

I wouldn't do the diet Dr. K. recommended without getting the supplements I need from a qualified doctor. My doctor treats according to Dr. K's methods, but you may not have one in your area.

Some of the bloating could also be yeast. See link:

http://www.coconutdiet.com/candida.htm

I started with a tablespoon of coconut oil each night. Now it's two per day. For the past three weeks, my stomach has been very upset and bloated. I had no idea why, and then it dawned on me that I forgot my coconut oil. Hubby had a bloated stomach, too. We started back on the coconut oil and stomach issues are gone. It also works for mouth thrush.
:) Tamra