Hello, I'm hypo on Levo 100mcg.
Just been treated for faecal impaction, total 12 sachets laxido over 2 days.
I was constipated due to taking painkillers for my back.
Now my stomach bloats even though I barely eat. I have a gluten, sugar and processed free diet, my question is what do I take to balance my gut?
You probably have low stomach acid - most hypos do. So, what you do it stays in the stomach too long, without being digested, and ferments, provoking a sort of volcanic effect, with bloating gases. You need something to increase the acid, like Apple Cider Vinegar in water before each meal.
How much acv and how much water please?
I'm afraid I'm not very sure, I've never done it. A teaspoonful, I think, in a glass of water. And, drink through a straw to protect your teeth. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, please?
I put a good slug of it in water - probs a couple of dessert spoons. You get used to it! Make sure it’s organic and with ‘the mother’ (it’ll say on the bottle). I had exactly the same issue with a good load of bleeding to boot (yuck). Also, try inulin (soluble dietary fibre) in water each day. You can get it by the kilo on amazon and you can work up from a teaspoon to two teaspoons a day. V good for getting things moving! All the other things I’d recommend you’re already doing.
Hi, i have this problem from time to time and Apple Cider Vinegar, ( make sure its gluten free ) and honey works every time, infact, i make it a daily health drink now as its an excellent solution in aiding digestion and keeping the body in perfect PH balance for good health. 1Tablespoon mixed with half to one teaspoon of honey in warm water in a glass and sip. Its excellent.
Thankyou Greygoose, I took apple cider vinegar and voila almost immediate relief. I was afraid to take it in case it made my cramps and bloating worse🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻
Thanks for that, even I did not know that. I thought the low stomach acid, was down to my B12 deficiency?? Everything is worth a try 
B12 deficiency will also cause low stomach acid, yes. But, whatever causes it, the result is the same.
I’ve just been diagnosed with this too, only they gave me suppositories and movicol. I haven’t taken more than two sachets of the movicol and I’ve only done the first part of the suppository treatment, so one, leave for 20 mins, then another one for another 20 mins after initial movement. Only thing is, it gave me such horrendous stomach cramps afterwards that I’ve been to scared to take anymore as 4 days later, I’m still having really bad cramps every time I eat anything!
I am gluten free so it’s not from eating something I shouldn’t. I can just about tolerate a cup or two of tea a day, anymore and that sets me off too!! (I’ve drink decaf tea and coffee for over 20 years, so I don’t think it’s that either) and I only have a single level teaspoon of sugar in my tea, and don’t add it to anything else I have. I just can’t seem to drop this last spoon of sugar, I don’t eat/ drink diet/ low cal or no added sugar products because I’m allergic to sweeteners. I rarely eat as it is because everything seems to make its way back up and I’m sick or sick in my mouth! 🥴 sorry tmi, I know.
If anyone has any suggestions as to what it can be or how it can be helped, I’d be interested to know???
Thank you and sorry for hijacking your post geegee888 🙄🥺
I notice you have had this problem before. What other medications are you taking? Many painkillers including opiates cause constipation. I would also check that you are on a sufficient dose of levothyroxine. Although your blood test results from two years ago looked fine I would simply increase your levothyroxine dose to 125 mcg and see if it makes a difference. Soluble fibre such as soft fruits and porridge oats should help, bran will make things worse. I would also take a magnesium supplement, this will help with the bloating and back pain. I take magnesium citrate, other forms are good but not magnesium oxide or hydroxide.
I agree with all the v helpful suggestions. Having been a life long sufferer of constipation I worked out recently the magic of water. Yup plain old water. Well I add juice of a squeezed lemon and bung the lemon in a 1 litre sized Camelbak bottle and I drink a litre of that in first hour when I get up when I take my thyroid meds. Then I’ll aim to get through at least two to three more bottles full in rest of day. It sounds a lot but my bowels I’ve worked out really need a lot of water. And you might too especially as you’re not drinking much tea.
Also I take a table spoon of soaked chia seeds. They are brilliant too in addition to occasional magnesium citrate to keep things moving.
Good luck!
I take whole psyllium seeds, soaked in a good deal of water over night.
When i say whole psyllium seeds, I'm not referring to Metamucil, which is just psyllium husk.
When did you last get FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing?
100mcg Levothyroxine may not be high enough dose and/or vitamin levels may be too low, especially with obvious gut issues
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also 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. 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).
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
Meanwhile magnesium can help improve constipation. Calm vitality magnesium powder is cheap and easy to use. Starting with low dose and increase until get desired effect. (Any magnesium must be four hours away from taking Levothyroxine)
I have ordered medichecks ultra vit and will post the results soon. As for constipation, I don't think I will take so many painkillers again...lesson learnt.🌻🌻🌻🌻
hi I have adhesions all along my digestive tract due to countless ops, so I have a solve which prevents adhesions. Instead of an interesting breakfast I have 50g oats, with 100ml oat milk and a couple of tablespoons of flax and chia seeds. That sorts most things out! You may want to go dairy free too, or even go on a fully plant based diet, dairy is renowned as a bloater and if you have a compromised digestive system then meat will fester there for days - yukky. In the meantime help your system out with a good probiotic such as bioglan, and help your liver with something that contains milk thistle and stuff like that, it will all help. Good luck cx
PS the apple cider vinegar idea is great, there's lots of ways to add it to your diet; I add it to my stir fries, and I mix with olive oil to make salad dressing
have you looked into sibo? Or the low fodmap diet? Or any other gut infections? Parasites or yeasts?
Hi,
Have you been taking co-codemol (Excuse the spelling) for the back pain? As I was told that does cause constipation etc? I have really bad sciatica, so try to avoid it and take other painkillers. But can't take Iburofen anymore due to Diverticular diagnosis.
I never really suffered with constipation etc, until last year and also post menopause. But since then, after several CT scans, due to bleeding, I have found out that I have
Diverticular, which is quite common evidently with thyroid conditions and soft tissue. Also aged related! However, I do get the bloating, like someone could bounce a ball of my tum sometimes. This week though, I have had my 40g of branflakes a day and whether coincidence or not, I have been back to normal in the poo department (TMI) I know it only counts for about 4% of the 30%/grams of fibre we need per day, but it seems to be doing the trick.
Fortunately for me, my Diverticular, is pretty mild, compared with some of my new friends. But I noticed that they have been taking the same laxative as you for their problems.
I will mention the apple cider thing that greygoose has mentioned, to see if any of them use it. I have heard of it being used to help with losing weight, but wary of it, due to staining of teeth etc.
Hope you bloated tum disappears for you, take care
Low stomach acid and *Gut* issues can causes many symptoms . Some can confuse it with too much acid . Betaine HCl is very helpful as well as digestive enzymes .
Going Gluten dairy sugar soy coffee free is very helpful . Nutrients are very important too .
Once I convinced my doctor to add T3 to my treatment, my chronic constipation became occasional. I also discovered Atkins bars and snacks, each of which contain several grams of fiber. Coincidentally, if I have one for dessert every night, I stay regular. I wasn't sure whether you folks in the UK can get these, so I went hunting on Amazon UK. amazon.co.uk/s?k=Atkins+bar...
Hi, this sounds like typical thyroid symptoms. I have exactly the same but haven’t taken any pain killers to cause it. I’ve tried acv & gluten free diets but nothing ever works. I don’t have an ounce of fat on me but a belly that says many months pregnant. I’m now thinking maybe I’ve got a hernia. Also impedes my breathing, can’t tie my shoes & belch when sit up. If anyone knows of any cures....
GoodLyck 👍
Maybe you are lactose intolerant? I bloat if I eat too much dairy except for tea or decaf coffee.
Hope you sort your bloating issues🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻
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