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Hypothyroidism and Bloating/Cellulite

Posted , 9 users are following.

laura11452
laura11452

Hi all

I was wondering does the Hypothyroidism cause bloating or do you get a gulten intolerance automatically with thyroid problems ?

My stomach has been severly bloated for weeks now and this has been when I was taken off Levothyroxine to attend the specialist and now that Iam back on it..

Also in the last year I have gotten severe cellulite which I have never had before is this another problem you get with thyroid ??

I wouldn't say I was very over weight when it started only a size 12/14.

I am admittedly finding it hard to come to terms with this disease as I have never had so many health problems in my life as I have in the last year and it is never ending.  I am now waiting on my blood tests back from specialist to see where my thyroid function is at.  Maybe when they come back I will become more accepting and then teach myself how to make life easier and change my diet, hopefully get back to gym etc.

Thanks to anyone who responds..

1 like, 54 replies

54 Replies

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  • kristi63
    kristi63 laura11452

    Posted

    if you have hashimoto's - did the specialist do antibodies check?? - then for certain you have a sensitivity to gluten, dairy, sugar and soy.  eating these things in excess can cause other problems down the line.

    before i found out i was hashimoto's i was eating all of those things. i was bloated in my stomach, my face, my fingers and feet.  my joints ached.  i had horrible periods.  i was severely depressed and tired.   i weighed 200 at my heaviest, but got down to 175 and couldn't seem to lose any further weight unless i starved myself, or exercised hard every single day.  that's no way to live, so i gave up.

    last year i started having really bad stomach issues.  i had been having the horrible periods (another issue with thyroid) and was taking lots of motrin.  well, thyroid patients have low stomach acid issues (i didn't know that!!) and taking motrin caused an ulcer.  i cut out gluten and sugar to feel better and immediately started losing weight while healing my stomach.  i started feeling better.  the bloating went away.  the achy joints went away.  the fog lifted. 

    i also learned at that time that i had hashimoto's.  i had a lot of health issues at that time and they finally mentioned that  i've had it for at least 4 years (the first time they tested me, but didn't even bother to tell me!) and most likely is why i started having thyroid issues in the first place; because it was never caught early on.  if you catch hashimoto's diagnosis early enough you can hold it in remission.  the way to do that is to cut out gluten, dairy and soy, and cut way back on sugar. 

    it's tough going gluten-free.  i haven't been able to do it, but i know that when i eat too much i feel like crap.  i haven't gained back the 40 pounds i lost last year yet, but if i don't cut out the gluten, eventually i probably will.  sad 

    why did they take you off the levo?? that doesn't make sense, especially if your health is suffering once you go off. 

    good luck.  you CAN manage this.  learn everything you can about it.  smile

    • cindy72112
      cindy72112 kristi63

      Posted

      Hello kristi

      Everything u have written applies to me except my tpoas were less than 33. I have a gluten, soy, corn, wheat dairy intolerance too plus all the signs and symptoms you have described.

      Why is levo not the drug of choice?

      How do you manage to cut out all gluten? Have you seen a Naturopath for advice about diet?

      Could you please recommend a diet/menu tat excludes gluten, soy , dairy etc.

      Many thanks

      Cindy

       

    • kristi63
      kristi63 cindy72112

      Posted

      the true test for hashimoto's is an ultrsound of your thryoid.  if you have nodules you have hashi's.  your tpo, tsh can be "normal", but you can still be positive for hashi's.  get an ultrasound. 

      the diet to follow for gluten, sugar, dairy, soy free is "autoimmune protocol" AIP, OR do paleo autoimmune.  you will eat meats (grain-fed preferrably), vegetables, good fats (grass fed butter, extra virgin olive (NOT for pan frying!!), coconut oil, duck fat, ghee) minimal fruits like berries, apples; nuts like almonds, walnuts (depends on your sensitivities); good quality protein powder smoothies.  there are recipes that you will find when you look up AIP for gluten-free breads and other baked goods.  desserts like "fat bombs" that have coconut oil, coconut butter, natural sweeteners, cocoa powders, etc for when your sweet tooth acts up. 

      like i said, i am not completely gluten and sugar free, but i try not to eat too much.  it's going to catch up to me eventually. 

      if you are on facebook look up hypothryoid advice and support.  they are a great group; private.  they will give you loads of advice, some recipes, some info about the latest about thyroid.  if you have questions there are nurses and others with long-time experience with this disease.  they recommend you see a naturopath.  i haven't yet, but i am startting to do the testing they recommend and head in that direction. 

    • kristi63
      kristi63 cindy72112

      Posted

      levo is only t4.  you need to make sure your docs are testing your tsh, t4 AND t3.  t3 is REALLY important - i think that is the one part of your thyroid that determines how good you feel.  i JUST recently switched to westhroid (natural dessicated thyroid) and so i'm still working on getting my levels up.  most docs only go by tsh...no wonder most women on levo don't feel good even with "normal" tsh.  **levo only DOES work for some people, but not for most. 
    • cindy72112
      cindy72112 kristi63

      Posted

      kristi

      What are nodules?

      DO they influence the production of thyroid hormones? Does everyone have antibodies such as TPOaS I don't understand this about the antibodies. I don't understand if everyone has them or if they are only present if the thyroid is diseased. Sorry to ask all these questions.

      I did not know that Hashi's is diagnosed via an ultra sound scan. wt does it show in order to make that diagnosis.

      Did your GP or endocrinologist prescribe the levo?

       

    • shellyC19
      shellyC19 cindy72112

      Posted

      Hello Cindi:

      My name is Shelly and I am a nurse in the USA.  I also have Hashimoto's.

      Nodules are small growths sometimes cyst like and can also be dense.  They interfere with the thyroid.  It can make the thyroid go Hyper (too much) or HYpo (too little).

      Thyroid Protein Antibodies (TPOA), can attack in certain people the thyroid.  When they test for it, they are looking for Autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto's.  These antibodies should be at 0 in the blood and if you have them in a high number it means you have a problem with the immune system.

      Normally they are not attacking the gland.  It attacks the gland over years and then renders it useless.  By taking Levo or another thyroid med you can stop the attack and keep it in remission.

      Nodules can be seen on an ultrasound and biopsied if needed.

      I hope this helps, any questions just ask.

      Shelly

    • kristi63
      kristi63 cindy72112

      Posted

      nodules are the bodies way of telling you that the thyroid is being attacked.  they are growths on the thyroid.  they can be solid, or fluid filled.  this is why you must have your thyroid scanned.  we usually find out we have nodules (if we have hashi's) after the immune system has been compromised for a long time.  this is when you feel run down, weight issues, depression, brain fog.  that's when they test your tsh and find out you are too low and prescribe the thyroid med.  most doctors, however, fail to test for hashimoto's.  if you don't know you have hashimoto's and don't keep your immune system in check, that is how nodules form and grow.   
    • kristi63
      kristi63 shellyC19

      Posted

      my pcp prescribed levo, and then when i started going hyper and then hypo back and forth, an endocrinologist got involved, tested my tpo, did a scan and told me four years later - i didn't type that wrong! - that i was hashi's.  they don't think it's important enough to do anything but synthetic thyroid.  you must be on top of this and be your own advocate!  most doctors are not for you on this.  they use a flow chart:  if a is happening do this; if b is happening try this.   they don't think of this as a "serious" enough disease to test you for deficiencies, or recommend no gluten or dairy.  functional medical doctors, and some pcps/nurse practitioners with open minds will help you so much more. 
    • cindy72112
      cindy72112 kristi63

      Posted

      kristi thanks for this info .

      Can I ask another question please?

      DO you have any details to the source of your information on the nodules and why they gow in the first place. If you do that would be great so I may print it off and show too my physician.

      Many thanks

      Cindy.

       

    • shellyC19
      shellyC19 kristi63

      Posted

      Hello Kristi:

      I am a nurse (RN) also in the USA. Back in 1987 when I was diagnsoed, no nodules were even talked about.  I went back and forth also between Hyper and Hypo, Hashi's is a sneaky disease.

      I was put on Levo.  However when I was a teen in the 1970's, nobody tested you!  I am now 54.  I had symptoms back then! Periods went wacky, then went heavy, I had bad constiaption at age 13.  I was told to eat Raisin Bran...LOL

      I was never told about probelms in converting T4 in Hashi's. today we know more and you will see educational articles in magazines now.  I got handed a 8 by 11 piece of paper when I got diagnosed with no information except basic stuff.  I can't convert Levo T4 into T3 and I am only on T3 Liothyronine now.

      I myself was a guinea pig and tried all sorts of thyroid meds. I was on NDT for a while and then on Liothyronine now.

      Thyroid disease has come a long way and now doc's are testing teens!

      We must learn and educate all who have it and this forum is very helpful and I did not have this when I was diagnosed. We had no internet back  then.  That is why I try to help people here, and I say I am a nurse so people know, and can learn and feel free to ask a question. Knowledge is power in fighting this.

      XO, Shelly

    • shellyC19
      shellyC19 cindy72112

      Posted

      Cindy

      Web MD may be of help or search it on the internet.

      Shelly

  • shellyC19
    shellyC19 laura11452

    Posted

    Hello Laura:

    My name is Shelly and I  am a nurse in the USA.  I have Hashimoto's which is an autoimmune disease. I am 54 now and have had this since age 27.

    When the thyroid does not work well, we can see weight issues and problems you did not have before this.  I gained weight over the years and lost some weight about 32 pounds.

    I can say diet changes are helpful.  Watch carbs carefully and eat good foods.  No fried ones! Avoid ready made and junk type foods.  Having thyroid disease can make you not digest foods as well since it helps with our metabolism but in some of us it can be slow and not absorb right.  Some people find gluten free is better and many stores carry lot's of gluten free items now. It helps with joint inflammation.  It is better for you, so look for items that are gluten free.

    Do some exercise as it helps. I do walking nothing fancy, just walking. I also can swim and that is good exercise too.

    Also no soda or alcohol.  Alcohol has a lot of calories in it.  Avoid dairy also.  If you must use dairy get 2% milk or low fat ones.

    Let us know how your blood work comes out.

    Regards,

    Shelly

     

  • Tutu123
    Tutu123 laura11452

    Posted

    Hi laura,

    I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism when I was nineteen and prior to this I had never had issues eating gluten. After I had it I started noticing nasty IBS type symptoms which I suffered with for a long time. It was only in the past year I heard about gluten intolerance that I tried to cut it out. It worked wonders for the symptoms. I do hear a lot of people with the condition are sensitive to gluten so maybe there is a link. I would definitely say worth avoiding gluten for a month or so and see how you feel?

    • cindy72112
      cindy72112 Tutu123

      Posted

      Hi Laura

      I amminterested in what you hae to say about gluten. I am gluten, wheat, soy, corn, yeast , dairy intolerant. I do not know what to eat anymore. Life is pretty bleak. Have you got any tips/advice please about gluten free diet  it is in just about everything nowadays.

      I would be very grateful for say a special menu just to give me an idea of what other people do to overcome these food intolerances.

       

    • shellyC19
      shellyC19 cindy72112

      Posted

      Hello Cindy:

      Many people eat gluten free items.  Gluten is added to food as a binder and you can get bread and cereal and other items in the market in the Gluten Free aisle.  They have pasta and all sorts of items now.

      Eat high protein, chicken, meat or fish and low carbs. Avoid alcohol and dairy.  Dairy is hard to digest.

      If you go to "Alternative Diets" on this forum you can find others who have and do Gluten Free diets. 

      You can shop for Gluten free items also in stores that are also health minded, like "Whole Foods".

      Shelly

    • Tutu123
      Tutu123 cindy72112

      Posted

      With regards to dietary stuff I eat a lot of home made curry with rice- I find a lot of the slimming world recipes are gluten/soy/dairy free and can be found online. Asda does gluten free sausages, pasta, porridge (which you could mix with water instead of milk). Another couple of my meals I make are spaghetti bolognese, salmon with green vegetables and jacket potato, gluten free fish fingers with chips and peas. There are quite a few things you can make but I find a lot of the slimming world recipes contain chopped tomatoes and or stock to make the sauce - hope this helps!!
    • cindy72112
      cindy72112 shellyC19

      Posted

      Thanks for the info Shelly.

      I bought some gluten free and was amazed to see that it could not be guranteed to be gluten/wheat free. This may explain why when I tried some I felt very ill indeed.

      The same applies to the pasta etc. I just do not know what to eat anymore. I understand that we all need a certain amount of carbs to protect the heart. SO how do we get them if we are unable to eat gluten, wheat, oats, corn and dairy?

      Did  you know that there is also gluten and corn in some medications?

      Sorry to ask all these questions.

       

    • shellyC19
      shellyC19 cindy72112

      Posted

      Hello Cindy:

      Gluten causes problems like IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome) or loose bowels in some people. People with Cealic's disease and atoimmune diseases like Lupus, Hashimoto's, find that removing gluten stops joint pain, and they do not get IBS.

      They now have PASTA in Gluten free and do try to make other products that way, like sweet buns etc...at stores and health food stores now.

      Eat chicken & fish and some meat if you like.  Buy Gluten Free items to supplement. They now have bread in Gluten free. Eat low carbs, watch the portion on them.

      Medication has "fillers" and it isused to soften the harshness of a med and to bind it. maize/corn is used as well as soy based products. It can bother some people.

      Yes, you can find some meds by different manufactures and if it agees with you, you can ask your pharmacy to get it for you.  Levo is generic and is made by different companies.  NDT -natural dessicated thyroid has less fillers or non reactive ones.

      Wheat flour and corn flour bother some people and they do use that in some products so read the labels and buy from the gluten free section so you can be sure to avoid it.

      Under Alternative Medicine on this forum you will find a lot of people who do this kind of diet.

      Any questions just ask.

      XO Shelly

    • cindy72112
      cindy72112 shellyC19

      Posted

      Thanks shelly It is just that because gluten free diet is mentioned by several people on this forum I felt that someone may be able to point me in the right diirection . I have tried the gluten free products as yu have so kindly advised but sadly they do not agree with me. I felt quite il after taking them. I am tod the reason for this is because of the whheat and cross contamination during the manufacturing/processing of these alleged gluten free products!

      Never mind.

      Cindy

    • cindy72112
      cindy72112 Tutu123

      Posted

      Hi Sayhitocaz

      Homemade curry sounds very nice.At the riskmof being a complete pest is it possile to have the recipe?

      I am sorry to ask you but it is getting to the stage now when I am petrified of eating for fear of triggering off more signs and symptoms due to eating gluten/wheat,corn and dairy.

      ANy tip on diet would be greatly appreciated if you have time to send me any. If not please do not worry.

      To me is food is like medicine if you see what I mean. Take care

      Cindy.

       

    • shellyC19
      shellyC19 cindy72112

      Posted

      Cindy:

      Eat what you can. Perhaps, you can go to a health food store who can help by showing you good Gluten free items.  I have bought many myself.  Try the alternative diet/med section on the forum they may know of better places to shop.

      XO Shelly

    • kristi63
      kristi63 shellyC19

      Posted

      keep in mind that "gluten free" items may contain corn and rice.  some people need to avoid grains.  since all corn is GMO, you especially want to avoid those chemicals with having hashimoto's. 
    • shellyC19
      shellyC19 kristi63

      Posted

      Hello Kristi:

      True! read labels and that is the only way to be sure what may be in a product.

      Thanks,

      Shelly

    • cindy72112
      cindy72112 shellyC19

      Posted

      I was wondering if you could recommnd any brands that gurantee that they are not cross contaminated and do not have any GMO chemicals in them as well.

       

    • cindy72112
      cindy72112 Tutu123

      Posted

      Hi sayhitocaz

      Have you got a reipe for the homemade curry please. Do you eat rice as well? Do you know if it's okay to have rice if intolerant to corn, wheat, yeast , soy ?

       

    • barbara98940
      barbara98940 cindy72112

      Posted

      Cindy, you might have problem with soya. It's in most breads in UK. Aldi sell one that hasn't got it in. Morrison's don't have any. I think Sainsburys Basic whole doesn't. How did you find out you were allergic to wheat? Were you tested or did you just realise you hwd a problem with bread? If the latter, it might be soya that's the problem.
    • cindy72112
      cindy72112 barbara98940

      Posted

      Hello Barbara

      Thanks for the info. What do I ask for at Aldi.

      I was tested via  fingerprick test for food intolerances and found to be intolerant to wheat, glutn, soy , yeast, cows milk, corn, amaranth, aspartame.

      I am also taking medication which has binders and fillers containing maize starch/corn.

      Corn is present in a lot of medication.

      Cindy.

       

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