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Dear Ann Glanders: Week of August 15th, 2011
Gather around everyone, I want to share with you some symptoms that may sound familiar to you, but might surprise you as to what the cause is.
Do these symptoms sound familiar:
- Intestinal difficulties
- Recurring abdominal bloating and pain
- Nausea
- Anemia
- Gas
- Tingling numbness in the legs
- Sores inside the mouth
- Painful skin rash on elbows, knees, and buttocks
- Cramping
- Hives
- Joint/muscle pains and aches
- Diarrhea and constipation?
Have you ever heard of Celiac Sprue Disease? Did you know a significant number of patients with autoimmune thyroid disease also have celiac diseases? This is research reported in the medical journal Digestive Diseases and Sciences. Check this article out: Thyroid.about.com for the latest research on thyroid and celiac disease.
Celiac Disease causes malabsorption of our thyroid medications, along with Calcium, Vitamin D and B12 that we so desperately need. Please see: Celiac info on Wikipedia for further reading.
Fortunately, a gluten-free diet has been known to improve the ability to absorb medication for hypothyroidism, as well as relieving the symptoms. I mean, really, who wants more fatigue on top of fatigue that we all ready have?!
We definitely do not need more joint pain to add to the mush.
These studies also state sufferers of thyroid diseases like Hashimoto’s disease and Graves’ disease may actually be able to improve their autoimmune status through dietary changes that eliminate gluten (article at EmpowHer). Who wouldn’t like to improve their autoimmune status?!
Serological blood tests are the first-line investigation required to make a diagnosis of celiac disease, followed by an upper endoscopy with biopsy of the duodenum, which is the first section of the small intestine. (wikipedia-celiac disease).
What are gluten free foods? Foods free of wheat, whey, barley and rye. In the past, this automatically meant no more breads, cakes and pizza. Nowadays there are more options than ever before. To give you some idea, check out a few links to gluten-free food lists: the-gluten-free-chef and gluten free info as a start.
The best part is that most of the grocery stores that we are currently shopping at are carrying more and more gluten free foods. Most stores even provide gluten free lists on their websites. This is one of the links out there where we can find our store and see what foods they sell that are gluten free: Gluten free food shopping.
Thank you for sitting and sharing this article with me. It is important to be in the know and keep well informed in order to manage our conditions for a better quality of life on a day to day basis.
***
This is Ann Glanders signing off and saying, “Throw me a question line and I’ll send back research info on your hook.”
Come visit me at Dear Ann Glanders and at Dear Thyroid to leave a comment and questions. It is always good to hear from ya!
Tags: benefits of gluten free eating, celiac disease, celiac in autoimmune patients, celiac sprue disease, gluten free and autoimmune connection, gluten free thyroid, intestinal health
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One Response to “Dear Ann Glanders: Week of August 15th, 2011”
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Hi Ann,
thank you so much for your interesting post. I’ve been suffering from autoimmune Hashimoto’s thyroiditis for three years and I’ve recently started a gluten-free diet. What triggered my will to start was the recently acquired awareness that my thyroid is working fine and the problem is the antibodies, but medicine claims nothing can be done about it. Acupuncturists and homeopaths have a different opinion and, apart from taking thyroxine, I think they have helped me a lot during these years. Anyway, as you said, it’s not difficult to follow a gluten-free diet nowadays, and it is becoming fun too 🙂 Wouldn’t be great if I didn’t need thyroxine anymore? (and the constant change of dosage that makes me sick?) I will keep you updated and if something good happens, I’ll share my experience with the other members. Keep fingers crossed! 🙂