Belly bloat

[Patty315]

Hi  everyone, ok tell me please is bloating part of being hypo?
One day I can wear my jeans 2 days later I cant button them.  

[gimel]

Just because your blood test results are within the so-called "normal" ranges does not mean that is adequate for you.  The ranges are far too broad to be functional for many people.  Plus, everyone is different in how they react to given levels of thyroid hormone.  If you will please post your test results and their reference ranges shown on the lab report, members will be better able to assess the adequacy of your testing and treatment.

[jaclyn22410]

Patty, your story sounds exactly like my situation. I've been struggling with stomach distension -looking 8 months pregnant -for 5 years now. I am 25.  I have every symptom of hypo bang on but have just been tested for t3, t4 and TSH levels and all came back normal.. My situation has gotten so bad in the past 2 months that I'm off work and in tears every single day. I've also been suffering from extreme constipation. My diet is very clean -no sugar, gluten, dairy, eggs, coffee or soy for 3months...even with this and tons of fibre, I've only gone to the washroom 4 times in the past 3 weeks or so. 3 of the 4 were with laxative use. I practice yoga and meditation to de-stress and do approx 300 plus minutes of cardio per week. ( have been active my whole life). Wondering how you finally got properly diagnosed and I f you have any recommendations for me?   If anyone has any words of wisdom, please share .       :)  thanks, jaclyn.

[DHCat]

You may have magnesium deficiency or low progesterone to estrogen ratio. Check them out. It may help

[AN1839]

Hello, I am in the same boat and I am 27 years old. I had a thyroidectomy two years ago and have had severe bloating ever since. I spend almost 8 months telling myself, "it's fine, this will all go away when your med level out." Longs story short- it didn't. Two years, three doctors, and dozens of appointments later here I am. I don't feel comfortable in my clothes, my relationship with food has changed, and it is effecting my body image. My thyroid levels have been "normal" throughout this terrible process. Because I was told my levels were "normal" I sought help elsewhere.  I have been to my gynecologist to change my birth control- it didn't help. I went to my Primary care doctor and she gave me dietary restrictions which made things slightly better. I have been gluten-free for several months, but it has only incrementally improved my constipation. The bloating and other symptoms have remained constant. I went to a gastroenterologist and had an upper endoscopy to chek for Celiacs- the results we inconclusive. I demonstrated a few, but not all symptoms of Celiacs. Finally a returned to my endo only to have her tell me again that my levels were "normal" (which I of course already knew and told her during out meeting) and there was nothing she could do.  I continue to feel bloated, painfully constipated, tired, and frequently cold among other symptoms. Unfortunately, I now have to try to find a doctor that will actually listen to the way I FEEL and not what the numbers say. I feel your pain, and I genuinely hope that you are able to achieve your "normal" with a great doctor who listens to your concerns.

[Patty315]

Thankyou for the ACV tip I started yesterday morning and again today and wow Thanks you should scream it to the rooftop.

[shellsa]

michelle here yeah i got tested for intolerances cheese makes me sick but gluten didnt come up only grapes cheese and wheat. but almost everytime i eat i get hellowing pain all night long. been like that for years

[stella5349]

There are good carbs and bad - I am still figuring out which are which. But I do know being hypo lean - very lean protein is needed throughout the day. You need to watch the protein shakes due to the sugar in them. They must be formatted by all natural proteins with no additives. I still am getting this and it is so time consuming that I just decided to skip the shakes and look at real food as the answer. You digestive system suffers alot. Over 6 moths ago I went on and off acidophillus - when off I became miserable - now i take it every morning  plus a yorgut most of the time and one lately at night. My belly is feeling better and again the bloating is almost gone. I think now I just need to lose that extra weight I gained to feel pretty good.

[Patty315]

Those are the exact words I stated yesterday whe I went to put my big pants on I laughed at it saying I feel like i'm pregnant.  I am so glad I found this site. I am going to try the ACV right away.
I have so many questions for you. About the cutting carbs I do protein shakes with 310 calories, 40 grams of protein and 12 grams of carbs for breakfast and sometimes for lunch , but lately even that has been bothering my stomach what is your thoughts on protein and hypo?  

[stella5349]

Whet is a germ - and a big carb - if you can get gluten free wheat - and milk intolerence is a common issue to when hypothyroid. I stop most milk products - went totally off in the beginning but now that I feel a bit better - i do eat some cheese

I don't know why BUT EGGS kill me still - Within 20 minutes after eating them - I am doubled over with a ton of acid and it lasts all day even after I do ACV. I just stay away from them now. I think it is the protein base that may be an issue - but I am not sure.  Talk about FIRE in the throat and gut. It's unbelievable. for me......

I bottle of unprocessed ACV costs $4 - I paid anywhere from $400 - $500 a month for nexium and OTC acid meds. Plus digestive supplements and I was still miserable. I like the fact now I get one bottle of acidophillus and a bottle of ACV. Huge cost difference and it worked.

[shellsa]

michelle here well i get that all the time i call it intolerance to wheat and cheese  it keeps up all night feeling sick no more for me they were going to give some med to help heal my gut  but its 40 dallars each med.

[utahmomma]

Wow - good to know.  I'm going to try that right away.

I've already had an endoscopy (showing chronic reflux - duh!) and am now scheduled for a CT and colonoscopy to figure out what this *PAINFUL* bloating, cramping, stabbing stuff is.  I was wondering if it is celiac but I'll have to try the ACV.

This is why you have a tiara Stella!  :-)

[AN1839]

Hello, I am in the same boat. I had a thyroidectomy two years ago and have had severe bloating ever since. I spend almost 8 months telling myself, "it's fine, this will all go away when your med level out." Longs story short- it didn't. Two years, three doctors, and dozens of appointments later here I am. I don't feel comfortable in my clothes, my relationship with food has changed, and it is effecting my body image. My thyroid levels have been "normal" throughout this terrible process. Because I was told my levels were "normal" I sought help elsewhere.  I have been to my gynecologist to change my birth control- it didn't help. I went to my Primary care doctor and she gave me dietary restrictions which made things slightly better. I have been gluten-free for several months, but it has only incrementally improved my constipation. The bloating and other symptoms have remained constant. I went to a gastroenterologist and had an upper endoscopy to chek for Celiacs- the results we inconclusive. I demonstrated a few, but not all symptoms of Celiacs. Finally a returned to my endo only to have her tell me again that my levels were "normal" (which I of course already knew and told her during out meeting) and there was nothing she could do.  I continue to feel bloated, painfully constipated, tired, and frequently cold among other symptoms. Unfortunately, I now have to try to find a doctor that will actually listen to the way I FEEL and not what the numbers say. I feel your pain, and I genuinely hope that you are able to achieve your "normal" with a great doctor who listens to your concerns.

[gimel]

If you will tell us your location, perhaps we can give you names of doctors in your area that have been recommended by other thyroid patients.  That is a whole lot better than searching on your own.  

[stella5349]

Patty

I can't medically prove it - but no medical professional has a clue on what caused my total discomfort for about a year. I have been very hypo for over 5 yrs with no consistancy with doctors or proper med dosages. BAsically they RAI'd me .... and left me with an RX for Synthroid and a door hitting my ***.

Up until this past Oct I suffered severe bloating - not just "can't buttom the jeans" either. I"m talk'n I looked 7 months pregnant one day and would wake up - nothing the next morning. I was scared - uncomfortable and no one gave me answers.

I started searching hypothyroid and (all kinds of stomach and bloating issues) I found a ton of sources. I started reading and it all clicked.

Being hypo thyroid - our whole systems will shut down - the more hypo - the more we slow - Not just by digestion - but PH levels (acid) in stomach -  I suffered terribly acid reflex too during this time - in fact that started first --prior to a year ago.

Now - I thankfully can say these are no longer  an issue. I still get the afternoon swelling occassionally - BUT NOTHING LIKE BEFORE.

Here is the thought.- when your PH or acid is out of whack - so causes bloating and reflex. The more acid reducers you take the WORSE IT IS - b/c you are really NOT producing ENOUGH acid to move everything so hense - you will bloat and your digestion is disrupted.

Solution - (for me) get off bad carbs ASAP - they are enemies of hypothyroid patients and stick in our bellies inside like glue. Eliminate refined sugars and sweetners. Then go on (this is odd - but works) a tablespoon or two of Apple Cider Vinager in a small glass of water twice daily. -or - for instant relief  -  If you can drink the  tablespoons of ACV straight.

By that evening you will notice a big difference and within a week the bloating should be next to nothing - even during  PMS.

When you suffered as long and hard as I did - you get desperate - so that is how I found it - and my PH is completely balanced out - I took the test (urine) to make sure.  I will add however that during this time I started getting my TSH hypothyroid level balanced out very close to "my" normal - so as that got better too, I believe my symptoms got better . :)

I am very pleased with this and I haven't taken any meds for those issues since I started. I have NOT had to contiue this - but when I have ocassional acid reflex I do ACV and it's gone within 30 minutes every time.