Digestive symptoms of an underactive thyroid can include dyspepsia (chest pain), low stomach acid, poor absorption, constipation, gallstones, anemia and bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine.

The gastrointestinal manifestations of thyroid disease are generally due to reduced motility in hypothyroidism, increased motility in hyperthyroidism, autoimmune gastritis, or esophageal compression by a thyroid process.

March 8, 2023 - Having too much or too little thyroid hormone in the body can cause an imbalance in the amount and diversity of gut bacteria in the intestines; recent research has shown a link between microbiome imbalance and problems with immune system health, ...

August 8, 2024 - Bloating is often described as a feeling of fullness, tightness, or swelling in the stomach area. While there are many causes of bloating, we will focus on one cause: Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the tissues of the thyroid gland. Over time, this causes chronic inflammation in the thyroid and leads to hypothyroidism. People with hypothyroidism have an underactive thyroid gland and reduced thyroid hormone production.

April 18, 2024 - This delay is supposedly in the emptying phase rather than the solid food processing lag phase in the stomach (Kao et al., 2004). Since gastric myoelectrical abnormalities are not associated with the delay in gastric emptying, it may be a result of dysfunction in smooth muscle in coordination with the duodenum and antrum, or pylorospasm (Wang et al., 2023). Hypothyroid symptoms and dyspepsia, which are correlated, may show improvement with thyroid hormone replacement therapy.

April 19, 2023 - A blood test can help to assess thyroid function and determine whether thyroid activity is within the usual range. ... Aside from the management options listed above for digestive issues, thyroid issues can be treated medically. This can include the use of medications or surgery. To treat an underactive thyroid, a medication called levothyroxine is used to supplement the thyroid hormone levels of the body. An overactive thyroid can be treated through thioamides (medicine to stop your thyroid-producing hormones), radioactive iodine treatments, or surgery.

October 5, 2018 - Research has suggested that there’s a positive association between underactive thyroid and both digestive upset (1) and low stomach acid levels (2) (which as we know, tend to go hand in hand anyway), and this may be related to low levels of ...

January 27, 2021 - Patients with hyperthyroidism often have mild to moderate diarrhea and frequent bowel movements. Because patients with hyperthyroidism often have intestinal hypermotility, it decreases small bowel transit time, which can contribute to diarrhea. Oftentimes, these patients have fat malabsorption as well, which may contribute to excess fat in the stool (4). ... In hypothyroidism, patients have an underactive thyroid, which is not producing enough thyroid hormone.

A 45-year-old woman presented with recurrent episodes of diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Investigations, including routine blood tests, gastroscopy with duodenal biopsy, colonoscopy and abdominal computed tomography (CT) scanning, failed to find a cause of these symptoms. Routine blood tests were repeated and included thyroid function tests.

A low functioning thyroid will still have an effect on optimal digestion and absorption. Many patients with thyroid disease present with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. All autoimmune diseases have a strong association to gut health issues.

August 16, 2019 - Hypothyroidism also makes it more likely to develop sleep apnea, which are pauses in breathing that happen while you sleep. Hypothyroidism slows the movement of food through your stomach and intestines.

July 21, 2023 - Chances are, even those with ... We’ve established that patients with hypothyroidism may suffer from decreased stomach acid and impaired motility, which may result in the formation of SIBO over time....

May 6, 2025 - Seek medical help if digestive symptoms persist despite proper medication timing and diet changes. Severe symptoms like persistent vomiting, intense abdominal pain, or swallowing difficulties require immediate evaluation. Untreated thyroid conditions can lead to complications like heart disease ...

March 11, 2024 - Often, patients with hypothyroidism ... With too little thyroid hormone, patients with an underactive thyroid are at risk of an overgrowth or imbalance of the bacteria in the digestive system....

Being on the wrong dose can cause side effects, such as feeling or being sick, diarrhoea, headaches or problems sleeping. If you have any side effects, talk to your GP or a pharmacist.

February 10, 2025 - The effectiveness of the tablets can be altered by other medications, supplements or foods, so they should be swallowed with water on an empty stomach, and you should avoid eating for 30 minutes afterwards. If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember, if this is within a few hours of your usual time. If you don’t remember until later than this, skip the dose and take the next dose at the usual time, unless advised otherwise by your doctor. An underactive thyroid is a lifelong condition, so you’ll usually need to take levothyroxine for the rest of your life.

Hypothyroidism happens when your thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone to meet your body's needs. Hypothyroidism is more common in women.

Excessive fatigue is considered a sign of both hyper- and hypothyroidism. But each condition also has its own set of symptoms. ... Weight gain due to fluid retention can sometimes be a symptom of uncontrolled hypothyroidism, but it resolves fairly quickly with treatment. “Fluid retention starts improving right after you begin thyroid hormone replacement therapy,” notes Iyer. “It clears up within 1-2 weeks of starting or adjusting medication. So, ‘thyroid problems’ would be the last reason you can’t lose weight.”