Gastric problems: I’ve got reoccurring gastritis... - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

137,775 members161,576 posts

Gastric problems

Bownty profile image
25 Replies

I’ve got reoccurring gastritis probably caused by a course of Trimithropen

I’ve tried everything to get rid of it, it’s makng me feel so ill, believe me I’ve tried everything, and remedies please? I’ll try anything?

To top it all, my thyroid is very under active, (T12 ) and my diabetes has gone haywire

The go has upped the thyroxin to 175 mcgs per day

Written by
Bownty profile image
Bownty
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
25 Replies
Heloise profile image
Heloise

Hi Bounty, you have to replenish the flora that has been destroyed by the antibiotic. My doctor would always give a nystatin pil with antibiotics but I don't suppose that's done anymore. Eating fermented foods with every meal would be a big help. Probiotics are still kind of a debate but prebiotics like inulin might support your flora later.

How are your vitamin D levels which help prevent infections?

Bownty profile image
Bownty in reply to Heloise

Thanks for this, currently using probiotics in capsule form and have found something called “Kefir” have been introduced to this and have a “plant” which I’m growing )

Bownty. It might be helpful if you posted your latest blood results as optimal thyroid treatment can help with this. I am currently taking some super enzymes by a company called NOW. I am taking for IBS and am loads better for having it. Others who reviewed the product were taking it for gastritis and saying that it was really helpful. It contains lots of digestive enzymes and some betaine.

Bownty profile image
Bownty in reply to

I’m waiting for a new blood test at the end of Jan when the GP will review my thyroid levels , I’ll ask for a printout

Thank you for your advice

Heloise profile image
Heloise in reply to Bownty

You are welcome, Bounty. We all want you to improve your health. Kefir is okay if you don't have problems with dairy but in fact, the last report I heard was that a certain element in dairy actually was found to be the cause in childhood diabetes. Wish I had taken notes but you might look at PubMed for information.

I personally like kambucha and it can make different probiotics. Apple cider vinegar if unfiltered is excellent and adds even more. Sauerkraut is also coming out with different flavors which I like. Food is far better than capsules.

I agree with mandyjane about the enzymes.

Think about your thyroid in a holistic way because it is needed by every cell in your body and you want to make sure it can get there.

JGBH profile image
JGBH in reply to

Hi Mandyjane

May I ask you the brand of digestive enzymes you’re taking? Apologies to Bounty for hijacking her post.

in reply to JGBH

I buy in from Amazon and it is by a company called NOW. They do tablets and capsules. I think the capsules are better the tablets taste like cat pee. They are called super enzymes.

JGBH profile image
JGBH in reply to

Thanks for your kind reply. Will check it on Amazon.

fiftyone profile image
fiftyone

Hi, I have exactly the same health problems. I take 175 mcg of thyroxine and this keeps me generally well. I take one omeprazole capsule at night before I go to bed and this controls the gastritis as the acidity seems to build up at night more than any other time. Doctors suggest taking it in the morning, but for me, this is 'too late'. (it may take a few days for the full benefit to be felt) I found the off the shelf Gaviscon's fairly useless. However, I do keep a supply of ASDA's antacid tablets in my bag and they work well to ward off any acidy feelings during the day.

Regarding the diabetes. I found cutting out a lot of lactose (in milk, yogurt and some other dairy foods) helped, as well as watching my intake of carbs. I don't, as a rule, eat bread, pasta, rice, pastry, potatoes, sweet biscuits, what I call carb-dense foods. I do have a sweet tooth, unfortunately, but try and keep my treats to a minimum, buy kids size chocolate, reduced sugar jam. I do take metformin but so far, no need for anything more. Some people may be affected by too much fruit but that doesn't affect me so much. I should say I do take a LOT of exercise in the hope that this will help, too. Only have the energy for this when I take proper dose of levothyroxine, so a bit of a vicious/virtuous circle.

Bownty profile image
Bownty in reply to fiftyone

Thanks, for your feedback

in reply to fiftyone

I used to take omprezole and lansoprazole but am now much better on my natural thyroid hormones. I try to avoid the proton pump inhibitors as they stop your gut from producing acid.Acid is a normal part of gut function and enables you to digest food properly and so with out it all kind of nutricianal deficientencys can occur that in me led to a lot of over eating as my body craved food to try and compensate and worsing fatigue. I think PPIs are very useful to heal an ulcer and I would take again if I had oesophogitus and was unable to eat or drink but Like antibiotics I now only take if I need them to prevent an issue becoming life threatening. I do sympathise because I know how horrible it can be to live with heart burn all the time.I managed to slowly reduce mine as I increased my thyroid meds. It is very rarely a problem now and usually due to my drinking a glass of something like cider.

fiftyone profile image
fiftyone in reply to

That's good if you don't need them. I produce too much acid.

posthinking01 profile image
posthinking01

Hi there - Trimethroprim is a sulphur based antibiotic that actually depletes thyroid hormone - when I am taking it because I take a liquid thyroxine for lactose intolerance I am more able to up my dose my 5mcg otherwise I would be the same. Also Vitamin C is crucial for making stomach acid - sounds awful but it isn't - stomach acid is crucial - low B12 is also implicated in gastritis - be careful with anything that might affect your blood sugar levels though. I would start with a low dose of Vitamin C say 500 mg - or even a product sold by H&B - 'Vitamin C with zinc lozenges (in bright orange bottle) that you can suck would help at the beginning until you get your balance right then you can take the higher doses. Hope this helps.

Bownty profile image
Bownty in reply to posthinking01

Thanks I’ll try anything

Treepie profile image
Treepie

If the other suggested remedies do not cure I think you should talk to your GP about a possible gastroscopy.I also have Type 2 diabetes. A gastroscopy revealed : ulcers,Barratts mucosa and hiatus hernia.I suffered for weeks trying other remedies. Lansaprazole has helped but not shrunk the ulcers so now on a more recent more expensive ppi.

Bownty profile image
Bownty in reply to Treepie

I’ve had a gastroscopy the diagnosis was gastritis

What’s the new PPI your on?

Thanks for your input

Treepie profile image
Treepie in reply to Bownty

I missed gastritis off my list but I think its included in the others as insurer said " already covered " as left to last to list.

Not sure how much newer it but is Esomeprazole.

Hashi-Monster profile image
Hashi-Monster

Slippery Elm really helped heal my chronic gastritis

Bownty profile image
Bownty in reply to Hashi-Monster

Thanks ! I’ll try it!

JGBH profile image
JGBH in reply to Hashi-Monster

Missimal, I too find slippery elm most helpful to heal stomach lining. At times it’s the only thing I can eat, having reactive gastritis and GERD : have been taking omezoprasole for 3 decades!

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Do you have Hashimoto's also called autoimmune thyroid disease diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies?

About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's

Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12. Always get actual results and ranges. Post results when you have them, members can advise

Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels. Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working

Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten.

According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies

Ideally ask GP for coeliac blood test first, plus vitamins

amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

Bownty profile image
Bownty in reply to SlowDragon

Thank you very helpful I’ll check this all out

I haven’t been diagnosed with Hashimotos

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Bownty

Presumably you have hypothyroidism?

Majority of hypothyroidism is due to autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto's diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

But extremely often GP's never bother to test antibodies, as they have no extra treatment to offer, other than Levothyroxine for the resulting hypothyroidism

However patients do need to know if cause is Hashimoto's as there's much we can do to help ourselves. Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's

Low stomach acid is common when hypothyroid

Are you adequately treated for hypothyroid

BootsOn profile image
BootsOn

I suffered with agonising gastritis for the best part of a year until someone somewhere on the net recommended zinc carnosine. It took 2 or 3 months until I got full relief but the gastritis did not come back after I stopped taking it either. I eventually discovered that drinking tea was one of my triggers. Stay away from PPIs if you can.

Bownty profile image
Bownty

Thanks

You may also like...

Gastric reflux and thyroid problems related?

Since my thyroid was removed I started with something called pathological reflux, since then this...

Gastric problems and thyroxine therapy uptake

Gastric upset on Carbimazole

I was just wondering if anyone has experienced bloating and discomfort whilst taking Carbimazole. I...

Gastric Band/bypass for losing weight?

with one. I know this isn't about thyroid but it links to the thyroid as I am pretty sure that is...

Hashimotos and Gastric Band

help myself further and try the T3 & T4 together. My cousin in the US also has Hashimotos (massive...