HI out there all you marvelous and courageous low-carb folks. I'm sorry to bring up something that has already been discussed a lot. I've been scouring the net for info and have pretty much read everything on this forum, and everything on the net related to low-carb diets and hypothyroidism. I'm discovering ( after following the verylowcarbhighfat diet for about five months), that my beloved elderly husband (who has been accompanying me on this adventure) is manifesting symptoms of hypothyroidism, which he didn't have before : he has lost a lot of hair (of the rare hair that he has left), constipation, difficulty sleeping, drying skin, leg oedema and tiredness.

I became alarmed and rushed out to buy him kelp tablets, and vitamin supplements, and we had mussels for dinner, and salmon tonight ... hopefully, this is just an iodine-deficiency related change, provoked by the diet.

I'm not sure whether to add more carbs back into his diet or not.

I'm not having the same symptoms, on the contrary my hair (which was erased by chemo) has come flaming back, and I'm feeling pretty energetic, though having hot flashes alternating with feeling shivery cold. (It is becoming wintery, and the hot flashes are expected) - although both of us are rather stalled in our weight loss, which seems to be normal. Sigh.

Anyhow I'm quite confused about whether to add carbs back into his diet, or on the contrary to keep going as we are and just deal hope the kelp tablets will do it.

He saw the doctor today, and I had him explain to the Dr. the things that I learned on the internet about thyroid and low-carb because otherwise he would have paid no attention to the relatively-low thyroid numbers. He admitted that a recent test showed thyroid within normal limits but on the low side. He's going to test again after a month to see if the iodine has done any good.

If anyone has any advice, or experiences to share, I would appreciate it. I'm so dismayed that this wonderful diet, which has done so many good things for his health and mine, should be at the source of a new health problem.

Give the iodine some time to work. If that doesn't work, take him to a doctor. Hypothyroid is treated by giving you appropriate doses of thyroid hormone. If your doctor won't treat him, or retest his thyroid, might be time for a new doctor.

I personally don't think it causes hypothyroid, but if your thyroid is marginal to begin with, maybe it will tip you over the edge.

Pivoine,
I do know someone who began loosing their hair on low carb. She ate few vegetables if any so she thought it could be a mineral deficiency but she settled on giving a trial with Biotin because she read that one of the symptoms of a Biotin deficiency was hair loss.
Another idea that comes to my mind could be the Liver. I read recently that someone with liver damage can react badly on Low-carb.
Then for a third possibility because of a previous experience with Edema in the legs concerning a relative, in that case it was the Kidneys having issues.
I hope these ideas help.

Nancy and Meme, thank you so much for responding. Sigh. I was thinking about kidney issues too. He's only got one. I've got a sinking feeling about this.

Depending on how he lost his kidney, he could have lasting issues that may still be present. There are many tests that they can do to check kidney function. Definitely stopping all salt would be my first reaction if it is Kidney related but he might need to see a kidney specialist and quickly.

Don't believe the myths about kidney damage and low carb. The only time high protein is an issue is if your kidney's are already impaired (not functioning 100%). Otherwise it shouldn't be a problem.

Oh yes, is hair loss his only symptom? That happens with any diet for some people.

http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/...ss-and-kimkins/ Dr. Eades wrote about it in his blog.

You have a wise doctor. That's what you do. Do what is simple and does no harm and wait to see if symptoms persist then test if they do.

She said that he has edema in his legs (fluid) and also has only one kidney.. That's why I wondered if he has had previous kidney problems to have lost one, unless he was born with only one kidney.
Edema sometimes can be the first sign that the kidneys are not pumping out the fluid.
My daughter's doctor didn't catch it either even after I suggested it to him, he said Oh no. Then he went out of town for 2 days and by the time he returned she was acute. Acute renal failure. Thank god I persisted.....

Presumably he's had a GFR done. If there's no evidence of kidney disease in his one kidney, there's no need to reduce protein.

He had a cancerous tumour in one kidney and had to have it out. That was a few years ago. What's a GFR ? He's also had a triple heart-bi-pass (20 years ago) - the doctor has to juggle all the different problems - each treatment potentially causes another problem.

Now I've just noticed that I have a rather swollen area near the thyroid, may be the beginning of a goiter. My husband says he sees it, it's not my imagination. Damn it. Perhaps losing fat off the neck allows such to be visible, or I too am victim of iodine deficiency... or I'm just becoming a hypocondriac. Seeing dr. tomorrow. It could be the diet, or it could be the result of my 25 radiation treatments very close to the thyroid. Grrrr.

GFR is a test of how well the kidneys are filtering. I think it is a standard test.

Scary for now. Will be watching to see how he is doing.