What to eat?!

[Eebus]

I was diagnosed with Hashi's two years ago, and not one of my doctors mentioned diet.  I am euthyroid now, and generally feel fine (especially when compared to before I was diagnosed! )  I think I can feel better though, and I have just started to think more about an anti-inflammatory diet.  I understand why cutting out certain foods can be beneficial to some people.  I have seen that some of you cut out nuts which I have read are anti-inflammatory, potatoes which I thought were gluten-free, and bananas.  Please would you help a novice and explain it to me?  Thanks!

[Eebus]

Those scales mean nothing to me at all!  I dug out my last lab results, and, going by what you've said about the ranges, I see that my FT3's are on the lower end of the scale.  I shall speak to my doctor.  Many thanks again!

Ps I live in London.

[gimel]

We have had many members from the UK, and yes they typically have had trouble getting tested for FT3 and FT4, but many have insisted and pushed and finally prevailed.  I know that T3 is available, because we have heard from some UK patients that they were able to get it.  Again, not easy, but certainly worth pursuing.  If you will tell us where you live, maybe I can locate a few of those old posts.  

Regarding FT3 and FT4, there are many different scales used.  Here are a few.  

For FT3, I've seen Pg/ml, ng/ml, Pg/dl, p mol/L

For FT4, I've seen ng/dl, and p mol/L

I'm sure there are more, but you get the picture.  I think it is an effort to help keep us in the dark and not asking questions of the doctors.  LOL

[Eebus]

Thank you very much.  You obviously have a lot of knowledge.  I live in the UK and I don't know if T3 is available to all patients. ( I have read, usually on American sites that testing TSH only is not enough )  I also wouldn't know how to persuade a doctor to give it to me, as I was discharged from consultant care just 2 months ago.  I still have blood tests at my doctor's every 6 months, so I shall try to get them to check FT3 and FT4 and see where they are on the scale.  Incidently, would you mind telling me what the scale is for FT3 and FT4?  

[gimel]

Just being within range does not guarantee that everything is okay.  The ranges are far too broad.  Unless you want a long explanation, just believe me that the ranges should be more like just the upper half of the current ranges.  That is why we so often hear from members that symptom relief for them required that FT3 was adjusted into the upper part of its range and FT4 adjusted to at least midpoint of its range.  

I some of those symptoms as well when I was hypo, especially the bloated feeling and acid reflux.  After changing my meds to include a source of T3 and raise my FT3 level, the problems disappeared in a couple of days.  

[Eebus]

I have had free T3 and free T4 levels tested, and they are both within range as well.  I only have these symptoms after eating.  Other than that I feel quite well.  I have also read that hay fever is a symptom of hypothyroidism.  If my levels are all ok, should I not be expecting hay fever this summer?  Thanks for your help

[gimel]

How can you be at optimal level if you still have all those symptoms?  I expect that by optimal level you have a doctor that is diagnosing and treating you based on TSH, which just doesn't work.  TSH is a pituitary hormone that is affected b so many variables that it is useless as a sole diagnostic by which to medicate a patient.  At best it is an indicator to be considered along with more important indicators such as symptoms, and also levels of the biologically active thyroid hormones, free T3 and free T4 (not the same as total T3 and total T4).  FT3 is the most important of these because it largely regulates metabolism and many other body functions.  Studies have also shown that FT3 correlated best with hypo symptoms, while FT4 and TSH didn't correlate.  

A good thyroid doctor will treat a patient clinically, by testing and adjusting FT3 and FT4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  If your doctor is unwilling to treat you in this manner, then you will need to find a good thyroid doctor that will do so.  If you want to read more about this, try this link.  It was written by a god thyroid doctor for patients he is consulting with from a distance.  The letter is sent to the PCP of the patient to guide treatment.

http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf

[Eebus]

Thank you for your post.  I suppose that makes a lot of sense, although I have not been feeling well after eating ie drunk, dizzy feeling with indigestion and bloatedness.  My lips also swell up after eating certain fruits, and I get a very itchy throat, so I thought I would pay a little more attention to my diet.

To gimel - I didn't decide!  My consultants have been checking my blood every 3 months, and I have been at the lower end of the accepted scale for over a year.  They are happy that I am at optimal level.  

[gimel]

Read your message and just wondered how you decided that you were euthyroid.

[Barb135]

Many of us don't cut out anything; all food groups are important for good health, therefore, if you aren't allergic to anything, there's usually no need to eliminate it, other than the obvious, which would be sugar/sweets, refined flour, white rice, etc.  

Potatoes are starchy and can spike blood sugar levels, but that doesn't mean they are bad for you either. A medium baked potato with the skin has more potassium than a banana.

You can check out this site:  
http://nutrition.about.com/od/dietsformedicaldisorders/a/antiinflamfood.htm

You can also google "anti inflammatory foods" to bring up a bunch of sites.  Foods high in omega 3 fatty acids, lean protein, whole grains, fruits and veggies all are good.