Acid reflux

[Tony211]

Hi is there a connection with thyroid condition and acid reflux I’m currently on 300 mg of levothyroxine

[greygoose]

Yes, there is. But, it is due to low stomach acid, not high stomach acid, as is more usual.

[Tony211]

Hi came of omerprazole did not work for me was on domperadine for awhile then had Nissan fundoplication op fixed the reflux but left with other tummy probs but I been on 300 mg of thyroid for last 6 months jumpers from 150 mg

[Nanaedake in reply to Tony211]

If you are needing 300mcg of levothyroxine, that is a very great amount unless you are very, very large. You need to ask your doctor to rule out diseases that affect absorption such as coeliac disease and Pernicious anaemia. Please get your vitamin levels tested, vit D, folate, ferritin and B12 which should help to guide further investigations.

[Tony211]

Hi all I have on paper at moment is high Tsh is 6/52

[helvella Administrator]

Please present any evidence whatsoever that men need more thyroid hormone than women.

You really cannot make any assumptions about size or weight as so far as I can see we have no information about Tony211's body.

Using "average male is bigger than average female" is falling into the same trap about transferring population statistics onto individual cases that we criticise the medical establishment for doing all the time. Let us not do the same.

[HLAB35]

Your lab result for TSH needs explaining as this doesn't sound right at all - it would be negligence on the part of your GP to allow your TSH to remain that high using the usual ranges.

However, wrt. acid reflux - yes it is very common indeed. It's low stomach acid that's causing the problem. Roughly speaking, the stomach will not release it's contents via a pH sensitive valve into the duodenum unless a minimum (very acid) pH is reached. You'll keep on producing weak acid for as long as it takes to do that (especially in the presence of high protein foods) which has the unpleasant result of causing reflux.

If, before a meal, you take some Betaine HCl, apple cider vinegar (this is fine as long as you don't have a yeast /candida problem - see Dr Myhill's link), or some vitamin C as ascorbic acid powder (it's easily available online) you'll begin to be able to break down the proteins that weak acid fails to do. The high protein foods (both animal-based or nuts) usually contain things like B12, iron, selenium, zinc, vitamin d and magnesium which are vital to thyroid and adrenal health. It's going to be very important for you to obtain some blood tests to see how much of these minerals and vitamins are getting absorbed (they don't generally test for selenium, zinc or magnesium though). My guess is pessimistic, given the fact you've been on omeprazole and still have low stomach acid.

drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/Hypochl...

theinvisiblehypothyroidism....

[helvella Administrator]

The natural inference is that 300 micrograms for a women would be unusual, don't you think?

Maybe even that 300 micrograms would not be unusual even if the person is 7 stone man?

[helvella Administrator]

You said:

for a man 300mcg of thyroxine is not unusual

You did not say;

for a human being 300mcg of thyroxine is not unusual

There must be a reason that you chose to use the word "man". The only reason that readily comes to mind is that there is something different between men and women. I suspect a lot of people would take that message from your response.

I am simply trying to clarify the issue.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and also very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common and stop thyroid hormones working well

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or vitamins

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

All thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Do not take Levothyroxine dose in the 24hours prior to test, delay and take immediately after blood draw. This gives highest TSH and lowest FT4. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's. Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Come back with new post once you have results and ranges

Low stomach acid can be a common issue

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/hypochl...

scdlifestyle.com/2012/03/3-...

[silverfox7]

I was diagnosed with a thyroid problem over 30 years ago, may be nearer to 35 and I was given NDT on the NHS which was imported from Canada so that was around then.