Anyone got any issues with stomach pain back pain n nausea my daughter has under active thyroid takes 100 levo for past year her bloods are stable she doesnt have hash or celiac and hs had ultrasound on liver stomach bladder and gall bladder and kidneys to reveal nothing she has hd to give up college and hsnt been anywhere in past month or more as feels so sickly . Can this be at all related to thyroid?
Stomach and back pain n nausea: Anyone got any... - Thyroid UK
Stomach and back pain n nausea
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jwoodward5
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Hi there. Betaine & Pepsin capsules might help her. A common symptom of under active thyroid is LOW stomach acid, and this presents with horrible nausea and stomach pain, almost like severe indigestion. They don’t interact with other tablets. I take mine after a meal containing protein, and they work a dream! Almost immediate relief! I also take my levo 100mg at bedtime as it absorbs better and my Levothyroxine was then reduced to 75, and digestive problems were less severe. I can’t say I suffer back problems that are related to thyroid though. I hope this info helps you daughter.
Thankyou its worth a try where do u buy these tablets
So sorry jwoodward for such a late reply! I purchased my Betaine and pepsin tablets from eBay. I did research the sellers etc., the one I decided to buy from was ebay.co.uk/usr/body-supplem.... I was very happy with speed of delivery, price etc. I hope this helps.
Does the stomach pain radiate to her left? Do stools float or like mashed potatoes or oily?
It could be pancreatitis which is notoriously difficult to diagnose.
I have hashimotos and pancreatitis and to the best of my knowledge there is no connection...just bad luck.
If the symptoms above make sense have her eat fat free (low fat isn't good enough!) and no alcohol and see if it helps.
If it helps get the doctor involved immediately.
HAVE HER ADRENALS CHECKED !!
I too suffered endless bouts of pancreatitis before they eventually removed a rancid gallbladder - no stones. This was many years before a Hashimotos diagnosis when I was 59 in 2005 - here in Crete. The pancreas is part of the Endocrine system - so well connected to the thyroid it would seem 
The pancreas is both endocrine and exocrine. Diabetes comes from the pancreas and definitely endocrine but pancreatitis is more exocrine and involves a gastroenterologist. I have to take prescription strength pancreatic digestive enzymes so that I can digest food.
My pancreatitis was idiopathic but I also have pancreatic insufficiency that took 11 years to diagnose. I think it started after my pregnancy but because it was undiagnosed I think it's the main reason why t4 was so unbelievably toxic. I suffered from functional malnutrition from my pancreas...well at least that's my theory and I'm sticking too it.
How come it took so long to diagnose dont the blood tests detect it ?
Acute pancreatitis absolutely shows up in blood tests. The lipase is elevated as well as other pancreatic enzymes. But the pain, stomach and back, is usually so intense, that's a really good clue that it's the pancreas. Exocrine pancreas insufficiency doesn't show up in blood tests because there is a deficiency of enzymes, so no elevated enzymes. It is tested via fecal elastase 1 test. But stools are odd as well...a fact doctors were ignoring. In hindsight, if they had just listen to my symptoms the diagnosis should have been much much sooner. And with chronic pancreatitis there is often but not always pain and it seems to flare up frequently but not constant and so it's easy to test at the wrong time.
I see thanks for explaining Her stools keep being yellow ? And either constipated or loose if that means anything?
Yellow, do the doctors know this? That, I think, ties into malabsorption... with can be the pancreas or a few other possibilities. Does she eat wheat or gluten?
Yes she does we had celiac test and normal she can eat wheat and be fine and other times not?
Wheat is also high in frutans, part of the FODMAPs group of foods. To react only sometimes to things like wheat is how my body is with FODMAPs. I don't know about any connection to back pain but certainly it would involve stomach pain. Food intolerances have been known to call some pretty impressive symptoms. Might be worth reading up on FODMAPs and getting the app. The best source is via Sue Shepherd and Monash University.
FYI, I asked about gluten because it can involve the pancreas.
Is the app the monash univeristy one £7.99 does this elimante all dairy gluten etc and then u slowly reintroduce and see if it effects you?
Might be the same one. Although I don't think they included gluten. Just wheat and rye
We have been to docs 4 times and nentioned pancritus but they saud would be actually sick or runs she neither think uktrasound looked at pancreous too
Sorry...they did do an ultrasound? And stools are fine?
Yes
There are blood tests for pancreatitis as well. Definitive.
What test as she had loads done
pancreasfoundation.org/pati...
She had serum amylase test woukd this show up pancreatitius? This was normal
SlowDragonAdministrator
Do you have any recent blood test results and ranges to add
Just testing TSH is completely inadequate
For full Thyroid evaluation she needs TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised
All thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Do not take Levothyroxine dose in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take immediately after blood draw. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies
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
Can only see TPO have been tested, not TG antibodies
TPO at 31 (assuming range is over 34) suggests Hashimoto's
Has she had thyroid ultrasound? This can confirm Hashimoto's
Is she on strictly gluten free diet?
Yes we had all bloods and vitamins done and got ranges her thyroid bloods not changed since april 18 when things were ok. Vitamins all mid of range and we were taking supplements until she started feeling poorly as any tablet now seems to upset her like paracetomol . Her tpo was 28 and range 0-59 so didnt think this indicate hashm . Our hospital wont do tg one . She had ultrasound on her neck earlier this year and all normal . We keep food dairy but nothing shows a pattern she can eat one thing one day and be fine then next time bad . She also worst first thinh in in morning before any food???
With some food intolerances like fruitose/FODMAPs a reaction can happen after reaching a certain 24 hour load or limit and not after every time you eat a specific food. Like if I eat 1 apple I'm fine but if I have a second apple 20 hours later, within the same 24hours, I might have a reaction. But feeling worse in morning, assuming before ingesting anything doesn't sound typical of food intolerance. Is there anything new in her bedroom, bedding, flooring, PJs, etc... that could be causing a reaction.
Theres nothing new in her room i can think of
Hello, We searched for answers to my daughter's ill health questions for 20+ years, for many of those assuming that her issues were only thyroid/adrenal related and we rigidly followed the advice of several eminent private thyroid doctors. However, they didn't have the answers. Let me suggest this brilliant book to you which is hot off the press and the contents of which saved my daughters life. It turned out that her thyroid/adrenal problems were merely symtpoms of a much bigger problem. If you buy the book don't buy the Kindle edition as there are many diagrams and tables to view. Contact me by PM if you need any more information. I'd be happy to help. Jane x
hi there - as an 'adrenal patient' this 'sounds' like she is taking levo without having supported her adrenal glands - the pains for this radiate from the front of the body underneath the rib cage - also back pain and nausea too - can you ask her is she gets a rushing feeling behind her nose which is the pituitary under pressure ………..another adrenal indicator are the thigh muscles and knees which can cause pain. To help immediately she should take at least 1000 mg of vitamin C - as the adrenal glands gobbles up vitamin C if it is under pressure. Hope this helps.
I was blown away by your comment on pain behind nose. This is exactly what I have (along with pain and nausea). I have failed to persuade endo that my adrenal function is not ok. He asked for serum acth and cortisol (unchallenged) and said they were normal. They seemed to me to be in the range that would need dynamic testing. What can I do? I believe my pituitary is damaged (Sheehan’s Syndrome), but they won’t do imaging. Constant pain and nausea. Thanks, ginny
Did you mean a pushing feeling behind nose? Thanks, g
Hi Ginny Yes I describe it as a rushing but could be pushing too - anything from behind the nose has to be the pituitary as it is directly behind the nasal cavity and when I went on levo without support I got dreadful symptoms from behind the nose as the pituitary was trying to help out. I see later on you are mentioning DHEA - well mine is low and so is my Pregnenalone - but that can be called Pregnenalone steal as the DHEA is stealing the Pregnenalone to keep its levels up. I started to take a low dose of Preg not DHEA as I was wanting the Progesterone and Preg makes Prog Oestogen and Testosterone - all of which I am low on. However unfortunately it raised my blood pressure too high 200 plus so I had to stop taking it - but boy did I feel well on it. I might try DHEA on its own next - have my hubby on it at the moment as he has been diagnosed with Type II - levels 18 - within 48 hours of being on DHEA his levels went down to 12 and now a week later down to 6.8 - including taking Vitamin B5 for the adrenals - he is not overweight - eats a med diet (he is Italian) doesn't drink so we had a problem how we were going to get his levels down - I have always been convinced Type II is an adrenal gland issues after reading the book - Is Diabetes an Adrenal Gland disease - which I gave to my consultant who was so excited to read it. I think I have proved it is ……………..he has had a Christmas diet - mince pies the lot and yet his levels are almost normal today. No Metformin for him. Anyway I digress Ginny apologies - all I can say with your endo issues is that you ask him for a scan of your pituitary - it isn't a nice one as they have to put a mask on you - I have had it and jumped out of the machine as the mask was bolted down on my face...………..eventually had it done and nothing was found thank goodness. So it was the lack of adrenal support. Why don't you Vitamin B5 Pantothenic Acid which is for the adrenals and helps no end.
Vitamin B5, also known as pantothenic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that is found in all living cells within the body. ... Aside from being critical in manufacturing red blood cells, vitamin B5 also plays a part in producing sex and stress-related hormones produced in the adrenal glands
I never made the connection to the sinus pressure I always felt when overtired. Thanks for this. As soon as I supported my adrenals, my T3 levels improved. B5, B6, B12, Magnesium, Zinc, Selenium and Vitamin C and good levels of Vitamin D and Iron are key to thyroid and adrenal support and are indirectly helpful for boosting progesterone.
There are many possibilities - 1) low stomach acid as mentioned earlier due to low T3 which means she is a poor T4 converter. Slow Dragon's advice to get full blood test is recommended to see if this is the case. 2) Hormone imbalance other than just thyroid, so adrenal failure including low DHEA or progesterone - vital to have good vitamin D levels, Magnesium, Zinc and Vitamin C. 3) Mast Cell problem can mean issues with digestion 4) Gall bladder or Pancreas inflammation makes digestion of fats a problem 5) Histamine Intolerance means some foods make you feel ill due to high histamine content 6) Lactose / Gluten Intolerance 7) Candida overgrowth.. 8) Helicobactor
Firstly see your GP about the more worrying possibilities e.g. Pancreas or poor vitamin levels. If they cannot find anything it is probably a gut issue that requires a slightly modified diet. I am gluten / casein / Lactose free and doing well on it. My daughter also, but she also has to watch things like day old leftover meats as they are high in histamine, she also cannot drink alcohol, much to her frustration!
I recommend doing a food diary and stick to simple non-allergic foods for a day and liquid foods like broths which line the gut. Have no sugar other than some glucose powder in water with a little salt added and vitamin C. Then, carefully reintroduce oatmeal, root vegetable soups, risotto, soft boiled eggs and cooked greens (not spinach)... If eggs cause a reaction then it could be a problem with fats.. The best thing is to keep it simple so it is obvious what the trigger foods are..
All her bloods and vitamin levels ok same as they were 6 months ago we had gluten test it was negative weve tried elimamting say gluten or dairy but nothing seems to help she can eat one thing oneday and be fine then another real bad discomfort also fitst thing in morning when ber tummy empty she seems to be at worst surely if intollerant she should feel good until ears something? Docs not much help bit jve reffered to gastro specialiat
I wish it were that simple. Leaky gut can cause delayed reactions. Only by either removing all potential triggers and slowly reintroducing them is it really obvious. I didn't achieve anything close to a good working digestive system until I had introduced healing broths, no gluten and Dairy, vitamin C before meals and adrenal friendly meal times. However, I also introduced things to help conversion including Selenium and Zinc and Magnesium which prevents spasms.
Does low DHEA indicate adrenal insufficiency? Mine was undetectable but endo ignores this because they don’t seem to think saliva tests are significant thanks ginny
My daughter was diagnosed 18 months ago aged 21..she does have hashi’s but nausea and digestive discomfort have been a major issue…really debilitating. Pre diagnosis, nausea, acid reflux, chronic discomfort/pain in her intestines were so bad she was unable to eat and literally wasting away before my eyes. Doctors insisted it was all anxiety related, I had to be really assertive to get them to run tests….and bingo, TSH of 30, all vitamins super low etc etc. Basically Hypothyroid with related anaemia all made worse by being unable to eat. It has taken 18 months to put her back together again and whilst she is so much better, we are not quite there yet with digestive discomfort. Still exploring.
Here is what we have deduced about the digestive/nausea issues. It is definitely to some extent, hypothyroid related. As her Levo dose became more fine tuned, the symptoms improved….but they didn’t go entirely.
They improve SLOWLY! Frustrating, but some improvements can take months not days, even after the correct action is taken.
Make sure TSH is as low as it can go and T4 is as high as it can go….this made a difference, we thought she was balanced on meds, she took a dip, they upped her dose, another slight improvement.
Make sure she is not suffering from any underlying forms of anaemia. Don’t accept the doctor saying levels are `normal` get copies of the blood tests. If they are not upper end, get good supplements. (the lovely people on this site can advise) B12 has made a difference.
The low stomach acid problem comes up again and again. We have not tried betaine yet as she struggles taking larger pills. It will be our next port of call when she has been on the B12 for six months.
Don’t underestimate just how very ill being hypothyroid can make you…and how long it may take her body to recover even when on the correct meds. My daughter can still only work part time at 23…but it is an improving picture. The last thing to improve for her is the mid section discomfort that comes on to some extent most days mid/late afternoon and with exertion. Nausea still happens but not every day and sometimes can go ages without it now. We are nearly back to normal…but not quite there yet. It can be a long journey.
Your story sounds horendius hope she gets back to full health soon . My daughter was doing ok on levo all bloods and vitamins ok but just like a light switching on she turned bad overnight just cant wirk it out
Oh I see, so it has presented since her diagnosis...I hope you find a solution. It is just so hard when you keep hitting a brick isn't it? Keep us posted if you discover anything, it is so sad when they are young and can't just live life to the full. I do feel for you, having been there. Hope you get some light at the end of the tunnel soon. I have found this site very helpful for shared experience and symptoms.
Yes will do life is tough good luck too
Hi j
I am having these problems too and had all the scans too. I don’t have stomach pain. I have pain in my right flank. Feels like appendix pain all day every day
Have the docs not suggested a diagnosis
No. Have to have camera up. I think it’s my meds personal
Back problems can be from hyper or hypo symptoms . Thyroids and adrenals work in unison . If your under dosed with thyroid meds the adrenals will pick up the slack . Causing adrenal fatigue . You might want to have a 24 hour saliva test done with adrenal /Cortisol levels . DHEA-S is done with BW .
Meanwhile support adrenals with Vitamin "C" , B-Complex , B-5 , Celtic Sea Salt . Get plenty rest . Stay off caffeine and sugar .
Hi jwoodward5 don't underestimate what pain and where spinal problems can cause. I have two slipped vertebrae (L4 and L5) which can and do radiate pain down legs and into lower stomach. These particular two vertebrae affect bowel and bladder and do cause nausea too. All is much improved though when my FT3is at a decent level. paul1978 this is something for you to consider as well. I wish you well.
If your daughter has not taken betaine with pepsin and Hal. it could be that one to explore. I had all those symptoms. I now regularly take the above when I eat protein, otherwise I start with the symptoms again. I get mine from amazon, made by solgar. I know how she feels, it’s awful. I hope it helps. Happy new year
I was doung ok on tirosint for 4 years, then suddenly i started getting stomach problems and reflux. Even my thyroid medication gives me stomach burning and reflux now. Doctors keep prescribing antiacids which give me hard to tolerate side effects. I started having very bad anxienty and react badly now to my thyroid medication too. I an bearely eat. I’m thinking of trying a different medication since it does not seem i can tolerate this one anymore. All the thyroid meds have as a side effect also digestive issues, i think that in time they affected my stomach as well. Has she tried some antiacids?
Doc gave her antacids for 2 weeks bit didnt really help
Could be something else totally unrelated to her thyroid.
Everyone assumes it’s thyroid related when it might not be. Get her checked out by a GP x
We have been docs 4 times in past month and got specialist apt but not till end jan she suffering so thought od ask the forum for advice
I have had this also. Particularly recently it is worse as pharmacy have me a different make of levothyroxine. I cannot take the ones with acacia or lactose..
What symptons do you have?
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