Hello! So I'm wondering if there's a connection between hashimotos and any gut issues? and I am wondering when the gut issues presented themselves?
I was diagnosed with Hashimotos in 2017, after the birth of my son. After some testing, I was put on 75 mcg of levothyroxine. I fell pregnant again in 2020 and I noticed some gut issues such as an urgency to use the restroom multiple times a day, lots of stomach churning, excessive gas, loose stool and stool stuck in the rectum during the night. Im now postpartum and I havent seen an endo since I fell pregnant since I changed insurance. My OB tested my levels a few times during my pregnancy and all was fine.
my question is could my hashimotos be related to my tummy troubles? thank you
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Mommy_of_2
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Extremely common.....low stomach acid and/or gluten intolerance are almost inevitable...
75mcg levothyroxine is only one step up from starter dose
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
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)
Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels
Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working
Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten. Dairy is second most common.
According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)
Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies
While still eating high gluten diet ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first
The predominance of Hashimoto thyroiditis represents an interesting finding, since it has been indirectly confirmed by an Italian study, showing that autoimmune thyroid disease is a risk factor for the evolution towards NCGS in a group of patients with minimal duodenal inflammation. On these bases, an autoimmune stigma in NCGS is strongly supported
In summary, whereas it is not yet clear whether a gluten free diet can prevent autoimmune diseases, it is worth mentioning that HT patients with or without CD benefit from a diet low in gluten as far as the progression and the potential disease complications are concerned
Despite the fact that 5-10% of patients have Celiac disease, in my experience and in the experience of many other physicians, at least 80% + of patients with Hashimoto's who go gluten-free notice a reduction in their symptoms almost immediately.
This great article from Izabella Wentz might be really useful for you. It discusses the links between gut health and Hashimoto’s. She also addresses food intolerances. I did a food intolerance test and was found to have a high intolerance to dairy. Once I’d given it up my IBS disappeared and has not returned. I lived with it for probably 20 years.
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