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.

[plager]

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism when I was 12 years old.  I was on Synthroid for a long time, then switched to levothyroxine in my 20's.  When I was 32, a physician switched me to Armour thyroid.  In September of 2009, I was switched to 25 mcg of synthetic T3 daily.  Since that switch, I seemed to be sick quite often.  Last month, I noticed my hair was falling out and I was extremely cold.  I was also developing terrible, chronic heartburn.  My physician added 50 mcg of levothyroxine to the 25 mcg of synthetic T3 I was already taking.  I have lost 8 pounds, but I still feel cold often, and the chronic heartburn is still present.  Sometimes, my heart will race and I will feel hot.  

Because the heartburn is incapacitating (it really makes it hard to breath and the pain is clenching my neck and chest), I have scheduled another appointment with my physician.

I can't tell if the stnthetic T3 or T4 is causing my problems.  I will ask my Dr. about switching back to synthroid.  I will also try the apple cider vinegar.  I really do NOT want to take a proton pump inhibitor.  

[dany1982]

have you found anything to help with the heartburn?

[gimel]

Dany, you keep looking for answers to your heartburn issue by posting on these old threads which have been inactive for a long time.    If you want to get rid of your heartburn, you need to increase your thyroid med dosage and get your Free T4 and Free T3 high enough to relieve hypo symptoms.   From a very long list of symptoms that have been reported as related to hypothyroidism, note the following ones that are just related to digestion.  

    Constipation
    Hemorrhoids
    Hard stools
    Loss of appetite
    Food allergy
    Food sensitivity
    Alcohol intolerance
    Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
    Lactose intolerance
    Celiac Disease
    Gluten sensitivity/intolerance
    Colitis
    Abdominal distention
    Weight gain in abdominal area
    Protruding abdomen in children
    Diverticulosis
    Excess gas
    Flatulence
    Nausea
    Ulcers
    Acid reflux
    Excessive belching
    GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)

I have had very bad acid reflux when I was hypothyroid.  After increasing my desiccated thyroid med, in 2 days it disappeared.  

[dany1982]

I'll ask my doctor to try desiccated thyroid med, every time I try to increase my synthroid from 75 to 88, I'm dying with heartburn :(

[gimel]

Your 75 mcg of T4 med is equivalent to almost 1 1/4 grains of desiccated thyroid med.   The conversion tables show 100 mcg being equal to one grain of desiccated, but that is wrong.  One grain (60 mg) is only equal to about 66 mcg of T4.    So you could ask to go up to 1 1/2 grains (90 mg) of desiccated, which is equivalent to almost 100 mcg of T4.  If you do that, I would make the switch in two steps because the T4 in your body dissipates more slowly than the T3 in desiccated med builds up.  

[gimel]

For short term relief, another thing I just remembered  for heartburn is pickle juice.   If you search for that on this forum you will find a number of members who have had success with it.

[lindysueB]

I just started prevacid with a new doctor.  I experienced heart palpatations.... missed heart beats... waking up every 2 hrs....having diahrea... and a headache on the left side of my head.... naucious... and my BP has been elevated for the past few weeks.  This heartburn thing is something new.  I have lost 10 lbs in two weeks because of this condition... not being able to eat or drink without feeling sick.  The dr says that it's possibly an ulcer forming.  But, after reading all of this stuff from you guys... I think that it's thyroid related.  I have been on the brand name LEVOXYL, not generis... 75 mcg.  This higher dose was within this last year.  I;ve never had such heartburn and gastric problems before.  When I woke up this morning from just one prevacid 30mg ... 24 hr pill.... my heart was racing... muscle contraction.. and again the heart effects....     throid interaction with this prevacid.... I don't know...

[dany1982]

have you found anything to help with the heartburn?

[sunsetswing]

i also had most of my thyroid taken out last Jan, i haven't been put on medication yet, i have hashimotos.  My TSH is 1.72 and i haven't had my T4 or T3 done yet, but hope to soon.  I have this feeling i have something stuck in my throat and sometimes it makes me gag.  I really don't have too much heartburn maybe once or twice a week.  The doctor put me on Nexium for three months but that didn't help at all.  My heartburn when it comes is not that bad i don't even have to take a tums.  The part that bothers me is the swallowing.  I am seeing a gastro doctor Jan 12 so i hope she can help.  I am 45 and my family doctor tells me its my age, i have lots of symptoms of being hypo.

[Dnarose]

I used to have heartburn every night. What I did to get rid of it was I started taking digestive enzymes and every night with dinner I take 3 teaspoons of raw organic apple cider vinegar in ice tea or juice.  Try the apple cider vinegar first. If you still have a problem think about adding digestive enzymes as well.  I buy the ACV in the organic section of my local grocery stores.  I buy Braggs.

[mindme]

Wow,
I also was recently diagnosed with Hashimotos. I ad a UTI infection a few weeks ago, and I swear th infection is still there. Ever since I have had Chronic indigestion, and can't breath ( not sure if its from the Thyroid, or from all the gas in my body sufficating me ).Either way sounds like we are all experiencing these crazy symptoms, hopefully its from the Thyroid, and not something else we can't control.Not taking any Thyroid meds but something has to give.

[medicmommy]

For what it's worth...I've noticed when my parathyroid hormone level is on the rise (or maybe when it's increase causes calcium to be released into my blood) I get BAD heartburn every time...I believe it has something more to do with the rising calcium...An elevating calcium level will cause the cardiac sphincter (muscle ring that closes the bottom your esophagus where it hooks to your stomach) to relax and to let acid splash upwards...Thus causing the burn and irritation (reflux causes coughs!) we feel...In some cases, the acid production in your stomach is too LOW to trigger the sphincter reflex, and it stays open...(a simple test of a tablespoon of vinegar in a 1/2 cup of water swallowed will show if low acid is the problem...If the heartburn disappears within minutes, problem proven...) Also adding digestive enzyme supplements (even chewable papain tablets) works well to break down the acid and undigested food...                                                            ~MM