Leaky Gut syndrome r: I am hypothyroid diagnosed... - Thyroid UK

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Leaky Gut syndrome r

katwin profile image
26 Replies

I am hypothyroid diagnosed in 2018 when my TSH was above 5 and i was contacted by my GP. I was advised i was deficient in Vitamin D and put on a course of tablets before another blood test which had lowered my TSH to below 5 and normal, so no treatment was necessary. I've since added further vitamins and supplements which have kept me relatively well, apart from a dry throat/hoarse voice and hair falling out, for which i am helped a bit by using Plantur 39 shampoo and tonic.

However getting to my

current problem.. After three weeks of Covid which started on 29th September, l found l then began havingut problems with bloating, constant diarrhoea, lower abdominal pain and wind. Looking for help by myself I started taking S. Boulardii one a day for friendly bacterial which did nothing, then increasing to three or four a day. I also take one a day high potency Turmeric 20, 000mg to heal the lining of my intestines and one a day also Zinc Gluconate15mg.

I doubt whether I am taking the right things to help with my gut problem and seek help from the knowledgeable people on this site.p

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katwin profile image
katwin
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RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator

katwin, Your post seems to have been missed, so I'm answering mainly to bring it back into the feed.

Have a wander around Dr Myhill's site if you haven't already. She has written articles that may be helpful. drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/Leaky_g...

katwin profile image
katwin in reply toRedApple

Many thanks RedApple I'll look right away!

Regenallotment profile image
RegenallotmentAmbassador

I found some very useful gut health advice in Izabella Wentz books. S Boulardii is a fungus I think, she suggests it for H. pylori infections. Have you had any stool samples done to help you figure out what you need?

It’s taken me months of trialling many many suggested supplements and diet changes. Most significant have been going gluten and dairy free and following a paleo type diet (S. Myhill has a lot on this. I love her linseed bread).

I Wentz does an autoimmune diet plan that was very soothing, lots of gentle collagen broths etc.

hope it goes well for you 🦋

katwin profile image
katwin in reply toRegenallotment

Thank you for your reply Regenallotment .I've not yet had a stool sample test but will see my GP about it in the week

S Boulardii is a friendly yeast which reaches the gut alive. I'm not sure whether it does any good inside me. Turmeric is supposed to heal the perforated lining of the intestines. But I still have uncomfortable bloatedness, wind and occasional diarrhoea/constipation.

Regenallotment profile image
RegenallotmentAmbassador in reply tokatwin

yes I’ve followed a protocol successfully with S. Boulardii. Have you tried betain with pepsin for bloating? that was a wonderful help for me with low stomach acid. NAC and L Glutamine have been good. I tried black seed oil too.

Have you read about die off reactions? Could explain your symptoms.

Are you gluten and dairy free?

💚

katwin profile image
katwin in reply toRegenallotment

I'm not sure what die off reaction means? I will try L Glutamine to see if that helps but I've never been on gluten free diet. This is the first time I've had this gut problem and the first time I've had Covid too.

Regenallotment profile image
RegenallotmentAmbassador in reply tokatwin

I’m no expert but apparently when you load up the small intestines with good bacteria and organisms like S. Boulardii you can intentionally upset the balance and the body does a ‘clear out’ digestively speaking. Can be linked to feeling fluey too. If you look up SIBO and die off you’ll find much more eloquent explanations. That said a couple of my colleagues had dreadful D &V after Omicron covid variant. Could be that too 💚

katwin profile image
katwin in reply toRegenallotment

I've just found some Betaine HCI with Pepsin well within its B.B date in my supplements drawer. Perhaps l should start taking one with a main meal and see if that helps my digestion!

radd profile image
radd

katwin,

To actually heal the gut wall slippery elm and marshmallow root are good as soothe the irritated mucus membranes of the digestive tract.  Glutamine & collagen help inflammation in the gut wall and healing less tight junctions but it’s not useful unless the cause of your gut issues have been addressed.  

S. Boulardii is great. It is the probiotic usually taken alongside antibiotics, and especially good for for inflammatory gut issues. I have used it myself but if you’ve had gut issues for some time you might find adding in a combo probiotic as well covers all bases. 

katwin profile image
katwin in reply toradd

Many thanks for your reply radd. It's been three weeks since the gut problem started and it's not yet completely resolved and it can be embarrassing. I'll ask my GP if a stool sample test might find the underlying problem.

Regenallotment profile image
RegenallotmentAmbassador in reply tokatwin

3 weeks could be die off reaction, I had it in a busy working week and it was very challenging to make it to the bathroom!

katwin profile image
katwin in reply toRegenallotment

I've just had a look at die off reaction in the gut and hope it doesn't last too long. Thank you for mentioning this could be happening.As well as the S Boulardii capsules, Turmeric, I'm also having daily doses of Kefir and Actimel immune system cultures. I'll also cut right out sugar and carbs.

Regenallotment profile image
RegenallotmentAmbassador in reply tokatwin

go carefully on the no carb, keto gave me horrendous anxiety and depression long term. Psychotherapist begged me to eat a slice of toast once a week. Go for low carb (E.g. the odd carrot or banana now and then).

katwin profile image
katwin in reply toRegenallotment

That's interesting and difficult to maintain as I have a sweet tooth . I do like a vegetable stir fry with chicken though. And fruit should be OK l think. I'll have a look at the keto diet.

Regenallotment profile image
RegenallotmentAmbassador in reply tokatwin

oh no… 🙈 I was saying keto isn’t a good idea in my book. Paleo better for me.

the GAPS diet is fabulous for the gut, wob.com/en-gb/books/dr-nata...

katwin profile image
katwin in reply to

Thank you Relentlesssearch. I'll look into a diet that will help once I've had the cause confirmed by the GP doing various tests

limonene7 profile image
limonene7

Hi,

Histamine intolerance can be one of the after effects of covid. Covid may mess up the gut bacteria which may be the cause of the subsequent histamine intolerance.

plymouth.ac.uk/uploads/prod...

If someone has developed an overgrowth of bad bacteria, SIBO expert, Dr Ruscio recommends taking a course of all 3 of the main types of probiotics all at the same time. These 3 types are a Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium blend, saccharomyces boulardii and soil/spore bacillus probiotics(bacillus coagulans and bacillus subtilis).

youtu.be/zEezUQ0V4hQ?t=150

Imaaan profile image
Imaaan

Bone broth, l glutamine, zinc l carnosine are great for the lining of the stomach. Also sauerkraut. So is dgl but I just take a small amount of 75mg. There is a product called GI revive that has most things that help with the lining if the stomach. I'm sure you can find another product that has similar ingredients..

You may have developed some dysbiosis like sibo and herbal antimicrobials could help. I like A.D.P from biotics research and also they have fc cidal and dysbiocide which has a study that compares it to rifaximin. Another is h pylori and mastic gum is helpful for that.

katwin profile image
katwin in reply toImaaan

Hi ImaaanThank you so much for your help and advice of which I have taken note.

May l ask what is dgl 75mg which you are taking? The other items I may be able to search for to help with my gut lining.

My doctor has sent me a prescription of Omeprazole tobe taken daily as well as Mebevirine to be taken three times a day 20 minutes before meals..which is to boost stomach acid to help with digestion. I have a face to face appointment tomorrow when various tests will be done, hopefully to find the root cause of what is going on in my gut.

Imaaan profile image
Imaaan in reply tokatwin

Dgl is licorice root that has had the blood pressure raising properties removed.

Im not familiar with Mebevirine but Omeprazole is a ppi and it doesn't help with digestion but rather hinders it by reducing acid levels that help with digestion. My doc prescribed me to take probiotics, digestive enzymes and a low dose of ox bile . Interestingly enough bile also helps in the conversion of t4 to t3. It also acts as an antimicrobial in the intestine. I found Allergy Research Group to have the lowest dose per pill. It was 125mg. Some can take higher amounts but some cant and it can cause diarrhea.

Also I wrote a reply to someone earlier about ppi usage and will edit and include it in this reply in case it may be helpful.

-------edited to add

If you cant get around not using a ppi, then maybe look into an h2 blocker. It reduces acid to a lesser degree but using a different mechanism. Both ppi and h2 blockers will reduce the absorption of meds and supplements. Marshmallow root and slippery elm are herbs that help coat the lining of the esophagus and stomach from acid by creating a barrier. They too affect the absorption of meds and supplements but they dont reduce acid. Another option is Gaviscon advanced but it has to be the UK version. It has a high amount of alginates which creates a raft/ barrier to the acid.

I have a small hiatal hernia and bouts of gastritis. I'm currently experiencing a a flare up and though I'm reluctant to go on h2 blockers I have no choice . My plan is to slightly increase my thyroid dose and only be on it God willingly for a week or so.

Also, I read a study once to take the h2 at night which I do an hour before bed. 30mg of pepcid ac. The study was done on 40mg but that amount gives me palpitationsIf you cant get around not using a ppi, then maybe look into an h2 blocker. It reduces acid to a lesser degree but using a different mechanism. Both ppi and h2 blockers will reduce the absorption of meds and supplements. Marshmallow root and slippery elm are herbs that help coat the lining of the esophagus and stomach from acid by creating a barrier. They too affect the absorption of meds and supplements but they dont reduce acid. Another option is Gaviscon advanced but it has to be the UK version. It has a high amount of alginates which creates a raft/ barrier to the acid.

I have a small hiatal hernia and bouts of gastritis. I'm currently experiencing a a flare up and though I'm reluctant to go on h2 blockers I have no choice . My plan is to slightly increase my thyroid dose and only be on it God willingly for a week or so.

Also, I read a study once to take the h2 at night which I do an hour before bed. 30mg of pepcid ac. The study was done on 40mg but that amount gives me palpitations

katwin profile image
katwin in reply toImaaan

Mebeverine 135mg is basically hydrochloride and I've only once taken Omeprazole for acid reflux. I preferred the Betaine HCI with Pepsin that I was originally taking once a day that didn't give me acid reflux. I've taken note of the Gaviscon Advanced. Marshmallow root and slippery elm I shall seek out too!I was sorry to hear about your hiatus hernia flare up and truly hope you can deal with it alongside taking your meds.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply tokatwin

katwin,

Mebeverine 135mg is basically hydrochloride

Mebeverine is an antispasmodic medicine. The fact that it has a hydrochloride group attached as part of the medicine in its usual form doesn't make it basically hydrochloride.

katwin profile image
katwin in reply tohelvella

Thank you helvella for the correction. It says: Also includes lactose, sucrose, glycol, polyoxyl castor oil and E218.

Sleepman profile image
Sleepman

Wonder if you are gluten intolerant and hypothyroid ? I see you have thyroid antibodies

Apparently what gluten breaks down to in the gut can pass through a leaky gut wall into blood and it is dealt with as though it is part of your thyroid as it is very similar shape - that is it is attacked by immune system. Something like that anyway.

I have been totally gluten free for a year now due to gut problems, my blood were tested for celiac "antibody" but clear. Digestive issues massively improved but fatigue and numbness etc remained.

. 2 months ago I found I had underactive thyroid (primary very high TSH and no T4 - many of symptoms shared symptoms with Celiac. I know think I am just gluten intolerant rather than celiac.

I went on Keto diet about 3 years ago for a few months and felt great on it, I think I would have been Hypo back then and gluten intolerant too. Too scared to go back on keto diet until I am settled into levo/T4 medication and understand it more.

katwin profile image
katwin in reply toSleepman

Hi SleepmanThank you so much for your help and suggestions. I must certainly look into what I am eating and perhaps going gluten free will help. With Christmas coming up it maybe difficult to stick to any diet.

Tomorrow I have a face to face appointment with my doctor and will be having tests to hopefully find the cause of my gut problem . Meanwhile I will do all l can to help myself.

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