Question about stomach acid and thyroid hormone pills

[Netty510]

Hi everyone first i wanna thank everyone for the support and help.ok so i have had heartburn issues for a few years on and off i been taking thyroid-s for 5 days now and feeling good so.far on it only thing is i think but not 100%sure that its kicked up my heartburn past 2 days i was perscribed pantoprazole 40mg 2 years ago and i take it only when it gets to.bothersome or pepcid ac tabs. Any other ways to help with stomach acid?appler cidar vinegar?hcl?i dont mind taking the acid pills but i do take my thyroid hormones 3 times a day or maybe some probiotics would help ?thanks

[greygoose]

Sorry, but I think you've missed the point. The pepcid tablets are for people who have high stomach acid levels, and the tablets reduce the levels. Hypos usually have low stomach acid, so they need to raise their levels. And for that I suggested ACV or HCL and pepsin. But, I don't know how to use them because I've never done it. It's not just about 'helping with stomach acid', it's about getting the right treatment for your particular situation.

[BadHare in reply to greygoose]

I had indigestion when I swapped NDT last year. I added a little more ACV or lemon juice to my TH water & a splash of apple balsamic to anything I could add it to, & the issue resolved itself within a week. I’ve also used a wee pinch of ascorbic acid powder dissolved in the water I take my THs with.

[Netty510 in reply to BadHare]

Hi bad hare whats TH water?i read all the post im alittle confused on how or what to do i know sounds stupid eveyone just posted im still trying to figure it out..so take lemon juice with TH water ect ect with my thyroid pill?and it should help with digestion?thanks

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Netty510]

I read that as "the water I use to swallow my Thyroid Hormone tablets".

[Netty510 in reply to helvella]

O hahaha sorry now i get it guess im still sleeping

[BadHare in reply to Netty510]

Sometimes I'm still sleeping & miss my mouth!

[BadHare in reply to Netty510]

The water I take to bed each night to drink with my thyroid hormones (TH) in the morning. Sorry, I should have made that clear!

If I run out of lemons, I use a splash of organic apple cider vinegar (ACV). Either is also , for me, a good cure for indigestion though that's best avoided,

[posthinking01 in reply to greygoose]

Hi there - as someone who was on high dose of steroids (200 mg) for nearly two years - I can offer the following. If you have any issue at all with the stomach lining being inflamed then ACV or indeed HCL or Pepsin can further inflame the lining and cause a bleed in certain circumstances. The best way to get your stomach acid up is Vitamin C - 1,000 mg - take this on a full stomach and I have found this to be the best digestive aid out there. Bearing in mind due to the connection between thyroid and adrenals - then it is probable the low C with thyroid dysfunction is via the adrenal glands need for high Vitamin C and it will grab it to assist in keeping you alive making us deficient in this vital component for the adrenals.

[greygoose in reply to posthinking01]

How do you know if you have an inflammed stomach lining?

[posthinking01 in reply to greygoose]

You would get a searing pain when you eat anything citrus - or if not searing it would tell you that the acidic food you are eating is hurting the stomach lining. Even though Vitamin C is an acid it is vital for making stomach acid and when you have adequate stomach acid then you food is digested adequately. I cannot believe the medical profession give people drugs to stop stomach acid when often their problem is that they don't have enough !!!

[greygoose in reply to posthinking01]

Difficult to believe, I admit, but happens all the time. They never even consider low stomach acid.

OK, so I understand about the searing pain, but wouldn't the same thing happen on taking vit C? Or will the stomach being full alleviate the pain? This is not my problem, by the way, It's Netty510 that is having digestive problems.

[posthinking01 in reply to greygoose]

Hi forgot to add there are numerous forms of Vitamin C too - which shocked me - this one by Lamberts is a good one for a sensitive stomach.

Gentle Vitamin C 500mg

Non-acidic, gentle form

Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid contributes to the normal function of a healthy immune system, healthy bones, teeth and gums as well as helping to maintain normal blood fat and cholesterol levels

Providing vitamin C in the form of calcium ascorbate which is a gentle non-acidic form of vitamin C that is believed to be gentler on the stomach

Ideal for anyone sensitive to vitamin C or who is taking large daily doses

Up to 2g of Vitamin C can be taken using this product (4 tablets), we recommend that the tablets are taken spread out through the day

Each tablet also provides over 70mg of calcium, which can make a valuable contribution to an individual's calcium intake, particularly when taking several tablets per day

[greygoose in reply to posthinking01]

Ah. That was interesting up until the 70 mg calcium. Why would there be calcium in the tablet?

[greygoose in reply to greygoose]

Stupid question, sorry, not thinking straight. So, that form of vit C wouldn't be suitable for someone with high calcium, would it?

[posthinking01 in reply to greygoose]

No - if calcium high avoid it - I am not a calcium lover - more a magnesium person myself but indeed the person with high calcium might benefit from magnesium to balance the calcium out - but..................all depends where the high calcium is coming from i.e. root cause - if pituitary issue then one has to be careful.

[greygoose in reply to posthinking01]

Totally agree with you about calcium vs magnesium! But, would it perhaps be beneficial to take vit K2-MK7 when/if taking calcium ascorbate?

[posthinking01 in reply to greygoose]

Agh well I have a problem with the K vitamins - I know they metabolise calcium - but unfortunately as I have had Hughes Syndrome at one time -i.e. sticky blood - I cannot afford to take anything that could thicken the blood which K can do. In my situation it is best to avoid it - I cannot take the risk.

[posthinking01 in reply to greygoose]

Just as an interesting point - I sometimes up my thyroid hormone if it is cold etc. and see symptoms of low hormone - i always get a problem again with my digestive system and I am convinced the uptake is felt by the adrenals so more vitamin C is needed by them to help with the update needed. If that makes sense i.e. they work in synergy - i.e. more hormone more C needed for the adrenals. Another point to be remembered is that Vitamin B depletes C - same as D depletes magnesium.

[greygoose in reply to posthinking01]

Really? I didn't know that about vit B - any particular B vit? Or all of them?

[posthinking01 in reply to greygoose]

Hi there - well Vitamin B revs up the adrenal glands and what do the adrenals need when they need to work harder - more Vitamin C . I actually got scurvy - my teeth were loose - gums bleeding - an obvious sign of low C but if you look at the symptoms the poor sailors suffered - their blood vessels burst and old healed scars - opened up - I had the dreadful red bruising - like the elderly get (that is low C - scurvy) and I noticed my hysterectomy scar was getting wider by the day - I was not on steroids in those days but had taken thyroxine when my adrenals were under par-and didn't realise about the adrenals in those days - so they stole all the vitamin C they could get their hands on to keep me alive - hence my teeth loose - my collagen was being lost and the vascular system was breaking down. Thank goodness I had read a book about scurvy a few months before and recognised the symptoms - even though I could hardly believe it - I immediately took large doses of C and within a few days things started to improve. It always upsets me when I see old ladies and gentlemen with large red marks all over their body - which is scurvy.

[greygoose in reply to posthinking01]

I think it's terrible that doctors don't do anything about it. Do they even know the signs of scurvy these days? We learnt them in biology, at school. All the old knowledge is lost. And these cocky young doctors think they know it all!

[posthinking01 in reply to greygoose]

Hi - I totally agree - there are some good Drs but my goodness they are few and far between. I have had a dreadful time trying to get diagnosed even though my symptoms - over 100 - were life threatening - I had a problem because my blood showed I was within the limits set down at that time - took 13 years before I got any help and that was outside the UK - unfortunately by that time a lot of damage has been done as Lupus set in - which incidently went into remission once I went on thyroid meds - I am still suffering to this day because of the delays - but in the meantime learned how to cope with the dreadful symptoms by listening to my body and putting right the deficiencies that were causing most of the symptoms as my body went into decline - if I hadn't had this knowledge I would have had a different outcome as I could not tolerate drugs for the Lupus. I used to type into the internet - 'what deficiency causes' and treat myself - although I must say I know what I am doing as I have been studying the science of nutrition in dis-ease of the body for over 50 years.

[greygoose in reply to posthinking01]

Same here. I've been showing lots of symptoms of hypo since I was about 8 years old. I didn't even get tested until I was 55! And, it should have been so obvious.

I love ginger. I drink ginger tea every morning for breakfast. I'm a great believer in it. This summer, I shall probably make my own ginger syrup for cold drinks. I used to make ginger beer for the children, but it's uncontrollable! lol It got totally out of hand, and the children drank so much it put them right off! So, I can't really do that for one. The syrup is a compromise.

But, I also use it in cooking. I made a great ginger cake! I put the recipe in one of my posts, if you're interested.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[posthinking01 in reply to greygoose]

Brilliant thanks - the old remedies were there for a reason - they work !!!

[posthinking01 in reply to greygoose]

Sorry forgot to add that I found ginger was really good in settling digestive issues - I buy biscuits called Queezibics which are 1,000 mg of ginger - or alternatively I have found ginger beer is quite good too.

[DebTex in reply to posthinking01]

Your reply’s on this subject are very informative, thank you!

[DebTex in reply to DebTex]

I should have said, all your reply’s on this subject are very informative, thank you!

[DebTex in reply to DebTex]

For crying out loud😂, that was suppose to go to you post thinking01!

[Wetsuiter in reply to posthinking01]

do we want calcium in it? or is that unavoidable?

[posthinking01 in reply to Wetsuiter]

This product is for people with a sensitive stomach lining - so calcium would calm the situation but I am not as I have said - a calcium lover - so perhaps the person concerned could take a low dose of C that would not cause an issue. Holland and Barrett do a brilliant Vitamin C - in orange bottle 250 mg - I pop one of those with my meal and it has stopped my indigestion and I have just eaten a Cornish pasty - pastry ugh...............but tolerated it.

[greygoose in reply to Wetsuiter]

If it didn't have calcium, it wouldn't be calcium ascorbate.

[Wetsuiter in reply to greygoose]

doh

[greygoose in reply to Wetsuiter]

It's ok, I made the same mistake - not thinking things through! lol

[DebTex in reply to posthinking01]

Do you know of a good brand of another gentle Vit. C besides calcium ascorbate?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to DebTex]

Brand, I do not know. Forms of vitamin C, of which there are several, are discussed here:

lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/vit...

I have no idea as to availability or costs.

[DebTex in reply to helvella]

Thank you helvella, I will check it out!

[DebTex in reply to helvella]

There were so many different forms of Vit. C on there so I don’t really know which kind would be the best for me. It said that mineral salts are less acidic, so they are considered buffered mineral ascorbates. But then it says there is little scientific research to support or refute that claim. I don’t even know if I need a buffered one or not but I started having IBSD out of the blue at the beginning of last year and it hasn’t gone away☹️I have been taking a Whole Foods Complex C with the Bioflavonoids it’s by MegaFood Complex C. Would you mind taking a look at that to see if it’s even any good? Thank you!

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to DebTex]

Too true - there are lots of variations.

As I see it, there is at least anecdotal evidence that forms other than ascorbic acid (that is the ascorbates) might be more gentle. Among them, that link seems to say they are all more or less equal as regards vitamin C. However, if you trying to avoid calcium, or increase magnesium, you might choose one rather than another for those reasons.

The Whole Foods Complex C contains ascorbic acid and also lots of other things - some of which I have never even heard of! This is in no way to criticise the product - just to admit ignorance.

I think I would try one of the ascorbates - maybe sodium ascorbate? (Price would guide me as well as everything else!) At least you would BOTH eliminate these other ingredients AND avoiding the acidic form. If it makes no difference, you can always return to your current product.

[DebTex in reply to helvella]

Thank you, I will try something different than what I have been taking and see if it makes any difference, everything is trial and error! I know that Whole Foods C looked different, I just started taking it because of it being derived from Whole Foods or so I thought😂

[posthinking01 in reply to DebTex]

Hi there - this is a very gentle formula if you are not averse to a little calcium within the product - or alternatively I now use Holland and Barrett 250 mg of Vitamin C - in an orange bottle - not very expensive either - they are small tablets - take three a day with meals - don' t take later than 4.00 p.m. as the C will stimulate the adrenals and could keep you awake if you are susceptible to sleep issues.

vegavitamins.co.uk/product/...

Hope this helps

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to posthinking01]

That is still calcium ascorbate. I thought that DebTex wanted something else?

[posthinking01 in reply to helvella]

I am sorry I did say if she was averse to calcium then use something else like Holland and Barrett product - I thought I did all I could to offer the two options.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to posthinking01]

Yes, indeed, I am sure you were meaning to be helpful. But the H&B product appears to be ascorbic acid which is not generally considered to be "gentle".

[posthinking01 in reply to helvella]

Well I have so much inflammation in my stomach lining having been on 200mg of steroids for over 2 years and lifelong on steroids - they don't upset me when I take with food - ascorbic acid by the way is the scientific term for Vitamin C.

[DebTex in reply to posthinking01]

Thank you postthinking01! I will try the Holland and Barrett, surely I’d be able to tell if they were causing any stomach issues? And I didn’t know that you shouldn’t take C after 4, I have insomnia so thanks for that!

[posthinking01 in reply to DebTex]

The same with Vitamin B or anything else that stimulates the adrenal glands - it will make you a bit wired - after all that is why we are taking B or C to make our adrenals work harder for us and that means adrenaline being produced. If you have enough Vit C you will reach bowel tolerance in other words you will get loose - so be careful. Don't over do the C. 750 mg a day is fine. The IBSD I assume is irritable bowel syndrome - it may be what you are taking is not right for you.

[DebTex in reply to posthinking01]

Thank you for that, but I don’t even take the Vit. C on a regular basis and unfortunately my gallbladder was removed several years ago and I had some digestive issues the first year after and still do, but last year the ISBD was added but I think it’s all caused from not having the gallbladder anymore and there’s nowhere for the bile to go anymore but to drip into my insteps time and I especially have a terrible time time digesting fats, I’ve tied bile salts and all kinds of digestive enzymes but I haven’t figured it all out yet, I know, I’m a mess

[DebTex in reply to DebTex]

Drip into my intestines not insteps😂

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Low stomach acid can be common issue

Thousands of posts on here about low stomach acid

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

Links

articles.mercola.com/sites/...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/s...

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

naturalendocrinesolutions.c...

[Netty510 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you slow dragon i will look up the link

[Batty1]

You could take your acid pill at bedtime.

Heartburn is a persnickety beast and rears it’s head at the most annoying times.

[Heloise]

Hi Netty, I haven't read all the responses but want to offer a safer alternative to an acid blocker to try if no one else has. DGL, Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice Root You can find

chewable tablets but it may raise blood pressure which for me would be a good thing.

[Netty510]

Thank's everyone for the responses