Hi There
I havn't been diagnosed with hypothyroid but am getting more bloods done. However I was wondering if gastric problems, (not constipation as I know this can be a symptom), but stomach/oesophageal problems can be a symptom of hypothyroidism??
Thank you for any replies.
Hi Pinetrees,
It was actually a gastroenterologist who thought I might have thyroid symptoms, so I was aware of the link from the time I had an endoscopy. For me, omeprazole (PPI) did not help the gastritis & caused lots of side effects (possibly too high a dose). Going gluten free however did ease my oesophageal and stomach pain. I also found buying a juicer & trying hard to eat fresh produce was helpful. There are lots of great juicing recipes to help ease stomach pains (I like Rosemary Ferguson’s book/ on line recipes). It’s also key to try and reduce any stresses- Practising mindfulness helped me unwind (I use an app as I’m useless without an instructor!)
Having my thyroid and vitamin levels in better range has also (fingers crossed) ensured I’ve not had further issues with gastritis. Both the Endo and gastroenterologist thought I had Graves (as I was losing weight & had hyper symptoms) but later tests highlighted I’m now Hypo and have Hashimotos.
Great info, as I have never associated my thyroid with my stomach pains so great info. Thank you
I have Graves Disease. Had been told I had underactive thyroid and was on thyroxine, but was loosing weight and had swung to overactive so now on Carbimazole. Digestion has been affected. Had an endoscopy but was all OK in there! I have gone gluten free and am also taking stuff to develop good gut flora - Optibac for example, but there are others. Suggest you take some. Good wishes.
Swinging from hypo to hyper is common in autoimmune thyroiditis, need to identify the critter causing the problem, its usually candida or EBV sort that out, and the thyroid should function normally again...
Thanks Roadrunner, but whats EBV?? Im sure I will feel stupid when you come back with the answer?
You probably have low stomach acid, a lot of hypos do. But, the symptoms are the same as for high stomach acid. Have a look at this article, and try the home test at the end:
healthygut.com/articles/3-t...
You need FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing as per previous post
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Just testing TSH and FT4 is completely inadequate
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 you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies
Ask GP to test vitamin levels and thyroid antibodies
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .
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 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
If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's.
Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten.
So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .
Link about thyroid blood tests
thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...
Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
List of hypothyroid symptoms
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
Come back with new post once you get results
Low stomach acid can be common an issue
Literally thousands of posts on here about low stomach acid
healthunlocked.com/search/p...
Links about why and how
articles.mercola.com/sites/...
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
stopthethyroidmadness.com/s...
Reflux results from hypothyroidism, there is reduced motility and ‘low oesophageal sphincter pressure’ allowing acid to reflux up.
That's a Very good question, I was diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus & a Hiatal hernia... I am congenital/central hypothyroid (born w/out the thyroid gland) I'll Have to ask my endocrinologist or my gastroenterologist (he diagnosed me)... Thank you For your question, I hadn't thought about that.. the answer if any, should be intersting!
When acid is low in the stomach - food is slow to break down and move into the duodenum. This can cause fermentation and upward movement into the oesophagus. The flap (sphincter) keeping food etc in the stomach is muscular in nature and LOW T3 can affect the efficiency of muscles. Nothing scientific just my thoughts !
I've just been diagnosed with every intestinal 'itis" imaginable and feeling pretty fed up so was pleased to hear it could be a hypo thing. I see a consultant on Thursday next week so will find out more then. I've also suffered with severe constipation which I've been seeing a dietician for for over a year - still nothing resolves it apart from over the counter meds. Let's hope it's all related and I can get some kind of normality back to my life.
Are you taking Magnesium and VitC ? - both help with constipation. Do you have Hashimotos ? If so - being gluten free can help to heal the gut. Your VitD is low and it is a steroidal pro-hormone that is anti-inflammatory - so much more than a vitamin !
I'm only on 125mg of levo. I did see graves on my file and when I queried this was told it wasn't that as I've had rai . I had a throat scan 2 weeks ago and was told that I still had a large nodule on my left side. I told him I'd had treatment. Apparently the right side has almost disappeared so I don't know what's going on. I've got to wait until Dec appt to find out
I have stomach pains, but never thought it might be linked to my Thyroid. So thank you for this post.
Hi Pinetrees,
Before finally being diagnosed with hypothyroidism I had alot of gastric issues. When I had an endoscopy they found that I had thrush in my oesophagus, I had duodenitis and there were also erosion in my duodenum. I tried eliminating different foods from my diet but for me caffeine was the culprit. After being treated for the thrush and now being caffeine free things have greatly improved.
Ang
Hi yes it dose I’m underactive and yes I had stomach problems for about 2 years constant heartburn acid burning my eosophageal ended having the Nissan fundoplication operation heart burn free but still have voice problem witch has been hoarse since acid caused burning
Thank you all for incredibly interesting posts, the battle goes on. Wishing you all well.
Hello, 6 days after my thyroid was removed, I started with uncontrollable gastroesophageal reflux, I did not know that it was due to the lack of the hormone, which I was suspended while sending the sample to pathology, since then my stomach was not the same, I was sent to do 6 studies, 2 endoscopies, manometry, Phmetry, esophageal-gastro-duodenal series, tomography, gastroenterologists and endocrinologist never related this reaction of my body with thyroid extraction in this forum I have learned more than the "specialists" tell you.
For me being hypo thyroid I experienced digestive issues and Gerd. Not pleasant to say the least. Once my thyroid meds where increased and was Optimally dosed my issues resolved themselves.
Yes .. When I was under active I suffered with stomach pain and constipation. Now that my thyroid has started working I can have a bowel movement twice a day and I am eating loads of food and losing weight so I know my metabolism is working properly now.
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