Does the time (and way) I take my medicine gives me GERD?

[alfonsina]

I am not leveled yet on my numbers nor my symptoms. I been having a lot of GERD, bloating, gas and ulcers lately. I was wondering if the fact that I take my medicine around 5am and then go back to sleep is worsening my problems.

I have read that it is not good to take medicine before bed or when you are going back to bed.

Do  you think that if I take my meds two hours after breakfast will make any difference on my digestive system?

I can't wait an hour after I wake up (and take my meds) to have breakfast. I just can't.

Thanks.

[alfonsina]

Thanks!, I will ask my doctor to check my vitamin D.

[ChitChatNine]

Hi,

Mine was severely low at 9 .. normal is <32.0

I had muscle cramps, felt tired all the time, etc., etc. Thought I was hypo when my TSH was fine .. it' was my Vit D!!!!

There's low treatable with otc supplement and then there's "lowwww" that you need a Dr's guidance to bring up and also check that your parathyroids are functioning ok.

C~

[alfonsina]

No. My doctor has not checked it.

Before I started thyroid treatment a doctor did a B12 test. It was low IN range. My ferritin was something like 33. Also low IN range.

I took some iron supplements for almost 6 months. My level came up, but I did not notice any difference on my hair loss. When I started on thyroid treatment I stopped the suplement cause I thought therapy would bring all my lows into normal range.

I have been wondering about VitamiD, but my doctor is only checking my frees and TSH. I really like him, but I have been thinking about adding a new doctor, an holistic or naturopath ( I will post a question on this). I would like someone to see me as a whole: sex hormons, vitamins, cortisol and thyroid. I am not going to fire my doctor. He was the only one who agreed to start me on thyroid medicine, based on my symptoms and my extreme low frees. My TSH was always less than 2.

Is vitamin D important for thyroid funtion?

I know people with low vitamin D and look and feel way better than me.

[ChitChatNine]

Has your Dr checked your Vit D ?

[alfonsina]

LM, ChitChatNine, I had no idea nexium and all that stuff could make me more hypo...wuuu

This morning I woke up feeling well (stomack issues) but three or four hours after breakfast I started to have ulcer pain. It might feel like I am hungry, but it is actually pain.
I do not smoke, eat well and have some wine (love it) once a week, it must be my thyroid.

I will google stomack acid and saliva PH test.

I would like to try that 1/2 hour before breakfast medicine routine, I am just afraid I might have to increase.


Stella, these are my last tests, 6 weeks ago at 2.5 grains:


TSH: 00.00
FT4: 0.88   0.34-4.82
FT3: 332    230-420

I increased at 3 grains at that time.

On NT FT3 goes up really quick...super pigs.
I

[LazyMoose]

Hopefully you can get this under control. All those things Stella Mentioned will help - diet, Learn about stomach PH and saliva PH test paper 'tape'  too. - you can regulate and see progress this way till its over. It can go away but takes time, its an evil circle.  A good pro-biotic (not a cheap one) before bed is essential. Low T3 levels can bring on GERD too. If you get it while sleeping, raise the head of your bed 6-8 inches with cut wood blocks or something similar. Night GERD is brutal!

One important note brought up by chit chat: anyone taking an antacid or PPI (proton pump inhibitor med like Nexium or any omeprazole) must take four hour apart from thyroid med. This can create a problem as if both are taken in the morning - will make you more hypo!

[ChitChatNine]

I wait a half hour before eating my breakfast.  Seems to be ok for me.  Have gotten used to it .. hang in there and let us know how you are doing.  Everyone gives great advice ... I have issues with my TSH when I take Pepcid .. stuff for GERD really does a # on our thyroid levels and I know for me this is a fact with my last bloodwork.  My GERD is med related to taking an anti-inflammtory for a chronic ankle condition ...

C~

[stella5349]

What are your lastest thyroid labs exactly? with the reference ranges?

[alfonsina]

I stopped taking nexium and I am expecting some tests the Gastro did the other day. She said to continue taking it, but I did not.

You mentioned something about fruit...I feel worse when I eat them along with veggies,  but they are my favorites.

I was reading about IBS and fructuose, It might be the cause of it. Fruit has it along with some other food.

My Ft3 is getting in range. I am on NT and my FT3 is higher than my FT4.

I do not eat heavy stuff after 6 pm. Maybe some fruit and yogurt. I only drink almond milk and I added some protein whey (podwer) to my diet.

I am still hypo that is for sure.

[stella5349]

Read my above post. The purple pill is a PPI and we as hypos already have deplete and more potent acid so to deplete it more is not going to work.

The acid in our stomach isour "juice" to increase absorption of our nutrients and to aid in the intestinal track to eliminate waste that the acid wants to release.

Depleting it more when low already doesn't make sense does it?

The ket word is neutraulize it. Aiding the Free T3 hormone is increse the body and metobolic speed back to where it needs to be that is usually too low when hypothyroid

You're stalled and things are bogging down inside your GI track when hypoT is associated.

[alfonsina]

I was assuming all my digestive problems (I have IBS), GERD, a new diagnosed stomach ulcer that hurts very much, are part of me being still hypo.

I just got a little worse every time I increase my meds ( I am hoping this is the last time.)

Doctor gave me nexium and it works for a while, but then I go back to pain and discomfort.

I'll have blood work in two more months.

I guess I am going to have to stick to my routine of having my meds around 5 am, going back to sleep and then eat.

It is just weird that with every increase I got so sick for a while even worse than when I was not taking any thyroid medicine. Every symptom I got before meds multiply for 10.

Anybody has experienced this? I guess that's for a new post.

Thanks!

[LazyMoose]

"many GI doctors do not take GERD as a symptom of hypothyroidism"-

So true!!

[stella5349]

Try taking your medciation early. set your alarm for 4am if you can then eat 4 hrs later. Really I don't think its your meds causing this as much as you still not optimal with it entirely.

[stella5349]

Your really wearing me out this morning egbrew!!!

YES - GERD AND HYPO ARE RELATED

What happens in the intestinal track is gut slowing - slow digestion of food and inflammation associated with GERD. In many GI doctors therapy for this they do not take GERD as a symptom of hypothyroidism and treat is auotmatically with PPI medication which actually depletes the acid more in the system when hypos have LITTLE already and the little they have is PH - imbalanced causing the GERD and also IBS issues.

A few things can stop this symtoms of hypothyroidism for you.

1. Making sure your FREE t3 thyroid level is exactly where it needs to be to keep the metobolism levels running correctly to eleviate acid issues.

2. Adding acidophillus into your mix of supplement to help clean out the follicles of colon and stomach gut eliminations.

3. Try to PH test and see where your levels are at.  A 6-7 rating is best to be at and you may need to neutraulize your acid contact better with some more beneficial acid help like lemon or apple cider vinager to speed the digestion track back up. Urine strips can help you see your PH levels.

4. Change your diet to more metobolic friendly foods. Get off sugar - flour and carb in general. Add yorgurt - high protein and gree energy veggies. Stay off fruit too.

all these are important factors of ridding GI issues with hypothyroidism, Make sure positively you are optimal and may not be FREE T3 low with your treatment you are recieving now. If this level is not optimal the GERD will continue no matter what you try to help the system eliminate and balance PH wise.

[egbrew]

No, they do not. You are doing the right thing. See a GI doctor for the GERD. It's unrelated to the timing and taking of your meds.

[LazyMoose]

Many people get gerd when they are hypo.

If 1 hr is too long, I'd say 1/2 hr to 45 minutes before is better than 2 hours after food. You would need to be consistant about this, and may need a slightly higher dose.

I just get to work early and eat in the break room as I m not hungry when I first wake up anyway. I dont eat a cooked breakfast - dont like spending that time on workdays mornings.