I've been struggling with constipation for a good 6 months now, I'm getting worried that there is something wrong. Im trying to eat a gut friendly diet and am looking for digestive bitters and other ways to support my gut (if you know any, please let me know!) If you know of any decent digestive bitters that would be helpful.
I feel I need a comprehensive stool analysis to see if I have any infections like H-Pylori or SIBO
I'm really worried about stomach and colon cancer developing if I have a blockage somewhere.
Does anyone know of where i can get a stool sample done? Or what else i can do to help myself?
Many many thanks as ever!
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Annieza
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A tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with the mother or a supplement of betaine hcl could be helpful if you have low stomach acid which many hypothyroid patients struggle with. I can no longer tolerate the above after I developed gastritis so my protocol to keep things moving and has been recommended by my doc is:
Breakfast
Goat kefir
Lunch
Ox bile 250 mg ( Started out with 125)
Probiotic 50 billion
Digestive enzymes ultra strength
Sometimes I add a tablespoon of beets and cabbage sauerkraut
Constipation is something a lot of us get. The best things to help are magnesium citrate and large doses of vit C.
Four things to think about with constipation:
1. Are you getting enough fibre? You need fibre for your transit, BUT you don't want too much fibre because it could affect the absorption of your levo, making you more hypo, and therefore possibly more constipated. It's a matter of finding the right balance.
2. Are you drinking enough water. Your body needs a constant supply of water, and if it's not getting enough, it will suck your poo dry (sorry for that image!) to get the water, leaving you more constipated and unable to 'go'.
3. Do you have low stomach acid? Low stomach acid can be caused by being hypo, but also by low-salt diets and B12 deficiency (also old age, but not much you can do about that). Low stomach acid will cause constipation. So, you need to check your nutrients, and your stomach acid level (bicarb test), and if either are low, you need to raise them.
4. Do you, by any chance, have high levels of calcium? Because that, too, can cause constipation. So, that’s another thing that wants testing.
I would add that getting your nutrients tested: vit D, vit B12, folate, ferritin - will give you a clue as to your stomach acid level. If they are low, then your stomach acid will also be low.
1. I think i am getting enough fibre, I dont think its too much but I've ordered Psylium Husk to help. I agree balance is key.
2. Yep definitely drinking enough water.
3. I suspect stomach acid is an issue. I need to do the bicarb test just cant find anywhere that explains it properly. I have been taking HCL and betaine but im looking for digestive enzymes and bitters.
4. No, calcium levels are in range.
Yeh my recent results for those nutrients you mentioned are in range but on the low end so I need to focus on increasing that.
You could request a FIT test through your GP. They should offer you this if you’re having a change in bowel movements. A FIT test is a in-depth test to check there is nothing sinister going on. What are you thyroid tests like. Are you over medicated? … this can make people have constipation. This happened to myself in the past when I was over medicated. I’ve just seen a previous post and your TSH was 4.?? This is too high. Your TSH needs to be around 1.00. Any TSH above 2.5 and you’ll experience hypothyroidism symptoms. This may be causing your constipation. My private only Endocrinologist explained to me TSH of 2.5+ is hypo. The NHS set their ranges too wide. A healthy persons TSH is around 1.00. This is what we aim for. It might be that you need an increase in your medication. Do you know if you are a poor converter of Levothyroxine T4 to active T3?? If I was you I’d get a full thyroid test done privately to ascertain. Many GP’s won’t test T3 and some not even T4 and just rely on TSH checking only. I’m lucky that my GP does test them all but many do not. T3 is the most important hormone to check.
Not heard of a FIT test so I will give them a call. I'm not on any medication at the moment, my endo is waiting for my TSH to go over range, despite me having high antibodies and being symptomatic as well as having a family history! Yeh i agree, my TSH is high I felt better when i was around 2...
Maybe you could ask your GP why on earth you need to suffer waiting for your Levothyroxine medication. It costs pennies! There is no way back especially if your antibodies are high. It’s all about budgets, definitely! It’s criminal that you suffer when they know you are by the figures from your blood tests. Can you speak to the practice manager and mention PALS to them in that conversation.
I second that. A consultant told me to take 1tbsp of golden linseed soaked in orange juice every morning and eat crunchie bran for breakfast. It worked a treat and i don’t need to do it every day now. At least I know what to do when the constipation starts. Annieza I hope you managed to get this resolved.
I used to get really bad constipation from a medicine I took two years back. Didn't realise until I quit it. Wish I'd discovered that a lot sooner as it started leading to other health problems.
Nowadays I make sure I eat a lot of fibre, drink lots of water but also take fibre supplements at night just in case. I can tell when I've missed a few nights...!
No, I'm not on any medications at the moment, due to everything being 'in range'. I know this doesnt mean optimal so im trying to work on gut health and vitamin levels.
Constipation can be a symptom of hypothyroidism so you really need to get your blood test results as well as D, B12, folate and ferritin to check them yourself. Don't trust 'normal' or 'within range'.
Web links about taking important cofactors - magnesium and Vit K2-MK7
Magnesium best taken in the afternoon or evening, but must be four hours away from levothyroxine (when you get prescribed)
Calm vitality magnesium powder is cheap and easy to use. Best start on low dose, as too much can cause diarrhoea. Starting with half teaspoon dissolved in small cup of warm water.
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