Andrea endured a lot of health problems, never receiving any real answers from doctors, although plenty of medications were prescribed. Then she stumbled on the Wheat Belly lifestyle:
“I learned in 2005 (27 years old) after having my 2nd child that I was hypothyroid. I was put on Levothroid. I complained often to my doctor that I felt no different a few months after starting this prescription. They ordered some labs and adjusted my dosage. Still no changes. I still felt extremely forgetful, sluggish, unable to concentrate. Instead of losing weight, I gained weight very easily. This went on for years!
“I was never advised to change my diet, just my calorie intake. I was always made to feel fat and lazy by any doctor I saw. I was always told I needed to exercise more, even though I upped my physical activity and exercised 3 hours a week.
“I had eczema on my arms, as well as ‘chicken skin,’ toenail fungus, dry hair with hair loss, and always had red, itchy welts on my neck. I would get easily agitated. I always felt very tired and drowsy after eating. I have suffered from constipation and insomnia since I was a kid. These past few years my heavy eyelids have really bothered me. I also had miscarriages, suffered from infertility, and my ‘normal’ menstrual cycle was once a year. I have emailed and met with several doctors under my insurance plan since 2006.
“In November, 2015 I finally got tired of being tired (so cliché, I know). I went to the library and picked up a ton of books, one was Wheat Belly. The name looked familiar (I follow you on Facebook), so I read that one first. Eye-opener! I panicked. All of the issues I was having were detailed right there in the book!
“I immediately switched my diet, eliminated ALL wheat. No more eczema, I have energy, and I don’t feel like an exhausted zombie. My concentration and mood have improved. Eczema is gone. No more itchy red neck. The chicken skin on my arms and toenail fungus is nearly all gone. My periods are regular (darn lol). Constipation and insomnia are also gone.
“I’m 37 now and feel like the last 10 years of my health have been wasted, but I am extremely thankful I finally decided to take charge of my health. I have lost 23 pounds since November.
“PS: I stopped taking Levothroid and had my thyroid tested last Monday. It was normal!”
As happens every day around here, not only does Andrea feel different, she also looks different. You can appreciate from her story how inflammation from wheat and grains affected virtually every organ system: gastrointestinal tract, central nervous system, thyroid, reproductive system, and—evident on the skin and face—skin inflammation. See the typical “deflation” of her cheeks and around the eyes, leaving the eyes bigger?
One unusual feature about Andrea’s story: while wheat/grain elimination can allow the autoimmune inflammation of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis to subside, most people are left with a need for thyroid replacement, preferably Armour Thyroid or Naturethroid that provide both the T4 and T3 thyroid hormones, not just the T4 of Levothroid. Andrea says that her thyroid recovered and she no longer needs any form of thyroid replacement. Just bear in mind that most people aren’t as luck as Andrea this way and will need thyroid replacement to compensate for the damage done during wheat/grain consuming days.
I had my thyroid removed 31 years ago due to Graves disease. Though the years I’ve have been on the roller coaster of Levothyroxine, blood tests and finally was put on Armour. The last couple of years, I’ve experienced some stressful situations, menopause and low iron at one point due to bleeding ulcers. I caved in to going back on Levothyroxine. I think I dropped the Armour as I felt I was getting nowhere with how I felt and was blaming the Armour. I do need another blood test soon to see where my levels are and my MD is good about going back on Armour if I ask. I have read Wheat Belly Book and almost finished the Detox book truly believe some of my ailments are related to the intake of wheat. My question is, would I benefit taking iodine? Is it dependent of my thryoid results? Thank you, Dr. Davis for your wisdom and sharing your knowledge.
Grateful, Karen
Karen wrote: «I had my thyroid removed 31 years ago due to Graves disease.»
Dealing with thyroidectomy hasn’t arisen often on this blog. Here’s some traffic from 2013:
https://drdavisinfinitehealth.com/2012/07/an-iodine-primer/comment-page-2/#comment-50912
«I caved in to going back on Levothyroxine.»
That, as I’m sure you know, is T4 only, and is only a partial replacement for what was lost with the gland.
«…my MD is good about going back on Armour if I ask.»
That’s encouraging. One resource you might look into for how to fine-tune NDT is the Stop The Thyroid Madness site (linked in an earlier comment here).
«…would I benefit taking iodine?»
Based on remarks made by Dr. Davis previously, yes. But at what dose is something I can’t address. I’m going to make inquiries, and will post anything I discover.
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Does any medical professional recommend iodine supplementation? Present company excluded…..
Granted, I have no reason to (praise God) to visit a lot of doctors, but i was my MIL’s caregiver for 11 years, so I have heard plenty of doctor’s rec’s for everything else!
Even after being on WB I had some nerve impingement symptoms that did not go way with the reduced inflammation, so I kept digging on the www, and when I started the iodine supplement, it took only 2 DAYS to relieve these…..they have been gone for a year this month, with NOT one recurrence.
Greentree wrote: «Does any medical professional recommend iodine supplementation? Present company excluded…»
Consensus medicine used to know about this. It’s why table salt was fortified with iodine nearly a century ago.
I suspect all the doctors on this page recommend it:
http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/stop-thyroid-madness-ii/
And no, that site’s name is in no way overstating the problem. Mis-testing, mis-diagnosis and mis-treatment of thyroid is a festering scandal. That’s why attending to thyroid is frequently featured on this blog, and is a significant topic in the Wheat Belly books.
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I’ve been wheat and grain free (and high fat and WB carb recommendation) for about 3 years. I feel great, but started wondering if I was really at peak physical health. I felt that I should be somewhat slimmer and that weight loss had stalled for the past two years, but still down about 15 pounds from when I first started. I read and thought about Dr. Davis’ comments about resolving thyroid issues to achieve optimal health. My Integrative Medicine doc (sort of like a functional med) felt that I might be hypothyroid after a blood test indicating High TSH (just beyond the high range) and low T3 & T4. She had me take a battery of allergy tests, and suggested I eliminate those foods for which I tested sensitive for three months to see if my thyroid improved. I had already been off wheat and rye (which she says probably helped keep me from Hashimotos). . I stopped beef, onions, sweet potatoes, and coconut (yes, coconut–I stopped using my beloved coconut oil). After 3 months, my thyroid numbers got worse. So, I’ve been on a low dose of Armour (to be adjusted upward if necessary) for two days and will be very interested to see if I notice improved energy and weight loss. I feel like I’ve now done everything recommended (including all the supplements) by WB to achieve optimal health. I’d be interested if anyone else has had a journey similar to mine and what you experienced after starting thyroid hormone.
Jeanine wrote: «…weight loss had stalled…»
You’re clearly aware of the thyroid issue. Also look into any medications in use, and if you haven’t, attend to gut flora. All of these topics are linked from:
https://drdavisinfinitehealth.com/2015/05/i-lost-the-wheat-but-didnt-lose-the-weight-updated-version/
«High TSH (just beyond the high range)…»
Without knowing the number, is that a lab statement of “high”, or your doc’s? From a Wheat Belly perspective, a TSH over 1.4 mIU/L or needs further investigation.
«…and low T3 & T4»
Total T3 & T4, or free T3 and T4. The suggested tests are fT3, fT4, rT3 and TA, as well as oral temp on arising and symptoms.
«So, I’ve been on a low dose of Armour (to be adjusted upward if necessary) for two days…»
That you are working with a provider willing to prescribe Armour is very encouraging.
«…including all the supplements»
Can you list them, and the amount each day?
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Hey Bob. I do prebiotics as well as probiotics, and could probably cut way down on the probiotics without ill effect. I use those recommended by WB. Previous digestive issues long gone. I do the fish oil, magnesium malate, D3 as recommended by WB. I also take a multi (phyto multi by Metagenics). Per Dr. Perlmutter, I’ve added Vitamin E for cognitive health.
The TSH was something like 3.9 (not at home right now to check) and the T3 T4 numbers were close to or below 1.5.–at the low end of the lab perameters. There was nothing to indicate Hashimotos, but can’t remember the exact result or all the other numbers. She did a complete thyroid panel.
If I didn’t adequately answer your questions, my apologies! I’m replying via my email and don’t have your questions directly in front of me.
Jeanine wrote: «The TSH was something like 3.9…»
If the units are mIU/L, Dr. Davis tells us that’s suggestive of hypo, and worth looking into, which you are.
«…T3 T4 numbers were close to or below 1.5.–at the low end of the lab perameters.»
Again, without knowing what T3/4 number those are (Total or Free), it’s impossible to provide any real insight. The WB targets for Free T3 and Free T4 are in the upper half of the lab Reference Range. If they are Total numbers, they may not be meaningful.
In any event, you appear to be working with a provider who has some competence on thyroid, and the steps you are taking are apt to be the most effective thing to focus on at the moment.
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Thanks, Bob. I really do think I’m doing everything Dr. Davis suggests, and my doc agrees with his premise and supports my efforts. She also agrees with Dr. Perlmutter. The thyroid correction is the last piece to the puzzle. Even if I don’t experience more weight loss, I’ll be glad that my thyroid function is improved. In fact, doc thinks I’m very healthy (besides thyroid) and am at an appropriate weight. I just know that 10 more pounds would work really well for me.
I really appreciate your attention to details. You’re a good guy!
do we know how wheat causes need to suplement thyroid hormone ?
wrotek wrote: «do we know how wheat causes need to suplement thyroid hormone?»
Wheat Belly Total Health, page 244 (Chapter 11). Too long to transcribe here.
There are multiple factors. The auto-immune pathway has been discussed on the blog many times. There are also suspected direct effects of some of the wheat proteins.
And wheat is not the only problem with pervasive hypothyroidism. Iodine deficiency and pervasive endocrine disruptors are also major contributors.
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