Graves Disease and Hyperthyroid and Celiac Disease
 

Graves Disease and Hyperthyroid and Celiac Disease

Has anyone had any experience with Celiac Disease and Hyperthyroidism or Graves Disease?

My youngest has been experiencing a lot of fatigue which I thought might be related to her anemia but was shocked when the doctor called last Friday to say he thinks she might have Graves Disease.

I did notice her reflexes were slightly hyper and her hands were slightly shakey at the doctors office and she never stops eating and only weighs 98 pounds. So, the symptoms fit.

She has been gluten free since March of 06. I was disappointed that this happened while being gluten free. I am wondering if the vitamins she takes might be encouraging this disease???

She was on asthma meds for years but for the last 5 months is medicine and asthma free.

She is taking:
Carlson Vitamin D3 2000-4000 IU daily
Country Life co-enzyme B-complex daily
Efa Gold Nature’s Way Borage 1000 mg 1 softgel 3 times a week
Nature’s Way Completia Prenatal Vitamin 1 tablet 2 times a day


Before GF in 2005 her TSH was 1.4 (0.35-5.5) and T4 was 13.1 (4.5-10.9)
After GF in June 06 her TSH was 1.92 and T4 was 8.9
After GF in Nov 06 her TSH was 5.4
After GF in June 07 her TSH was 0.01 (0.35-5.5), her Total T4 is 15.1 (4.5-12.0), her T3 Free is 761 (230-420)

I am wondering if giving her Vitamin D could have spiked this???? Her vitamin D3 at one time was 18 but is now up to a healthy 49.

How about Borage oil????

What about her prenatal vitamins with Iodine made with pacific kelp powder??? She is getting 75mcg’s of iodine everyday while taking her prenatal vitamins because of her low iron. I just looked this up. I wonder if this is the cause. (She was taking this as per doctor’s advice because she had a dramatic drop in iron, ferritin, and saturation during Celiac Challenge in 2006.)

She will get her thyroid uptake scan on Monday and Tuesday.

Here are some interesting sites people have sent me.

http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:...lnk&cd=2&gl=us

http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles/topsupplements.htm

http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles...oidism-faq.htm

http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/b...m?OpenDocument

Thanks for any advice or help.

OZZ

Hi there,

Iodine is what the thyroid uses to make thyroid hormone. A person who is hypERthyroid should be "AVOIDING" supplemental iodine - not taking it!

However, a person who is LOW on hormone (hyPOthryoid) may need iodine, but rarely do they need extra above what they get in their diet. When you see "thyroid support" websites, they are usually talking about a slow functioning thyroid, NOT Graves disease.

Iodine is also thought to be a trigger for Graves disease.

I've got Graves and I do not take any vitamins with iodine, no seaweed or seafood, no iodized salt. No energy bars (Power Bars, et al), Ensure or Carnation Instant Breakfast (et al), since they all contain lots of added iodine. Some sauces, cream, chocolate milk, salad dressings, even ice cream contain "carageenan" which is seaweed - it's VERY high in iodine. Same with Red Dye 3. All of those should be avoided by a person who has Graves disease (hyPERthyroid).


Here's more:

http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/..._disease/71571

How Iodine Contributes to Graves' Disease

Iodine is a well-known trigger of autoimmune thyroid disease. As long ago as 1956, Switzerland’s Dr. H. C. A. Vogel explained that the introduction of supplemental iodine to iodine-deficient regions caused a considerable rise in the incidence of Graves’ disease. According to Vogel, in Switzerland, once known for its high incidence of iodine deficiency, Graves’ disease was once unheard of. Vogel noticed many patients troubled by palpitations shortly after iodine was introduced. While the incidence of hypothyroidism caused by iodine deficiency markedly declined, the incidence of hyperthyroidism escalated. Vogel explains that it’s the unnatural formulation of supplemental iodine that causes the problem.

Recent studies by Dr. Nathan Rose of Johns Hopkins University confirm that iodine does indeed cause autoimmune hyperthyroidism in genetically susceptible individuals. Although few patients are ever tested for these antibodies, a significant number of GD patients have antibodies to the iodide symporter mechanism which regulates iodine uptake. Alterations caused by these antibodies may be responsible for the sensitivity of GD patients to iodine. Iodine also triggers thyroid antibody production since thyroid hormone contains approximately 67% iodine.

While most physicians now warn their hyperthyroid patients to avoid iodine, many hidden sources of iodine make this a near impossible feat. Besides iodized salt, iodine is present in many medicines, such as the heart medicine amiodarone. Furthermore, iodine is a component of most multi-vitamin and mineral preparations. Iodine is used in the care and feeding of animals, as a stabilizer, and/or safety element in food processing, and it is a component of food dyes. The richest sources of iodine include kelp, seaweed, iodized salt, dairy products, fish, processed meats, pudding mixes, candies, frozen dinners, “fast” food and foods containing artificial colorings.

Ice-cream and Horse feed
 

Thanks Boatkitten!

I was surprised to read that carageenan is kelp....my daughter eats quite a bit of ice-cream so maybe that may be an added reason she has developed this.

And the mention of animal feed...she just got off the phone and said she was feeding her friends 2 horses and dog for a week while they are on vacation. I told her to wear a mask...but I am sure this won't happen unless I go with her!

Thanks for the link, it is very helpful.

Ozz

I have been diagnosed with Graves Disease in the past. Now I know what to look for I realise I have had a whole range of problems that come from a non-diagnosis of CD. Things I thought were totally unrelated are now making sense. I had mine treated with medications and now my thyroid output is pretty normal. Someimes mu bilirubin is a little elevated and my doctors says, "oh that's because of the Graves Disease".

I remember being pretty shaky there for quite awhile.

Graves Disease and Celiac Disease
 

Hi Jocelyn,
Sorry to hear you have graves and Celiac. What meds did you take? How long have you had graves? When did you get the celiac dx?

My daughter is doing pretty good now. Her FT3 and FT4 are back to normal and TSH is still very low >.01 but it has only been 6 weeks or so. Her energy is getting better. But she did come down with Bronchitus or Pneumonia but seems to be getting better...I hope....she is in college and not resting much.

Llonghair I had graves disease some time ago and I am not sure whether the two were connected at all. However I have strong suspicions that it was. I was/am a complete bread lover. I think bread is by far the best food ever. However around 25 years ago I realised it was not good for me. Ever since then I have been restricting overt wheat products most of the time. However it is the times when I eat wheat flours that my digestive problems escalate. I never thought of CD as my problemis constipation, bloating and burping. I was thinking of just another allergy.I am asthmatic and I am lactose intolerant.
In Febuary 2001 I had a positive IgA blood test, but my doctor dismissed it as not worth bothering about. It was only recently that I tried a gluten challenge and now I am convinced.
As for my Graves disease it is now under control and I don't need to take any more medications for it. However my bilirubin levels are often higher than normal. This my doctor tells me is 'a bit of graves disease".

My daughter nr 2 had graves and it was discovered very late, in her twenties in 2000. But she had it way before according to symptoms, but she was never tested for it.
She the was put on antithyroid meds. Stayed on them for a while, and then started thyroxine too as the ft4 was low and SH was climbing.
Then three years ago or so it came back (some months after her doctor stopped thyroxine because of low TSH, TSH is a known trigger of graves...) and this time they were talking about operation or radioactive iodine......she did not want that.
I suggested she try gluten-free. She always had stomach problems anyway.
Some days after she started gf, she got much better and stomach pain stopped. Never heard about the graves again, the antibodies just vanished. She then got a diagnosis of celiac (with negative blood tests and biopsies) and is on some thyroxine (has anti-TPO).
The smallest amount of iodine in vitamin tablets make me sick. But many authorities say about 150µg does no harm. But it bothers me.

Go google for Elaine Moore, she has a couple of websites where she has a lot of articles on graves and autoimmunity and what triggers graves. She also often mentions on the forums she is on wheat triggers graves ans autoimmunity. She always answers on the forums. She told me she is gluten-free too herself.

nora

Go Gluten free all the way
 

Hi Longhair,

I have been reading your posts and hope you will read this. My name is Melania and I'm a dietitian. I also have Graves Disease. Not consuming iodine only treats symptoms of the Graves and not the actual Graves Disease. Though, yes, Iodine is crucial to limit, it is imperative your daughter stops consuming foods with gluten. THese foods all include baked goods, breads, pastas, canned soups, processed meats and cheese, almost all bread products. The foods without gluten fish, poulty, bacon, block cheese, vegtables, fruits, and dairy products, excpet no ice-cream.

If she is able to stop eatin gluten I am confident she can reverse her disease. Of course, have her levels tested. I am reversing mine and it has been 3 months since I have been disgnosed. I'm on Tapazole, 20mgs daily, but no gluten. Feel free to post if you want to discuss off-line, I am happy to assist your daughter and yourself.

Hi Nora,
I think I caught up with you on Elaines site.

Mlshanna,
Here is the lates info on my DD

June 2007
TSH....... ..Low <0.01 (r.35-5.5)
Total T4....High 15.1 (r 4.5-12)
FT3...........High 761 (r 230-420)
24 hour Nuclear Thyroid Uptake High 67% (r10-30%)
Diagnosed Graves although Elaine Moore said an uptake under 70% is more like mild hyperthyroidism.

September 2007
My daughter's blood work is back. The tests aren't the same ones as before but 2 look good. She is taking PTU 50mg 2x a day
TSH...........Low <0.01 (r.35-5.5)
FT4...........Normal 1.20 (r .89-1.80)
FT3...........Normal 3.5 (r 2.4-4.2)
Chromium....Low Normal 0.3 (r 0.0-2.1)
Zinc...........Low Normal 67 (r 60-120)
Selenium…….Normal 79 (r 23-190)

November 2007
TSH.......normal at 1.1 (r.35-5.5)
FT4........Low at .85 (r .89-1.80)
FT3........Normal low 2.8 (r 2.4-4.2)
Copper...Low 66 (r 80-155)
Zinc........Low 41 (r 60-120)

My daughter has been on a gluten free diet since (I think) March 2006. We did find she was getting some rye at the local ice cream store in late spring which had told us they checked all and it was GF in 2005. So this may have brought on the problem. Otherwise she is gluten free all the time but is away at school and is getting special chef made GF meals everyday.

The Endo only sent labs and said she needed to come back in 4-6 weeks. I am going to reduce her PTU to 25mg 2x a week and see if this helps. I will write more to you Mlshanna maybe on Sunday as I would like some help Thanks.
Llonghair

Did you research what kind of effects soy and tapioca have on thyroid? I noticed that tapioca and soy flours are used often in gluten-free cookies and breads. One of my co-workers, who has some issues with thyroid, is very careful to avoid soy, tapioca, cabbage, spinach.

Hi Llonghair
The ft4 and ft3 sure are low, and I agree with reducing PTU now at this point. You could always ask Elaine on the forum(s) and we hypos prefer to hava the ft4 and ft3 at least half-way up the range. (and not go by the TSH, it is often low in thyroid disease when under treatment)

Zinc is low too, maybe pyroluria?

nora

Notknown: Hi, haven't been around for awhile so this is a little late. My daughter goes to college so she doesn't get too much junk Gluten free food because it is expensive. She basically has a special chef who prepares every meal for her and it is mostly eggs and stir fry's and rarely a pizza. The college is pretty up with Celiac Disease and I don't think she is getting any cabbage, spinach and soy because she does not like that stuff. Since she isn't eating bread she is probably not getting much tapioca either.

Nora,
My daughter never got the pill cutter while in college so she continued on the higher dose and was tested the day she came home from college. It looks like everything is evening out.

TSH 1.8 (range .35-5.5)
Free T4 1.08 (range 0.89-1.80)
Free T3 3.6 (range 2.4-4.2)

Thyroid Recptor Antibody was positive 17% (range 16% or > positive)

Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody (TPO) was Extremely high 30 (range 0-3.9)

So this is definitely Autoimmune and goes along with the Celiac Disease.

She seems to be feeling great and the doctor said to keep her on the same dose....so I guess we will just keep a close eye on how she feels and her weight etc.

I did get some good DGST Vitamins and she felt 100% better pretty quickly so I think this will help with the zinc and copper.


She seems the happiest and healthiest she has been probably since birth. She just called from college and I asked how things were going and she said "Great I am having so much fun!" I said what are you doing that is fun??? She said, "I am writing a paper, it's fun to write!"

Tears....she would not have said that a few years ago...she was always so sick. When she was young 2-4 grade she was a good writer. When she got her period in 5th grade she started getting sick all the time and by the time she was in high school her writing papers were horrible and she struggled in school. Her grade average wasn't bad but it was not what she was capable of.

We get her blood work checked again in a couple of weeks so will keep you posted.

pyroluria?? Haven't looked into this yet.

Llonghair

hyperthyroidism and wheat
 

llonghair-
I am having the same experience, but have not figured out the solution yet. I am a 35 year old woman who has had lifelong allergies and post-nasal drip, respiratory issues, though not asthma. After having pneumonia this fall, I stopped eating wheat. The lung problems cleared up immediately, along with all of my hypothyroid symptoms, most notably constipation, digestive issues, energy level and excess weight. I had been on Synthroid for 4 years. I lost about 8 pounds, felt great for several weeks, and have been ramping down the Synthroid to none. However, I am now quite hyperthyroid. I am hoping that this is a temporary issue that will resolve when the excess Synthroid clears my bloodstream (it takes 4-6 weeks to clear out). But please keep me updated on what you find and I will do the same as it sounds like a similar issue....:)

Carly,
I had terrible post nasal drip year around that is finally mostly gone. I do have gold star Celiac. I also had mild obstructive and restrictive lung disease which I am sure is gone or mostly gone. And energy level....what energy level, I had no energy but pushed myself hard all the time so I did get things done once in awhile but now I really have energy and wonder how I even made it out of bed all those years!

My daughter was just tested again but I don't have the results yet. I will have her call and get them faxed.

I really do think she had maybe Hashimoto first because she had gained around 15 pounds and had a very puffy face. When she went gluten free she felt great for a couple of months, lost all the weight and then started the terrible fatigue. The doctor was thinking anemia because her iron and ferritin levels dropped so low during the gluten challenge so he put her on prenatal vitamins which of course have iodine. Between the extra iodine and her going down to our local ice cream parlor and getting a little bowl of ice cream that they said was GF and only later found there was rye in it, are the 2 things that may have triggered the Graves to take hold.

I will keep you updated and let us know how you are doing too!

Llonghair

CD and GD
 

Hi,

I am new to this forum and am incredibly pleased that my findings match yours! I have just discovered I might have celiac disease - after being diagnosed with graves. I stopped eating gluten and am already feeling better.

The graves trigger might have been the prenatal vitamin with iodine or celiad disease or... many many factors together over the last years.

I will be eating gluten free from now onwards, but would also like to find more nutritional support. Do you know of any technique that can work to find out if I have any food allergies - muscle testing, total body modification, NAET, etc? I am taking a multivitamin that does not contain iodine, but as you said checking the content of iodine in food is not easy.

Finally, have you ever experienced muscle pain? I think I have started developing as a reaction to the medication (PTU) and I was told to switch to tapazole.

Thank you!

:)

Hi,
I haven't checked in for a few months.
If I were you, I would read and ask questions over in about.com. Mary Shomon and Elaine Moore both talk about hypo and hyperthyroid. Elaine really helped get my daughter into remission. All her levels were good in December. She is due for another checkup in a month so hopefully she has stayed in remission.

My daughter always had bone pain but I think a lot of that is gone but not sure as she is in college so I don't get daily feedback.

You may need to eliminate dairy for awhile too to help with pain and inflamation.

There are lots of ways to get tests but not a lot of smart doctors to order them.

My husband just did enterolab testing to see what his DNA was and while at it, did the stool test to see if milk was a problem. It turns out that he has a lot of problems still even after being strict gluten free for 2.5 years.

I will try to make a list for you on vitamin and nutritonal testing.

Llonghair

This is going to sound crazy, but hear me out...
 

I know this sounds crazy because it goes against everything you've been told, but autoimmune thyroid problems are actually caused by an iodine deficiency. That's right, deficiency, meaning your body needs more iodine. Now before you go jumping down my throat, hear me out...
Your body has iodine seeking enzymes, they require iodine but only are able to get it when the iodine is present in your blood, this only happens when you have acheived full body sufficiency (1500mg for adults). Without the iodine being present in your blood the enzymes go seeking iodine, which concentrates only in your thyroid when you are deficient (the thyroid comes first) these enzymes tear your thyroid apart to have access to the iodine, this cases you thyroid to atrophy putting your adrenal glands in charge.
That's just laymens terms,my husband suffered from goiter and later hyperthyroidism, the addition of coconut oil helped to relieve him of the frequent anxiety attacks, but it wasn't until Iodine supplementation (as well as a list of other vitamins and minerals) that the other symptoms of hyper and hypo thyroid resolved. He just started the "high" dose of iodine (32.5mg) a few days ago and now his goiter is barely noticeable! He has been feeling so much better over the past 6 months since beginning the supplements. I have also noticed a HUGE change for myself (was also anemic as well as suffering from hypothyroidism, pcos, hirsutism... the list goes on), my mother and my kids. A few of my friends have started the supplementation and WOW they have noticed BIG changes as well. To find the info about how iodine deficiency actually causes HYPERTHYROIDISM take a look at *edit*

You will also be able to find my story, my husbands, my mothers, and my friends, just take a look at *edit*

Let me know if you have any questions! Hope you can change your life the way my family and friends have changed ours!

Nichole

***

I just wanted to add since you have all expressed that you've noticed a big difference when stopping wheat and/or gluten foods as well as dairy... Did you know that our bread was once iodized but now it is brominated? Bromide like Iodine is a halogen on the periodic table, your body unfortunately is unable to tell the difference and and will absorb whatever is present. Unfortunately, bromide is harmful to the body and actually causes most if not all the symptoms you listed. Fortunately, Iodine helps your body to excrete: bromide, fluroide (yes fluoride is bad for you) chlorine, mercury, lead, arsenic, aluminum... not to mention that your body needs it for whole body health.
Bromide also is in sodas as brominated vegitable oil, here is a link (scratch that it wont let me post it, *edit*
For more information you can check out *edit* that has the most information regarding iodine and the effects of iodine deficiency.

***

Iodine defficiency causes hyperthyroidism??
 

Hi ,
you know what I feel so lost with all this info. I have hyperthyroid and a bad case of graves eye disease. This just started on march 5th this year but it has gotten worse quickly. I'm from germany and when I told my mother what I had she then aked our neighbour a dietition whos brother on the other hand had the same thing and she said what you just said about needing more Iodine instead of less. After everything that I read i disagreed, but now I'm second guessing myself. Do you have more info on that?
Thanks so much

The assurances of iodine deficiency and iodine oversupply are overstated and could be dangerous. Thyroid gland production is not the only thing going on in Grave's and Hashimoto's.

The Hypothalamus and Pituitary provide the enzymes which the thyroid gland uses to regulate its hormone release. Shortage and oversupply of thyroid control hormones can leave the thyroid desperately searching for iodine which it does not need and cannot use. Iodine is toxic in excess concentration. If you supplement and achieve a toxic concentration, a thyroid with improper control hormones can harm itself from iodine shortage in spite of the excess iodine concentration.

You're playing with fire. Go see a doctor.

Supplementing with metals can also be problematic.

I was interested in what you had to share. I have graves disease and celiac. I would like to learn what foods to avoid.