extreme stomach noises---please help!

  I am not sure what is wrong with me....I was diagnosed over a year ago with hyperthyroidism, my thyroid was removed, so now I am hypothyroid, which is being treated with medication.  My thyroid doctor does not think my thyroid has anything to do with my complaint, so we just cant figure it out!  My stomach makes noise, loud noise, constantly.  It is at its loudest in the morning and at night, but makes noise all day long.  I am terrified to go into a meeting, or anything quiet b/c of this.  It is not like, or unlike, a stomach "growl", but more of a gurgling noise.  I am getting pretty frantic about this, and cannot figure out the cause.  My diet has not changed, I am doing nothing differently.  What in the world could cause this?  I am being honest when I say this goes on ALL DAY LONG----please help!

[HFHSM.D.-rf]

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Dear Wendy,
Loud bowel noises (called borborygmi)are a common complaint.  This type of problem represents goodnew/bad news.  The good news is that the condition is not serious.  The bad neews is that often we can not identify the cause and we do not have effective therapies.  
Possible etiologies may relate to gastrointestinal contractions and gas in the bowel.  Even though you are probably taking thyroid replacement, your GI function may be subtely altered.  
To exclude structural abnormalities, you should have barium studies of the entire Gi tract.  Assessment of motility with gastric emptying test might provide additional information.
This information is presented for educational purposes.  Ask specific questions to your personal physician.
If you wish a second opinion, we would be happy to see you in the Division of Gastroenterology of Henry Ford Health System.  You can arrange an appoinment with Dr. Fogel, one of our experts in gastrointestinal disease, by calling our Physician Referral Line at [phone].
HFHSM.D.-rf
*keywords: borborygmi
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