My sister has hypo or hyperthyroidism, I forget which. It's the one that makes your weight fluctuate wildly. She does not have IBD nor do I have thyroid problems, but it is interesting to note that there could be some common genetic component. But we are also different: she has blue eyes and I have brown; she has fair skin and mine is olive. These differences led to many jokes when we were kids, some made up by my sister herself in regards to my darker skin. We also have very different personalities, but people think we look alike facially.

I posted this only because I thought it was interesting. Often people come on this board asking about links between autoimmune diseases and here is an article which discussed just that. It doesn't mean that just because we get one that we'll get another, or vice versa. For the record, no one else in my family has been diagnosed with IBD. Interestingly, however, my brother had an idiopathic fistula repaired last year, and has been severely lactose intolerant since his early 20s. CD/UC was ruled out since his colonscopies have always been fine. But who knows. Just something to think about.

What I meant was that I had never previously thought of the link between my sister's thyroid condition and my IBD both being autoimmune disorders. That never occurred to me before. But actually your post for some reason reminded me of my sister, whom I have not seen in some time (except for photos sent over the Internet). She lives in California.

Thank you for posting this article.Thyroid disease is the untold epidemic.I am thyroid and was diagnosis some 20 years ago.
If someone complains of chronic constipation OR uncontrolled diarrhea yes TEST.a simple blood test.
Hypothyroidism slows down the intestional tract where as hyperthyroidism speeds it up.
Since last year my TSH has yo yo due to malabsorption syndrone, since the takedown surgery.
To Learn about thyroid disease www.thyroid.org
www.aace.com
Thyroid disease runs in families .So if a parent Aunt, Uncle , sibling has the disorder Please test Yearly.Ask for also antibody testing.

Cassiecass

My mom and sister have thyroid issues. I developed thyroid cancer.

My mom, grandmother and a handful of maternal and paternal cousins have hypothyroidism + a half dozen other autoimmune diseases combined. Some of us are just that lucky.
Thanks for the info.
Sharon

I have hypo,under active like my mother was diagnosed at 27, me 37 and now my dad was diagnosed at 77. Every since my surgeries my thyroid function has been all over the place. It is correct that it does affect IBD and us with pouches. If we get too much medication our thyroid doesn't work right and if we don't get enough the same thing.

Last May, at Mayo's mine tested very low as I was getting too much medication. They had been testing me every 6 weeks to 3 months and adjusting my medication each time. It was steady for a few months and now I just had to increase my dose as I was not getting enough again. I am going to request additional testing as there are 2 things they can measure but usually just do one.

It can make your hair fall out,
Gain weight,
Affect your digestive system and other things as it is part of the regulation of our metabolisms.

It is also bad if it is over active, think of Barney Fyfe with the bugged out eyes and being very thin.

Thanks for the suggestion Spooky, I'm on my way to reading it.

Thans for this article, I have hypothyroidism which I have just had to increase my meds for, Before my surgeries I was diagnosed with crohns due to a fistula, I was one of the cases that were inconclusive and the crohns colitis label given, post op they said Uc, had j pouch which turned out to be a total disaster and since removal of that I developed a perineal vaginal fistula, my current gp who is new is now in doubt as to whether I do indeed have crohns, and I'm currently waiting to see a ne surgeon who I hope will be able to fix this, as 2 years is too long to suffer. Incidently I have a brother and a sister who have UC and my brother recently got diagnosed with an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism). I have recently been diagnosed with folic acid deficiency any other ibd sufferers have this issue?
IBD just keeps giving doesn't it!
Shelly xx

Evening TE Marie

It takes 6 to 8 weeks or longer for the pituarty to get the signal that the hormone replacement has changed.That is why your Md testing the way he or she is.Discuss with your Md when you should take the thyroid hormone,Note foods can interfer with absorption of this hormone .My tsh was stable for years.Since last June I have been all over the place with it.Remember this the thyroid effects every inch and every cell in the body.
Here are more articles to read
[Thyroid-intestinal motility in... [Minerva Gastroenterol Dietol. 2004] - PubM
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15788986
Thyroid disorders and inflammatory bowel diseases: Retrospective evaluation of
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com...0.1002/ibd.20964/pdf
Cassiecass

I've been on medication for my thyroid for 20 years. They have been testing me at least 6 weeks after I start a new dose. I read of another test that can be done and think after 2 years of a roller coaster thyroid something more needs to be done. Obviously the removal of my colon has affected it. I have been on doses ranging from 175 down to 88 and everything inbetween. I currently went back up to 100 from 88 and am to test again after 6 weeks.

Before the operations the dose rarely changed. Thanks for the links, I guess there are fewer of us with thyroid problems than I thought.

Evening Te Marie

Over 200 views on this thread alone.You and I are not alone.
I have been diagnosised with malabsorption syndrone since the surgery.Prior to the ER surgery for the ileostomy I was on 0.175 mcg for 15 years.Post op I went up to 0.225mcg and now heading for 0.137mcg.
Yo Yo ing is not so nice.

You may like to read these articles also
Gastrointestinal transit in thyroid disease. [Gastroenterology. 1984] - PubMed
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6706068

The thyroid and the gut. [J Clin Gastroenterol. 2010] - PubMed - NCBI
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20351569
[Thyroid-intestinal motility in... [Minerva Gastroenterol Dietol. 2004] - PubM
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15788986
Hormonal responses to graded surgical stress. [Arch Intern Med. 1987] - PubMed
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3606284

cassiecass

Cassiecass

My hair is falling out again and I've just been on the higher dose for 3 weeks.

I don't know if I said it before but if we are getting too much medication it is just as bad for us than if we weren't getting enough. So when it's off either way our metabolism is messed up. My Mayo GI, who tested my blood and I was getting too much my last visit, said it affects our intestines too. I think the motility, but don't quote me. Next time I'm taking a tape player with.

BTW, I'm too lazy to put the decimal points in, so I was on .175 decreased down every dose until I reached .88 and I just went back up to .100.

I'm shedding more hair than my long haired cat. We left cold Iowa for Florida 3 weeks. He's shedding his winter coat and I'm shedding...

TE MARIE

ask to check your Ferritin levels also next time.When was the last time you had CT scan with contrast.This will also alter our TSh .I been all over the place since last year.
What time of day are you taking your med.I am taking mine 20 minutes prior to bedtime n Prayer I don't run all night.
Too much t4 will cause diarrhea and too little with constipate.
Do you know the foods and medication which can also effect your thyroid hormone levels?
Learn your TSh .It is most important.Do you see an Endocrinolgist?
Cassiecass

TE Marie

Here are more articles to read.
Iodine in Contrast Material Poses Thyroid Threat
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/PCI/30837

Association between iodinated contrast media... [Arch Intern Med. 2012] - PubM
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22271121
Hot Thyroidology - Journal owned by the European Thyroid Association
http://www.hotthyroidology.com/editorial_169.html
Altered intestinal absorption of L-thyroxine caused ... [Thyroid. 2008] - PubM
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18341376

Have you been tested to see if you have Celiac issues
Hope some of this info helps you.I am again as You are Yo yoing..

Cassiecass

Thank you very much

Looks like it's time to see my endocrinologist again. It's been 4 years. Great suggestion.

TE Marie

Here is another article bascailly pretains to all T4 products.This article is from Synthroid weblink
Hope it helps you .Explains alot
RxMed: Pharmaceutical Information - SYNTHROID

http://www.rxmed.com/b.main/b2...%20S)/SYNTHROID.html

cassiecass

Thank you cassiecass