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Gastro problems - autoimmune?
Hi I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's this year and I have been experiencing problems with my stomach despite going gluten free and dairy free and just sticking to whole foods and drinking more water. I was just wondering if it's possible it could be related to the Hashimoto's?
After eating I experience the following problems:
- Nausea (goes away if I stick my head out of a window for fresh air)
- Feeling of fullness after eating just a few bites
- Abdominal bloating (I have been getting more flatulence since sticking to gluten free, dairy free and whole foods which I don't understand).
- Heartburn
- GERD
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Mixture of constipation and diarrhoea
- Gurgly stomach
I have already looked on the Mayo website and have put together answers to questions my doctor is likely to ask me:
* Severity. The gurgly stomach, weight loss, GERD, nausea, bloating, constipation and diarrhoea are severe, my loss of appetite is mild.
* Continuity. The gurgly stomach is continuous at night, everything else is occasional but occurs every day after eating.
* How long I've had it. I have had the gurgly stomach and weight loss for 3 years. The GERD, nausea, bloating, loss of appetite, constipation and diarrhoea are more recent and have only just started within the past month.
* What improves symptoms? I don't know.
* What worsens symptoms: I don't know.
****
Hashimoto's symptoms currently experienced:
- Puffy eyes
- Fatigue (a feeling of my energy just being drained from me within minutes of getting up)
- Swelling in front of neck
- Difficulty swallowing and breathing at times
- Dry skin
- Dry eyes
- Insomnia
- Leg cramps when walking up hills
- Sweating
- Headaches
Should I see my doctor about my gastro symptoms and is it due to the Hashimoto's?
Thank you
After eating I experience the following problems:
- Nausea (goes away if I stick my head out of a window for fresh air)
- Feeling of fullness after eating just a few bites
- Abdominal bloating (I have been getting more flatulence since sticking to gluten free, dairy free and whole foods which I don't understand).
- Heartburn
- GERD
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Mixture of constipation and diarrhoea
- Gurgly stomach
I have already looked on the Mayo website and have put together answers to questions my doctor is likely to ask me:
* Severity. The gurgly stomach, weight loss, GERD, nausea, bloating, constipation and diarrhoea are severe, my loss of appetite is mild.
* Continuity. The gurgly stomach is continuous at night, everything else is occasional but occurs every day after eating.
* How long I've had it. I have had the gurgly stomach and weight loss for 3 years. The GERD, nausea, bloating, loss of appetite, constipation and diarrhoea are more recent and have only just started within the past month.
* What improves symptoms? I don't know.
* What worsens symptoms: I don't know.
****
Hashimoto's symptoms currently experienced:
- Puffy eyes
- Fatigue (a feeling of my energy just being drained from me within minutes of getting up)
- Swelling in front of neck
- Difficulty swallowing and breathing at times
- Dry skin
- Dry eyes
- Insomnia
- Leg cramps when walking up hills
- Sweating
- Headaches
Should I see my doctor about my gastro symptoms and is it due to the Hashimoto's?
Thank you
Hello all,
I recently came across this in my search to help me. She shares her story as well as some solid advice. Hope it helps!
http://brittanyangell.com/how-i-kicked-my-autoimmune-disease-into-remission/
All the best!
I recently came across this in my search to help me. She shares her story as well as some solid advice. Hope it helps!
http://brittanyangell.com/how-i-kicked-my-autoimmune-disease-into-remission/
All the best!
That is interesting. I didn't think hirsutism was related to hypothyroidism, if anything I thought it'd cause continual hair loss. Well I never! Thanks for pointing this out to me.
I noticed it occurred after puberty. I've always been slim so I don't think it's anorexia.
I noticed it occurred after puberty. I've always been slim so I don't think it's anorexia.
I just found hypothyroidism is a possible cause of hirsutism (male pattern hair growth in women). Interesting. I have excessive dark hair on my arms and some hairs grow where I don't want them too but I think in my case that is due to insulin resistance.
From Patient UK article Hirsutism and Virilism...
Causes of hirsutism
* Idiopathic hirsutism:
- Common and often familial.
- Is a diagnosis of exclusion and thought to be related to disorders in peripheral androgen activity.
- Onset occurs shortly after puberty with slow progression.
- There are no other signs of virilism, and menstrual function and investigations are normal.
* Drug-induced hirsutism - eg, anabolic steroids, danazol, minoxidil, metoclopramide, methyldopa, phenothiazines and progestogens.
* Ovarian causes:
- PCOS: virilisation is minimal, and hirsutism is often prominent. This is the most common cause and is present in approximately 70% of cases.[3]
- Menopause.
- Androgen-producing ovarian tumours - eg, luteoma of pregnancy, arrhenoblastomas, Leydig cell tumours, hilar cell tumours, thecal cell tumours.
* Adrenal causes:
- Androgen-producing adrenal tumour.
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH).
- Cushing's syndrome.
* Other causes include severe insulin resistance, anorexia nervosa, prolactinoma, acromegaly, hypothyroidism and porphyria."
From Patient UK article Hirsutism and Virilism...
Causes of hirsutism
* Idiopathic hirsutism:
- Common and often familial.
- Is a diagnosis of exclusion and thought to be related to disorders in peripheral androgen activity.
- Onset occurs shortly after puberty with slow progression.
- There are no other signs of virilism, and menstrual function and investigations are normal.
* Drug-induced hirsutism - eg, anabolic steroids, danazol, minoxidil, metoclopramide, methyldopa, phenothiazines and progestogens.
* Ovarian causes:
- PCOS: virilisation is minimal, and hirsutism is often prominent. This is the most common cause and is present in approximately 70% of cases.[3]
- Menopause.
- Androgen-producing ovarian tumours - eg, luteoma of pregnancy, arrhenoblastomas, Leydig cell tumours, hilar cell tumours, thecal cell tumours.
* Adrenal causes:
- Androgen-producing adrenal tumour.
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH).
- Cushing's syndrome.
* Other causes include severe insulin resistance, anorexia nervosa, prolactinoma, acromegaly, hypothyroidism and porphyria."
I thought I had PCOS as my mum has it and my symptoms were very much like PCOS when I first thought about it. Symptoms such as hair on my chin and body (even on my breasts!) Ultrasound ruled out anything gynaecological.
So I don't know what I can do about these symptoms but my doctor, even my endocrinologist, has never commented on the hair on my body or face! I thought those sorts of things would stand out!
So I don't know what I can do about these symptoms but my doctor, even my endocrinologist, has never commented on the hair on my body or face! I thought those sorts of things would stand out!
I was hyperthyroid for a week then my hypothyroid symptoms worsened for another month (natural production slowing down in response to thyroxine) and I also had to deal with untreated adrenals so it was a very bad 5 weeks for me and that is rather understated! I was in a panic state until I read this from a book called Running On Empty by Robyn Koumourou...
"It is not uncommon to start thyroid hormone therapy and find that your symptoms become worse before they get better. When you begin taking thyroxine the areas in the brain that control thyroid hormone production sense the increase in T4 levels within the blood stream. This feedback system will then cause the thyroid glands natural production of thyroid hormones to slow down.
Less natural T4 and T3 will then be produced and released and blood levels may remain stagnant or even decrease temporarily. Less free T3 hormone available to the body will slow down cellular metabolism. The symptoms of hypothyroidism may become worse until an increase in thyroxine is taken or an optimal dose is found."
It's likely you don't have Celiac with negative antibodies however the gold standard is an intestinal biopsy. You might have vitiligo though. It's very common with thyroid disease. Your free T4 is too low in the range which is interesting since you are taking T4 medication. Dr Kharrazian's book Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms? (When My Lab Tests are Normal) goes into the various patterns of hypothyroidism and one of the patterns is over conversion...
"Thyroid over conversion of T4 to T3 with a corresponding low thyroid hormone binding globulin causes too much cell stimulation by T3 with eventual cell resistance. This occurs with insulin resistance (PCOS) in women and symptoms resolve with improvement of the insulin resistance."
"It is not uncommon to start thyroid hormone therapy and find that your symptoms become worse before they get better. When you begin taking thyroxine the areas in the brain that control thyroid hormone production sense the increase in T4 levels within the blood stream. This feedback system will then cause the thyroid glands natural production of thyroid hormones to slow down.
Less natural T4 and T3 will then be produced and released and blood levels may remain stagnant or even decrease temporarily. Less free T3 hormone available to the body will slow down cellular metabolism. The symptoms of hypothyroidism may become worse until an increase in thyroxine is taken or an optimal dose is found."
It's likely you don't have Celiac with negative antibodies however the gold standard is an intestinal biopsy. You might have vitiligo though. It's very common with thyroid disease. Your free T4 is too low in the range which is interesting since you are taking T4 medication. Dr Kharrazian's book Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms? (When My Lab Tests are Normal) goes into the various patterns of hypothyroidism and one of the patterns is over conversion...
"Thyroid over conversion of T4 to T3 with a corresponding low thyroid hormone binding globulin causes too much cell stimulation by T3 with eventual cell resistance. This occurs with insulin resistance (PCOS) in women and symptoms resolve with improvement of the insulin resistance."
My thyroid labs are here:
TSH: 0.10 (0.2-4.2)
Free T3: 6.4 (3.9-6.7)
Free T4: 12 (10-22)
Anti-TPO: 177 (0-34)
Anti-TG: 107 (0-115)
I was taking Levothyroxine but I had more hypo symptoms and so I took myself off them. The doctor was not happy that I took myself off but she was only going on labs and not symptoms which I did not like. I kind of regret coming off the medication, really, but I am adamant in restarting the medication once my next blood tests are done.
Celiac Disease was ruled out with a blood test and it was negative. Is this the gold standard of diagnosis for Celiac?
I don't have any of those. Sjogren's is suspected as I have dry eyes, mouth, nose and ears at times. Alopecia I don't know but I get hair loss and eyelash loss. I don't know about vitiligo either. I have white spots on my legs but I don't know what they are.
TSH: 0.10 (0.2-4.2)
Free T3: 6.4 (3.9-6.7)
Free T4: 12 (10-22)
Anti-TPO: 177 (0-34)
Anti-TG: 107 (0-115)
I was taking Levothyroxine but I had more hypo symptoms and so I took myself off them. The doctor was not happy that I took myself off but she was only going on labs and not symptoms which I did not like. I kind of regret coming off the medication, really, but I am adamant in restarting the medication once my next blood tests are done.
Celiac Disease was ruled out with a blood test and it was negative. Is this the gold standard of diagnosis for Celiac?
I don't have any of those. Sjogren's is suspected as I have dry eyes, mouth, nose and ears at times. Alopecia I don't know but I get hair loss and eyelash loss. I don't know about vitiligo either. I have white spots on my legs but I don't know what they are.
Do you have your thyroid labs? What type of thyroid medication are you taking?
An interesting sign of gluten intolerance is vertical wrinkles on your fingers. There are pics of this: google: +: wrinkly fingers show gluten intolerance. My fingers are smooth and I don't have any issues with gluten either. I do have lactose intolerance though.
Sounds like you might be gluten intolerant if you felt worse eating gluten again. Have you been tested for Celiac Disease? I was thankfully negative for that disease but I do have autoimmune pernicious anaemia, vitiligo and alopecia areta as well as Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
The following info is from the book "The Everything Guide To Thyroid Disease" by Theodore C. Friedman, MD, PhD and Winnie Yu Scherer:
"Although the majority of people with Hashimoto's will not develop any other disorders, it's important to know what some of these autoimmune conditions are in case you do start to experience symptoms. Keep in mind, too, that you may be more likely to develop Hashimoto's if you have one of these other conditions.
Type 1 diabetes
Pernicious Anaemia
Addison's Disease
Vitiligo
Celiac Disease
Alopecia Areta
Systematic Lupus Erthematosus (SLE)
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Sjogren's Syndrome
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)"
An interesting sign of gluten intolerance is vertical wrinkles on your fingers. There are pics of this: google: +: wrinkly fingers show gluten intolerance. My fingers are smooth and I don't have any issues with gluten either. I do have lactose intolerance though.
Sounds like you might be gluten intolerant if you felt worse eating gluten again. Have you been tested for Celiac Disease? I was thankfully negative for that disease but I do have autoimmune pernicious anaemia, vitiligo and alopecia areta as well as Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
The following info is from the book "The Everything Guide To Thyroid Disease" by Theodore C. Friedman, MD, PhD and Winnie Yu Scherer:
"Although the majority of people with Hashimoto's will not develop any other disorders, it's important to know what some of these autoimmune conditions are in case you do start to experience symptoms. Keep in mind, too, that you may be more likely to develop Hashimoto's if you have one of these other conditions.
Type 1 diabetes
Pernicious Anaemia
Addison's Disease
Vitiligo
Celiac Disease
Alopecia Areta
Systematic Lupus Erthematosus (SLE)
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Sjogren's Syndrome
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)"
Before I forget, I went gluten-free before and eliminated it from my diet for 6-8 weeks. When I reintroduced it my symptoms got worse. So does that mean the gluten-free diet didn't work?
Thanks. Would it be worth speaking to my doctor about this or are they likely to dismiss it? I've already been refused an endoscopy by my endocrinologist as she has said she doesn't want to put me through such an unpleasant procedure.
I used to feeling full after one bite due to gastroparesis (stomach paralysis) due to hypothyroidism. Just to add, both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism cause not enough stomach acid to be produced. Not enough stomach acid is a common cause of acid reflux however gastroparesis is another cause.
From the Mayo Clinic...
"Signs and symptoms of gastroparesis include:
Vomiting
Nausea
A feeling of fullness after eating just a few bites
Abdominal bloating
Heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux
Changes in blood sugar levels
Lack of appetite
Weight loss and malnutrition
Factors that can make it difficult for your stomach to empty properly include:
Diabetes
Abdominal surgery
Infection
Certain medications that slow the rate of stomach emptying, such as narcotic pain medications and antidepressants
Certain cancer treatments
Anorexia
Bulimia
Scleroderma
Parkinson's disease
Hypothyroidism"
From the Mayo Clinic...
"Signs and symptoms of gastroparesis include:
Vomiting
Nausea
A feeling of fullness after eating just a few bites
Abdominal bloating
Heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux
Changes in blood sugar levels
Lack of appetite
Weight loss and malnutrition
Factors that can make it difficult for your stomach to empty properly include:
Diabetes
Abdominal surgery
Infection
Certain medications that slow the rate of stomach emptying, such as narcotic pain medications and antidepressants
Certain cancer treatments
Anorexia
Bulimia
Scleroderma
Parkinson's disease
Hypothyroidism"
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