Stomach issues: Just wondering if anyone has... - Thyroid UK

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Stomach issues

MKitty profile image
17 Replies

Just wondering if anyone has tried Enterosgel to ease symptoms from stomach and bowel problems.

I suffer from terrible bloating, wind and heartburn and reflux after every meal no matter what it is I eat. Also suffer from constipation, but don't want to make it worse. Had very few problems with these before I became hypo. now look 6 months pregnant. Horrible bagged up feeling yhat makes me so lethargic.

Taken so many gavascon in the past years its now making me heave, but does relieve the heartburn for a little bit.

thanks in advance

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MKitty profile image
MKitty
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17 Replies
greygoose profile image
greygoose

It's possible you have low stomach acid - a lot of hypos do - and that causes food to ferment in your stomach rather than being digested and passing out of the stomach into the intestines.

Have a read of this article and try the home test at the end:

healthygut.com/articles/3-t...

:)

MKitty profile image
MKitty in reply togreygoose

thank you greygoose will do.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toMKitty

You're welcome. :)

NWA6 profile image
NWA6

And your meds are optimal? I was quite similar there for a few months. No appetite because I was ‘full’ all day. Burping like you wouldn’t believe!! 😂 I went gluten free 100% and started using turmeric spray but ultimately I think it was being properly medicated that helped the most.

MKitty profile image
MKitty in reply toNWA6

Well I do crash about 2pm every day, and still drag myself upstairs at night so don't think I hsve the correct dosage

thank you

BadHare profile image
BadHare

Antacids could be making you worse as well as reducing nutrient absorption. Try a little apple cider vinegar or lemon juice in water before you eat. Avoid tea & coffee, & anything processed. See if you can work out if there’s any other food triggers that you can avoid. Eat plenty of good quality fruit & veg for probiotics (& folate for your baby). Add good probiotics such as kefir to your diet to improve gut health & absorption of nutrients.

MKitty profile image
MKitty in reply toBadHare

thank you BadHare, I might not have a choice, hubby says he is ready to bin them.

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

I find taking one Betaine-Pepsin tablet after a meal helpful.

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

MKitty profile image
MKitty in reply toshaws

Thank you shaws, i will certainly try them.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Looking at previous posts you have Hashimoto's and are on Levothyroxine plus T3

Is that correct?

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

If/when also on T3, make sure to take last dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test

Is this how you do your tests?

How much Levothyroxine and T3 are you currently taking?

Is Levothyroxine always the same brand?

Which brand?

Liothyronine - always said brand?

Do you take as split dose?

As you have Hashimoto's are you on strictly gluten free diet?

This can significantly help bloating and gut issues

For good thyroid function you need good vitamin levels

What are most recent vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 results?

What supplements do you currently take?

MKitty profile image
MKitty in reply toSlowDragon

Hi SlowDragon yes I follow correct procedure for blood draws. I am due to do another test shortly, last one I did was in January. Dr. Toft reduced the levo to 50mg these are (Northstar from NHS)

T3 is Cynomel from France, and take 1/2 a tablet per day. That was in March. Although the blood tests look good I still feel very ill some days, T3 has helped with the none stop crying.

Tsh 0.20,(0.27-4.20)

Total T4 102.0 (66-181)

Ft4 15.60 (12.0-22.0)

Ft3 6.61(3.1-6.8)

Vit D 59(insufficient 30-50)

Vit B12 678 have injections every 2 month

Ferritin 201.0 (13-150)

Folate 16.0(8.83-60.8)

antibodies have gone down

I did go gluten free for 3 month but made no difference to the heartburn.

I stopped all supplements a few months back in case they were making things worse. But no difference.

thank you

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toMKitty

How much Levothyroxine were you taking before T3 was added? What was FT4 result on previous dose?

Your FT4 is only mid range. Some people need FT4 higher than that. But everyone is individual.

My endo reduced my Levo when T3 was added. But I found I needed to increase Levo slowly back up, once I was more active

Do you split your T3?

I find it essential to take my T3 as 3 split doses per day, 8 hours apart. (20mcg per day, - 10mcg at 7am, 5mcg at 3pm and 11pm )

Some manage just two split doses per day

Your vitamin D is now rather too low.

Aiming to improve by self supplementing to at least 80nmol and around 100nmol may be better

Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.

Retesting twice yearly via vitamindtest.org.uk

Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is good as avoids poor gut function.

It's trial and error what dose each person needs. Frequently with Hashimoto's we need higher dose than average

Folate is not brilliant either

Supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in not folic acid may be beneficial.

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

B vitamins best taken in the morning after breakfast

Recommended brands on here are Igennus Super B complex. (Often only need one tablet per day, not two. Certainly only start with one tablet per day after breakfast. Retesting levels in 6-8 weeks ).

Or Jarrow B-right is popular choice, but is large capsule

If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

Suggest you only change one thing at a time.

Presumably you have been given details of a new private endo contact for ongoing care

Have you tried apple cider vinegar, or Betaine HCL or slippery elm to help increase low stomach acid?

Loads of posts on here about low stomach acid

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

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

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

MKitty profile image
MKitty in reply toSlowDragon

thank you so much, I haven't checked my bloods since Jan when i was on 75mg levo and 12.5 T3.

My original dose of levo before T3 was 100mg.

I am self paying as my gp foes not believe in T3. so can't afford to do to many blood tests per year. I am doing 3 per year now and 1 nhs.

I pay Spire for consultation and prescription, which I send to my Friend in Luxembourg.

I don't have details of the lady who is taking over from Dr. T but will phone in plenty time when i need my next prescription.

I was taking vit D, B complex, tumeric for aches, vit c, selenium, and magnesium, but stopped them all to see if they were the cause. will reintroduce them.

I haven't drunk milk since i was about 6, now 72, but i do eat other dairy, butter, cheese etc.

Going to try Betaine not familiar with it to see if that helps. I have a bottle of apple cider vinegar and have taken with honey.

You have given loads to read and think about fir which I am really grateful.

thank you

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toMKitty

Low stomach acid suggests you are still hypo

You might cautiously increase Levo by 12.5mcg (50mcg and 75mcg alternate days) see how that is and retest in 6 weeks

Reducing from 100mcg to 50mcg is a lot

My Levothyroxine was only reduced by 25mcg (from 125mcg to 100mcg) and initially 2 x 5mcg added. Then T3 was increased to 20mcg in total per day with no further reduction in Levothyroxine. I still found after few months, being much more active, FT4 dropped too low for me. Obviously we are all different. I was very immobile before T3 added. Complete transformation with T3. I have Heterozygous DIO2 gene variation and gluten intolerant.

Bertwills profile image
Bertwills

Hi, I’ve used it to help with stomach problems. It can work well.

However I found that drinking tap water was one of the causes of my stomach difficulties. I live in Warwickshire and discovered that I can only drink tap if it has been boiled! It’s made a huge difference avoiding unboiled water. Even a Brita filter made no difference. Tap water in some other parts of the country is ok.

I also found that A2 milk, available in bigger supermarkets, helped but the water gives me pain and other symptoms immediately if I drink it straight from the tap.

Might be worth trying both these ideas.

MKitty profile image
MKitty

Thank you Bertwills, as I do travel about a bit I don't think its water. But I will sure keep that in mind, thank you

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toMKitty

Have you tried dairy free?

It's more difficult than gluten free, but but might worth a go

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

Sheep and goat products may be ok. Most common is reaction to any cows milk

Or you may just be lactose intolerant. In which case can get lactose free milk products

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