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What Causes Constant Intestinal Burning After Taking Levothyroxine?
Question: Started 50 mcg levothyroxine on 11/5/14. On Dec. 16, after several weeks of intestinal "burning" especially when sitting I sought my internist's advise. Sent me to a urologist & he performed a cystoscope of the bladder. It was ok. Symptoms vary from burning starting at waist area, behind naval area down to above the pubic area ... I guess you would describe that as the bladder area. Sometimes this is no just a "burning" sensation but a dull pain. Since then I have had a MRI, a CT scan, a ultrasound and an upper GI. Nothing shows up .. could it be the medication? The internist, the urologist and the pharmacist say no.
Brief Answer:
Possible.
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Regards.
Thanks for your query and an elucidate history.
To recapitulate: Female / 76 - Levothyroxine50 on 11/5/14 - several weeks of intestinal ''burning'' - Dec 16 Internist's advise - Uro- cysto > OK- Burning starts at waist > behind naval > pubic area - sometimes as dull pain - MRI/ CT/ USG / Upper GI all normal - Wants to know if this is due to med -
I would like to know a few detail please for correlation:
- What were the ''symptoms'' for which Levothyroxine that too in the dose of 50 was started?
- Was it only the report of thyroid function that led to this?
- Please post the all reports of Thyroid functions for me to correlate.. as
YYYY@YYYY
- MRI : was the MRI of the thoraco-lumbar region done?
- May I please know your pulse and BP and other vitals...
It is possible that what your mind says is true, it is you who is suffering (subjective feeling). Opinion of the Internist, Urologist and Pharmacist are objective.
It is possible that the medicine is causing this problem. This is one of the most potent hormone of the body working in the very minute quantity yet affecting the whole body.
Simple test of stopping it for 3 to 5 days can be helpful, but you have to get the latest reports of the Free T3, Free T4 and TSH before stopping and repeat after 10 days to see the reports.
I hope this answer helps you to get a proper diagnosis, and get a proper further treatment. Please feel free to ask for more or if you need further clarifications or if you feel there is a gap of communication.
Possible.
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Regards.
Thanks for your query and an elucidate history.
To recapitulate: Female / 76 - Levothyroxine50 on 11/5/14 - several weeks of intestinal ''burning'' - Dec 16 Internist's advise - Uro- cysto > OK- Burning starts at waist > behind naval > pubic area - sometimes as dull pain - MRI/ CT/ USG / Upper GI all normal - Wants to know if this is due to med -
I would like to know a few detail please for correlation:
- What were the ''symptoms'' for which Levothyroxine that too in the dose of 50 was started?
- Was it only the report of thyroid function that led to this?
- Please post the all reports of Thyroid functions for me to correlate.. as
YYYY@YYYY
- MRI : was the MRI of the thoraco-lumbar region done?
- May I please know your pulse and BP and other vitals...
It is possible that what your mind says is true, it is you who is suffering (subjective feeling). Opinion of the Internist, Urologist and Pharmacist are objective.
It is possible that the medicine is causing this problem. This is one of the most potent hormone of the body working in the very minute quantity yet affecting the whole body.
Simple test of stopping it for 3 to 5 days can be helpful, but you have to get the latest reports of the Free T3, Free T4 and TSH before stopping and repeat after 10 days to see the reports.
I hope this answer helps you to get a proper diagnosis, and get a proper further treatment. Please feel free to ask for more or if you need further clarifications or if you feel there is a gap of communication.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you ... I have an appt. with my internist this Fri., 5/15/15 and will try to get you the info you ask for and will get back with you as soon as I get it.
My hair was thinning and my internist said it could possibly be low thyroid ... the lab work confirmed it was, but I don't know the levels ...and that is when I started the levothyroxine. Within a few weeks I started growing new hair. Anyway, I will try to get a copy of the lab report and I also think I will ask for another lab on Friday to check the thyroid.
In XXXXXXX I was diagnosed with a bladder infection and took a round of antibiotics which took care of it ... I was hoping this was the answer, but apparently not. I felt better after the antibiotics, but after a few days my symptoms came back.
I also take HCT 25 mg. once daily for high blood pressure. With this med my BP runs about 123/71 or thereabouts. I also take 1 mg. of Estradiol and have since my complete hysterectomy in the year 2000. I am 5' 3/12" tall and weigh 143.
Don't know if its relevant, but my mother had low thyroid also.
Thank you again, XXXXXXX J. Blow
My hair was thinning and my internist said it could possibly be low thyroid ... the lab work confirmed it was, but I don't know the levels ...and that is when I started the levothyroxine. Within a few weeks I started growing new hair. Anyway, I will try to get a copy of the lab report and I also think I will ask for another lab on Friday to check the thyroid.
In XXXXXXX I was diagnosed with a bladder infection and took a round of antibiotics which took care of it ... I was hoping this was the answer, but apparently not. I felt better after the antibiotics, but after a few days my symptoms came back.
I also take HCT 25 mg. once daily for high blood pressure. With this med my BP runs about 123/71 or thereabouts. I also take 1 mg. of Estradiol and have since my complete hysterectomy in the year 2000. I am 5' 3/12" tall and weigh 143.
Don't know if its relevant, but my mother had low thyroid also.
Thank you again, XXXXXXX J. Blow
Brief Answer:
Reports awaited.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your feedback.
Noted all the points of history, other medications, mother's history of Hypothyroidism
I shall be waiting for the reports.
Also noted the incidence of Urinary bladder in XXXXXXX and recurrence of symptoms within a few days in spite of antibiotics.
BMI is perfectly on the border of normal to overweight, so nothing to worry about.
I also hope that you have been examined by a Gynecologist to see that there is no rectocele or cystocele as this too can cause the feeling of the pain which you explained.
Please also discuss about having one review Ultrasonography for the genitourinary system, and a Gynecologist Check-up to see for the prolapse as cystocele or rectocele in spite of Hysterectomy in 2000. Such symptoms like you have can be seen in such cases (differential diagnosis).
Reports awaited.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your feedback.
Noted all the points of history, other medications, mother's history of Hypothyroidism
I shall be waiting for the reports.
Also noted the incidence of Urinary bladder in XXXXXXX and recurrence of symptoms within a few days in spite of antibiotics.
BMI is perfectly on the border of normal to overweight, so nothing to worry about.
I also hope that you have been examined by a Gynecologist to see that there is no rectocele or cystocele as this too can cause the feeling of the pain which you explained.
Please also discuss about having one review Ultrasonography for the genitourinary system, and a Gynecologist Check-up to see for the prolapse as cystocele or rectocele in spite of Hysterectomy in 2000. Such symptoms like you have can be seen in such cases (differential diagnosis).
Note: Consult a Urologist online for consultation about prostate and bladder problems, sexual dysfunction, kidney stones, prostate enlargement, urinary incontinence, impotence and erectile dysfunction - Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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