Retrospective insights - Hypothyroidism

[Tara_Jane]

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to pop back on this site and share some discoveries I have made over the last year.

Update: I had previously posted about being under-medicated with Synthroid because my doctor saw I had high levels of T4. What he didn’t know is that I’m a poor converter of T4 to T3. Both my TSH and my T3 were in range and at the bottom end of optimal. So when he dropped my dose of T4, he inadvertently dropped my T3 out of range and my TSH shot through the roof.

Had I been more astute I would have paid more attention to my body, but I shrugged off symptoms because I had been well for near on a decade. So by the time the symptoms became truly troublesome it was too late. My body had slowed and it was just the beginning of the havoc to come.

I tried to readjust my dosage in the hope that it would reverse some of my symptoms but it didn’t. I was suffering with anxiety, depression, brain fog, fatigue, weight gain, chest pain, bloating and eventually gastroparesis.

I read everything. I went on every forum I could to help me understand what was going on and what to do about it.

I eventually learned about how the gut becomes compromised with hypothyroidism because of the lack of stomach acid and slowing of stomach contractions. When this happens you no longer absorb nutrients you need. I became anemic and deficient in vitamin D. Then I developed SIBO and candida as a result. All of this happened as a result of my medication being lowered.

I have been using Amy Myers products and food plans because of covid with great success. I’m almost completely back to normal after nearly two years of trying to work out what course of action to take.

So please remember that just correcting your dosage is just the start. You also need to look at whatever system the hypothyroidism has compromised. Test for deficiencies, supplement and support your gut!

I want to make special mention of @greygoose. Thanks for being so supportive during the most challenging months of my life. ❤️

[greygoose]

You're welcome. Glad to hear things are improving.

[Kisca]

Hello ,

Would you mind me asking what probiotics you tried to help heal your gut if any...thank you 😀

[Tara_Jane in reply to Kisca]

I am using the Amy Myers Primal Earth Probiotic. She explains why it works for SIBO sufferers.

store.amymyersmd.com/produc...

[Gophe]

Thanks so much for sharing this, Tara_Jane, and congratulations on finding a resolution to this!

I've been trying to resolve my (presumably Hashimoto's related) reflux issues for about 4 or 5 years now and can't find any way out. Are there any resources you can recommend? I briefly tried HCL Betaine (~2 days), but that seemed to make it worse; I've done a full elimination diet; I've cut acids out of my diet plus a ton of other stuff so that I'm now really restricted on what I can eat; and I've tried pretty much every other idea I've come across. I had my gut microbiome sequenced several years ago, and I have quite a different makeup that what's considered standard.

I don't have SIBO, so it doesn't sound like your exact approach would work, but if you've come across any resources you think could be relevant to me, please let me know!

[Tara_Jane in reply to Gophe]

Are you sure that the reflux is high stomach acid because it is often caused by low stomach acid. Unless you can be sure of which it is there is no clear path forward.

In my case it was definitely low stomach acid because when I drank ACV with water it eased. Have you done the bicarb test to check levels? I’ve read a lot of people have been on PPIs and that’s really messed up their stomach acid. I’ve also read there is a histamine connection. It’s hard to know what to suggest without knowing whether it’s high or low stomach acid causing the symptoms.

nutritionjersey.com/high-or...

[Gophe in reply to Tara_Jane]

No, my assumption was that I had low stomach acid, which is why I tried the HCL Betaine. I don't imagine I have high stomach acid. But, as mentioned, the HCL Betaine seemed to aggravate the reflux. I also tried ACV for a while, but it aggravated things, too. I only took PPIs for about a week 4 years ago before deciding against that route, and that didn't seem to have any affect either. I do have a lot of allergies (rhinitis and food allergies), so the histamine connection could be interesting. No, I haven't done the bicarb test. I just googled it and can try it tomorrow morning. Is this a robust test? I.e., is there any clinical evidence it's reliable?

[Tara_Jane in reply to Gophe]

Clearly it’s a home test but all accounts speak to it being reliable. Do it a few times to be sure. If the burping happens under a minute then you have high stomach acid. Good luck.

[Gophe in reply to Tara_Jane]

Thanks, I'll give it a go!

[Gophe in reply to Tara_Jane]

Quick follow-up on this, Tara_Jane. I tried the test this morning but wasn't sure whether to do it before or after my levothyroxine dose. I did it after. Any guidance on that? I've googled for an answer but can't find one. (First test: burp right around the 5-minute mark, which, depending on which source I read, is either normal or on the low side.)

[Tara_Jane in reply to Gophe]

It’s testing your levels of stomach acid so your thyroid medication is inconsequential. Yes sounds low. Now you can confidently google everything on low stomach acid. 👍🏼