Update from recent imput from you all regarding acid reflux etc

[Humphre]

After reading your kind suggestions of what helped you I rang the surgery, I was lucky to get an phone call appointment (not my doctor)a different doctor of course. He felt that my thyroxine levels were steady and had been for the last few years but after listening to my symptoms decided we'd start from scratch, so stool samples, FBC to include Ferittin & CA125, I'd to stop lansoperzole with a another stool test after 2 weeks. Appointment booked to discuss with yet another doctor in new year.🤦 So I'm struggling with reflux big time so looked up "The Acid Reflux diet" by Dr Jonathan Aviv so much in depth information which I've identified with myself, the diet is interesting 🤞will help ease my discomfort. Defo need an endoscopy to see what the damage is. Now no alcohol, chocolate or coffee nor dairy & careful with read meat oh & all processed food all triggers.Wish you all a Merry Christmas & a happy New Year. Will update then😁

[SlowDragon Administrator]

First step is always to get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing done

as your dose levothyroxine has been reduced from 150mcg to 100mcg/75mcg on alternate days….highly likely you are under medicated

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Which brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking

Many people find different brands are not interchangeable

Teva is ONLY brand that makes 75mcg tablets

Teva upsets many people

Do you have autoimmune thyroid disease

PPI lowers vitamin levels

Low vitamin levels tend to lower TSH

Just testing TSH is completely inadequate

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine or after any significant changes

Eg starting or stopping PPI, HRT, improving low vitamins etc etc

 

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

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies 

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis. 

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis 

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test 

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

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

List of private testing options and money off codes

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

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

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

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

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

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

Monitor My Health also now offer thyroid and vitamin testing, plus cholesterol and HBA1C for £65 

monitormyhealth.org.uk/full...

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning. 

Watch out for postal strikes, probably want to pay for guaranteed 24 hours delivery 

Link about thyroid blood tests

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

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism 

thyroiduk.org/wp-content/up...

[Humphre in reply to SlowDragon]

Wow, what a lot of questions & loads of of things to do of which I thank you.I've taken various supplements over the years non never really seem to work. I'm on Adcal inc. vit D for my osteopenia plus I had a hip replacement some 7 years ago due to trauma.

At the moment I'm seeing where I go with the acid reflux diagnosis & their treatment but will certainly query any outcomes. Have thought of private health care but again will see how this stage of events pans out.

Grateful for your input, making notes as I write👍

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Humphre]

What were thyroid results when on 150mcg levothyroxine

Why was dose reduced

Far, far too often medics dose by TSH which is completely wrong

Reducing dose levothyroxine frequently results in low Ft3 …..low vitamin levels

Essential to maintain optimal vitamin levels for good conversion and highly likely to need to supplement vitamin D and B vitamins continuously to maintain optimal vitamin levels

Being under medicated for thyroid, frequently causes low stomach acid, then poor nutrient absorption and low vitamin levels

Low vitamin levels tend to lower TSH ……medics inappropriately reduce levothyroxine further ……and patient spirals downwards

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Thousands of posts on here about low stomach acid 

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

But never assume you have low stomach acid 

healthygut.com/4-common-bet...

Web links re low stomach acid and reflux and hypothyroidism 

nutritionjersey.com/high-or...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/s...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

 How to test your stomach acid levels 

healthygut.com/articles/3-t...

meraki-nutrition.co.uk/indi...

huffingtonpost.co.uk/laura-...

lispine.com/blog/10-telling...

Protect your teeth if using ACV with mother 

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Ppi 

Omeprazole will lower vitamin levels even further 

gov.uk/drug-safety-update/p...

webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/ne...

pharmacytimes.com/publicati...

PPI and increased risk T2 diabetes 

gut.bmj.com/content/early/2...

Iron Deficiency and PPI 

medpagetoday.com/resource-c...

futurity.org/anemia-proton-...

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...

sciencedirect.com/science/a...

[Jazzw in reply to SlowDragon]

But never assume you have low stomach acid

You meant never assume you have high stomach acid, I think?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Jazzw]

no …I did actually mean never assume you have low stomach acid

Test first

Taking Betaine HCL or ACV might make symptoms worse

[Jazzw in reply to SlowDragon]

Ah, ok! Good point. I should have clicked on the link, sorry.

I guess I’m just so used to people assuming they have high stomach acid when the symptoms for low stomach acid can be surprisingly similar.

[Fruitandnutcase]

I was prescribed omeprazole similar to lanzoperole years ago for acid reflux. I had a limitless, unquestioned supply of the things.

Eventually I altered my diet pretty much the way you describe and weaned myself off the omeprazole. I realise I was lucky to be able to do that because there are people who for various reasons can’t do it but if you can alter your diet that’s a good start. Good luck with the blood tests and hope your visit with the new doctor in the new year goes well. 🎄

[Humphre in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Cheers, I just hope I can convince them something is just not right unfortunately I've suffered for years without realising they actually is a problem🤦🤞all goes well

[limonene7]

Have you checked out Jamie Kouffman? She is the leading expert on reflux and LPR...

" (LPR (laryngopharyngeal reflux) is acid reflux that comes up into the larynx (voice box) and pharynx (throat). I coined the term in 1987 to distinguish what I was seeing in my patients with voice, throat, and respiratory problems from GI patients with heartburn and esophageal disease (GERD))."

She has loads of help and advice on her website/blog and Youtube channel.

LPR (laryngopharyngeal reflux) is acid reflux that comes up into the larynx (voice box) and pharynx (throat). I coined the term in 1987 to distinguish what I was seeing in my patients with voice, throat, and respiratory problems from GI patients with heartburn and esophageal disease (GERD)

jamiekoufman.com

youtube.com/c/drjamiekoufman

[Humphre in reply to limonene7]

Thanks, I've had a look see wow never thought acid reflux had an affect onhearing I've bee suffering with tinitus for years👍 just arming myself with info for when I chat with doctor 🤦quite intricate having underactive thyroid which in term comes with extras🙂

[limonene7 in reply to Humphre]

You’re welcome, all the best!