30 Days on Autoimmune Protocol for my Hashimotos

Squamation

Links to specific information are cited at the bottom, correlating to the number in my post.

TL;DR – If you have ANY autoimmune disorder try the Autoimmune Protocol (1) yourself.
In 30 days I saw improvement in my mood, several symptoms, and lost 7 lbs (138-131) without exercise.

I’ve had Hypothyroidism for 14 years. 6 weeks ago it was diagnosed as Hashimotos. I saw Doctors regularly for the first 8 or 9 years for treatment, but would continue to have symptoms even when my numbers were “normal” and the Drs couldn’t do anything else to help I stopped.

5 weeks ago I found a Hashimoto diet out line (2, 3) and decided to give it a go for 4 weeks. It was pretty easy to follow. During the first week I found the Autoimmune Protocol and since how Hashimotos is an autoimmune disease I changed gears and decided to do that for 4 weeks instead.

Autoimmune Protocol is an elimination diet to help reduce inflammation of the gut and removes other possible food irritants. It is extreme but I had heard good things about it and decided to give it a try- it still gives a balanced diet and so I figured there wasn’t any harm.

The first week was hard and not fun- Constant headache, bad temper.

The second week was AWFUL- Still had that headache, more tired than usual, still bad temper.

During the third week was a changing point- the headache went away, I still had issues with fatigue BUT I realized I hadn’t been bloated for a week!

Week four I noticed that I started feeling good. Just a general happier and optimistic outlook on everything. I’m motivated again. I want to do things. On one hand it’s amazing: I love feeling this way again, On the other hand I’m scared of the reintroduction phase because I want everything back but obviously something doesn’t agree with me.

I would encourage anyone with an Autoimmune Disorder to try the protocol and commit to it fully for at least 4 weeks and judge yourself if it helps.

For those of you who have Hashimotos you should certainly try it- 76% of Hashimoto patients have lactose intolerance (4). And there is evidence that those with Hashimotos react badly to gluten too (5, 6).

So if it’s so great why hasn’t your doctor told you about it? There haven’t been many studies on diets and how they affect autoimmune disorders- “Dietary clinical trials have been limited by their inability to include a placebo control, contamination of study groups, and inclusion of patients receiving medical therapies. Additional challenges include accuracy of information on dietary intake, complex interactions between foods consumed, and differences in food metabolism among individuals. Stricter diets might be required to induce remission, and more sustainable exclusion diets could be used to maintain long-term remission.” (7)

(1) http://aiplifestyle.com/what-is-autoimmune-protocol-diet/
(2) http://thescienceofeating.com/food-combining-how-it-works/eating-with-hashimotos-disease/
(3) Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics- Volume 112, Issue 4, April 2012, Pages 588- Are There Foods that Support Thyroid Health?
(4) Endocrine- June 2014, Volume 46, Issue 2, pp 279-284- Decrease in TSH levels after lactose restriction in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis patients with lactose intolerance
(5) A case study of a wheat-free diet on autoimmune disease progression- Connor, Trevor. Colorado State University, ProQuest, UMI Dissertations Publishing, 2014. 1573038.
(6) Markers of potential coeliac disease in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis- European Journal of Endocrinology (2002) 146 479–483
(7) Gastroenterology- Volume 148, Issue 6, May 2015, Pages 1087–1106- Food, the Immune System, and the Gastrointestinal Tract- Food and the Microbiome- Diet in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

LKArgh

I am a little bit confused. You were diagnosed with Hashimoto's barely 6 weeks ago, so you are at the very first adaptation to meds stage. How can you know whether you feel better because of the meds or something else?
Do your symptoms match lactose intolerance or celiacs? And if yes, why have you not been tested for these?

LKArgh

Also some of your links, or rather your interpretation is not that accurate. For example, 75% of Hashimoto patients being lactose intolerant does sound dramatic. But if you are aware that 65% of the general population test lactose intolerant (and an intolerance in test is not necesserily an intolerance in practice), then it puts this 75% in a completely new perspective.

Squamation

aggelikik wrote: »

I am a little bit confused. You were diagnosed with Hashimoto's barely 6 weeks ago, so you are at the very first adaptation to meds stage. How can you know whether you feel better because of the meds or something else?
Do your symptoms match lactose intolerance or celiacs? And if yes, why have you not been tested for these?

I've been on this dosage of meds for 3 months. The diagnosis of Hashimoto didn't change the dosage as it's the exact same treatment as Hypothyroidism. The meds have never gotten rid of my symptoms during the last 14 years even when my labs were good, which is why I decided to try the elimination diet.

My doctor wouldn't give me a test for lactose intolerance when I suspected that I was months ago. As for gluten intolerance I never thought of it until recently and will be asking my doctor if he'll give me that test.

LKArgh

Squamation wrote: »

aggelikik wrote: »

I am a little bit confused. You were diagnosed with Hashimoto's barely 6 weeks ago, so you are at the very first adaptation to meds stage. How can you know whether you feel better because of the meds or something else?
Do your symptoms match lactose intolerance or celiacs? And if yes, why have you not been tested for these?

I've been on this dosage of meds for 3 months. The diagnosis of Hashimoto didn't change the dosage as it's the exact same treatment as Hypothyroidism. The meds have never gotten rid of my symptoms during the last 14 years even when my labs were good, which is why I decided to try the elimination diet.

My doctor wouldn't give me a test for lactose intolerance when I suspected that I was months ago. As for gluten intolerance I never thought of it until recently and will be asking my doctor if he'll give me that test.

????? The bolded part, I cannot follow.
Hashimoto's causes hypothyroidism. And antibodies preceed hypothyroidism. What were you treated for if you were not hypothyroid? How can you be treated for 14 years for hypothyroidism, but be on meds for 3 months and have a diagnosis for 6 weeks???

Squamation

I've been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism for 14 years and have been taking medication for most of that time. 6 weeks ago my latest doctor told me that it was Hashimotos. No one had ever said that before I so looked it up. I have been on this dosage of Synthroid for 3 months, I was on a different dosage previous to that.

editorgrrl

The only treatment for Hashimoto's (autoimmune thyroid disease) or hypothyroidism is hormone replacement—either synthetic (Synthroid or Synthroid + Cytomel) or natural (Armour).

Congratulations on improving your mood and the symptoms of your self-diagnosed food intolerance(s) with an autoimmune protocol diet, but that has nothing to with your thyroid.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypothyroidism/expert-answers/hypothyroidism-diet/faq-20058554

Although claims about hypothyroidism diets abound, there's no evidence that eating or avoiding certain foods will improve thyroid function in people with hypothyroidism.

LKArgh

Squamation wrote: »

I've been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism for 14 years and have been taking medication for most of that time. 6 weeks ago my latest doctor told me that it was Hashimotos. No one had ever said that before I so looked it up. I have been on this dosage of Synthroid for 3 months, I was on a different dosage previous to that.

Ok, so you were diagnosed 14 years ago, your last dr was the only who explained to you what you are suffering from? Makes more sense. Is this dr an endocrinologist? If not, find one. If yes, when you go back for your next appointment, which should happen within the next months if you just upped your dosage, ask to be checked for other autoimmune disorders, it is common to have more than one.

Squamation

aggelikik wrote: »

Ok, so you were diagnosed 14 years ago, your last dr was the only who explained to you what you are suffering from? Makes more sense. Is this dr an endocrinologist? If not, find one. If yes, when you go back for your next appointment, which should happen within the next months if you just upped your dosage, ask to be checked for other autoimmune disorders, it is common to have more than one.

He is not an endocrinologist. Seeing one currently isn't possible. The doctors I had for the first 13 years were endocrinologists and I never remember a single one saying Hashimotos. I specifically asked one of them along the way when I learned what it was and he said I didn't have it. My next appointment is in 2 weeks and I will be inquiring about tests for other autoimmune disorders.

Squamation

editorgrrl wrote: »

The only treatment for Hashimoto's (autoimmune thyroid disease) or hypothyroidism is hormone replacement—either synthetic (Synthroid or Synthroid + Cytomel) or natural (Armour).

Congratulations on improving your mood and the symptoms of your self-diagnosed food intolerance(s) with an autoimmune protocol diet, but that has nothing to with your thyroid.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypothyroidism/expert-answers/hypothyroidism-diet/faq-20058554

Although claims about hypothyroidism diets abound, there's no evidence that eating or avoiding certain foods will improve thyroid function in people with hypothyroidism.

I wasn't trying to say it would cure or treat anything- just that it helped alleviate symptoms from a disease I've been suffering from for 14 years.

LKArgh

Squamation wrote: »

aggelikik wrote: »

Ok, so you were diagnosed 14 years ago, your last dr was the only who explained to you what you are suffering from? Makes more sense. Is this dr an endocrinologist? If not, find one. If yes, when you go back for your next appointment, which should happen within the next months if you just upped your dosage, ask to be checked for other autoimmune disorders, it is common to have more than one.

He is not an endocrinologist. Seeing one currently isn't possible. The doctors I had for the first 13 years were endocrinologists and I never remember a single one saying Hashimotos. I specifically asked one of them along the way when I learned what it was and he said I didn't have it. My next appointment is in 2 weeks and I will be inquiring about tests for other autoimmune disorders.

Did he order an antibodie test? If not, and he labelled you as Hashimoto patient, this is where you run. And report him.

Squamation

Yes. He did order the antibody test, and that's what he gave the diagnosis off of.

LKArgh

Squamation wrote: »

Yes. He did order the antibody test, and that's what he gave the diagnosis off of.

And no endocrinologist did this until now? You definitely had some very bad luck with drs For sure then bring up that you want to be tested for other related conditions, it could save you a lot of trouble in trying to figure out what might or might not be wrong. Good luck

PeachyCarol

Most cases of primary hypothyroidism are Hashimtoto's. Simples.

If you weren't medicated fully, even though you were testing normally, welcome to the world of most hypothyroid patients.

All that is needed to properly treat Hashimoto's is the correct medical/pharmacological intervention, as was mentioned upthread. You can still test within normal range and not be corrected to an optimum level of thyroid function for you.

You need to find a practitioner who will treat your symptoms, not your numbers.

AliseM777

I appreciate your post and began an autoimmune diet and when I am strict- I feel so much better. My naturpath told me that there is a certain protein in gluten that Hashimoto's attacks and over the years (before I knew what was going on) I felt better when gluten free dairy free. But now I'm learning the types of food really matter and there are inflammatory foods that can trigger. My experience mirrored yours that often the medical field is not getting to the root cause or discussing nutrition. It's often prescribe, prescribe, prescribe. But it is way more empowering to be self sacrificial, learn what foods trigger not feeling well, and strive to make good food decisions. It's a lot easier to tell myself 'just take a pill and continue on as usual' but it's a lot harder to avoid eating out (because of the oils or seasonings we have no control over) and eat clean and cook meals. It sounds like you got some slack for taking the time to try to educate another way so I just wanted to say thank you and I concur!

Corina1143

@Alisem777
There's hope!
I don't know anything at all about hashimotos, except that my daughter has it, sort of. She controls it with diet. She eats out. But she has dealt with it so long, and had a good headstart because her grandmother and aunt (on her dad's side) both had (have) it and advised her, that she can usually avoid anything that might trigger it.