Is the ppi for my stomach issues affecting my thyroid... ?

[ianessex]

Recently been put on a ppi , omeprazole , for stomach issues. But within a week my mood has dropped, face and hands puffy, thyroid swollen and shattered. Is this normal reaction? I don't think i can take them any longer but does anyone have a natural or less damaging alternative idea of what to take? I've read that sometimes, low thyroid actually lessens the acid production . Thanks !

[ejh1]

I'm not at all an expert on this, but I understand that we may suffer from low stomach acid as a result of hypothyroidism, not overproduction. Taking a PPI will reduce that further and you won't be absorbing nutrients properly. I'd stop the PPI and try to treat the stomach issues (whatever they may be - GORD?) in other ways than suppressing acid production. I don't know enough about this to advise you, but I'm sure others will!

[PinkNinja in reply to ejh1]

There may be specific reasons why he is prescribed the PPI though but, if there isn't , sorting out the thyroid properly may help resolve the reflux issue and remove the need for a PPI like you say. My dad has to take his for Barratt's oesophagus. He doesn't have high stomach acid but, as Barratt's oesophagus can result in cancer, it is imperative that his reflux is controlled whatever the cause.

[Hidden]

Yes low stomach acid (gastric atrophy) is often present in autoimmune thyroid disease, so you should only take PPI's if you're absolutely sure you need them. Obviously I don't know what tests the doc ran before deciding on the Omeprazole? The symptoms of high stomach acid are similar to low stomach acid so if he's just going on symptoms alone then, well... This drug can also lead to, or worsen, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, as your stomach needs an acidic environment for absorption. You should perhaps return to your doctor and discuss your symptoms and concerns, and maybe ask to see a Gastro - they would be able to test for low stomach acid, and other things.

Here are a series of articles you might find interesting (need to read them in order):

chriskresser.com/what-every...

chriskresser.com/the-hidden...

chriskresser.com/more-evide...

chriskresser.com/how-your-a...

chriskresser.com/how-your-a...

Hampster

[PinkNinja in reply to Hidden]

Agreed. Testing would be a sensible idea before prescribing or stopping a PPI (there may be other specific reasons why a PPI is necessary for the OP that only his doctor knows about). Regarding the vitamin and mineral issue, magnesium deficiency is a particular problem. Many GPs aren't aware of this despite the MHRA issuing a warning about this. Here is the link to that warning if anyone is having trouble getting their doctor to check their magnesium.

mhra.gov.uk/Safetyinformati...

[Hidden in reply to PinkNinja]

I found this recent study with some more information:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/239...

[ianessex in reply to Hidden]

Thanks,,, only gonna take them for as long as i have too and no longer,, hate the things

[PinkNinja in reply to ianessex]

Are you feeling any better, Ian?

[ianessex in reply to PinkNinja]

A bit yes thanks,, don't like taking them though

[PinkNinja]

Another thought; are you taking your PPI around the same time as your thyroid meds? PPIs will inhibit absorption so you should leave at least 4 hours between them.

[JudyS in reply to PinkNinja]

NOBODY tells you these things!!! I have been taking mine at the same time. I have eight pills daily to take in a handful. Ye gods ...

[JudyS]

I've been searching for a connection between acid reflux and hypothyroid and high BP for some time. Should have come here first!

I was prescribed omeprazole after a gastroscopy discovered an ulcer at the bottom of my oesophagus. I'd LOVE to come off them. Must look into this. I was on 40mg Omeprazole, now on 20mg Nexium.

[PinkNinja in reply to JudyS]

You will need to make sure the ulcer has completely healed before stopping your Nexium unless your doctor prescribes something else instead. Once it is healed and been checked, if you can get your thyroid sorted out you may find your reflux stops. While you have the ulcer though, I wouldn't want to stop the Nexium but make sure you don't take at the same time as your thyroid medication.

[shaws Administrator in reply to JudyS]

Can you ask the gastroenterologist does he think low acid could be causing you the problem instead of excess acid for which I think omeprazole is prescribed.

chriskresser.com/the-thyroi...

[JudyS]

Thank you, Carolyn B and Shaws. I had two further gastroscopies after the discovery of the ulcer and it had indeed healed. However, I'm still on the omeprazole (now esomeprazole) several years later. Sometimes I wonder if it's perpetuating the symptoms, but I still have acid refluxing into my mouth which can wake me with a laryngeal spasm. Those things are terrifying.

[ianessex in reply to JudyS]

Some time ago i bought a wedge pillow off internet,, cost 50 quid but helps keep me propped up bit at night..take some getting used to.

[PinkNinja in reply to ianessex]

I did a similar thing when I was pregnant. I had terrible reflux towards the end and that was the only thing that helped.

[JudyS]

Thanks, Ian and Carolyn. Sadly I have other problems which make wedges horribly uncomfortable; both shoulders have rotator cuff injuries (one fixed, one not) and I have a damaged disc at the top of my neck. If I lay any other way but flat with one pillow I wake with a vicious headache.

I HAD to sleep with a big wedge while my shoulder was healing, which took months (a full year before I got almost all the range of movement back) and it's one reason I won't have the other one repaired.