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 Summary of Hypothyroidism and Celiac
 First I would like to say that I am sorry this has taken so long to post a summary.  I have been so sick this week, that I should have been in the hospital, but didn’t even have enough strength to be able to call the doctor to tell him everything that is wrong with me.  I feel worse now just starting on the Synthroid, than I did before taking the medicine.  Anyway, I would like to thank everyone who responded.  Your answers were very helpful.

 Over 30 people said it is very common to have a thyroid problem and Celiac.  Many people responded that both hypothyroidism and celiac are autoimmune diseases and that it is very common for people with one autoimmune disease to have another autoimmune disease.  Many people mentioned having hypothyroid, celiac, and arthritis.  I was also told that all autoimmune disorders are related to each other. 


Medication most talked about were: (All of the medicines were gluten free)

Synthroid - 17 (Synthroid is gluten free, corn free, diary, free, yeast free)

Armour – 4  (lactose free)

Levoxyl – 3

levothyroxine--specific product names include synthroid and, levothroid) 

Lyvothoid 

Thyrolar

Synthroid is the most commonly prescribed by doctors, but it does not contain both T4 and T3.  It only contains T4.  Others have both have T3 and T4.  

 Most people responded that it will take a while to get the medicine adjusted.  But once you get the right amount you will start feeling better.  You will have to be rechecked often.  Many indicated it could take anywhere from 2 weeks to 8 weeks and a couple said up to 4 months to get the right dosage.  Once you get the right amount you will need to be rechecked anywhere from every 6 months to every year.  Most people said that the medications have improved the quality of their life greatly once the medication had been regulated.   Once on the medicine you should feel less tired as well as it could help some other problems (weight gain, female hormone problems, sensitivity to cold, dry hair are some).  Plus, the thyroid keeps dying so the meds have to keep being changed so it is important to have regular blood tests as dosage needs may change throughout your life.  It was also indicated that hypothyroidism hits women more often than men.  

 Several recommended reading a book called  *Living Well with Hypothyroidism*
by Mary Shomon, a thyroid patient and journalist.   Another one of her books that was recommended is "Living well with Autoimmune Disease" which has symptoms and treatments of various autoimmune diseases and which ones are related.  

 Some of the websites that were recommended were:

www.thyroidpower.com. 

http://thyroid.about.com/library/weekly/aanewTSHrange.htm 
http://www.thyroid-info.com/topdrs/
http://thyroid.about.com/blthyroid.htm

About.com

Go to google and look up Mary Shoman's About Thyroid website- it's a good place to start. 

http://forums.delphiforums.com/celiac/start


Below are some of the very helpful comments that were sent:

 I have CD & hypothyroidism. I just take Cytomel and Levoxyl every day and
get my blood checked every 6 months to see if my meds need to be upped.  If
you don't respond to Levoxyl / Synthroid or whatever they prescribe, you
might want to inquire about adding Cytomel.  If I recall correctly it's T3
which converts into T4, but sometimes it helps people feel better to have
the T3 (Cytomel) in addition to the T4 (Levoxyl).  

 The treatment for hypothyroidism is primarily replacement/supplementation of
the thyroid hormone/s. The hormone T4 alone is the standard treatment, but
some people feel better adding T3 as well, although some doctors discourage
it.  (A controversy surrounds T3; some say it depletes the bones of
calcium/leads to osteoporosis.  Others dispute this.  I think I felt better
when on it, but now don't know that it's worth the added risk of bone loss,
with the CD inclination toward that problem, anyway.)

There are some alternative treatments, foods that help the thyroid function,
foods that hinder it, etc


I highly recommend you start reading everything you can get your hands on
about this disease.  Thyroid treatment can make or break your health.  I
highly recommend LIVING WELL WITH HYPOTHYROIDISM by Mary Shomon.  This
book covers the subject from both a conventional and alternative
standpoint.  She offers many different views on treatment of this very
debilitating disease.  She will introduce you to the theories & practices
of some of the most successful thyroid doctors in the world.  I employed
just a few simple changes I found recommended in this book to my thyroid
regimen & the difference is SUBSTANTIAL.  

Here's some tips that have worked for me.  These are also discussed in
her book.

(1) If you feel worse on thyroid it can be because your adrenal glands
are also impaired & need a little boost to help you get through
introducing normal levels of thyroid hormone to your previously thyroid
deficient body.  When you first start thyroid, your tired out adrenals
over react & do horrid things to you causing palpitations,  anxiety,
muscle cramps, hypoglycemia, etc.  You can boost your adrenals glands by
taking a product designed to support adrenal health.  I like Stress EZE
by Pheonix Nutritionals, but there are others good adrenal support
supplements available both on line & in naturopathic dispensaries &
health food stores.  Look for the following ingredients:  adrenal
extract, vitamin C, thiamin, riboflavin & other B vitamins, perhaps zinc
& magnesium.  For me this product made a dramatic difference in my well
being when I first started thyroid.  Before I started this natural
product, I was too sick to go out alone.  I suffered heart palpitations,
panic attacks, severe hypoglycemia symptoms, collapse & fainting spells,
etc.  My doctor had me on cardiac medications & tranquilizers to help
control the symptoms.  (These are potent & harsh medications with many
side effects.)  The Stress EZE enabled me to stop these medications &
tolerate getting my thyroid dose up to a normal level.  And, the Stress
EZE has no side effects.  (There are other adrenal support products out
there.  Experiment around until you find one that helps you.)

(2) Divide your thyroid dose & take half in the AM and half in the PM and
always take thyroid (and adrenal extract) on an empty stomach (30 to 60
minutes before a meal).  This really helped even out the highs & lows.  

(3) Fire you doctor if his treatment of hypothyroidism fails to help you
feel better.  Don't accept it if he says, "If you're still feeing bad,
it's not your thyroid because your blood levels are NORMAL."  Most
doctors don't even know what normal thyroid levels are.  The levels
considered "normal" have recently changed so that most hypothyroid
patients are actually undertreated & need more thryroid hormone in order
to be well.  Print out this article & show it to your physician:  
http://thyroid.about.com/library/weekly/aanewTSHrange.htm  If he refuses
to read it, acknowledge it & adjust your treatment accordingly, FIRE HIM!
 Get a more progressive doctor who will treat you completely until you
are living well.

(4)  Visit the top thyroid docs website & find a good doc in your area. 
That's what I did & it has paid off for me.
http://www.thyroid-info.com/topdrs/

(5) Stay off soy & raw cabbage & brocolli.  It's known to damage the
thyroid gland

 One thought, not worth a penny:  Hyper- and Hypo- thyroidism hits women
harder and more often than men, but not much is known about this
condition. Too much time and attention on AIDS and Viagra.  If it had
been my thyroid, I would have tried some alternative therapy --vitamins,
"juicing," exercise; hell, acupuncture,if I thought it would help--for a
while in the hopes that something worked.  I could always fall back on
traditional medicine.  I am not a doctor; talk with your health care
provider and see what traditional and non traditional treatments are
available.


I was on a diet very high in soy for a few years before my Hypothyroidism was diagnosed. There have been many researched connections between consumption of soy and thyroid problems.

 NEVER take your thyroid pill with other pills...or just before or after eating.   It is recommended you take it one half hour to one hour before breakfast.   And never, NEVER with a calcium pill. 

I usually set mine out at night and during one of my bathroom runs during the middle of the night, I take it.   


And you might find taking thyroid drugs help you to feel less tired, less itchy, dry skin, and less cold feeling (if those are some of your symptoms)

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