Hi, I've just joined today. I'm rather anxious and am hoping someone can help me before I go and visit my GP again. I was diagnosed with underactive thyroid around three months ago.
Since then I have been taking Levothyroxine consistently. I am on a high protein low calorie diet. I rigorously work out at the gym three times a week and I cycle and brisk walk whenever I can. Although I have lost around 8lb I cannot for the life of me shift my stomach it looks like I'm bloated with water. Please can anyone help.
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Rainer0177
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Medichecks do the works plus vitamins and minerals. Testing kits sent to your home. Results by email. When you have results post here in a new post for supportive comments.
Sadly the NHS rarely do the correct testing so many people remain under treated and undiagnosed.
Many of us have Hashimotos which is auto-immune. Lots we can do to help ourselves ....
hi Marz my GP in North London does do full testing thankfully. It might be worth the OP trying at least to get it done on NHS. We must keep pushing for this collectively.
I agree - but reading here on a daily basis I can see it is a problem to have more than the TSH tested. If its not a barrier with the GP then it certainly seems to be with the labs - sigh !
How much levothyroxine are you taking? Fluid retention is common in hypothyroidism, especially when the levo dose is too low. Have you had a thyroid blood test since you were started on levo? If yes, what were the results?
'Normal' is not acceptible for thyroid hormone levels. What's normal for me may not be normal for you. Unfortunately, many GPs are clueless about hypothyroidism.
50mcg levothyroxine is a low dose. Chances are you actually need at least one dose increase of 25mcg, and possibly more.
Get hold of the actual thyroid test number/s, with the accompanying reference range (often in brackets after the result number). If you don't have onlne access to your test results, contact your surgey for them.
Once you post this info, members can offer more support and advice.
I’d get a full picture of where your thyroid levels are at - tsh , t4, and t3 - then post here for advice. My belly is bloated when I am under medicated. I use Medichecks but there’s other private testing houses. Don’t take your meds the morning if the blood draw.
I was on 225 mcg Synthroid and my stomach looked like I was seven months pregnant the entire time. Started on NDT, still bloated but not the to the same degree.
I know the lactose bothers me but in Canada we do not have any lactose free alternatives for levothyroxine, and the lactose free compounding is an insane price..
I asked the same thing here about a year ago, when my bloating started happening, I looked like I was 5 months pregnant. I too watched my diet and exercised and yet it wouldn’t budge. I started taking probiotics, folate and iron because I was deficient in those. More than a year ago I started adding liothyronine but that didn’t seem to have any effect on bloating. And now it comes and goes, usually with the menstruation, but never as bad as before. My point is that you might want to have your vitamins checked, see if any is low and maybe try a probiotic. But most importantly, check your thyroid levels, when those are off, nothing is ok.
Also weight gain/ bloating particularly around the stomach can also be indicative of adrenal/ cortisol issues which often go hand in hand with hypothyroidism. I know that is definitely the case with me.
Regenerus labs do diurnal saliva cortisol test which may be worth doing to see how your adrenals are functioning.
Hi Litatamon- well its something that i'm only just addressing. I myself have just ordered the adrenal saliva diurnal cortisol test, as im only just realising how suboptimal adrenal function affects thyroid fx and vice versa, as per advice of Dr Peatfield and lovely new friend who has been treading this path for much longer than I have. I'm pretty new on this journey as I was only diagnosed with full blown hypothyroidism/hashimotos a few months ago. Ive been 'subclinical' according to GP lab ranges for the past year(although i now realise that there was nothing sub about it- its been full blown for a long time I believe) and have been trying to rectify that through functional medicine and naturopathy. However my thyroid function and symptoms have got so bad that ive had to start on thyroid replacement and have just started NDT.
So I believe the best way to support adrenals, other than rest, meditation etc etc as you mentioned, is to take an adrenal cortex supplement (thorne do good one) and things like adrenal cocktails (essentially mix of vit c, sodium and potassium) and obviously diet/ nutrition.
Oh and the reason for my opiginal post is that over the past 2 months ive suddenly developed a big cortisol belly! i've always been very skinny and even over the past year with hashi's I actually lost weight not put it on... but thats suddenly changed and ive developed a huge spare tyre along with all the mucin my body is currently collecting. no doubt this will rectify when i get optimally medicated.
I hope you are well and thanks for asking. The bloating/water retention all fell away within a couple of months of starting NDT and my weight is back to what is was before. Im on quite a high dose of adrenal cortex which seems to be helping me to metabolise the NDT although im just starting to add in some more T3 as I think this is the missing link .
I have blood work tomorrow & then see if I am anywhere near normal range. Have yet to be except when I was 225 Synthroid only & could not function through a day on that.
And I will tell my endocrinologist next week that I am.on about day 388 of bloating and daily gas. Insert big sigh.
I want compounded NDT but the expense here is crazy. Thyroid S - the bloating was still there but not as bad as Synthroid. And I lost that NDT due to border issues
Thank you for your information about T3, as my intuition said to try to keep that prescription even if I find my way back to NDT.
I will also ask for an adrenal test. Is it the 24 hour one I am to ask for?
So completely thrilled for you. Grateful for your reply.
Bless you- it is not pleasant. Do you think it's all the lactose that's causing it? I can't believe you can't get any T4 that is lactose free in Canada.
Yes the adrenal test is did was a 5 point diurnal salivary Cortisol test that includes testing for DHEA. Mine was totally on the floor and its only through supplementing with hefty doses of Adrenavive that im starting to feel better.
Hi Rainer. 2 years ago I have been exactly where you are now. 50 mcg of Levo is a low dose. You need to have full blood tests every 6 weeks after last increase. I advise you to look at Slow Dragons blog/advice (administrator) on this website. Follow her advice. The GPs are not 'experts' in the field of Thyroid disorders. My belly was like I was 6 months pregnant. I was never like that before medication. My main problem turned out to be Di02 gene which is inherited from parent with Hypothyroidism. I had to pay for a private blood test via Regenerous because NHS wouldn't do it. My Endo last week has just prescribed me to have T3 liothyronine permanently. Basically with this condition my body does not convert T4 levothyroxine to T3 even though my blood test done by GP came back within their 'normal range' for TSH and T4 but my T3 conversion was poor. GPs only go by TSH and T4. Many will not test T3!! So what Marz says is correct. What is normal for one person is not for another. Get private blood test through Medichecks or similar online including full Thyroid function inc vitamins and Antibodies and post results on here for advice!
You don't mention bowel movements. It is vital to all normal functioning. 1 tbsp ground Flax, 1/4 c unsweetened apple sauce and 1/4 c yogurt and not the stuff with the sugar infused fruit eat for breakfast. Personally I like vanilla or maple . It is a probiotic and prebiotic combo that absolutely works with out a bunch of chemicals that cause problems of their own. In short healthy! Make sure you drink a good amount of fluids tea is great, apple cider as well and avoid soda and sports drinks that are full of junk ! God bless you and keep you!
Diet sodas will bloat.....sucking on any hard candies..(swallowing air) eating beans....cabbage, .........when I bloat, I look like I am expecting an elephant............any fake sweeteners are a nono
A tbsp. or 2 of grd flax seed, 1/4 c. of unsweetened apple sauce, and 1/4 c. plain or like a vanilla yogurt( in the A.M. is when I take it) daily and there will be no problem! If you were to have a problem then your issue would be more that merely being irregular. Hope it helps. It made a huge difference in my life and it is dependable. Stay away from all the OTC crap !
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Why do I have a huge heavy bloated stomach? But if I take T3 it goes?
