- Category : Hashimotos, Thyroid
FOUR Questions Every Hypothyroid and Hashimoto’s Patient should ask.
Hashimoto’s Autoimmune Thyroid Disease is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States. Being the most common presentation of hypothyroidism would suggest that it would have the most effective and refined treatments, given that it is encountered by doctors so often. Unfortunately this is not the case, it is actually the most mismanaged type of hypothyroidism. Most people who are diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Disease receive only thyroid hormone replacement, yet continue to suffer with all of the same symptoms. I want to address some of the most common questions I receive about Hashimoto’s Disease and help shed some light on what could be going wrong in your case.
1. Should I take Iodine supplements if I have Hashimoto’s Disease?
Iodine is important for normal thyroid hormone production but in Hashimoto’s, supplementing with iodine is like dropping gas on a burning fire. Supplemental iodine will trigger and flare the immune system attack and only make the thyroid problem worse.
2. Should I be taking Vitamin D when I have Hashimoto’s Disease?
Vitamin D deficiency is common in Hashimoto’s and many other forms of autoimmune diseases. Vitamin D is critical for the support of the immune system, specifically regulatory T cells. A simple blood test can help determine whether or not you are deficient in Vitamin D. It is important to have this tested and the proper supplementation dosage be.
3. Should I get tested for Gluten sensitivity?
The scientific literature shows a high correlation between Hashimoto’s disease and gluten sensitivity. Gluten is a protein found in wheat and other grains. With gluten sensitivity the immune system abnormally recognizes the gluten protein as a foreign invader and will try to attack and kill it. This creates systemic inflammation and increases the autoimmune attack on the thyroid.
Note: The blood tests for celiac and gluten sensitivity are notoriously inaccurate. The best and most comprehensive testing for Gluten Sensitivity is the Cyrex Array 3 Test–
4. What Kind of Thyroid Testing Do I need?
Typically, conventional doctors just test for Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) and Free T4. This is really only one piece of the puzzle and cannot tell you much about whats trigger your Hashimoto’s. Rather, you want to ask for the following…
- TSH
- TPO
- TBG
- Free T3
- Reverse T3
- Free T4
- Learn more about ordering these tests and consult here
Of course, there are other functional tests you can get like gut health testing, co-infections, Leaky Gut, Stool Panel, etc. For these tests it’s best to work with a doctor who is trained and certified in Functional Medicine.
Dr. Richard Hagmeyer is a leader in Natural Autoimmune Thyroid Recovery. He consults with Hashimoto’s patients from all over the country.
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