Comments for Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and Gluten

Dr Mercola Multivitamin
by: Anonymous

Dear Kerri,
Thanks for recommending Jigsaw Health's Essential Daily Packs but i cant afford it, it's so expensive but I have bought vitamin d high strength here in the uk.

Our family lost everything here in the uk with the terrible recession and we are trying to live on less than 75 dollars a week and
still keep healthy.

My dad is diabetic and he has
pains in his left hand side of his chest,his doctor says its only muscular.Dads listening to you and increasing vit d big time.

Regards Simon

Magnesium for Chest pain..
by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!

Hi Simon,

If your dad's chest pain has been cleared of anything serious, then it's very safe to take magnesium in addition to the Vitamin D. All of you may benefit from magnesium, too, since you are under a lot of stress right now.

Take a look at my Magnesium Dosage page to see how much to take. And a SUPER inexpensive way to get your Magnesium is to buy big bags of epsom salts for pennies at the drug store. Every night before you go to bed, put about a pound of epsom salts in the bath and soak in it.

It absorbs right through the skin and it may just help your dad feel a bit better.

Kerri Knox RN Immune Health Queen

Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Easy Immune Health.com

Hello
by: Nurse Jackie

Hello..

My name it's Nurse Jackie...I'm a NP/E.M.T I was a trauma RN in US army 160th SOAR Special Operation Unit..
I'm 50 years old. No family history of any type of diseases. Very healthy Do exercise every day. I start it a Gluten Free eating habits.
I had been a vegetarian my entire life..And i'm going to school for Integrate Medicine.
My parent both were trauma physicians,,My entire family and circle of friend ..doctors, dentist etc.Well rounded and multi task people.

People that work in the health care business we are the worst patiences.
I got my physical here and there..and 2 years ago i was diagnoses with Hashimoto Disease.
Plus i got a multi-nodular non toxic goiter..with fluid and hard cyst.

The doctor want to cut me open boy.And put me on medication and take my entire Thyroid off.Just like that.

I didn't have any symptoms until last week..I went to my 1 year physical except my endocrinologist .such it's more interested in me that my condition. Anyway..My serum levels are highantibody and i low normal TSH.

Anti-Thyroidglobulin 2623 IU/m
Third Generation TSH 0.782 uIU/ml
Anti-TPO 10.0

My endo said to me last week,because i got laid off, He refuse to do an FNA (Fine neddle aspiration, he said dont piss your money away it wont tell me a thing.Go and get a real job , get insurance and come back in 6 months if you still alive..

Well guess what.,,,,Screw him..Going to an alternative endocrinologist MD.So..I had been drinking non fluoride water and changing to Gluten free food.

What do you think?

I'm had seeing tons of unnecessary surgery's in hospitals and the side effects of medication.
I'm an open minded to other believes. Do you think it will hurt to to try for the next 6 months?

Thank you
Nurse Jackie

Can't tell you...
by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!

Hi Nurse Jackie,

I'm happy that you wrote in!! As you well know, I can't tell you whether not doing a medical procedure is a good idea or not or whether it will hurt you not to get surgery or not.

But as a Patient Advocate, if you are determined to not do surgery for the next six months and you are aware of the risks of that- then I CAN give you some information that may help in your search for alternatives.

First, there is plenty of research on the connection between Celiac Disease and Thyroid Problems.

I can also tell you that there IS research on Selenium and Iodine being able to reduce and to heal goiter and Hashimoto's. The one BIG Facts about Selenium and the thyroid is that you MUST be iodine sufficient before attempting to take selenium or it could make your condition worse.

I can also point you in the direction of doing some research on an amazingly safe drug called Low Dose Naltrexone and the many people that claim to have been helped by it (including Hashimoto's patients).

You could also make sure that you have Normal Vitamin D Levels, as Vitamin D is a great immune system stimulant as well as helping you in so many other ways.

Hope that this helped.

Kerri Knox RN Immune Health Queen

Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Easy Immune Health.com

Thanks for your help
by: Anonymous

I've been reading your posts about Hashimoto's and was wondering how long it took you to reverse it. Thanks.

Probably about 6 months
by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!

Well, I'm not exactly sure because I didn't keep track- and I was on a gluten free diet and treating my Adrenal Gland Fatigue for about 2 months before I found out that I had Hashi's.

I was also in the process of treating an intestinal pathogen called Blastocystis Hominis and the H Pylori Bacteria infection in my stomach about the same time.

Once I found out, I finished up treating the H pylori and the Blastocystis and went on Armour thyroid for about a month and that seemed to do the trick and my antibodies reverted back to normal.

Fortunately, I've always taken good care of myself and had been a fairly serious athlete most of my life as well as being extremely involved in nutrition and supplements since I was a teenager, so I think that the Hashi's would have been a lot worse and take a lot more time to get rid of had it not been for that.

Interestingly, a few months before I found out that I had Hashi's, I went through a period where I simply couldn't get enough of kelp. There is a grocery store near me that has bulk bins of toasted kelp called 'Sea Crunchies' that I must have eaten pounds of over a period of a month or two. I must have needed the iodine (and wasn't aware of the iodine/thyroid connection at the time) and I believe that likely helped.

Now, I'll go on and off of taking Nascent Iodine when the mood strikes me- and I always keep my Vitamin D Level high.

So, it probably took about 6 months, but it was VERY multifactoral and there was no ONE cause of the Hashi's. It was definitely a combo of adrenal fatigue, intestinal pathogens and nutrient deficiencies that caused it- as it does in most people.

Kerri Knox RN Immune Health Queen

Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Immune System

PS: If you found this website helpful, please consider using the
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Hashimoto's and bacterial infections
by: Anonymous

Hi, Kerri,

I think your site is very informative. Thank you for all the information. I first got sick 2 years ago - was under a lot of stress, didn't eat right, didn't take vitamins. I was very ill but no one seemed to know why. After 3 months I got better without medication except for some antibiotics which they gave me since they didn't know what's wrong with me and things got back to normal. I also ate a lot of fruits.

I'd still have days where I didn't feel good but it was once in a while so I thought it's just stress and fatigue. This March I got sick again and this time my doctor ran the thyroid tests and I was diagnosed with hashimoto's.

I had never heard of the link between gluten and hashimoto's but once I found out from your site I cut out gluten right away. I actually noticed that I started feeling nauseous after eating but didn't realised it was the bread since I stopped eating it and my nausea disappeared.

I also noticed that the pain in my knee has almost gone away since then so I think gluten definitely had a big role in me getting sick. If a bacterial infection also played a role how do I know if there isn't any bacteria left in my body? How do I find out and how do I treat it? Also when you have no more antibodies can you go off your medication if your lab tests are good?

Thanks for your time.

Intestinal Infections, Hashimoto's and Gluten
by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!

As far as being able to go off of medications, that will be a decision that you and your doctor need to make based on on only your antibody levels but also your TSH as well as how you feel.

Some people can eventually get off of meds, but in some cases- particularly severe cases that have been going on for years- the thyroid may have been damaged to the point that it's not producing enough thyroid hormone for you to ever go off. It is VERY individual from person to person and there is no way I can just say 'Yes' or 'No' about someday going off of medications.

Next, I find that almost 95% of my clients with health problems (and other practitioners who test them get a similar number) have intestinal pathogens of some sort.

I always recommend that my clients get a Comprehensive Intestinal Pathogen Test to check for this. I'm sure glad that I did. It found that I had the H Pylori Bacteria- despite the fact that I had NO digestive problems whatsoever- and in fact I can eat just about anything without problems so I was quite surprised that I had it.

Kerri Knox RN Immune Health Queen

Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Immune System

Reversing Hashimoto's?
by: DJ

Very intrigued by your statement that you reversed your Hashimoto's disease with diet. Were you on replacement hormones before/during the reversal? My wife has been on various drugs, first Armour, now Levoxyl and Cytomel, for 14+ years, and we wonder if it's too late to get some reversal. Do you think it might be possible? Right now we are trying some iodine supplements based on advocates of larger doses who claim the RDA is many times lower than what many people really need. We are doing this cautiously, 450-1000 mcg per day for the 1st month, will monitor her heart rate and TSH tests closely. We are vegans who occasionally use a little dairy (usually organic yogurt if anything) but sometimes "fall off the wagon" and eat junk, but less and less often as we get older and find it affecting us more negatively than it used to.

Have Hashimoto's & taking synthroid
by: Alisha

Hi!

So I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's about 6 months ago.. I am taking 50 mcg of synthroid. All my levels are normal, but I still sleep a lot and I cannot lose weight to save my life! I have tried so many different things and it will not budge!!

I just came across all this research about following a gluten-free diet when you have Hashimoto's. I am going to get a book today to learn more about how to follow one, and I am interested to see if I feel differently.

I wanted to ask you about the supplements you are recommending. I would like to try the Jigsaw Health's Essential Daily Packs, but I see you take a pack in the am and pm. Do you know if there's any danger in taking these with synthroid? And if not, right now I take my synthroid pill at 6am each morning and was told not to eat or take any pills within an hour of that. Do you think if I follow that rule, taking the pack at least an hour after 6am would be okay for taking the am pack? And did you take the pm pack in the early evening or before going to sleep? (Sorry for so many questions! I'm so interested in your research and exactly how you reversed hashimoto's.)

Also, was switching to gluten-free hard? Do you have adverse reactions if you have gluten? Or did you just switch because it was something you thought was better for you?

Thank you so much!!
Alisha

Yipes, that's a lot of questions...
by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!

OK. So, I reversed my Hashi's by eating not JUST a gluten free diet but also by changing my entire eating habits as well. I actually follow the Weston A. Price diet as outlined in the book Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats except that I eat fewer grains and fewer carbs simply because that's what I've found works best for me.

No processed foods, almost completely sugar free. ALL animal products that I eat are pasture raised and all dairy is raw- but mostly the only dairy that I eat is raw cream, butter and cheese. All vegetables are organic and local. I get them delivered to me from a local farm. I eat TONS of lacto-fermented foods. AT LEAST one portion a day, most often 4 to 5 and I make them all myself.

So, 'just' doing a gluten free diet is not likely to be enough because you can drink sodas and eat pastries all day long on a gluten free diet if you want to, but it's unlikely to help with your health.

I reversed my Hashi's, but I believe it was very early and that I didn't have any damage. Doctors weren't willing to put me on thyroid, so I ordered Armour from an overseas company and only took it for about 3 to 4 months while I:

Treated the Adrenal Gland Fatigue

Got rid of the H Pylori Bactteria and a parasite called Blastocystis Hominiis that I was infected with.

I did that while I evolved my diet. While I'm not very sensitive to gluten and can eat a pizza nowadays without repercussions, I choose to eat 100% gluten free 6 days a week- and as time goes on, I'm caring less and less about gluten, processed foods, sugar, etc and my husband and I are often completely disappointed nowadays when we go out to eat because since our food quality is so amazing, most restaurants can't match what we do ourselves. (continued below)...

continued
by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!

So, it's a process. I was lucky and caught it early because I got a comprehensive thyroid test when I became a Functional medicine practitioner and signed up with a specific lab that does the comprehensive thyroid test routinely- otherwise I might have gone years before finding out.

I believe that it's EXTREMELY likely that Oprah has had Hashi's for decades and even the best medical care in the world missed it. Just speculating, but I have good reason to think that's true. So, those of us who are diagnosed are lucky- although you don't need a diagnosis to turn things around. Just do what I did and continue to do and you'll stay or regain your health in most cases.

And YES, I continue to take a maintenance multivitamin and mineral supplement and Omega 3 fatty acids. (Alisha, I'm not sure why you are so overly concerned about taking the vitamins. Just take them with breakfast and dinner.)

Can EVERYONE reverse their Hashi's? I think everyone can stop the DAMAGE because you CAN stop the autoimmune process that is causing the damage. But if your thyroid is damaged too far, you're not likely to be able to get off of your thyroid medication.

Kerri Knox RN Immune Health Queen

Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Immune System
Side Effects

Reversed my hashimoto's by going GF
by: Cathie

I too reversed my Hashimoto's by going gluten-free (and also temporarily dairy-free). Within 3 months I had no anti-thyroid antibodies. It's been a year now and even though I have some gluten in my diet, maybe 10%, I'm still antibody free.

I also was good about taking vitamin d supplements last year though I've been more sporadic the last 6 months. I don't have any noticeable reactions to gluten, but there appears to be some link. My mom is celiac.

Hyperthyroidysm and Gluten
by: Carmen

I have been reading on your page that many patients with hypothyroidysm or Hashimoto's thyroid do get better with a gluten free diet. I suffer with HYPERTHYROIDISM which is the opposite, and it is due to stress and the immune system attacking my thyroid. Would I also benefit from starting a gluten free diet. I am not celiac, but I do suffer with bloating and gases after I eat a meal, specially something containing flour and sugar like a pastry or an apple pie or a sandwich or chocolate cake. I am taking Selenium but I really do not know whether I have enough Iodine in my body, I only suppose I do due to the fact that I have Hyperthyroidism. I look forward to hearing from you. Regards. Carmen

Yes.
by: Kerri

Virtually every autoimmune disease has, at it's core, the problem of gluten sensitivity and will at least be benefited or even reverse the disease process by going gluten free.

Kerri Knox, RN

Hashimoto and ITP
by: Bernard

I have had Hashimoto disease for more 10 years (Synthroid at 137 ug)and now I have had ITP (Immune Throbocytopenia) for a year. I have been an a fairly strict AIP diet for more that 5 months without achieve any change.

At the same time I have been diagnosed with H pylori and Blastocystis h and treated unsuccessfully for both (HP Pac and Metrodinazole.

With your experience would you say the these two infections are the likely the root cause of these two immune diseases?

Leaky Gut
by: Kerri Knox, RN

By definition, if you still have autoimmune antibodies, you have Increased Intestinal Permeability. And since you have infections in your gut, these are almost certainly contributing to your leaky gut. Whether this will 'cure' your leaky gut and begin to reverse your autoimmune disease, well, time will tell. But if you WANT to reverse autoimmune disease, then cleaning up your gut and getting rid of your infections is a necessary step.

So, since you failed antibiotic therapy for H pylori, I'd suggest you get my book

H Pylori Solution and learn how to get rid of H pylori once and for all. Since you failed treatment for both of these infections, it would be best if you just treated one at a time. I suggest H pylori first since it can be the most damaging, and can also contribute to ITP.

Kerri Knox RN Immune Health Queen

Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Immune System
Side Effects

PS: Don't forget that I wrote the book on H pylori. Get The H Pylori Solution today and end your struggle with this infection.

Iodine not good for Hashimoto's
by: Mela

Actually iodine is not good for Hashi's ..I did a diet without gluten for 2 weeks and I suplimented with 2 capsules of spirulina per day. And my ATPO rised after 2 weeks of diet : anti-TPO from 1600UI/ml to 2000(maximum is < 35) and anti-thyroglobulin from 160 to 200(maximum is< 40).

And not only that my antibodies risen, but my TSH had risen too from 0.11 in june to 52.3 in 20 august!!!
Event though I was taking brazil nuts for selenium(4/day)!:(

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