hypothyroid/digestive problems/weight gain

[karenchase]

Hi,
I was diagnosed hypothyroid about a year or so ago. I was basically asymptomatic: the diagnosis was mostly a lucky guess by my astute doctor, based on her observations of my emotional state over the year or so leading up to the diagnosis.

I started on 75 micrograms of Synthroid, then went to 100 when my level was still a little low, then bumped to 125 about 3 months ago, and that's where I am now. My latest TSH was 1.5, and the doctor I saw (not my regular, but a locum) said that will do for the next few months.

Around the time I started the meds, I started having tummy problems. Mostly, I have bouts of pain that spreads all through my upper abdominal area. It is usually accompanied by the desire to eat something, since the pain almost feels like hunger pains. My doctor suggested to me that I might have developed IBS. I read up on it and it seemed to fit, except that most information on IBS has a lot to do with elimination. I don't have more diarrhea or constipation than I did before, and generally my bowel function is the same as what it always was. It's just this pain, which sometimes hits in the afternoon and lasts throughout the evening, sometimes hits in the late evening, and sometimes doesn't come at all, for weeks.

The other thing is that I've gained close to 15 pounds since I started taking the medication. I'm not super active, but I've tried to do more exercise and eat better (and less) since this all started, since I'm already a bit overweight. Right now I'm 5'6" and 185 lbs (37 years old), and I was 170-175 lbs a year ago.

I've read that there are differences between T4 and T3 and if you don't get the right thing you can mess up other things, but I don't really understand it and my doctor(s) don't seem to know what I'm talking about when I mention a possible correlation between Synthroid and these digestive issues. I'm really hoping I can get an answer here.

I'll try to provide more technical information if necessary. I am also getting my blood tested for celiac disease.

thanks.

[Carlyfan]

Hello--

I just wanted to let you know that I am a hypo too, and have been through the exact same thing you're going through. It was so severe all last year, that I would wake at crazy early hours of the morning with that starvation feeling too. I would get up, (my husband would actually cook me 2 scrambled eggs, toast and milk, and it was like I couldn't get it fast enough [I wanted something bland...gentle on my stomach], because I was having to sit down and I would actually, "hold" my stomach...telling him to "hurry!" I have read that, that feeling can be a symptom of an ulcer. It wouldn't have surprised me, because I had taken so many NSAID'S for at least 2- 2.5 years for all of my hypo pain/symptoms.

Well even my GP said that a lot of people with ulcers report those symptoms, saying they feel like they are "starving".  Funny thing was...it didn't always go away when I ate! So, I decided [myself] to take Maloxx 3 x a day, as that is what they told my dad to do when he suffered stomach pains, [and it worked for him], and I read somewhere that it can sometimes heal ulcers, so I thought, what have I got to lose...?.

Plus I upped my Prilosec, from 1 tab a day to 2 a day...as I also had severe reflux problems that wouldn't let up. Believe it or not, my stomach felt about 90% better after a week or so...and I continued using it [Maloxx], for 3 weeks, and I quit coffee and onions, red sauces, etc.  Unfortunately, about 5 months later, those starvation pains came back, again waking me up at all [very early] hours of the morning, (oh..I read that ulcers tend to do this too...wake some people up early in the mornings with pain).

So this time I insisted my Dr. order an endoscopy. They found nothing!! I couldn't believe it!!! And of course my Gastro Dr. deemed it 'anxiety" which I think, (FOR ME) it was that in the end, (but I do think earlier, pre- Maloxx trial, it was indeed an ulcer).

After I started taking Klonopin, and trying breathing exercises, [and everything I could do to 'calm down'} it DID go away,.... again I couldn't believe it, as I thought it would never ever go away! I have to admit tho, it does [very occassionally, rear it's ugly head every now and then, but never as severe as before)

These days I try to stay as calm as I possibly can these days...although it is hard, with this thyroid disease, and having a husband who is just really not here for me, and will not really acknowledge that I have this disease. [as he's afraid it will interfere with his own life, I think) Oh well, so is life...

Good luck, Karen, and I hope you find something that works for you, and you will feel back to normal again soon. This hypothyroid is known to cause a lot of digestive disorders. Oh,..I also take Probiotics, like the other poster said, [I take a good one called PB-8], and I also eat one yogurt daily, and just recently started taking that new drink, "DanActive", with something in it called L. Casei...which is reported to be good for your immune system, and stomach. I also find drinking my Palmegranate-Cranberry Green Tea to be very soothing.

Good luck...
CarlyFan

[Mozartcowgirl]

I quit the chemical thyroid meds.. i went on Armour thyroid... and.. due to my problems with digestion.. i went on digestive aids.. and.. super green formula..
and pro biotics

before i began this.. i was in hell... now.. no more stomach problems.. now.. i have a normally functioning digestive system.. and.. my thyroid levels are great.. im no longer getting that " strange roller coaster feeling" in my stomach. no more pain.. nothing.  

while it may not work for all. i would seriously give it some thought... there are alot of sites i can give you if you want to research it on your own.

take care.. hope that you feel better soon!!

[Lake Lover]

Try adding a probiotic to help with stomach pain.  I had similar issues but after eating and the probiotic has completley eliminated the pains.

[margie b]

you need more exercise . My weight has also gone up and my TSH is elevated at this time . My doctor told me to exercise and watch the carbs.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Probably reasonable to have a GI evaluation -- usually synthroid is not associated with this and the TSH of 1.5 is in the optimal range.