Hypothyroid and loose stools.

[Hellodoll]

Hi, first time posting. Diagnosed with underactive thyroid & high cholesterol in December 23 , started on lowest dose (25mg Eutirox), reviewed in Feb 24 thyroid results improved and cholesterol down a little so continuing on same dose to be reviewed again in August.

I have had loose stools for a while (+/-2 years). It doesn't really bother me as I don't have any pain, I don't feel bloated, I'm not loosing weight and I am in a bowel cancer program so my stools get checked regularly for blood and none found at last test last year.

How can I improve my gut function?

I go through phases of trying supplements to help thyroid function etc but if my gut isn't working properly then I'm wasting money aren't I?

Any suggestions would be greatly welcomed thank you.

Ps post menopause, regular runner & generally a healthy, clean eating omnivore.

[greygoose]

I go through phases of trying supplements to help thyroid function etc but if my gut isn't working properly then I'm wasting money aren't I?

You're wasting money anyway, because none of those supplements are ever going to help. By the time your hypo is bad enough to be put on thyroid hormone replacement, the thyroid is beyond help and probably completely out of the loop, depending on your dose. And, if they contain iodine, they could be making things worse, rather than better.

You probably have low stomach acid, being hypo, which affects digestion and transit. Try the home test with bicarb in water to see if your stomach acid is low. If it is, then what you need to do is raise it.

[Hellodoll in reply to greygoose]

Thank you. I'm gutted that the supplements won't help.What is the home bicarb test?

[greygoose in reply to Hellodoll]

They're just glorified multi-vits and multi-vits are always a waste of money, due to the way they're composed.

[HealthStarDust in reply to greygoose]

What?! We are always advised/suggested to take supplements on the forum.

To be fair, it’s not clear which supplements is in meant here. May you clarify Hellodoll ?

And to be even fairer, if you mean vitamin supplements, well my vitamins have improved massively with vitamin supplements but no impact on gut or symptoms.

[greygoose in reply to HealthStarDust]

Yes, of course we should take some supplements but:

- I go through phases of trying supplements to help thyroid function I took that to me that she was taking one of those thyroid support multis - I could be wrong, but that's the way that I interpeted it. And they are always a bad idea.

- taking supplements is not going to do anything for the thyroid itself. That boat has sailed! But, we do need optimal nutrients for our body's to be able to use the thyroid hormone we're giving it.

- also, having nutritional deficiencies is going to cause all sorts of symptoms and make us feel worse, so that's another reason to supplement

- nothing is going to help anything if you don't need it, and could make things worse, which is another reason not to take any kind of multi.

That's what I was saying. I was not saying we shouldn't supplement at all.

[HealthStarDust in reply to greygoose]

Thank you. I think some clarification from Hellodoll on what is meant by supplements would help.

[greygoose in reply to HealthStarDust]

Indeed. I do tend to jump to conclusion, I know, and I shouldn't. But so many people do take these things that that's what I immediately think of.

[Hellodoll in reply to greygoose]

Hi, I usually take a general multi vit with iron, I have also been taking cod liver oil and have recently been trying L tyrosine and a "thyroid support" mix tablet. I was looking into taking ashwagandha........I got lost in an Internet whirlpool lol!!! Probably confusing my body even more!

[greygoose in reply to Hellodoll]

Well, no multi-vit is going to help your thyroid, or anything else. They're just a huge waste of money. You need to take what you need, and nothing else - more is never better.

L tyrosine is one of the ingredients of thyroid hormone. The other is iodine. What is the point of taking them if you thyroid is no-longer making thyroid hormone? What do you think it's going to do with you? And even if your thyroid was healthy and functional, taking extra ingredients would not get you extra hormone. It just doesn't work like that.

[Hellodoll in reply to greygoose]

Obviously I'm not a chemist/ pharmacist or a doctor but I did think taking these would help my thyroid function better. Sorry for my naivety and falling into the wormhole of the Internet greygoose. Youve Obviously been on here a while so thanks for your help. Do you suggest I take anything or just give up as my readings are no where near as bad as some people's?

[greygoose in reply to Hellodoll]

I'm not a chemist/pharmacist or a doctor, either. But, look at it this way: you can add as many eggs as you like to the batter but if the oven is kaput you're not going to get a cake out of it. No, neither L tyrosine, nor iodine, improve the function of the thyroid. If only it were that easy!

Do you suggest I take anything or just give up as my readings are no where near as bad as some people's?

Don't compare yourself to others. It's not a competition and it's not helpful. If you're hypo you're hypo and that will cause suffering.

I suggest you take what you need, no more, no less. And to know what you need you have to get your nutrients tested and supplement accordingly. But understand that nothing is going to restore your thyroid function. Thyroids cannot regenerate and once they fail, that's it.

[Hellodoll in reply to greygoose]

Thanks for your help & advise. I'll look into getting a full test of my nutrients etc.

[greygoose in reply to Hellodoll]

Good idea.

[DippyDame]

For the burp test, you'll drink half a glass (4 ounces) of cold water combined with a quarter teaspoon of baking soda, on an empty stomach. Then time how long it takes you to burp. If it takes longer than three to five minutes, the theory goes, you don't have enough stomach acid.

Sorry, jumping in here...but I was just reading this.

[greygoose in reply to DippyDame]

Thank you. I got interuped and forgot to go back to answer that question. lol

[Buddy195 Administrator]

Can you share your most recent thyroid results with us Hellodoll. Having optimal levels will help digestion issues. Have you ever trialled a gluten free diet? Many members (myself included) are gluten intolerant and find a trial of GF alleviates many adverse symptoms.

[Hellodoll in reply to Buddy195]

Hi, my recent blood test wasn't a full blood test and only looked at cholesterol & thyroid. Total cholesterol 264 mg/dl

HDl 91

LDl 163.

TSH 4.800

T4 free 1.26

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to Hellodoll]

Can you add ranges (in brackets after results). TSH should always be under 2 so you are clearly under medicated thyroid wise.

[Hellodoll in reply to Buddy195]

Sorry I thought the ranges would be standard?Cholesterol 264 (115-200)

HDL 91 (50-75)

LDL 163 (?)

TSH 4.800 (0.400- 4.500)

T4 1.26 (0.85 - 1.80)

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to Hellodoll]

greygoose has insights on high cholesterol so will copy her in (again!)

I would look to focus on testing and optimising key thyroid vitamins; ferritin, folate, B12 and vit D.

[greygoose in reply to Hellodoll]

Unfortunately there are no standardised ranges. It all depends on the calibration of the machine they use for the analysis and average results of the local population. All totally inadequate, of course, which is why blood test results are only a rough guide, and not to be taken as rigid bounderies. And that's why they vary from lab to lab.

Well, looking at your results, rough guide or not, it's hardly surprising that your cholesterol is high. Your TSH is much too high. Euthyroid is around 1 but hypos usually need it lower than that. And, with a TSH over 4, you are hypo.

Your FT4 is only 43.16% through the range. Euthyroid is around 50%, so that's low. And, if your FT4 is low, your FT3 is more than likely a lot lower. So, that is why your TSH and cholesterol are high.

High cholesterol is a symptom, not a disease. And whilst it's not anything to worry about in and of itself, the cause of the high level is something to take seriously, because low FT3 can cause a lot of other problems, apart from high cholesterol.

[HealthStarDust]

Same for me, autoimmune hypothyroidism, and loose stools for approx. 3 years now. It just suddenly appeared one day prediagnosis and has continued since.

So, watching with interest.

[Hellodoll in reply to HealthStarDust]

Yes, my loose stools started during lock down so I thought it was stress related.