Hi everyone I’ve had bad acid reflux for quite some time now and have been taking Lanzoprazole for this. Dr recommended I should cut down to a smaller dosage and only take it when I needed it but I seem to get painful reflux after eating most things. I read that this can be due to hypothyroidism which I have been diagnosed with and wondered if you have any other ideas which I could do to stop getting this, anti inflammatory foods etc. Many thanks
Reflux getting worse: Hi everyone I’ve had bad... - Thyroid UK
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shawsAdministrator
I am sorry Zizzt1591 that you have problems with stomach.
I am not medically qualified but the fact is that if we are hypothyroid we've probably developed 'low' stomach acid rather than 'high'. The symptoms are nearly identical but as doctors rarely know any clinical symptoms may prescribe 'other' things for a 'symptom' rather than getting to the root cause.
Many on the forum supplement with acid-giving tablets i.e. Betaine with Pepsin or taking a mixture of Apple-cider vinegar in water or juice. with meals.
This is an excerpt from the following link:-
CONCLUSION:
To our best knowledge, this is the first study in humans with hypothyroidism demonstrating the effect of PPIs on serum TSH levels. PPIs should be added to the list of medications affecting the level of thyroid hormone in patients with hypothyroidism treated with LT4 replacement. Patients with hypothyroidism and normal TSH values during LT4 replacement therapy may need additional thyroid function testing after treatment with PPIs and may need adjustment of their LT4 dose.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/176...
scdlifestyle.com/2012/06/hy...
Thanks I’ve heard that we can get low acid, I will try some of the things you suggest 😊
Hello! I wish i could help you with your question. I would also like to know about how to control my acid reflux without taking my medication. I did not know you can get from thyroid. I have a hiatal hernia that causes mine. Many other things also can cause a flare up. Sometimes I think being constipated causes my acid reflux. I spend some nights sitting up to sleep to keep from choking. Good luck.
I have a hiatus hernia too. I suffer dreadfully with reflux and stomach problems. I did have a gastroscopy that showed gastritis though.
Best advice I can give, from personal experience, is to raise the head of the bed eg bricks or blocks of wood under base of bed. I also use wedge shaped pillow and kept a food diary to find my specific triggers after Googling GERD dietary advice.
Please read up about PPI's and if after reading you decide they aren't for you then please be aware that you just can't stop them but need to be weaned off them. Many doctors aren't aware that they are addictive and should only be used for short periods of time and yet many are taking them for years.
Sorry but what are ppl's thank you
Sorry should have said, Lanzoprazole is a PPI- proton pump inhibitor. There are others with similar names as well
Yes this is so true!
And doctors here are prescribing, especially omeprazole, like its candy?!
My mother's been on omeprazole for about 3 years and its reached a point where its impossible to stop it for even a day without increasingly severe rebound effects.
This is a medicine not to be taken for more than 2 weeks without review and due consideration. The longer u are on it, the harder it is to come off it.
If its absolutely necessary to take it, try to keep it to the minimum dose that works.
Better to work on other aspects which may help to reduce the reflux. Like taking note of your food triggers. Avoiding foods like tomatoes coffee oily foods, acidic fruits, foods that are hard to digest.
Watching out for constipation cos if the intestines are packed with poo, it can cause a squeeze which in turn can cause acid to reflux up.
Being overweight can also cause reflux.
And take care of the stress levels as well.
You can get 'rebound reflux' when trying to wean off PPIs, unfortunately, which can make them extremely hard to get off. Many hypo people actually have low stomach acid, not high, which is just as painful. I recently developed it myself, however I no longer have pain as I take 2 x Betaine HCl with Pepsin tablets with each main meal (2 x full spectrum digestive enzymes work just as well for me as an alternative). You should not, of course, take Betaine HCl if you are on any type of NSAID and never take it alone. Another alternative is taking a tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar with your meal.
ideally Apple Cider Vinegar should be diluted with water or juice as it is very strong when swallowed alone.
• in reply toshaws
Yes you're right shaws, thanks for adding that. 
I know because I tried it alone - UGH!
• in reply toshaws
Oh dear! I actually like the flavour (which is odd as I hate vinegar). However I can't take it as I'm histamine intolerant and it sets me off.
So did I before realising you couldn’t, I felt like I was burning my innards. Eek!
I have cider apple vinegar in water. Always drink through a straw to protect the enamel on your teeth.x
Zizzy1591• in reply to
Thanks I will give the Apple cider vinegar a go 👍
I take Betaine with Pepsin tablets with a meal that contains meat/fish and have had no problems since.
What do you do if you are prone to stomach ulcers. Says right on bottle not to take with ulcers.
I am sorry to have a delayed response but laptop was down.
You'd have to consult a doctor/ gastroenterologist re this as you already have a medical condition in your stomach. They should be able to advise.
Thanks Shaw’s. I’m always complicated. It’s frustrating.
Don't worry. It is not us who are complicated but the diagnosing/treatment of hypo which has so many clinical symptoms. We go to this doctor/that doctor/specialist but we seem not to get any resolutions but may be given a 'diagnosis'. Is it another problem? or hypo symptom?
Hi Zizzy. I have suffered heartburn/reflux for years and now realise it’s important to keep the body as alkaline as possible. I take one capsule of Biocare Bicarb (potassium/sodium balanced) after b/fast and occasionally one before bedtime. I’ve not had to have Gaviscon or omeprazole since.
biocare.co.uk/biocarbonate-...
Fantastic will give the bicarb a go 😊
Hi Zizzy. It’s important I think to take the Biocare capsules which are a combo of potassium/sodium bicarb. These levels then remain in balance. Ordinary biocarb, whilst good is sodium based and could effect the sodium/potassium levels which need to remain in balance. I used to take bicarb but found the mixture in the Biocare capsules more effective.
Hi Zizzy be careful of bicarb it lower acid in the stomach and cause reflux to get worse so only use short term apple cider vinegar is much better
Hey! I have been taking omeprazole for about three years now and I read that it can cause dementia and other problems if you take it long term. I take 40 mg and my doctor switched me to 20 mg to try to wean off of it. The 20 mg does not work effectively at all. She was going to switch me to Zantac which she said has not any side effects. I wish I could go without anything. I do feel like I have had a lot of term memory loss from taking the omeprazole. I hate grasping for words at the age of 47. Sometimes I get very hungry before bed and I can’t eat anything or I will be up all night choking on my acid reflux. I had a endoscopy, colonoscopy, and the camera that you swallow that takes pictures of your whole intestines. Doctor says he sees nothing wrong. I have acid reflux hundred % of the time if I’m not medicated, a small hiatal hernia that he said was no issue, I’m constipated and don’t go to the bathroom or up to two weeks. I also get bloating and stomach cramps when it’s time to go to the bathroom . I recently started taking digestive enzymes after I eat a meal and about 1000 mg of magnesium. My family physician what’s the prize the magnesium didn’t help me go to the bathroom. The magnesium does help my headaches though.
Are you taking magnesium citrate? Also natural calm on Amazon will help you go to the bathroom
The constipation sounds really bad. It can worsen or cause acid to flux up
shawsAdministrator
Re your response I researched and found the following very interesting study:-
Excerpt:
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS:
"metabolic acidosis (MA) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) associates with protein energy malnutrition, osteoporosis, abnormal endocrine function and increased mortality. Oral sodium bicarbonate has been shown to improve nutritional status and preserve renal function in CKD. Depressed thyroid function has been described in CKD and was believed to be related to MA. This is a prospective randomized study that examined the effect of oral sodium bicarbonate on thyroid function in predialysis CKD with MA. and"
"all patients had a glomerular filtration rate <35 ml/min/1.73 m(2). Serum total CO(2) increased significantly in the treatment group and was unchanged in the control group. At baseline, over half of the patients had T3 below the lower limit of normal. At study completion, free T3 declined further in the control group, whereas free T3, total T3, free T4 and TSH rose significantly in the treatment group. Percentage changes of total CO(2) from baseline were strongly associated with the changes of T3 parameters. Glomerular filtration rate was maintained in the treatment group but declined significantly in the control group.
CONCLUSION:
oral sodium bicarbonate, through correction of MA, improved thyroid function in predialysis CKD.
I used to suffer from acid reflux until I went on to combination therapy T3 /T4. Haven't had it since! I realise though that solution won't be for everyone.
Thanks that is interesting👍
Did you take synthetic t4 and t3 or natural Dessicated Thyroid?
Synthetic T3 and Levothyroxine
I am on both and my reflux is terrible. Don’t know where to turn anymore.
I'm being weaned off combination therapy. Not my choice. Fatigue set in badly. Acid reflux started up again. Doc offered me ranitidine. No ta. Ppis gave me diarrhoea. Andrews salts help though. Interesting though.
Sorry to hear that 😣
I bought a water filter and drank a lot more water and still do. About 6 or 7 full glasses a day, as well as the usual cups of tea. I haven't had a problem with reflux for over 3 years now.
I suspect the water probably does my health a lot of good generally.
Thanks I will try drinking more 😊
I too have the problem at night sometimes I wake up choking it is horrible 🙁
I got off omeprazole by totally altering my diet. I went totally GF. Completely cut out junk food and fizzy drinks as well as chocolate, concentrated on things like fish, chicken, a bit of lamb, I eat lots of eggs and unsalted nuts. Loads of vegetables but not a lot of potatoes. I hardly ever eat bread and I don’t eat biscuits and cakes even GF ones very often. I drink water, very weak tea and decaf coffee. I tried apple cider vinegar for a little while too but not for all that long.
Thanks 😊
I get really bad reflux when stressed and I also have hypothyroidism, I was prescribed Lanzoprazole but did not work for me so I went to a health shop and I was recommended slippery elm and ginger bitters and so far fingers crossed they have worked along with sleeping more upright too
My wife has not suffered from her recurrent acid reflux since she started supplementing with Betaine HCL+Pepsin some three years ago.
Love all this advice - thank you! I have found digestive enzymes really help. Also having aloe vera juice before a meal helps to soothe the digestive tract. I have to say I struggled with the ACV! Will try the Biocare Bicarb as I have found taking regular bicarb helps.
This is such a great forum!
xCarole
Hi I also had this problem with reflux plus food getting stuck in my throat, indigestion when eating. Has your doctor checked you out - palpatated your stomach to check for problems? My stomach was ok but after having the problem for two months he got me in for an emergency gastroscopy, i. e. small tube to look inside stomach, gullet, small intestine. Painless and I was diagnosed as normal but the doctor said he thought it was caused by an an autoimmune attack - I have Sjogrens etc. If the reflux continues - check out reflux online - perhaps you should consider asking your doctor for more exploration of the problem rather than just leaving it. Good luck.
Thanks I am seeing Dr on Monday 😊
Tell doctor you are worried about cancer of the oesphagus as you have had continuous reflux for a long time and you want to be referred for testing. There are posters advising you to do this on all public transport here. You should already have been offered an endoscopy.
Dear Dizzy:
In my opinion, you should avoid sugar completely. If you eat sweet things you will have acid reflux permanently.
Interesting it certainly is worse when I eat things with sugar 👍
Hi Zizzy1591 be careful of being on PPI as your B12 could have gone down to the ground. Low B12 is common in hypothyroid, I am a sufferer too, but it is rife in people taking PPI's or long term antibiotics. I started on B12 injections and my acid reflux, tummy pains, and bloated stomach was 80% better. I then had an increase in levothyroxine (I was under medicated). Now I take apple cider vinegar with mother before a meat, protein or fat meal and this seems to have done the trick. Also get a scan on your liver and gall bladder, after years of this I have ended up with non alcoholic fatty liver and 3 gallstones. I am now on a anti-inflammatory diet also turmeric capsules, and milk thistle capsules. Welcome to the start of your healing journey without those awful PPI's.
Thanks so much for your reply 😊
articles.mercola.com/sites/...
Hopefully the above will be helpful
Please get tested for problems with the oesophagus - I lost 2 friends to that this year.
This is why I’m concerned as continually getting reflux is inflaming the oesophagus which is not good. 🙁
Obviously it is better to address the cause, but you need an endoscopy as if you don't catch it early, it kills you.
Hi again Zippy....No need for any more tests... you're not only worried about having hypothyroid but now you've added two more stresses/worries ... first the reflux, the medicine plus whatever else you're worried about ...lie down for awhile and relax... listen to some relaxing music, hymns or whatever you like best... breath.... 💕
Hi Zizzy - sorry you are suffering so - I know what that is like it is awful.
Agree PPI's are not for us thyroid patients but come off slowly if you feel you should do so. I found not eating late - not too much food - take 1000 mg of vitamin C a day as this promotes stomach acid which is what we need and I used to eat ginger biscuits: queezibics.com/ (only one a day when I was bad).
They are marvellous - bit expensive but contain 1,000 mg of ginger which you wouldn't find in an ordinary ginger biscuit - and they work. Trouble with PPI's is that they reduce stomach acid which is exactly what we shouldn't do. They also reduce Vitamin B12 over time.
Quote Ginger can also reduce inflammation. ... These anti-inflammatory properties are of special interest to researchers, particularly when it comes to acid reflux. This is because inflammation in the esophagus is a key characteristic of the condition. Ginger may also reduce nausea, prevent muscle pain, and ease swelling. Unquote
Hope this helps
A
Brilliant thank you 😊
There is an easy way to find out if you have high or low stomach acid. Mix a teaspoon of bicarb in some water and drink it. If you burp like a trooper within seconds, you have high stomach acid. It you burp lots of little burps after a bit, you may still have slightly high acid. If you dont burp or only after a long while, you have low acid.
I hope others find this useful as most GPs will treat for high acid, lowering the low acid stomach further and making things worse. Cider vinegar will increase the stomach acid, so with low acid it is a real help.
I have high acid. On bicarb alone I gave off tremendous deep burps within a minute 😩. On the Biocare pot/sod bicarb, I only have small and sometimes no burps. And feel better. Seems to do the trick alright but without the loud noises !
Thanks Serenfach, good test. I just tried it, looks like I have low stomach acid. Took 7 mins for one average burp then nothing and that's after a cup of tea (acid) and half a grapefruit (acid) 2 hours ago with my brekkers. Good to know.
Whow - grapefruit is a thyroid hormone antagonist.............i.e. reduces thyroid hormone - I love it but daren't eat them now as I need all the hormone my body can throw at me.
I didn't know that, grapefruit has always been my fruit of choice (well I mean over other citrus - I love peaches). I will have to look into that since I too need all the thyroid hormone I can get and utilize.
Well I did look it up (not too deeply) and I found the following:
Grape fruit juice is known to change the absorption or metabolism of many different drugs. Although ingestion of grape fruit juice produces small changes in the absorption of thyroid hormone, it does not seem likely that regular ingestion of grapefruit juice will significantly affect the absorption or metabolism of thyroid hormone in patients taking L-thyroxine Effects of grapefruit juice on the absorption of levothyroxine. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2005 Sep;60(3):337-41.
I looked up that reference, I won’t spell out everything but here are the highlights.
METHODS:
In a randomized cross-over study with two phases, 10 healthy subjects ingested 200 ml grapefruit juice or water (control) three times daily for 2 days. On day 3, a single 600 microg dose of levothyroxine was administered with 200 ml grapefruit juice or water, which was also ingested 1 h before and 1 h after levothyroxine. Serum concentrations of total thyroxine (T4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were measured up to 24 h.
CONCLUSIONS:
Grapefruit juice may slightly delay the absorption of levothyroxine, but it seems to have only a minor effect on its bioavailability. Accordingly, the clinical relevance of the grapefruit juice-levothyroxine interaction is likely to be small.
I think I will rely on taking my NDT one hour before breakfast so that most of it has been absorbed into my blood by the time I eat breakfast.
Hi there - well well well - I always find when researching for others I find something out for myself too. I am on liquid thyroxine because of a severe lactose intolerance but have a packet of tablets in case of an emergency - I knew or thought I knew that the information leaflet stated quite clearly and indeed the box of levo tablets my mother used to have stated - do not take with grapefruit. However, that is now missing but the information leaflet seems to have changed since I last saw it - and contains information that is very revealing - I quote " do not take this medicine if you have any condition that affects your adrenal glands - go back to your Dr to discuss (finally admitting that the adrenals are involved in the loop !) then " quote the following may affect the way levothyroxine works: medicines for epilepsy - sertaline - use to treat depression etc. - antacids used to treat indigestion - PPI such as omeprazole etc. - beta blockers etc. - oestrogen containing medicines - corticosteroids - such as HC or prednisolone and several other drugs too. So the issues with the PPI is possibly due to thyroid hormone being depleted. I have had numerous issues with antibiotics - get really thyroidy and worked out that Ciprofloxain depletes T3 and Trimethroprim is a sulphur based antibiotic - so I have to avoid Cipro completely but when I take any other antibiotic in my case I take a tiny bit more which helps me tolerate the antibiotic. Hope this helps.
I tend to get it bad when I’m stressed but it’s got worse over time will try slippery elm 👍
Thanks 👍
i also suffer with this. i was in hospital for colitis and just after went through really bad reflux symtoms. thought I was going to choke with vomit sitting at the back of my throat when i woke up. i now have to have smaller meals - it is difficult when you go out for a family meal etc as if I eat and drink like everyone else, the symptoms are really bad. it has slowly got a bit better but if it does happen i take half a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda in half a glass of water and it does the trick beautifully as i dont want to get started on meds for that as well as being hypo
Thanks for your reply I have tonight tried apple cider vinegar in water before meals and so far it’s working really well, I will try the bicarbonate of soda as like you I don’t want to take the meds anymore 😊
PPI's are no longer safe to use...you can Google this and its is also on National Health web sites..
Once you start taking them you will find it extremely hard to stop...Extremely.
I asked my old GP because I was worried... He argued with me...he did not agree... He quietly read
the print off I gave him... He just shut it out of his mind and saw me to the door... He offered no help
or alternative.
The more I read about PPI's the more I was determined to wean myself away from them... For 3 months
I started cutting down. You can open the capsules and I got down to just under one quarter of capsule...this
was not a comfortable process and I was unable to get any lower without crippling pain..
I found a new local medical centre and they actually had a PPI warning up on their web site...joyfully I signed
out with this modern practice. The GP was marvelous and after testing me clear for iHelicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacterial infection immediately prescribed me Ranitidine which would calm my stomach and Peptac liquid would would line the top part of the stomach were the pain strikes. Lovely soothing liquid.
Relying on the Peptac to calm the pain I kicked the PPI. I used Google to find loads of second hand books
on Acid Reflux and Acid Reflux recipes. I found a new thought pattern which really changed the way I viewed
my acid problem...it was a book called, I think...
"Acid Stomach is your best friend and not your enemy"...
It was very revealing. We badly need acid to allow our bodies to break down our vitamins, iron, minerals and
all the goodness we get from food. PPI's had stopped me doing this... I know this now due to increased vigor
and all my ailments disappearing... (I had been prescribed them of over 18 years)
Many books said it takes around 56 days for the pain to subside if you finally get off PPI's.... and I found that true.
What upsets your Acid Reflux can differ with people...and calming food all differs for different people... Many find
peeled red apples calming to the acid...that works for me too... I changed to almond milk...takes ages to find one
you can tolerate but that is a calming balm.
I changed all dairy products that I loved to lacto-free and changed yoghurts
to fat free and soya based. I had to give up fresh coffee...and sadly Quorn Tikka Masala... huge triggers for me so I
found by careful monitoring.. Trying Cider Vinegar with water was like burning myself alive...but it works for a few.
Saliva is your friend and its is very calming so I always have bubble gum in the house...lol... it works well for me...
With me almond milk, red apples and gum work in a wonderful way. I found cheese alternatives utterly horrid to eat
and dairy free spreads awful... However, controlled portions of half fat cheese and lacto-free butter spread work well for me..
Its hard work but darn well worth it when you have experimented and found what does not spike your acid levels. You
cannot take a lazy approach to this and rely entirely on the medical profession.. But you can do it if I managed..lol..
This process has taken months but, as the books I read promised it is possible to cure your acid reflux, some days
I forget that I have the condition... I no longer have to take the liner Peptac... but continue with the very safe tablet
Ranitidin.....Yes, sometimes I do go off the rails and have a half bar of choc...sometimes I can get away with it, sometimes
not... ha ha..
If you can encourage yourself to get through this very difficult process with a little of the right kind of up-to-date medical help you can
smack Acid Reflux hard....plus determination to get through those 56 days. The final push for me was that PPI's can make
you put on hard to lose weight... its true... I am now trying not to lose weight so quickly as I did when the 56 days were up...
much of it was puffiness ..I dropped a shoe size and began to get really shapely knees.. I could see the shape of the bones
in the wrist area..I'm not eating any less quanties.. There are many more improvements like my hearing became sharper and my knee joint pain has improved 75 percent. That, of course, may not be the same for you.
Abe Books the on line book stall have amazing prices for their second hand books on Acid Reflux (GERD) and cook books for same. One book that I think I had to pay more for was from the amazing 'For Dummies series... 'Acid Reflux Diet and Cook
Book for Dummies'. That one is very good. Amazon also have 2nd hand books on the subject.. Just Google what you are
after and find the cheapest Seller..
Sorry if there are typos... I had to rush this one.
Hi Zippy
I'd quit taking the meds and maybe take a bit of Milk of Magnesia and rest some and you'll be good... I had that problem yesterday.. just did too much in a rush and eating in a rush was my problem. I'm good as new in that dept today...Worrying can do this to you too... relax...
(Also to Kelly Green):
Adequate thyroid hormone and the correct type for the individual is the answer to all your issues. Constipation and acid reflux are very common symptoms of hypothyroidism. However, most doctors have no clue about that as they prescribe PPIs routinely for anyone who is symptomatic of acid reflux. Or I'd like to think they have no clue. Sometimes, I am not sure whether they have been enticed by money too good to pass up, or if they really are just that dumb.
Acid reflux is a symptom that you're not receiving (or absorbing) adequate thyroid hormone. Think about that. How can you possibly absorb your thyroid hormone when the PPIs are shutting off your proton pump inhibitors? You have little or no acid at all and your body is screaming at you to do something about it while your doctor raises your PPIs. Ugh!
Also, while removing stomach acid, PPIs leave you with an even more pronounced decreased ability to absorb nutrients as well. Those nutrients are vital to facilitation of overall thyroid function. So PPIs keep you sick and tired of being sick and tired of not getting anywhere with your health issues.
PPIs are a bane to your health.
They exacerbate hypothyroidism. PPIs allow hypothyroidism to continue unchecked by quelling the symptoms of hypothyroidism (GERD, acid reflux, etc.). They are too profitable to be removed from the market. All we need is enough thyroid hormone for out bodies to function at a decent level.
One way is to replace the stomach acid with HCL with Pepsin, or Betaine. It works! But you should wean off PPIs before introducing the HCL supplements. You can do it, I did it after being on prescription PPIs for over 30 years! Yes. Unreal, isn't it? Doctors were killing me and I had no idea. But I do now and am healthy because of taking a proactive stance and learning what needed to be done.
Hypothyroidism slows down all bodily functions, including the production and secretion of stomach acid. PPIs quell the symptoms but do nothing to correct the problem (treat hypothyroidism) and actually serve to worsen hypothyroidism by causing a lack of absorption of nutrients. Without stomach acid, the stomach is vulnerable to all sorts of bad bacteria and the person can develop all sorts of stomach and gut disorders (like IBS, Crohn's, Colitis, etc.).
Once I realized what PPIs were doing to my body, I went on a mission to restore my gut to good health and rid my body of Crohn's, Colitis, and IBS. It was the best thing I ever did because the PPIs were keeping me very sick. I no longer have any of those "diseases." Gone. Though I'd suffered from them all my adult life until I fought against the tide of what we call "conventional medicine" (aka the G.P. Specials) and decided to go back to basics. Like before there were pharmaceutical companies that ruled the world.
How is it that doctors can prescribe in good conscience a "medication" that literally ruins your health? It's given on the premise that it can help reduce symptoms of what they say has no known cause. Well, that's an outright lie. It is known where GERD and acid reflux originates: From a thyroid that isn't getting what it needs in order to perform its duties of getting T3 into all the cells of the body. It therefore reduces the amount of stomach acid so that it can focus on more vital systems of the body. It has reduced amounts of T3 and so it must prioritize where the T3 goes.
Bottom line is that without stomach acid, we cannot heal all that ails us. Therefore, conventional medicine as we know it is in the business of making money first -- and our deteriorating health only helps in that financial goal. Hey, we're imperfect human beings. There's nothing sacred about the Hippocratic Oath to those who got into medicine in order to be rich. Their ethical standards are about as good as the average politician.
Most every systemic disease (dysfunction) is due to a stomach and gut that doesn't receive adequate stomach acid for absorbing nutrients in an optimal manner -- thereby causing malnutrition which keeps thyroid function limited. Without correction, the body begins to show more symptoms of increased hypothyroidism (higher BP, higher cholesterol, A-Fib, palpitations, weight gain, dry skin, eczema, blurred vision, ringing in the ears, hair loss, chronic pain, etc. etc. etc.). The hundreds of symptoms of hypothyroidism are the bread-and-butter of conventional medicine. And most begin as certain nutrient deficiencies continue to go unchecked. But that's where systemic hypothyroidism begins as well.
It's really a shame. But we have a choice. Learn how the body works and what to do to correct its dysfunction. It's no fault of the thyroid. The body isn't giving it what it needs to keep you healthy.
Please wean off the PPIs slowly. Tell your doctor you wish to do so because your low stomach acid is caused by hypothyroidism. Tell him if he's unaware of that, he can look it up. PPIs are made so that once we're addicted to them, they're hard to drop -- just like any other bad habit that keeps us in ill health. Your doctor knows that too.
Stay proactive with your health. You're in the right place.
Healing Hugs to you!
That’s amazing I had no idea how important stomach acids are to our overall health, I couldn’t understand why I just haven’t felt right since being diagnosed with hypothyroidism and how little Drs seem to know about the different symptoms we have, but what you say makes sense and I will try to help my body heal itself without the PPIs. Many thanks 😊x
My colleagues are medically trained although I am not I work in health training. Acid reflux patients are often told it's high stomach acid. It is NOT!!!!! Unless the valve at the top of stomach has completely stopped working which is rare and you'd be hospitalised if you did then please listen to the following. A sliding hiatus hernia is a valve struggling and opens and closes and doesn't stay shut because acid is too low. This is a sign of low stomach acid.
the stomach is designed to open the top valve of the stomach when the acid is low or should I more correctly say it relaxes and acid can then splash up causing heart burn. If your stomach acid is high the valve tightly shuts. It is impossible to have high stomach acid with a working valve!!!!
if you have acid reflux you will have low stomach acid!!!!! This is why Apple cider vinegar can work but you can also get digestive aids which increase acid too. Doctors do not know this as they have 1 days training in nutrition in there 7 years training. My ex trains doctors on this subject.
when you take medication or other supplements to reduce acid the symptoms subside BUT this only means you cannot feel the acid coming up AND it means you will struggle to digest food. You then struggle to get zinc to make acid and as chunks of proteins go through undigested you will get intolerances and it will exacerbate auto immune problems you also won't have nutrients for your thyroid.
however if you take a protein pump inhibitor you may struggle to get of it. Initially your symptoms of acid will be worse but it is possible my ex has helped many do just this.
to summarise....
acid reflux is caused by low stomach acid (accept f or very few with non working valve)
Digestive a ids and Apple cider vinegar can help increase acid
If you have an ulcer sort this first. Ulcers are caused by heliobactus bug which thrive in low acid and only way to diagnose is via endoscopy. There are many misdiagnosed without an endoscopy.
I urge everyone to get a proper nutritionist not dietician.
I went from 15 medications a day, hypothyroidism on 225mg of levothyroxine, diabetic on metformin, polycystic ovarian syndrome, Peri menopause early, I was very very sick. I no longer take any medication and have none of these medical conditions. I have been well for ten years and it was all through getting a nutritional analysis, getting if the medications with support and sl owly a high fat diet, zinc and digestive aids amongst other things these were the main things.
I hope this helps and I know it will if you understand it. I find upsetting that so many suffer when the knowledge is there to change lives.
Becky
Many thanks very interesting reading👍
My pleasure. I just wish more people knew. If you understand the biology and biochemistry it makes sense of things then when being told things you will know if it can be true of not. The reason your symptoms will get worse is because you aren't digesting nutrients so you can not make more acid to recover it is also why people get lots of other health problems too Good luck.
When I first read that PPI's are bad for you I turned to Dr Google and he came up with a really frightening report and I weaned myself off over several months! But I'm not so good at keeping references for posting but doing the search myself I found an article extremely descriptive and which had hit me hard and I sometimes think that we can goss over references but something we have found ourselves somehow 'sticks' better hence me not saying take or stop but search so I hope those who thought their GP was on the ball can now decide themselves. It also shows that drug companies can be effective at spreading the medication around but no one followed it up with all those that started you now should have stopped! I'm sure if every patient had a prescription review every year and a vigilant GP then that could save the NHS money as well. In fact in this highly technical age it must be possible to stop certain 'repeat' prescriptions. Trouble is our doctors need educating as well and we realise their time is limited. When I went to the Thyroid Uk Conference in the Midlands I was sitting next to a retired Pharmacist and we got chatting about something similar. By choice she still received the blurb sent out giving updates recomnendations, the safety, recalls, or amount given and she was saying so much comes through that it's a full time job almost to keep on top of it so that doesn't sound ideal either! It's good it's done but it does show the scale of possible problems.
The other day I was sent a copy of correspondence sent to my GP re ordering some appliances I needed to treat lymphoedema plus the nurse had also stressed to me that the prescription should be made out in a certain way. But the prescription was full of things, codes etc, which I had no clue as into whether it was what I needed yet I'd been trusted to check this before it was sent off. So back to the surgery I went and as luck would have it the Practice Manager was there and we spoke. She explained they weren't allowed to 'write their own thing', it had to be selected from things on the list the doctor could access. So if that is the case I thing every time a prescription is written then 'extras' should also be printed out whether it be things to be aware of, maximum time one can be on it etc so that the doctor gets a memory jog and the patient is made aware as well. My account rings a bell if I'm prescribed something I have an allergy to so I'm sure the system can be modified to help to keep us safe etc.
Many thanks 😊
Drs dont have a clue !
Hi,
I have been taking same meds for two year now, diagnosed this year with gallstone. Maybe worth asking for scan. My mum had the same. I am waiting for consultant app to hopefully arrange removal. I was looking at an article just recently , it mentions if gallbladder not functioning correctly, T4 can’t convert to T3 properly .I know exactly how you feel . I am feeling ill with my thyroid reduction right now , but hope once my gallbladder is removed I can feel a bit more normal, instead of my head in a cloud. Taking Lansoprosole and peptac too long is not a good thing ,stops proper absorption of any meds. Try some ACV , one tea spoon in a glass of water, or drink warm water,
Sometimes helps.
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