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slightly above normal TSH IBS and extremely skinny

Posted , 3 users are following.

kesoccer28
kesoccer28

Hi,

I am a 26 yr old female who started having digestive issues about 10 months ago. I have always been fairly skinny (120lbs, 5' 10" ) even when living in Italy stuffing my face with pizza and pasta. I get horrible gas, alternating constipation/diarrhea, bloating, etc. Sometimes i get abdominal pain after eating. Most symptoms occur mainly in the evening, though it can vary. I have undergone numerous tests with nothing concrete detected besides a severe lactose intolerance, in which the high hydrogen levels also suggested a bacterial infection. I was put on rifaximin, which improved symptoms until about 3 weeks after the dose. Completely eliminating lactose has also not helped much (i dont usually eat much dairy). The latest Doctor I saw put me on a very limited only veggie & meat/fish diet with small amounts of fruit, as he suspected candida. My symptoms have improved somewhat on the diet (especially if i limit veggies and avoid fruit) but I did a stool test which came back negative for candida. I was told to continue on the diet, given the improvement in symptoms (this was following two weeks of intense diarrhea and severe abdominal pain). This is concerning for me, as it is difficult to reach appropriate calorie levels.

Symptoms coincided with an attempt to follow a more healthy lifestyle (eating alot more fruits and veggies and fewer sugars/grains/processed foods). I also am very active- running, spinning, lifting. I think in the beginning I felt full from eating so much veggies but now realize (my sister showed me a calorie tracker app) that I was definitely consistently undereating by alot. During that period, I also started displaying the IBS symptoms, which made eating more difficult. I have always been skinny (usually about 120lbs, am 5'10" ) but I now extremely skinny, having dropped to 105lbs.

I for the most part eat extremely clean- lots of fruits, veggies, and grilled fish, chicken, turkey, meat, tuna. My blood tests are normal except for low glucose, lower iron (though within the range). My TS3 and TS4 free levels are normal but my TSH levels are slightly high (3.8 & 4.2). I also am usually very tired, have difficulty sleeping, am much more irritable/depressed than I ever have been. I continue to workout as I am able, as that is something Ive always done and provides stress relief.

Can a low thyroid function or IBS be caused by the period in which i was eating too little or from being very skinny? I have tried eating more or eating more junk food/ eating the way i used to before i switched to eating healthier and my symptoms get worse. Im at my wits end, as I dont really know what to do or what could be causing this. If so, how can i rectify? I would really like to get my weight back up and be able to eat without looking pregnant or having horrible, embarassing gas or bathroom runs.

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • carryv
    carryv

    Posted

    Sound's like you have sibo , I think I have but doctors wont test , saying id be very ill if I did , it started after a long bout of antibiotics , bloating rumbling stomach direah , ive red alot how to cure is quite difficult , but basically it feeds off of sugar and carbs so try cut that out and use some probiotics , would of been best after u had the rifaximin, I also found a healthy veg diet made me worse.
  • mike83709
    mike83709

    Posted

    Hi

    Guys I am lactose intolerant and have the gas issue too.

    I don't have sibo but just wondered if there are any other breath tests ? I.e had one for sibo and lactose intolerance any others

    Michael

  • kesoccer28
    kesoccer28

    Posted

    Theres also a breath test for fructose intolerance.
  • kesoccer28
    kesoccer28

    Posted

    @carryv have you found any relief following any specific diet? Im still having symptoms on this diet...
  • kesoccer28
    kesoccer28

    Posted

    Also, i was on probiotics after the rifaximin and continue to take them (VSL #3)
  • carryv
    carryv

    Posted

    I gave up on the diet I was losing soooo much weight , I am already only 8 stone went down to 7 , now I just eat less carbs no bread I swap potatoes for eggs or sweet potatoe, I also ate alot of greens advacadoes etc thinking I was doing good , doctor recommended not to , an things really improved when I took them out my diet ! I eat 2 activia a day an im having good results......so far anyway fingers crossed
  • carryv
    carryv

    Posted

    I think yogurt heals the stomach aswell as adding probiotics
  • carryv
    carryv

    Posted

    And yes I still had symptyms on the diet
  • carryv
    carryv

    Posted

    Lol hello again....try activia first thing and then porrage , ive also uped my water intake these things have really helped
  • kesoccer28
    kesoccer28

    Posted

    thanks for your response...unfortunately Im off yogurts for now due to the severe lactose intolerance...was told to avoid for at least a few months to allow my gut to heal. Porridge I ahve started to incorporate in the morning to add in some more calories. I also have started to eat tahini and thats going okay, though i think i do better without it. I also have been told to try coconut oil to add in extra fat.
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