Chronic Heartburn

[Francesanne]

I'm 56 years old and underwent operation in March for removal of benign nodule on my thyroid.
My thyroid then became underactive and I was prescribed 100mcg of Thyroxine daily. I am suffering with chronic heartburn plus a very tight feeling around my neck. I also take medication for high blood pressure. My GP has done various blood tests all of which were fine. I'm due back at my GP next week. Medicine prescribed to reduce excess acid has not helped. Cound the Thyroxine be the cause of these digestive problems? Thanks for any advice you can give.

[barbielee200]

I wish I had not had the surgery either.  I was in the same situation as Linda.  I had a goiter, but no other symptoms.  My thyroid levels were normal, I had no pain, nothing.  Now, I feel the same way as you guys.  I get the feeling of something in my throat all the time too.  It has gotten worse instead of better.  My doctor told me when I had the surgery that I could try it without the levo if I wanted to, but I told him I would take it just to be safe.  Well, after having all the symptoms, I decided in mid July, that if he said I could try it without, then I thought I would give it a try.  I stopped the meds in mid July, but just went back for my 3 month checkup and my levels were around 16, and he told me there was no way I was going to make it without the meds.  I wish I could go back and keep my thyroid.  Even though it was enlarged, it still functioned, and I too, felt 100% better before the surgery.  and, btw, I am now taking synthroid instead of levo.  I hope I do better with it.  This has not been fun at all.  I was also surprised at how not taking the meds caused me different symptoms as well.  I experienced and still do, because I just started taking the meds again, a lot of joint pain and stiffness.  I made a mistake in having this surgery.  I would not suggest it to anyone unless it was absolutely necessary.  

Good luck to all of you.  I hope things improve for all of us.

[peggy64]

I have just changed over to synthroid from armour and have had heartburn ever since. The armour caused its problems and now synthroid is causing its symptoms.

why can't we just be normal again?????

[Linda1068]

I'm glad I went back in dates to find this post. I had left thyroid removed and am now suffering from acid reflux/heartburn every single day. Going on 3 months with this. I take synthroid in the morning and Tagamet in the afternoon or at night, depending on how bad it gets. I also still have a feeling in my throat as if something is stuck in there. I also feel, after I eat, that some of the food is still lingering in my throat. Has something happened to those muscles?   Sick of all of it. Only reason I had the surgery was a nodule was found incidentally by ultrasound. Stupid thing wasn't even cancerous. I never felt anything (lump, bump, swelling) in my throat and felt 100% better then than I do now.  

[barbielee200]

I had thyroid surgery June 5, 2008.  I am 46 and I rarely have had trouble with heartburn.  Maybe once or twice in my life.  After having most of my thyroid removed, and taking levothyroxine for about 5 weeks, I have had indigestion/heartburn problems, as well as swallowing issues.  When I swallow, it feels like I can feel the food inching down all the way to my stomach, and it's a bit painful.  I did have this problem periodically before the surgery, but it seems to have gotten worse since the surgery.  I am going back to my doctor on Thursday of this week, but he is away and I will have to see the PA.  I am glad that I found this site and to know that it's not all just in my head.  I have been under a lot of stress in the last 3 or 4 years, and I still am, and my mother tells me that it's probably stress related, but I'm beginning to think it's more than that.  I will ask him about switching to synthroid, as many of you have said that this is more tolerable that levo.  Has anyone here had the feeling of food hurting and inching slowly down???  I have been very concerned.

[Francesanne]

Don't believe so. Think we're on it for life. I've only been taking it for just over 6 months and wish I could stop taking it and all my other medication but probably would die so no option but to carry on.
Think we're all in the same boat more or less.

[Hynes]

Does hypothyroidism every go away? Im so sick of taking levothyroxine. Im sure everyone here is, but I was just wonering if it ever goes away?