problems with your liver?

[Peroxideblader]

has anyone found having hypothyroidism has affected their liver or spleen ? I have been feeling very sick 24-7 for over 3 weeks with swollen lymph glands gastric reflux and pain under my ribs..i have in and went to see a doctor. he pinpointed the pain as my liver said it felt enlarged and around that area ie spleen gallbladder...hes doing bloods tomorrow then scan....but he said do I have thyroid issues as they can interconnect ?? anybody find they do ? thanks

[Peroxideblader]

I gave in **

[Marymary7 in reply to Peroxideblader]

You can edit your post. Go to the bottom where it says 'more' and a little v, click on it 😀

[Batty1]

Anything is possible

[Lora7again]

I have had raised liver enzymes in the past when I was very ill. I had a liver function last year and they have now returned to normal. I do think thyroid disease can affect your liver. Hopefully your Doctor will find out what is wrong and treat you. I didn't need treatment btw just monitoring with blood tests.

[Lynneypin]

I’ve had elevated liver enzymes for years. Six monthly blood tests and I’ve also had a couple of ultrasound scans. I take milk thistle and don’t drink any alcohol (sadly). Can’t remember the last time I had a normal result.

[Marmie in reply to Lynneypin]

Same for me too!

[Hidden]

Having hypothyroidism affects all body systems so thst often nothing works very well. The liver processes a huge amount of things in your body. So if the thyroid isn't working properly the liver and everything depending on it doesn't either

[TSH110]

I had terrible spleen ache, as you say under the ribs (on my left) it was a very horrible feeling, but once properly medicated it resolved. I had atropic autoimmune thyroiditis and I am hypothyroid. I take NDT.

[posthinking01]

Hi yes I have been told I had an enlarged liver and I don't drink! - not had it said since I went on thyroid medication.

[Treepie]

I was not aware of this but have just been diagnosed with fatty liver following my liver enzymes being too high after chemo for non hodgkins lymphoma last year.

[Arlie123]

I have fatty liver which is apparently related to hypothyroidism. I don’t drink much, eat fairly well and exercise a lot so it is quite annoying! I am overweight though...

[klr31]

I think that there is a connection as I've had abnormal liver function tests over the years along with my Hashimoto's.

Karen

[Peroxideblader]

Thanks everyone im still not diagnosed with secondary hypothyroidism despite all my bloods showing I am but I have all the symptoms of fatty liver despite being teetotal and normal weight but I have high cholestrol too which could point to gallstones. apparently liver function tests don't always show any problem with the liver so I guess I have to wait for the ultrasound which is up to 12 weeks. thanks again

[Treepie in reply to Peroxideblader]

I had ultrasound on liver which found nothing ,it took an MRI to discover fatty liver.

[Peroxideblader in reply to Treepie]

I heard it doesn't diagnose liver problems so why on earth would my gp make me wait months in pain with nausea for something that won't show the problem anyway..

[Treepie in reply to Peroxideblader]

Perhaps you should ask .

[Sashshad10]

Hi, hope they get you sorted quickly.

I have been on thyroxine since I was a baby. I was born without a thyroid gland and nearly 60. My husband has said I sometimes have a yellow tinge to my skin (usually when over tired) otherwise no problems.

[Miffie]

I have had hypothyroidism virtually my whole life, I am now 68. I have never had any liver problems apart from jaundice at 16. In the last 2-3 years the whites of my eyes have turned yellow but GP can find no problems with my liver. I think it is Hashimoto’s rather than a thyroid issue. Lots of things are Hashi I know, I don’t have Hashi. Lucky me, I am told.

[jacrjacr]

make sure they do a electrolyte test to make sure that you are not low in potassium which oddly can effect discomfort in that area and liver because it slows down digestion, drinking low sod v8, coconut water, bananas, baby lima beans and other foods high In potassium regularly can keep the level up since rarely people eat enough potassium or you have low stomach acid w age ......I recently discovered this issue

[Janaains]

I am going through exactly the same thing right now. Pain in right hand side under ribs, plus horrible swollen tummy with pain. My lymph nodes around neck and armpit are swollen. Tests revealed nothing had mri, gastroscopy, colonoscopy all clear. Alt liver enzyme is elevated and is being investigated. I have mentioned thyroid issues and the doctor agreed could be related.

[bookish]

Slow metabolism due to poor thyroid function will tend to make your bile flow sluggish as well as making you prone to constipation. The constipation will make it very slow getting rid of toxins which will back up into liver-bile duct, lymphatic system etc. You need to get the constipation under control first, if necessary, before trying to improve bile flow and liver function, so that the crud has somewhere to go. I use magnesium (in a footbath) to keep me regular (sorry, TMI) and try to drink plenty of water. Even slightly raised enzymes can be a sign of a gluten sensitivity or coeliac, so if not yet tested or GF, both are worth considering. Refined carbs are really best avoided to give your liver a break. Best wishes

[Rufusjill]

Hi , sounds a little like me , I was continually feeling sick with pains under right rib , found out I had gallstones pls H pylori infection , cleared the infection with antibiotics, then had gallbladder removed , now I have under active thyroid, so yes I do think they are connected , plus my liver blood tests are always way over what they should be

[Peroxideblader in reply to Rufusjill]

I mentioned gallstones but the pain wasn't from there doctor said but hopefully the scan will pick it up as they're common in perimenopause which I am..plus when I had gastroenteritis a while back they confirmed I had H Pylori...i don't remember antibiotics at the time though ?

let's hope I get the scan soon did the ultrasound pick up your gallstones ?

[HeatherD45]

This is very interesting to me. I had elevated liver enzymes when they were tested a year ago. I had no idea it could be related to my thyroid issues. It was mentioned as part of my test results but no other information was offered or further testing suggested. I don't have any issues with pain or discomfort though and they were only slightly over the range. Still, something to keep an eye on.

[grumpyold]

I have had Hashimoto's for over 20 years and 4 years ago, a routine blood test found raised liver enzymes. I too had pain around the liver area. I was referred to a gastro who wanted to do liver biopsy. I flatly refused having researched the subject. Then they gave me an ultrasound for possible gallstones. Thankfully, they didn't find a problem.

Then they offered me a fibroscan to check the state of my liver and found that I have fatty liver. Teetotal more or less all my life, 90% vegetarian so I was confused! Apparently, insufficient protein can be a contributing factor.

Ask if you can have a Fibroscan. They are quick and painless and I believe, not expensive for the NHS.

I hope you feel better soon.

[Peroxideblader in reply to grumpyold]

thanks I'llmake a note of that scan I suspect fatty liver or cirrhosis because although I'm teetotal and slim eat well I have high cholestrol which can cause it. I have no faith in nhs so no doubt even if my levels are raised they won't look into it..same as they won't diagnose hypopituarism despite repeated blood tests screaming out that I am..thank you

[dtate2016]

All of the health gurus point the liver as the cause of hypothyroidism, and particularly Hashimotos's. Kind of a which came first? Again, all the health advice says, when we get rid of fatty liver, etc., then the thyroid works better. Agree on the potassiom. There is some controversy on what is good for the liver (other than potassium). Some say "no dairy", some say the liver must have butter, and vitamen C - ever a moderate amount of coffee! Of course, most Dr.'s could care less whether we do something about cleansing the liver or not. My experience with fatty liver disease is that I must have the potassium, Vit. C, butter and just a tiny bit of coffee. Have also been experimenting with (don't laugh!) donkey milk. (dulcededonke.com/pages/donk... ) It is wonderful stuff, (helps relieve auto-immune disorders - lots of anectdotal accounts). I'm sold on it. Also continuing to follow a form of paleo diet - mostly just listening to my body.

One day we will find out, which came first as to the "cause" of auto-immune conditions. My sneaking suspician? It is the liver that causes auto-immune hypothyroidism.

[Peroxideblader in reply to dtate2016]

Thank you that's a really good help ..sadly I am still battling to be diagnosed with my thyroid so even if I have fatty liver they won't tie both in...its a nightmare with anything that needs looking into more..im just pleased this doctor actually didn't dismiss my pain nausea reflux etc as stress/meno/my age... I'll just have to wait 6 weeks or so til the ultrasound