Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Hashis and another autoimmune disorder?

Hi everyone,

I'm hoping I might get some opinions on what's going on with me:

For the last four years I've had all kinds of GI symptoms: recurring severe heartburn, some constipation, and recently (last year or so) loose stools an avg. of 5 times per day. Noisy gut.

Diagnosed with Hashis in December while investigating GI issues (elevated ANA, CRP, and anti-thyroid antibodies), and I stopped feeling so cold after 6 weeks on levothyroxine. No change in bowel habits whatsoever.

Recurrent yeast infection (treated 7 times in 9 months)

New symptoms as of January: increasing joint pain especially in my hands, and sometimes elbows. I often wake up feeling tired. Several times I've woke with sore elbows and nerve pain in my thumb that lasts a couple of days at a time. As of the last week, I've found I'm short of breath even when sitting still.

I've had a colonoscopy (though the doc screwed it up and didn't visualize my terminal ileum) that was clear, I'm not a celiac, I don't have H. Pylori, and endoscopy I had three years ago when I first noticed some problems was clear. A CT scan 2 years ago didn't show anything abnormal... but since then my symptoms have certainly changed...

One other random thing: I have a strange white stripe on my forearm, like all the pigment disappeared. It's not a scar or stretchmark. It just appeared in the last few months. All the images I've seen of vitiligo are splotchy, not linear, so I don't know what to think about that.

So the things I'm wondering about are: could this all just by that my thyroid is still not fixed even though my TSH is normal now at 3.4? Is the levothyroxine not working for me somehow? Is it possible I have some other autoimmune disorder like Pernicious Anemia?

I feel like I'm going crazy-  I'm an otherwise healthy 28 year old woman in good shape, and I'm sick of not having an answer. I feel like I'm rapidly starting to fall apart.

Thanks for any advice you have,

Cat
6 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Have you ever found answers I have almost all your symptoms been tested for all the same with close to the same results. I was shocked as I read what you had going on because it's so similar to my experience.  I do not have the white streak on my arm.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You got some great responses already, but as another yeast infection suffer I finally got relief by starting to take a super pro-biotic recommended by a GI.  It is over the counter  but it needs to be in the fridge. It is called VSL#3. I get it at Costco in the pharmacy, but I think other "big" stores have it too. Like Walgreens, etc.  It takes a while to build up in the GI tract.

I would ask if you eat any "pickled" foods like sauerkraut, pickles ect.
They also aid good digestion.

If you don't take vitamin D3 it wouldn't hurt either. Half the people in the US are deficient.  Again the "big" stores carry D3. Start at 5,000 IU a day and get your blood checked 2 times a year and increase or decrease your dose to be in the "optimal" range of 50-70 ml. If you have your thyroid checked ask the doc to add a D3 on .

It will take time to get better, but hopefully the suggestions from everyone will help.

Good luck,
elbamom
Helpful - 0
1756321 tn?1547095325
Zinc deficiency that is. :)
Helpful - 0
1756321 tn?1547095325
I forgot to add the hypothyroidism is one of the many causes of low stomach acid. But the causes of low stomach acid are very long from aging to zinc!

Helpful - 0
1756321 tn?1547095325
The aim for TSH on treatment is 1mU/L to start with but symptoms rule the show.  Digestive enzyme supplements can be taken for high, low or normal stomach acid and one lady got rid of her "IBS" after 4 months of digestive enzymes.  Betaine HCI with pepsin supplements is the standard treatment for low stomach acid.

Excerpt from Gallbladder Attack - Low Stomach Acid:

"Too much stomach acid? Really? I mean, how is it that millions of people on PPIs are making too much HCl? Hyperchlorhydria or too much stomach acid is rather rare. If you're overeating, eating junk food or other food that is hard to digest, eating when stressed, living under stress, chances are much greater that you don't make enough hydrochloric acid or digestive enzymes and your symptoms stem from that. Take a look at some of the symptoms caused by low stomach acid.

Signs of Deficient Stomach Acid

Gas, bloating and burping shortly after a meal could be lack of HCl
Constipation
Diarrhea
Feeling of fullness or food not digesting
Heartburn and/or gastric reflux (sometimes too much HCl but most often not enough)
Bad breath
Foul smelling stools
Loose stools in the early morning
Food allergies
Dialated blood vessels on the cheeks and nose - Rosacea
Pernicious anemia or iron deficiency
Anal Itching
Nausea especially after taking vitamins and minerals
Weak or cracked nails
Parasites - or at least increased susceptibility to parasitic infections
Chronic yeast infections
Acne in adults - especially if you have other symptoms from the list
Asthma
Since low levels of stomach acid results in poor absorption of nutrients, many symptoms that accompany a deficiency of that vitamin or mineral makes this list much longer. The nutrients most affected are calcium, iron, folic acid, vitamin K and many B vitamins.

If you're nervous about trying supplemental hydrochloric acid, you can do a trial with 1-2 TBSP of organic apple cider vinegar mixed with 1/8 to 1/4 cup of water after a meal. If it makes you feel better and does not hurt, you most likely would benefit from taking 500 - 1000 mg. of Betaine HCl with your meals."

Excerpt from "Digestive Enzymes - King of Indigestion, Bloating and Acid Reflux Remedies"..

"A good Digestive Enzyme supplement can prevent or minimize problems like...

Acid reflux, (acid indigestion)
Heart burn
Constipation
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Stomach bloating and gas

When people are consuming large amounts of food products that have been highly processed, the digestive enzymes in that food have been destroyed by heat (anything over 118 degrees F.).

The body normally uses the enzymes in the food you eat to help break it (the food you consume) down.

So, without those enzymes normally present in your food, the burden falls entirely on the body to make sure it produces enough to meet the needs of your digestive system.

This can and many times does result in indigestion, reflux, heartburn, constipation and bloating."
Helpful - 0
434278 tn?1324706225
Hi Cat,
The one thing that comes to me is Irritable bowel.  It can cause interchanging diarhhea and constipation along w/ an assortment of other GI symptoms.  The funny thing is it doesn't show up on colonoscopy or any other test.  I treated mine w/ an herb called Slippery Elm.  The medicine they gave me either diddn't work or had other side affects.  

The other thing that comes to mind is you really are celiac and the test is not picking it up.  he only way of knowing is to try eliminating all wheat and other glutten products from your diet.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Autoimmune Disorders Community

Top Autoimmune Diseases Answerers
1756321 tn?1547095325
Queensland, Australia
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.