Are stool tests for gut health worth it?

[livelifetothefull]

I have been considering having these tests done for some time as I’m sure there’s an imbalance somewhere in what I eat. I can’t seem to pinpoint in and am thinking a stool test is the only way forward. Has any got any recommendations of where to go, what price they paid and did it work. Thank you in advance for any help! I’m on 125mg levothyroxine currently and have had IBS symptoms it seems forever!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Presumably you have Hashimoto's?

Or have you never had thyroid antibodies tested?

For full Thyroid evaluation you need 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

Recommended on here that 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)

Is this how you do your tests?

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

Have you had coeliac blood test? Or tried strictly gluten free diet?

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.

Many, many people find strictly gluten free diet improves IBS

Dairy is second most common.

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

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

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

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

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

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

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

[livelifetothefull in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you. I intend to have a blood test for coeliac but I don’t really eat much food that contains gluten. Perhaps it’s dairy that affects me more than that so i will try to eliminate that.

[Fruitandnutcase]

If it’s any help I’ve got IBS and I went totally gluten free about five years ago after I was diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis. I decided I had so many other autoimmune conditions I had to do something.

My thyroid antibodies absolutely plummeted which was good, I’m not sure how much it has done for the arthritis because it’s been particularly bad recently although I haven had to increase my arthritis medicines so maybe it has.

Being gluten free has made a massive difference to my IBS though - I’ve had that since about 1986 and I was checked out thoroughly back then plus any time I've had a particularly bad flare up I go and see the doctor again to be sure it is still IBS and nothing nastier.

You could ask your GP to test you for coeliac disease or you could just go gluten free yourself. Thing is if you do it yourself and then decide you want tested, you will have to start eating gluten again or it won’t show up on the test, I’ve been offered tests since nice but I don’t want to eat gluten just for a test so I’ve not done it.

I joined CoeliacUK when I started. Great website and a fantastic handbook listing every gluten free food and ingredient on the market so if you decide to try going gluten free to help your hashis then think about joining CoeliacUK.

[livelifetothefull in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Yes I think if I want to rule out coeliac then I need to continue eating gluten although I really don’t eat that much which is why I was thinking of having a stool test to eliminate parasites or simialr

[G2G2]

If you suspect you have SIBO, that's diagnosed with a breath test. It's a worthwhile test. Depending on what you want tested, stool tests for some things are useless. You'll need to give more info.

[livelifetothefull in reply to G2G2]

What is SIBO? Never heard of that?!

[G2G2 in reply to livelifetothefull]

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth siboinfo.com/symptoms.html. It's common with IBS.

[livelifetothefull in reply to G2G2]

Thankyou - it makes sense and definitely quite a few symptoms I appear to have

[G2G2 in reply to livelifetothefull]

Hope that helps you get to the root of the problem.

[userotc]

As per my reply just now to Abigail in another post, I've had stool tests (2) done by Genova Diagnostics. Currently I'm surveying 3 others as I plan my next. Genova is still a contender although a natural practitioner I respect has questioned their results for infection.

Genova cost ~£360 ea. Did they "work" difficult to answer completely but the 1st showed digestion issues (much improved in 2nd) and both showed I have potential pathogens. Subsequent consultation included advice on diet eg more variation/colours and fiber, as well as removing PPs. You need an external clinician eg nutritionist, for Genova and most others.

Hopefully others on here that agree with me that the gut is vital for health and have stool tests eg Ari3, will express views. After that, we could have private messages for detail?

[Angel_of_the_North]

I got one done on the NHS but it didn't find anything. Also had bile acid test and SIBO breath test through NHS - have you asked your GP?

[livelifetothefull in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

No I haven’t but more than one person has suggested this so I think I will do that

[Hidden in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Can I ask what symptoms you went to the doctor with the to get those done through the NHS? My GP is so dismissive. Thanks for your help

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Hidden]

Morning diarrhea for several years plus low ferritin

[userotc]

I also had NHS stool test a while ago the results of which were at best unclear and nothing found. The 2 private tests I've had done looked for (and identified) much more, good and bad. I guess you get what you pay for and the NHS charge is nil!

[livelifetothefull in reply to userotc]

How much were your private tests if you don’t mind me asking and what company did you use?

[livelifetothefull]

Thank you

[userotc]

As per earlier post, the test costs circa. £360 from Genova Diagnostics.

[livelifetothefull in reply to userotc]

Thankyou

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Many of us with Hashimoto's have gut issues

I never had ANY gut symptoms. Tested negative twice (20 years apart) for coeliac. Private Endoscopy revealed significant damage, "as if coeliac". Subsequent NHS DNA test said "unlikely coeliac", but effectively severely gluten intolerant. Despite zero gut symptoms.

Was very useful getting "official" diagnosis

Gave up absolutely ALL gluten, with significant improvements.

Soya free also noticeable improvement