Levothyroxine Interstitial Cystitis

[janeold25]

I have had an underactive thyroid for 13 years and have been on Levothyroxine. I also have interstitial cystitis. Can Levothyroxine upset interstitial cystitis? Contracted both conditions within a year of each other. If thyroid not controlled properly, can that upsetiinterstitial cystitis?

[Hennerton]

Which condition came first?

[janeold25 in reply to Hennerton]

Underactive thyroid

[WildDeer]

Hello Janeold,

I had a lot of bladder problems before being diagnosed with Hashimotos in my 50s, including over a year of interstitial cystitis, which is such a miserable blight-you have my sympathies. I now, looking back, think that was because I'd been hypothyroid so long ( since I was 19 ), that I wasn't processing my own T4 production well.

Also menopause adding to the confusion.

After being put on levothyroxine I was more able to cope energetically, but never felt well, and as the years went by I was going from one bladder infection to the next as soon as the antibiotics had cleared my system, was leaking when I sneezed etc and always thinking about the next toilet visit.

Since coming off T4 5 years ago, and onto T3 only, my bladder has gradually returned to proper functioning and peeing is quite an enjoyable thing that only gets signalled as necessary when my bladder is full. I've had only one bladder infection in those 5 years, when I had a bad dose of shingles.

So my impression is that both untreated hypothyroidism and being treated with levothyroxine when it may be that one is not able tho convert it to T3 well, or unable to absorb it well into the cells for other reasons,leaves the poor old body with too much T4 and the RT3 , and some of that gets silted away in various places inside us, including one the last ports of call for flushing it out, which is the bladder.

[janeold25 in reply to WildDeer]

Did you interstitial cystitis play any part in you being prescribed T3?

[janeold25 in reply to janeold25]

Yes very interesting sounds so similar to my self, Borderline hypothyroid diagnosed at 39. Interstitial cystitis diagnosed eventually at 41.

Now on 100mcgs of Levothyroxine. Have conversion problems but not RT3.

I am having horrendous side effects to T4, fatigue, dizzy, balance problems, brain fog to name just a few. Have tried T4/T3 (Armour) couldn't tolerate it.

Your prescription of T3 did your Interstitial Cystitis have any influence on being placed on it?

I know it its so important to take the right vitamins and supplements for thyroid problems but with Interstitial Cystitis all I can tolerate is a probiotic. Understand T3 won't work unless your vitamin results are optimal.

My GP won't prescribe T3, seeing endo in June but don't hold our much hope.

[Deeseona]

How interesting as I have been on 100 mcgms of Levothyroxine since 2000 and also during that time have had acute and now chronic cystitis problems. Have been on low daily dose of antibiotic now for some time as the GP has advised this. Each time I have tried to stop it I have an awful episode of cystitis which always seems to happen on Bank Holidays or weekends when I can't get a prescription. After reading your post it makes me wonder if there is a connection to Interstitial Cystitis and taking Levothyroxine. Would be good to hear from others similarly affected.

[dtate2016]

There is a greater connection between interstitial cystitis and sugar. My husband totally eliminated his interstitial cystitis - by greatly reducing sugar not eliminating sugar - he just can't have ice cream or other high sugar treats like pie and cake . That would explain why the interstitual cystitis seems to happen around the holidays. He went from being on two different prescriptions to zero medication in 90 days . He has remained medicine free for five years and all he did differently was discipline his sugar intake . By the way this was not at the doctors instructing . He knew what his sugar intake was that he was over indulging from time to time and he silently put himself on this restricted sugar intake . It worked . Never mind that I was searching dry-land and sea for an herbal remedy! Ha! He also has hemachromatosis which the American diabetes Association says is the single most common disorder among Irish and Scottish descendants . It was discovered during the human genome DNA mapping initiative . Hemachromatosis puts all organs at a greater weakness since they take over when the liver is overtaxed by the excess ferritin and iron. So no doubt his bladder was one of those weakened organs and just could not handle any excess sugar . His hemachromatosis is under control now thanks to bloodletting on a regular basis and thanks to his restriction of iron intake / Fewer steaks and hamburgers, and eating cabbage on every occasion - cabbage somehow has a way of removing iron and ferritin . I often think of the Irish dish corn beef and cabbage ! Isn't it odd that this comes from Ireland or so I've heard ? (But I digress). Highly recommend sugar restriction for interstitial cystitis. It really could be just that simple .