How to stop heartburn/GERD : I've been on 100mg... - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

140,948 members166,085 posts

How to stop heartburn/GERD

Hel66 profile image
23 Replies

I've been on 100mg levo for about 14mths now. I take Vit D and iron supplements (tummy friendly apparently) and feel well..... except for fact I now get almost daily attacks of GERD. I've done the baking powder test and feel quite convinced I have low acid issues. I take apple cider vinegar and Betaine HCI with pepsin before meals but neither seem to help.

I dont eat gluten, avoid dairy and caffeine and shy away from other potential trigger foods.

Any advice on how to stop or reduce the uncomfortable symptoms of GERD?

Thanks.

Written by
Hel66 profile image
Hel66
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
23 Replies
Jazzw profile image
Jazzw

Looking at your last post you were arguably slightly undermedicated on 100mcg levothyroxine. The thing that might make the most difference is an increase in dosage.

When are the GERD attacks happening? Are they linked to a particular meal/time of day?

It could be that you have a hiatus hernia. Have you done the whole “raising the head of your bed” thing?

Hel66 profile image
Hel66 in reply toJazzw

Hi jazzw, it seems to happen in the day rather than at night time. Feels like I get it whatever I eat 😕. What does seem to have a positive effect is when I have a 'fast' day, as doing the 5:2 diet atm. But I can't survive on 500cals every day!

Susieg1 profile image
Susieg1 in reply toJazzw

I have hiatal hernia and Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism. My GERD is positional, ie, if I bend over, it's really bad. Otherwise certain breads give me a problem though I can happily eat sourdough bread.

If your GERD isn't positional, I think it is less likely to be a hiatal hernia.

Jazzw profile image
Jazzw in reply toSusieg1

I don’t have GERD. Hel66 does.

Susieg1 profile image
Susieg1 in reply toJazzw

I was responding to your comment about hiatal hernia on her post.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

GERD is common hypothyroid symptom

How long since you last had FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.

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

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 .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus vitamins including folate (private blood draw required)

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Thriva also offer just vitamin testing

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

KristinCC profile image
KristinCC in reply toSlowDragon

Hi SlowDragon. Can you explain why you recommend waiting until after testing to take thyroid meds? I've seen that posted by other thyroid specialists and I've never been sure why. I've done it in the past and I'm having thyroid tests tomorrow. I was planning on waiting until after the test to take medication again, but would be thankful if you could explain why.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toKristinCC

From when you swallow your thyroid hormone tablet, for around two hours, your Free T4 level will rise. Then it will fall, more slowly, over many hours.

You simply cannot time your blood draw to occur at the peak - no-one would know exactly when that would be, and the rate of change - going up, then going down - is rapid. A few minutes could make a significant difference.

From around twelve to twenty-four hours after your tablet, your Free T4 will be in a trough. You can relatively easily make sure your blood is drawn in that time. Hence make the conditions reasonably comparable one test to another.

Think about diabetes. No-one seems to think it would be a good idea to have a Mars bar then measure your blood glucose! :-) (I know there is an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test but that is a specific test directed at insulin resistance.) The standard plasma glucose test is after a period of fasting.

KristinCC profile image
KristinCC in reply tohelvella

Thank you!

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toKristinCC

As explained by helvella ....we want to measure the trough....not the peak

TSH is highest early morning and before eating/having tea or coffee

KristinCC profile image
KristinCC in reply toSlowDragon

Thank you!

LeiL profile image
LeiL

I also suffer horribly with GERD but this is first year since having my thyroid removed 12 years ago. My issues started after I lost 45 lbs. Now having said that I’m in the midst of a 96 hour ph manometry test. My Bravo B was attached to my esophagus yesterday.

jrbarnes profile image
jrbarnes

I have GERD at the moment. I never had any of these issues on NDT.

bambuko profile image
bambuko

Lot of talk about medication... but one subject not mentioned at all is weight.

I used to suffer terribly from GERD (and all the same issues connected to Hashimoto thyroiditis).

Nothing offered by medics helped and it wasn't until I managed to loose 25kg off my belly that GERD disapeared like magic.

Not easy to do, and very easy to relapse (it is constant struggle to maintain low weight), but it has worked for me.

Of course it may not work for you (or may not be the cause of your problems), but something worth bearing in mind...

Ecomask profile image
Ecomask

I also suffered terribly with GERD almost to the point where everything I ate resulted in acid reflux I tried the apple cider vinegar and had lots of gaviscon. Then I read on here one day that some one said TEVA brand medication gave them GERD so I asked my pharmacy to stop all TEVA brand meds. The GERD stopped. I take Levo and two blood pressure tablets and any or all of them could have been TEVA at any time. That was 18 month/ 2 years ago. Now I some times get heartburn but rarely. I’d say it’s worth a try if any of your medication is TEVA

Partner20 profile image
Partner20 in reply toEcomask

If discontinuing Teva meds made your GERD symptoms almost disappear, it suggests that you could be sensitive to the mannitol used as a filler. Look out for this ingredient in foods that you eat; it also occurs naturally in some fruits and veggies such as sweet potato and cauliflower.

Carysta profile image
Carysta

If your B12 levels are low then that can be a cause and taking antacids reduces the absorption of B12 so becomes a vicious circle

Dorey69 profile image
Dorey69

Some Levo medication can cause bad heartburn because of the fillers

Partner20 profile image
Partner20

You mention you are trying to avoid possible trigger foods. Unfortunately we are all different in this respect, and we have to discover our own individual triggers. The FODMAP plan is a start, or you could format your own elimination diet. Just remember to introduce new foods one at a time, so you will know, hopefully, which ones are the problems. Things like lactose, fructose, fructans and wheat proteins (not just gluten) can be causes of irritation. It can sometimes take months or even years to find the answers. Many supplements cause issues, too; iron and Vit.D are both well-known for this. Good luck on your journey of discovery!

CatsofCatford profile image
CatsofCatford

Just thought I should add that although low stomach acid is a common side effect of under-active thyroid I learned to my cost it doesn’t apply to all of us ... I found betaine with pepsin and even cider vinegar alone made me worse and I was better when I removed them ... I noticed you’re taking both, might be too much. For me, a gentle digestive enzyme like Enzymedica ‘digest complete’ works best. I’m also trying really hard to chew my food thoroughly !

Partner20 profile image
Partner20 in reply toCatsofCatford

Absolutely, not everyone is the same, and hypothyroidism is not necessarily linked with low stomach acid. No-one should assume what their levels are, as they can do more harm than good by treating themselves in the wrong way. My hypo partner was discovered to have acid levels that were almost too high to be recorded, and my level is high rather than low, too.

Batty1 profile image
Batty1

Iron supplements will give you heartburn especially if your digestion is slow.

Nualabula profile image
Nualabula

H plori infection

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Hypothyroidism and GERD

Hi I was diagnosed with GERD some years ago and prescribed medication to address it including...
McMurtagh profile image

Gerd symptoms

Please can someone tell me the symptoms of gerd?and if it's related to hypo. Thanks.
jencat profile image

Chronic heartburn

I was experiencing weakness & pain in leg muscles & feet due to over medicating T3. I cut down and...
stig5882 profile image

Heartburn

Hi, I hope someone can advise please? I take 100mcg eltroxin, hypothyroid following RAI for...
Baggiesfan profile image

IBS/GERD

Hi. I have been in pain with stomach past couple of month. Bloated stomach pain feeling sick...
Jpend123 profile image

Moderation team

See all
PurpleNails profile image
PurpleNailsAdministrator
helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator
SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.