What is the most successful diet you've been on since being diagnosed?

Here's a topic that was originally posted in July of 2005 by me: (the formatting is a little messed up so ignore the missing spaces, etc.)

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I should add "since you've been diagnosed with Hashi's".

My best attempt was with the Hallelujah Diet but it got "old" after 6mos and I began to crave more "substantial" food. Now I am ready tostart the gluten free diet not just for weight loss but for theliklihood of seeing a reduced or non-existent antibody count after 4-6months. The problem is that finances are so tight, I am having a hardtime getting away from the cheaper options of food - like beans andtortillas! I think I will research a gluten free tortilla. I just loveto use them to put all types of food in. Have you ever had an avacadotaco? Boy, are they good. A little salsa and lettuce, tomato and youhave a very nice meal. Actually, when I think about it, corn tortillasare gluten free! I forgot. I am not a great fan of them but I supposethat would be a good staple to have around during this time. Maybe itwill offer a variety of new options for me. Anyway, I thought I'd posethe question to everyone. I am sure most of us are very frustrated butwe need to "keep up the fight" for our health and our emotionalwell-being. I am drinking a Kefir smoothy right now made with berriesand other mixed frozen fruit. It is good but I am also not very good atseeing a shake as a meal. What healthy foods satisfy YOUR cravings? Mo

Now for an update! I began the full on gluten free approach last year in the spring. I had tremendously high antibodies (about 1,800!) and my TSH was 18! I must admit that there had been a family crisis proceeding these numbers and I was unable to get to the doctor for my regular testing during the few months prior to the spring testing. My dose had been lowered while on the Maker's Diet by 1/3rd of my original dose of Armour about 6 months earlier. I was so excited BUT then crisis hit, my eating habits wavered terribly and now I was on a lower dose of meds.

My doctor raised my dose back to the original level, and I began to eat gluten free to try to get out of the "pit" I was in. I took the reports [/SIZE][/FONT]seriously of others that claimed a gluten free diet *could* reverse the antibody attack. After 6 months gluten free, see my numbers:

Antibody count: 3,354! Practically DOUBLE the spring number!
TSH: 1.32

So, my TSH looked good but my antibodies were way out there! CRAZY!

Now I am sitting here about 9 months after my last test. My mom had heart surgery in Feb (when my 6 mos testing was due) and I stayed with her for 6 weeks post surgery caring for her needs and boy was that stressful. I decided to wait for testing until my body had a chance to ease into my "regular" life here in the mountains. I will be getting my set of thyroid tests this Friday and will be able to update you in a couple weeks.

Now, the conclusion to all this FOR ME is that a gluten free diet did NOT help. The only diet I have not tried seriously is a Meditteranian type diet. I plan on doing this maximizing vegetables and fruits as 70-80 percent of my diet. In the summer this is not too hard. I remember Mary (from our old board) going raw for a long time. She was able to keep herself off of thyroid supplementation in the form of synthetic and/or natural thyroid supplements but we've lost track of her and I am dying to hear from her once more!

Mary, are you out there?

I don't remember if she was doing well in this approach last time I spoke to her. I know she was also doing something called NAIT.

So, there is my story so far. I would love to hear from others out there. I know Edith has done a lot of raw and other whole body approaches. Edith?