Hypothyroidism and diet.

[NannyMcfanny]

Hello,
I was diagnosed a week ago with an underactive Thyroid. I have been taking Levothyroxine and still feel rubbish, I also cut out wheat to see how it would make me feel.
My acne has cleared up, but I'm not sure which has helped.
I'm not overweight but I do struggle to maintain what I have, I am 5'1" and weigh 8.4 stones. To maintain this weight I eat around 1700-1800 calories per day, If I go much over this I do start to gain. I excersise 5 days a week moderately.

My question is do I keep calorie counting and being strict? Is calorie counting just causing more problems?
There is so much conflicting information online.
I am also worried about cholesterol as I sm now at more risk of developing this.

What is your diet like?
Has being on meds helped you maintain/ lose it?

It's all a bit much to take in really and I'm feeling anxious anout it all.

I cut out gluten and really notice the difference (ate it accidentally the other day and felt awful)

I also take selenium and vitamin D.

I don't know about the dieting - haven't managed that yet

It took at least 2 weeks to see any difference with levothyroxine and probably 4 weeks to start feeling what I considered improved. Then upped the dose slightly and now 8 weeks on I'm almost feeling normal

Hello, sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I have had hypothyroidism for 15 years. I gained about 3 stone in the 6 months before treatment and have struggled ever since, so my experience is different as I have been trying to lose weight much of that time, and am an emotional eater which doesn't help.

From my own experience I do better in lots of ways without gluten, and also try to avoid sugar. From what I've read low calorie can exacerbate adrenal fatigue which is connected to thyroid problems in some cases. I tend to feel much better if I eat lower carb, lots of protein and healthy fats.

You haven't been taking meds for long do be kind to yourself, rest and don't worry - it can take a while to get the levels right.

Hi Nanny,

It's good to seek info about under active thyroid management as there's not a great deal given by Gps.

It's very helpful initially to get your head round the disease. This book is excellent and gives excellent advice about medication (thyroxine as well as anything that can interfere with its absorption.)

Understanding thyroid disease by Dr A toft. It's by the BMA so if you ever need to question your results with GP (ie you don't feel well and TSH is middle range) you can show the relevant pages, which are clear about needing a low TSH.

Personally gluten makes no difference to me, I get horribly constipated if a bit underactive. When we'll my digestion is great, though I notice it's best if I eat live yoghurt daily.

The first thing to do is to start keeping a record of your blood tests and results, partly so you have knowledge about your condition but also so you can track how you feel at different doses.

What were your results and what was the starting dose?

The half life of thyroxine is about 10 days so it takes a good 6-8 weeks to get it to the right level before testing, sometimes you don't feel great until a couple more months after this, and sometimes that test might show you need more or less. Also, you may have a partially working thyroid but this might slowly decline over the next few years meaning you need more thyroxine.

It's great you're exercising, it does help. Even though it might feel tough.

Post more after toddler bed!

Gluten may be a separate issue for you, if it helps, do it for now. Coeliac disease is another autoimmune disease that can go hand in hand with hypothyroidism. The toft book lists others.

Thanks for relying.
Theo and Roller, glad it's helped you going gluten free, I don't have Ceoliac disease but I'm sure cutting wheat has helped my spots as has cutting sugar.
I'm going to start vitamin D after pay day, I eat brazil nuts so hopefully I get some Selenium from that.
I do eat probiotic yogurt everyday, nuts, and good fats and protein, not loads of carbs but I eat plenty of potatoes and rice etc. I just hope I'm doing the right things and not making myself worse off.

Clarella I have cut out fluoride toothpaste and stopped eating the foods that affect thyroxine, that was quite easy!

My levels were TSH 11.8 and my T4 10.6 that was a week ago and I'm on 50 mg of Levo.

I had to ring back and ask for my levels as my Dr wasn't at all informative, in fact he sounded so flippant about the whole thing and just said to visit Patient.co.uk which was quite basic.

Should I stop watching calories so closely, I don't want to make myself worse, I'm eating more protein and getting plenty of fats. I don't want to gain weight though!

So much to think about and take in!

My nephew has coeliac disease, so I guess it could mean others in the family have sensitivities.

I've started seeing a personal trainer that is all about diet with thyroid. He has got me on high protein, high saturated fat and as much organic/home cooking as poss. Also stress makes a difference as your whole endocrine system is related.

Keep track of your tsh levels and you will see over time what your normal level should be.

Good luck. Xx

Thank you that's reassuring :)

Your dose may change in the future; thyroids can slowly deteriorate. I'm 5'2 and between 8 and 8.5 stone, 125/150 alternate day dose works best for me. I never put on much weight; in fact when very under I loose it as you loose muscle. When getting better I bulk up a bit then later on the fat gradually eases without hugely trying.

Base TSH on how you feel; if in 3 months when tested you feel much better and TSH is 1.5 that is ok for you for now - your thyroid might still be producing some of its own. However it's likely that in the future it won't and then you'll feel best at lowest TSH, certainly below 2, generally 0.3-1. It's explains this in the book I mentioned.

It could be worth asking to be screened for coeliac, but many people do notice a difference without gluten.

Of bigger importance imo is vit d, ferritin, b12 and folate. Do you know if any were tested? You should be able to ring the surgery and request a print out. These all need to be in upper ranges, ferritin above 70 at least. I've been very ill due to lack of ferritin.

I'd be kind to yourself about the calories, low thyroid affects muscle strength. Proximal muscles to be precise. Your muscles will be a bit weaker and we need the calories to help recover.

Health unlocked have an excellent advice forum, very knowledgeable. iirc I think one post once said don't cut out all the carbs as they are needed for muscle energy and serotonin. From my own martial arts training, yes extra protein is good but I needed the carbs for energy.

I think this is why it's so important to have good ferritin and vit d particularly; as both aid muscle growth and recovery.

Thyroxine is not a complete treatment, as explained in the Toft book. There will be times when you feel crap and need dosage adjusting, but it's then (I've learnt to my cost) that the ferritin vit d etc need checking. You are now entitled to free prescriptions too, as it can be for some quite disabling.

I think regular exercise really helps for the usual reasons, but also as it really helps you notice when you are struggling. But if you are, do be kind and ease up (I haven't in the past again to my cost).

I also find I'm more anxious when a little under - I think you know you're struggling.

It can really affect memory and from what I've experienced, working memory and the ability to multitask.

Also - you will need extra thyroxine if you become pregnant in the first trimester, this is clearly in the nice guidelines, but not all gps know.

I found joining the British thyroid foundation really helpful. They are the official charity linked to the British thyroid association. Both websites have good advice on them.

Thyroiduk is the other one too. I find it a bit radical but helpful none the less.

Link to proximal muscle weakness

patient.info/health/muscle-weakness

Thank you that's helpful, I'll be investing in few books I think and will keep an eye out for that one.

I've rested for a couple of days as I feel weak but excersise when I get energy which is late afternoon/ early evening usually.

I was tested for Coeliac the year before last and everything was fine. Not sure if I was tested this time although I was tested for tissue antibodies.
Don't think I was tested for B12, my Dr is a bit rubbish at investigating.

I'll look at that link too, thanks.

I was v interested in the autoimmune protocol diet and cut out gluten and cow dairy to begin with, think my tummy was happier. Endocrinologist was diplomatic about it and said some people found it helpful but there was really no evidence for any of these things and his advice was to eat plenty of everything!

thyroid was overactive though not under so don't know if that makes a difference

I thought I'd at least cut it out for 3 weeks and gradually reintroduce it and see what happens. I thought it had helped my spots but today I woke up with 3 new ones ????.