June 2003, New York City
“Dana, we recommend the first colonoscopy at age 50. You are only 33 years old. I highly doubt it is necessary. However given your father’s recent colon cancer diagnosis and your current symptoms, we will schedule your colonoscopy.’
“Dana, we will begin the procedure now, it shouldn’t take long.”
“Dana, we removed a large size colon polyp. Fortunately it is benign. I can’t believe the size of this polyp considering you are only 33 years old. I don’t know what would have happened if you had waited until age 50 for your first colonoscopy. Thank your father. He may have saved your life today.”
I would like to thank my father for encouraging me years ago to speak with my doctor about a topic that was too embarrassing to discuss – my lifelong constipation. My dad is no longer with us, but I know he is watching over me right now as I type this article. By sharing our story, we may save the life of a reader here today. Thank you Dad.
My Lifelong Constipation
Constipation is a taboo subject that no one likes to discuss. However it is a very real issue for hypothyroidism sufferers. In order to make real change at Hypothyroid Mom, we must discuss all the issues including the most embarrassing ones. So here it goes.
I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism following the birth of my first son in 2006, however I have really suffered from hypothyroidism symptoms ever since I was a baby. To tell you the truth, constipation has been an issue ever since I can remember. I even landed in the emergency room from severe constipation once during a vacation.
In 2003, my husband and I decided to take a trip of a lifetime to Asia visiting Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Cambodia. It was an incredible trip. However like all vacations, constipation was an issue during this trip especially when I returned home. This particular time I found some blood when I used the toilet, not a great deal but enough to catch my attention. It went away and I almost passed it off as normal from the constipation.
My father had been diagnosed with colon cancer that year. He insisted I get myself checked out. I went to my doctor with my symptoms along with my family history of colon cancer. At that time I was only 33 years old.
“Dana, the blood you experienced in your stool was from an internal hemorrhoid. In addition to your colon polyp, you have diverticulosis, pouches in the wall of the colon. Your chronic constipation is a serious health issue that needs to be resolved.”
Hypothyroidism & Constipation
Have you ever checked the drugstore aisle for laxatives and stool softeners? Have you ever noticed how many products are on those shelves?
Constipation is one of the classic signs of hypothyroidism. Without enough thyroid hormone, many of the body’s functions slow down. Hypothyroidism slows the action of the digestive tract causing constipation. Muscles line the digestive tract including the small and large intestines. The muscles contract to move the stool through the intestine to the rectum. Hypothyroidism can weaken the contraction of these muscles causing the stool to move too slowly.
According to the Thyroid Federation International,“Thyroid disease is very common with an estimated 300 million currently affected and 1.6 billion people at risk of thyroid conditions globally. It is estimated that over 50% of those affected could be unaware of it.” With millions of undiagnosed hypothyroidism sufferers worldwide and millions more insufficiently treated, is it really any wonder why the shelves for constipation remedies are stocked so high?
Looking back I’ve suffered from hypothyroidism symptoms including chronic constipation ever since I can remember. When I landed in the emergency room during a vacation from severe constipation, my thyroid was NOT tested. Even when my colon polyp was discovered in 2003, my thyroid was NOT tested. It took landing in the emergency room after my first son was born with excruciatingly painful kidney stones in 2006 to finally receive my hypothyroidism diagnosis.
Are you reading this article right now and suffer from constipation but you’ve never had your thyroid tested? Please get tested.
It wasn’t until I found a great thyroid doctor who listened to my symptoms and worked with me to find optimal treatment that I was finally on the road to overcoming the constipation that had plagued me my whole life. I knew the time had come to open up about my constipation and share with my doctor exactly what was happening. I am so happy I did.
How I Reversed My Constipation
We are each unique in how our bodies react to different substances. Consult with your doctor before trying any supplements mentioned at Hypothyroid Mom to be sure they are right for you and to determine the ideal dosage for you.
Optimal Thyroid Treatment
In mainstream medicine Levothyroxine drugs are the gold standard for the treatment of hypothyroidism. While these drugs work for some, for many they fail to relieve symptoms. Levothyroxine drugs contain T4 thyroid hormone only. Our bodies are supposed to convert that T4 thyroid hormone to the active T3 hormone our cells need. For many of us our bodies don’t convert T4 to T3 properly, leaving us symptomatic. Many of us do better on a combination of T4 and T3 thyroid hormone replacement treatment.
It wasn’t until I found a great doctor open to exploring the thyroid drug options to find what was right for me that my constipation began improving. It wasn’t a quick fix. For me it took about 6 months to reach optimal. My doctor did comprehensive thyroid testing including TSH, Free T4, Free T3, Reverse T3, and thyroid antibodies. My doctor prescribed natural desiccated thyroid and it changed my life. She retested my levels regularly in the beginning and increased my dosage each time until one day I felt incredible. All my hypothyroidism symptoms had improved including my life-long constipation. I felt so good I cried.
If you are reading this article right now and you suffer from chronic constipation but you’ve never been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, please get your thyroid properly tested. If you are being treated with thyroid medication but you still suffer from common symptoms like constipation, take a closer look at whether you are being optimally treated.
Fiber-Rich Foods
A diet too low in fiber was also to blame for my sluggish digestive tract. While I included fiber-rich foods to my diet, I realized that I wasn’t consuming enough. The average adult needs between 20 and 35 grams of fiber a day to ward off constipation. I love the taste of this fiber bar and this one too. I also use this fiber supplement. To avoid bloating and cramping, I increased my fiber intake gradually and made sure to drink plenty of fluids.
Gluten-Free
When I first started reading about the connection between gluten and thyroid, I was reluctant to make the switch. I grew up with my Italian mom who makes the best pasta on the planet, so you can imagine the idea of going gluten-free was not easy for me. However once I gave it a try and noticed not only my constipation improving but also my other hypothyroidism symptoms, I was hooked.
Eliminate Dairy
In my research, I’ve read about the connection between dairy and constipation. I decided to give dairy-free a try. While this did not have a significant effect on my constipation, I still included it here in this article especially given all the food sensitivities and intolerances that I hear about from Hypothyroid Mom readers. We’re all different in terms of what works best for us, so it’s well worth a try.
Healthy Oils
Omega-3 oils help lubricate the intestines so stool can move more easily through the colon. I increased the intake of fish oil by taking cod liver oil daily, careful to select mercury-free brands, and I’m amazed at how this has helped.
Probiotics
Probiotics are live microbial organisms that are naturally present in the digestive tract. Beneficial bacteria are necessary to properly digest food and to absorb nutrients. When you are looking for a good probiotic supplement, choose one that contains a mix of a number of different probiotic strains. I take this probiotic supplement from Microbiome Labs.
Warm Lemon Water
A few years back I had consultation services with an Ayurveda specialist in NYC. For constipation, she recommended drinking warm water with lemon in the morning. The warm water stimulates the muscles lining the intestinal walls to contract and keep the stool moving and lemons help flush out toxins.
Lemon juice alkalizes the body. Yes lemons are acidic outside the body, but inside the body they have an alkalizing effect. An alkaline body helps prevent disease and maintain wellness.
I take my thyroid medication with plain water first thing when I wake up. Then I wait at least an hour to have breakfast to ensure nothing interferes with the absorption of my medication. I have warm lemon water just before my breakfast. (I wait several hours after taking my thyroid meds to take other medications, supplements, and vitamins to ensure there is no interference with the thyroid hormone absorption.)
Magnesium
Magnesium has been a real life-changer for me. All the things that I’ve mentioned above have been helpful in improving my constipation. However the real change came when my doctor tested my magnesium and found it to be far below the normal range. Nutrient deficiencies including magnesium are a common issue for those of us with hypothyroidism and should be tested.
Magnesium is the relaxation mineral. Constipation is a common symptom of magnesium deficiency. Muscles line the digestive tract. Magnesium relaxes the muscles and helps the stool move more easily.
Other symptoms of low magnesium include:
insomnia
irritability
anxiety
depression
restless leg syndrome
heart palpitations
poor heart health
Diabetes
brain fog
dizziness
PMS
kidney stones
ringing in the ears
muscle cramping
eye twitches
headaches
I struggled with eye twitching for over ten years. An eye exam showed my eyes were fine and yet I had the constant twitching. Guess what…my eye twitching (along with painful persistent headaches) went away once I started on magnesium.
Serum magnesium is the test routinely taken in the doctor’s office and in the hospital but this type of testing misses a large percentage of people with magnesium deficiency. Thankfully I have a doctor that tests my red blood cell magnesium levels called RBC Magnesium which tests the level of magnesium inside of the red blood cells. Have you had your RBC Magnesium level tested?
In order to gauge my dose of magnesium my doctor had me start at a low dose and work up until I experienced loose stools and then backed off slightly. She advised I take magnesium glycinate. There are many different magnesium supplements available in stores but not all of them are easily absorbed. Magnesium glycinate is one of the most absorbable forms of magnesium.
This magnesium supplement every night before bed works wonders to get my bowel moments moving regularly (it helps me sleep too!). That’s a miracle for me.
By shining light on our symptoms, even the most embarrassing ones, we will CONQUER them!
READ NEXT: A dental exam uncovers undetected hypothyroidism in a young girl
About Dana Trentini
I cannot thank you enough for this information on constipation. I have suffered from it for a few years since my hypothyroid diagnosis in 2011.
I have been on Synthroid 75 mg which has been good, except for the constipation issue.
I had been taking Magnesium Glycinate, capsule form as I read somewhere that would help. It did not help enough. So, after reading your article, I increased the dosage from 400 mg per day to 800 mg per day, 400 mg in the morning with breakfast and 400 mg with dinner.
I am thrilled with the results. I am regular every day now. I feel like a normal person.
I also sleep very well and feel energized in the morning.
I know the capsules work for me. I have also purchased a liquid Magnesium Glycinate brand: Genestra with an natural apple-pomegrante flavor which I have not tried yet. The dosage is 250 mg per tablespoon. I will try it sometime when I feel I might be becoming constipated. I purchased this item through Ginger and Sprig Company, which is in Canada and it was pricey. So, I hope the Magnesium Glycinate capsules will continue to work well.
I do provide myself with plenty of fiber daily and count my fiber grams. Before using more Magnesium Glycinate this alone did not provide good enough results.
No matter what, if you increase your Magnesium Glycinate dosage, consult with your doctor.
I hope this information works for many of you and I wish you all the very best.
I’m happy you found a solution Loretta. Thank you for sharing your experience. I too experience the same benefits of finding the right dosage of magnesium glycinate for my body. All the best, Dana Trentini (Hypothyroid Mom)
I came across this article, because for the 1st time in 4 years I was able to go the bathroom like a somewhat normal person- you read that right, and before the 1 year hiatus of my constipation woes (still present but markedly reduced (where incidentally I got pregnant for the first and only time at 38), I had sever constipation going on almost 20 years. recently diagnosed with hypothyroidism with tsh more than 3x normal. (13.5) I literally have taken synthroid 2 days… and I was able to go, in strenuously, un assisted with other medications, And I am crying. They say it starts working immediately and takes a few weeks to feel the affect on exhaustion…and for that I will see. But I am hoping this is not a coincidence as like I said it has been 4 years since I last was able to go in a “normal” fashion. I can only wait and see if the chest pain, lymph node pain, and feeling of gastroparesis/hernia blockage is resulting from my hypothyroidism as well.
I have the same symtoms that you described . it has got worse in the last few years. recently i had some extensive labs done ordered by a functional med doc. i noted that my TSH was at high end and my REVERSE T3 was high. i really suspect this might also be the cause of chronic constipation. do you have any advise?
Hi Sunil,
You probably found already some answers. It is difficult to give you an advice.
However, if you have an elevated rT3 I found by some information given by Dr Childs that it could be something like a blockage due to excessive use of T4…
since the rT3 is very complex, I believe it is very important that you educate yourself on this…
I stopped all my medication when I suspected an elevated rT3 but also supplemented with KI Kalium Jodid or better Potassium iodide (350microgram per day in a combination with other supplements).
I now use the PURE formula only, as my health improved on it and my digestive issues have been resolved after 30 years ( stopping the T4 – Levothyroxine.
I knew that I should not just stop my medication, but I gained badly weight, had heart palpitations, high cholesterol, blood pressure and all kind of other normally hyperthyroidism symptoms ( except weight gain and digestive issues)
The rT3 was not very high but all blood levels are better now.
I believe what you need , if you can not work yourself through this or understand your situation, is an expert.
I hope you feel better soon and all the very best to get your levels and health issues back to normal 🙏
Hi,
I have had hypothyroid from age 6. And I have used every possible laxative during growing years to relieve constipation.
I cannot eat – oats, red meat, chocolate, coffee, cakes, tea, cookies, dairy, peanuts, deep fried food, chapati, pasta, pizza, nothing made with all purpose flour, nothing made with wheat, nothing with soy in any form like soy leticin.
Sometimes eating salad makes me totally constipated.
The only thing that makes it easier on – some okra and some rice and drinking water morning and night.
I am 40 yrs now and in the last few years the symptoms have gone worse and I have constant acidity – if I eat also acidity and if I don’t eat also acidity.
After almost living with thyroid for 30+ years each day is a struggle and each day you have to eat carefully.
And if I don’t go to bathroom then I get head by afternoon and it stays and does not go away for 1 to 2 days.
Been on thyroid meds 100mcg for yrs., totally constipated I have tried everything. Last resort doctor recommends senna tea for constipation. Now I poop once a week only when I use 2 tea bags and drink at nite, sometimes that doesn’t work. Had scan for bowel blockage nothing abnormal. Any help??????
Reacted magnesium by ortho molecular has changed my life. 6 caps a day. I found it randomly and hope it could help you too. There are lots of forms of magnesium and this is the only one that’s worked. I have no connection to the company at all btw just a successful customer.
Thank you for posting. I am hypothyroid (diagnosed a year ago when I got s virus in my thyroid that destroyed it) I have been working ever since to get my medication titrated properly. I was started on natural dessicated thyroid and my problems began. All my other symptoms seemed resolved but the constipation was new. I will be taking a different Mg supplement as well as trying the lemon water.
Thank you this is the most information I have had, I have not found a doctor who will listen to me or take me serious. never takes blood work, comes in and doesn’t do a thing. It is getting pretty bad. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!
Ask to be referred to an endocrinologist and/or change doctors.
Only someone who has not had a bowel movement in 7 plus days understand. If you have Hashimotos like I do, and have not pooped in more than a week – try drinking a lemon oral suspension followed by two glasses of water. Good look and you’re not alone.
What’s a lemon oral suspension???
My constipation was under control with diet and probiotics. I started Liothyronine 5 mg daily and after 4 months of taking my constipation is back and nothing is working to make it go away. I concluded it is the medication and started to take it every other day to see if it helps. On the other side, the medication has resolved my joint and muscle pain remaining and I was very pleased with those results. Has anyone had constipation with Liothyronine?
Hi. Almost 30 days ago my NP added Liothyronine 5 mcg to my regimen of Armour Thyroid 60 mg, which I have been taking successfully for 11 years now. I have noticed that my BMs are less frequent and resemble Type 1 (separate hard lumps that are hard to pass) since starting the Liothyronine. I was reading here to see if anyone else has had the same experience.
Yes. My hair also fell out. I tried every other day buy eventually went back to levothyroxine alone. Day to day struggles but I do know things can ALWAYS be worse.
Hi Dana, Thanks for such an open and informative article. I have struggled with hypothyroid symptoms for all my life, but have only recently been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Disease. Constipation has been the biggest problem for me – sometimes it’s worse than others and it feels like my digestive system simply shuts down, resulting in nothing happening in the bathroom department and as a result I can hardly bear to eat because my stomach becomes so distended. For years, I have eaten no gluten, dairy or sugar; I have removed foods I am intolerant to, I take probiotics, digestive enzymes, magnesium, eat lots of veggies and healthy oils and still Nothing. I feel terrible and don’t know what else to try. I am on 50mcg of Levo (teva) and I’m wondering if I should try NDT. Please could you suggest anything else I could try? (The only thing that ever seems to help is a hot, sunny holiday – Vit D?) Thank you so much.
I finally switched from levo to nature thyroid prescription and it seems to be much better with my bowel functions. Check with your doctor.
If you haven’t already, switch to NDT! I tried armour then naturethroid and now I’m on NP thyroid and already after just one day I can tell a difference. Finally went this morning all on my own with no laxatives
Thank you for sharing !
I ended up in my doctor’s office (GI) today due to sudden acute constipation. I am doing all I can: drink water, take daily magnesium 325mg, Miralax with my water, priobiotics, mostly no gluten, no dairy (I occasional slip off the restriction if we go out and I don’t have control of what REALLY is in my food)…
I became alarmed by this sudden increase in constipation and discomfort… also, my stool was FLAT ???
Then I finally put two and two together.. We went away for Thanksgiving and upon arrival back home I ran out of my T3 medication… I had to wait for an appointment to see the MD, the office staff wouldn’t call in my refill (I had complained since about this and the interruption of my medication due to their lack of willingness to give me 5 more days of meds…)… All together I am off the meds for 10 days and finally today my compounding pharmacy delivered my T3… I hope that in few days I will restore my intestinal motility and go #2 more easily… What an experience !!! The withdrawal caused me headaches, tiredness, dizziness, sudden increase in my anxiety… but I guess I underestimates its effect on my constipation… Lesson learnt !
Bea
OMG my stool has been flat too!
Thanks for sharing that. I have had flat stool for around a year now, mild constipating and difficulty gaining weight. Any ideas how a thyroid problem would cause flat stool?
Speak to your pharmacist. Where I live (Toronto, Canada), pharmacists are allowed to advance 5 (i think) doses of a regular prescription.
Thanks for enlightening us with your experience and further positive actions! I’m a male 39 and was diagnosed recently with TSH levels in 300. Since I started levothyroxine and quit gluten experienced that my poop now is consistent and long, according to internet posts, it falls under next to perfect shape. Wonder if it’s due to levothyroxine or quiting gluten. My doctor has also put me on Omeraprazole, been taking for last few months but planning to stop it given any side effects of long term use. I think stopping acidity is good but worried about its long term use and especially at this age!! Any thoughts?
Hello, this is Dana Trentini from Hypothyroid Mom. I can’t imagine how poorly you felt with a TSH as high as 300. That would explain the constipation as the body’s systems slow down and that includes the digestive system with hypothyroidism. Going gluten free can make a major difference in constipation as well. As for Omeraprazole, it belongs to the family of medications called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) used to treat conditions like ulcers and GERD. It is interesting that many hypothyroid people struggle with acid reflux and put on stomach acid lowering medications when the problem may be too little stomach acid. Here is more information to help you in your discussion with your doctor:
https://hypothyroidmom.com/strangely-acid-may-ease-the-burn/
Thank you, thank you , thank you!! My son and I are both constipated all the time!! I have been searching and this article brought it all together for me!! I always suspected I had a thyroid issue and have several of the symptoms. Thank you for writing!
I’m 20 years old, just recently diagnosed with hypothyroidism. It all happened because I was sleeping 11hrs a day and napping on top of that even though I was on a VERY high dose of Wellbutrin for my depression.
Anyway, we’ve started me on synthroid and had my blood tested since then. My TSH and T4 levels are back in the normal range though I’m still experiencing symptoms so we are going to increase the dosage…HOWEVER my T3 hormone moved independently in the opposite direction of the others…so we can’t increase the dosage until we figure out what’s causing that. I have been suffering from constipation and recently experienced what I think to be a partial rectal prolapse. I have another blood test this week and see the doctor Monday. I’m very scared as rectal prolapse is quite uncommon in people my age…so I hope it can be explained by the thyroid issue…
Hi Bri,
So your T3 went really low? You may have a conversion issue from T4 to T3. You are taking T4 only (Synthroid.) I take T3 only (liothyronine or Cytomel) due to my conversion issue. What you want to get tested are these: Free T3, Free T4 and Reverse T3. Consult the website stopthethyroidmadness.com for optimal lab results and how to achieve them. I pray you get your answers!
Is weight loss part of the symptoms? And thanks for the information!
Hi Nina, Weight gain is the most common weight-related symptom of hypothyroidism but there are also people with hypothyroidism that have normal weight and others lose weight too quickly. It unfortunately affects us all differently. Wonderful to have you at Hypothyroid Mom.
I’m a 67-year-old woman who has had Hypothyroidism since 1995. I was on Synthroid for several years, but I always had symptoms, but luckily I didn’t have constipation. I switched to NP Thyroid (I believe this is a version of Armour Thyroid but has less fillers). I was doing pretty well, and now since January of 2018 I could tell something was starting to get off kilter, so I wondered if my Thyroid was at fault. I saw my doctor and had my TSH tested, as well as my Free T-3 and Free T-4. My TSH was 3.67 so that explained the constipation. I feel best when the TSH is between 1.0 and 2.0. I’ve been on the new dose schedule that my doctor gave me for 11 days now, and I’m more constipated now than I have ever been in my life. My diet hasn’t changed from before, but now I am taking into account the types of foods I do eat. Miralax doesn’t even help me anymore. If this doesn’t improve by next week, I will be contacting my doctor again. I’m going crazy thinking I have colon cancer, but I have no other symptoms. I’m due for a colonoscopy in 2020, and my last one 8 years ago was fine. I’m thinking the extreme change of Thyroid medicine is causing this (new dose is 100 mg. more each week than previously). I, too, was always uncomfortable talking with my female doctor about my constipation. At this age, I don’t care anymore. If someone else is experiencing this from an increased dosage of Thyroid medication, keep track, and if it doesn’t improve, contact your doctor again and keep on the doctor until it is rectified.
I am constipated when I take my thyroid Meds, I am on 300 mcg of levothyroxine, when I miss a few days I can go to the bathroom, but when I consistently take it I get constipated.
I’m very frustrated
I thought maybe I was on too low of a dose of Armour but now seems my constipation is worse on the higher dose. Have you figured out a solution?
Hello I also have trouble going to the bathroom it’s been like this since I gave birth to my daughter in 1994 it’s just Gorton worse I feel so bloated and have a bad burning sensation on my right side every elyear for the past 4 years February march April the burning returned on the right side feeling like something leaking can’t sleep good never comfortable driving a car is bad and I’m told there was a cyst one year a ulcer another kidney stones this last time but they where on the left side in the ct scan well the pain is the right side I can’t handle daily life anymore cause I feel I’m carrying something around in side me and it’s twisting and punching and leaking burning it terrible no one gets it even had a ablation done..i try to go to the bathroom sit there and go and one little subcence comes out and it feeling like I just delivered a baby….ive been so miserable it keeping me from work and DAYLY life. No one listens the do scan and say everything looks fine… it not fine when there pain everyday and u feel like there something in there…i called someone different and he setting up for me to do coloscope April 25 cause he had planed vacation when I seen him march 28th for 3 weeks that the earliest I can get in..i gave myself a intama today one little size of dime came out that’s as it..im scared what u think might be happening inside or going down or on..thanks a million
hi – Anyone have any suggestions for me? I have Graves disease and was severely huperthyroid causing a thyroid storm, had overdose of RAI to make sure my gland was dead, then became severely hyperthyroid. My TSH was 75 and I was so constipated that it gave me a rectal prolapse which caused anal mucous leakage. No matter what I took or ate, nothing helped me go to the bathroom. When my TSH went down to 13 on a higher dose of Levoxyl I was still constipated butkind of managable. Now that I am considered “in range” but still have many hypo and some hyper symptoms??, I have started to have looser BMs which is not good for my prolapse and I have mostly been eating the RAT diet along with a few cautiously eaten foods. I am just hoping that the severe constipation did not cause SIBO. ASny suggestions would help. Thanks
Thanks so much for your article. I too have an underactive thyroid. I have been on synthroid for about 30 years. Recently, I rejoined Weight Watchers and added dairy, nonfat yogurt, because it was free on the diet. That was a big mistake. I have ditched the dairy. I also stopped eating oats for breakfast. That was another big mistake. I need the morning fiber. I am so glad I found your article. Everything you have said is right on point. I too take my take my thyroid medication early in the morning on an empty stomach and wait an hour. Several times, since rejoining WW I didn’t do that and that was another big mistake. I have also realized I needed to add magnesium to my daily routine. Finally I stopped using olive oil for the diet and that was another big mistake. We need good fats in our diet. I will follow your suggestion about coconut oil. Thank you so much. I have lost twenty pounds, but now I need to lose wight the thyroid way.
Thanks so much for your story. I have been hypothyroid since my mid 40’s. I am now 70. I went to my doctor and told him I thought I was hypothyroid and he laughed at me. He said I was gaining weight because I was overeating. I said I want you to test me. I have been a Weight Watcher since my 20’s and I can not lose weight on the weight watcher diet. Something is wrong. I had all of the hypothyroid signs, cold hands and feet, tired, dry skin, and constipation. I was right and have been on synthroid for 25 years. I have also been gluten and dairy free. In December, I rejoined Weight Watchers. Because dairy in the form of nonfat plain yogurt is free on the diet I started eating it and a lot of eggs. Now, my constipation is back. I am working hard to get back to my old self. This article is extremely helpful. I also take my thyroid medicine early in the morning with a full 8-16 ounces of water and wait an hour. But, in order to follow the diet I stopped eating oats for breakfast. I was trying to save points. That has been a big mistake. I am going back to oats for breakfast and also add the suggested warm lemon water. I already realized I needed to add the magnesium. I have gladly ditched the dairy. Your article is right on target. I also need to exercise every day. Walking is a big help in my staying healthy. Thanks so much for your article and your time in taking the time to write and help others.
Hi Dana,
Thank you for your story and this wonderful website of yours. I too, have always been irregular, and I did know that it was part of the hypothyroidism, but I have always tried to eat a fiber rich diet and I tried to walk everyday to help with the issue. But since I am looking HARD at 50, I have noticed that my constipation has been getting worse.
Well on the 18th of this month, I got thrown a curve ball and I have never had this kind of pain in my whole. On the 18th of Feb. 2018, I got up to walk my dogs and start my day, but my body had other ideas. (I live in the country so walking my dogs is basically me just letting them go and run while I tag along behind for 30 min. or so.) But on this day my stomach said,” Nope, you take one more step and you are going to be taking a shower instead.” So I turned to go back in the house and I was going to take a shower. Needless to say, I stayed pretty close to the house all day and hope it was just a “bug” or maybe I ate something . But Monday morning, the 19th, the same thing happened, except my intestines started burning, like a radiating heat in my gut. I told my husband, that if it wasn’t better the next morning I would go see the Dr., (I mean I was pooping, may have been extremely messy, but I was doing something.) So that night the burning got worse, and there was a knot in my intestines, that was just not going away. So Tuesday, the 20th, I told my husband,” I need to go to the ER, something is REALLY not right.” (Now I have given birth to two children completely natural, only a local for the stitches. I tell you this only because, the pain I was in that Tuesday, was worse than having my two kids.) I got to the ER and they escorted me in almost immediately, they ran testes and they did a CAT scan of my GI tract. I had a partial blockage of my lower intestine. I was on a liquid diet for 4 days, and it was hospital food on top of that, lol, but eventually I was allowed to go home without having to do surgery and I was to stay on the liquid diet for the next week. It has been hard, but I was good and didn’t cheat, the very idea of having to go through this again had me scared straight. (Oh and Chicken broth for breakfast is AWFUL!!!)
Now, I am looking for things to help me stay, regular and I knew that your site would definitely give me ideas to talk over with my Dr. next week. I also wanted to share my story so other women wouldn’t feel so… uptight, about talking to their physicians about constipation. I really wish I had, before this whole nightmarish experience had accord. I hope this helps someone.
Thank you for your time,
Stacie McRae
Hi all,
I’m hypothyroid and started natural Thyroid. I’m confused though-I had constipation before -but NOTHING like when my doctor upped the dose. It’s like my bowels have completely stopped. If I’d tell you what I took to go it would make your head pop off. My doc said that too much Thyroid can cause constipation-but I can’t confirm that anywhere and out of desperation and sheer exhaustion, I started taking half of what I was taking on, just to see if that’s what made it worse last June. I mean my body won’t go even after 2 weeks, and I feel horrible. I’m on a vegetarian, paleo, organic, no to low carb diet and drink plenty all day. Anyone think what my doc says is strange?
Hi Kris,
I’m so sorry to hear that you have a doctor, that would say something that would make you feel so confused but, don’t most of them do that very thing. And if you ask them to explain why something is so, or if you tell them that you don’t understand the reasoning of their statement, they look at you like you are 3 years old asking, “Why is the sky blue?” I was born with hypothyroidism so, I have had these types of conversations with many different physicians. Sometimes we have to do some of the work,(like you did) and then go back and explain what you have done or not done, to try and fix your problem. If the physician doesn’t take notice then, or gets up set because you took control of the situation, then maybe a NEW Dr. is in order. I still haven’t found the right Dr. for me, but I can’t give up, it’s my body and I know when something isn’t “normal”. Stick to your guns and research different types of solutions.
Hi all,
I’m hypothyroid and started natural Thyroid. I’m confused though-I had constipation before -but NOTHING like when my doctor upped the dose. It’s like my bowls have completely stopped. If I’d tell you what I took to go it would make your head pop off. My doc said that too much Thyroid can cause constipation-but I can’t confirm that anywhere and out of desperation and sheer exhaustion, I starting taking have of what I was taking just to see if that’s what made it worse. I mean my body won’t go even after 2 weeks and I feel horrible. I’m on a vegetarian, paleo, organic, no to low carb diet and drink plenty all day. Anyone think what my doc says is strange?
I hear you, Kris. I was experiencing constipation even on Thyroid medication. I decided to consult my doctor who put me on a much, much higher dose than I was on before. (I’ve suffered with hypothyroidism for 23 years–started before and during menopause). It’s been about 10 days since I’ve started the new dosage, and I’m worse off now than I was on the lower dose. I think in those 10 days, I’ve only gone 2 or 3 times. Even Miralax doesn’t help me as it once did. Thank you for posting this. I’m going to contact my doctor next week if things don’t come around this week.
This article was superb!
I have the constipation problem because I’m hypothyroid. I didn’t know for the longest time that that was what was causing it. I have found that many things – like magnesium (now making my own magnesium spray) and water containing foods, lot of water plus a thyroid medication help but still I can run into problems from eating dry foods, refined foods. I also take digestive enzymes with food and that helps. Coffee causes me to constipate! Not so much tea – green or black. I discovered a colon cleanse that I’m doing right now using this little lady’s (Mama Rosa) recipe I found on youtube – a Godsend. Because there’s a lot of old poop in the colon from being constipated for ages. I can’t believe what’s coming out and I am relieved at least I can improve the health of my colon from the affects of constipation. Thank you for this article! I’m going to check out the magnesium glycinate.
Thank you so much for your article. I’m taking it to my doctor.
Its a very real problem in the US especially, made worse by hypothyroidism. I had my gallbladder removed which makes it harder to digest and absorb. I am anemic and iron supplements just add to my misery! Thanks for talking about it. I wish there was an easy answer. You are lucky you have a great doctor. I cannot find one who will give me the natural thyroid meds. Its so frustrating
Just be informed, most insurances don’t cover desiccated thyroid. Armour Thyroid has helped me the best, as i cannot convert levothyroxine to the active T3 hormone. I pay $21.14 a month for a 30 day supply of 60 mg tablets at my pharmacy, Target (CVS).
Crystal, Depending on your income, you might be able to obtain Armour Thyroid at a reduced price or possibly for free. I used to. I went straight to the company’s web site & printed off the Patient Assistance form, filled it out, took it to my doctor where they filled out their portion & wrote a prescription to include. I mailed it Certified Return Receipt to the Forest Pharmacueticals, Inc. & was approved. The kicker at that time was that I had to do this monthly, which was a big pain in the derriere. I quit doing this because the doctor charged me each time so I wasn’t really saving any money. Your doctor may be different. It’s worth a try – depending on the dose you take.
Hi Rayne,
Not sure where you live, but if you haven’t already, try doing a web search in your area for Integrative Medicine or Functional Medicine. Those doctors/practitioners are MUCH more likely to help you!
Thank you for sharing. It’s so important and helpful.
Thank you for sharing all this information. I’m resently diagnosed with Hashimoto’s
Thank you so much for doing all of the research. It is such a gift to me.