Alopecia World
www.alopeciaworld.com
auto immune diet - anyone tried this with success???
My doctor has noted a connection between alopecia and auto-immune thyroiditis. I got tested and sure enough I have it. He suggests an auto-immune diet............basically no gluten, no dairy.......etc, etc. I'm a foodie and so before I make my life miserable by going this route, I was wondering if anyone else has attempted to eat this way to hopefully achieve hair regrowth....and with what results. Personally, I have my doubts, but I thought I'd put it out there anyway.
Thanks for your help. Sue
Thanks for your help. Sue
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Bud on
-
Sue -
what is an auto-immune diet consist of? I would be willing to try this. And thanks for the tip about auto-immune thyroiditis, I will ask to be checked for that at my next dr. appointment. is it a blood test or something else?
Bud
-
Permalink Reply by Sue on
-
Hi Bud,
Yes, it is a blood test. If you take thyroid meds, As I recall the draw has to be about 5-6 hours after you take it. But ask your doc for sure. My memory is failing me today!
The diet is basically eliminating all foods which contain any gluten......bread.....cereals etc. And all dairy products. There are some grains that are gluten free, like rice and a few others, but there are those that propose to eliminate grains entirely.
Absolutely eliminate all "whites". No processed sugars, flours etc.
Hope that helps. Sue
-
-
I've started scouring your page Susan. Very interesting. Both my mother and brother are on that medication because they both have Crohn's disease. Yep, that's right an auto immune disease of the lower intestine. It just gets more interesting all the time! Though not officially allergic to Sulpha drugs, they do tend to give me nausea. I will bring this up at my next appointment later this month. Until then, I'll keep reading!
Sue
-
-
Born and raised in Wisconsin...........I am the quintessential cheddar head!!!! And let's not forget the most important of essential foods..........frozen custard.
But, yes, I tend to be a "moderation in all thing" kind of person. If I give up something I love entirely, I am going to binge big time on it, which is probably much worse!
Thanks for your input! Sue
-
-
Thanks for your input Demm. I think we need as much data as possible on this!
-
-
Agreed. I have been on Armour now for about 8 years and will never go back to a synthetic replacement. The difference is very notable. The other issue I am addressing now is adrenal fatigue. I was tested for this and am in treatment for it now. I've been on adrenal support for about 3 months at this time and am undergoing some minimal hair re-growth. Not much, mind you. Some eyelashes, a few eyebrow hairs and some head fluff here and there. Is it connected or is the timing of this little regrowth coincidence? I am unsure. I believe in making one change at a time or you can't know what is doing what.
And yes, all natural healing is a slow process. Most of us don't have the patience in this high paced world we live in. I find it fascinating too. Since my AU is only about a year old, I'm still dealing with the anger and self image issues. I have read so much and have had no hope for getting my hair back. I won't bet the farm on anything, but am I willing to try some logical, scientific backed things? Why not? What is there to loose? I already lost it! :-) Sue
-
Permalink Reply by Diane on
-
I'm like Demm... I've lost my all hairs very fast, after no change whatso ever in my diet or my life... after 7 years with no hair, I'm now having white fuzzy hairs all over my head, my eyelashes and half a eyebrow are back, not to forget some body hairs... did absolutly nothing: no change in my diet, no change in my life, nothing.... alopecia is unpredictable....
-
Permalink Reply by lynne on
-
this diet stuff sounds a great idea, which i may try sometime, but how do i go about gettin all these extra blood tests done, my doctor or dermatologist has never offered any of the one's for my immune system, im bak to my dermatologist in july, should i ask then,???
-
-
I've never had any success with a dermatologist with AA, AT, or AU. But you may. I think your primary physician or an endocrinologist might be a better choice for these tests.
Have blood tests for autoimmune thyroiditis, TSH, Free T3 and Free T4. If the doctor says you don't need even one of the above, then you are seeing the wrong doctor.
Adrenal tests are saliva tests.
Women should also be tested for women's hormones in my opinion because DHEA is an important factor in the adrenal/thyroid equation. Estrone, Estradiol, Testosterone, Progesterone, DHEA and SHBG.
Both of my initial AA hair losses came at critical hormonal changes in my life. 1 at puberty and 2 at menopause. Another coincidence..........they don't really know. My AU occurred after a time of EXTREME stress. It was very sudden to appear and I lost it all rapidly.
Again, this is all just information for discussion purposes. I'm trying to piece a lot of things together.
Certainly none of these tests are necessary to make the diet change if you wish. But you will be armed with more information if you do them.
Susan may also have some suggestions.
-
Permalink Reply by mary on
-
Susan, I am feeling a little scared and very overwhelmed with all of these posts. I have had Alopecia (A, T, or U..not sure) for about 2 and a half years now. I lost about 99% of my hair when I finally just shaved it. I've lost my eyebrows and had them grow back in several times. losing some eyelashes and also some hair on my arms and legs. My dad and several other members of the family have or had Diabetes, which I think is an Autoimmune disease also. I have been on Prednisone and Sulfasalazine for a long time now, well over a year. Im slowly decreasing the Prednisone so that I can be off of it completely. I know it can cause damage to your liver, so my Derm has my blood tested every time she see's me. My hair has completely grown back in and is even long enough for a very short and thin ponytail. yea!
After reading all of these posts though, I'm very worried! Can my Alopecia develop into something else?? No doctor has mentioned this and Ive had several blood tests over the last 2-3 years but now I'm unsure of what all they tested for. I know Lupus is an Autoimmune disease, which is horrible, but not sure I've heard of Celiac disease. I have not tried any special diet, and not sure I could even do it(gluten free). So, if I'm reading your post right, I need to have:
ALLERGY TEST
BLOOD TEST FOR GI INFLAMMATION/BIOPSY OF SMALL INTESTINE
TEST FOR CELIAC DISEASE
BLOOD TEST FOR GENES
TEST FOR LUPUS??
Does this about cover it?? Alopecia is bad enough, but I didnt know it could develop into others that are much worse. Please let me know what you think. Thanks
-
-
You sure should ask for a basic auto-immune check up... this is routine for anyone affected by an auto-immune disease.... I've had alopecia for almost all my life (AA, AT and now AU) and I have auto-immune check up done regularly (i.e. may be a 'big' one every 3-5 years or so but my thyroide is checked every year)... A good family doctor should know about it or educate him/herself....
© 2024 Created by Alopecia World.
Powered by
