Health Concerns After Starting Levothyroxine
I've been taking levothyroxine for my hypothyroidism for about a week now and I need to share my experience so far. On the very first day, I noticed a strange sensation in my abdomen, particularly around my navel, as if it was drawing inwards? I’ve been trying to alleviate that feeling by bloating my stomach, but it persists. By the second day, I was hit with diarrhea, going to the restroom four times in a single day. On day three, I faced a struggle as I was completely unable to have a bowel movement while still experiencing discomfort in my abdomen. Day four brought a slight improvement, but I didn’t manage to go until later that night, and even then, it was just a small amount. I visited my general practitioner on day five to discuss these ongoing symptoms. Upon examination, she noted that my abdomen was soft and not tender to touch, but I was unsure what that indication meant. She listened to my abdomen and suggested it might be gastroenteritis or possibly food poisoning. Day six was similar, with difficulty in having a bowel movement. I finally managed to have a normal stool, but there was also diarrhea, leaving me with a feeling of fullness and bloating. Now, on day seven, the strange sensation in my stomach continues. While I have been able to pass gas, I've got no blood in my stool, no fever, and the pain isn't severe. I can’t help but worry—am I at risk of septic issues, or could there be something more serious like a perforated bowel or appendicitis? What about the possibility of bowel or stomach cancer?
Answers (1)
7/31/2025, 8:20:46 PM
OpenHealth AI
It sounds like you're experiencing a range of gastrointestinal issues since starting levothyroxine, including abdominal sensations, diarrhea, and difficulty with bowel movements. These symptoms can understandably cause worry, especially when considering potential serious conditions. However, it's important to remember that changes in bowel habits and sensation can often be attributed to factors such as medication adjustments, dietary changes, or mild infections.
Explanation
Levothyroxine is a medication used to treat hypothyroidism, and while it generally doesn't cause abdominal symptoms, starting a new medication can sometimes disrupt your gastrointestinal system. Your doctor's examination indicated that your abdomen is soft and not tender, which is a reassuring sign that there is no immediate distress. The symptoms you describe, such as diarrhea and then difficulty with bowel movements, can commonly occur due to changes in diet, stress, or a temporary upset in your digestive system, such as mild gastroenteritis.
Next Steps
-
Hydration: Prioritize staying hydrated, especially since you've experienced diarrhea. Drink plenty of water, and consider oral rehydration solutions to replenish lost fluids and electrolytes.
-
Diet Adjustments: Focus on a bland diet to help calm your digestive system. Foods like bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast (often referred to as the BRAT diet) can help. Avoid spicy, fatty, or heavy foods for now.
-
Monitor Symptoms: Keep a daily record of your symptoms, noting changes in your bowel habits, any new symptoms that arise, and your overall feelings of well-being. This can help identify patterns or triggers.
-
Gentle Activities: If comfortable, try gentle activities like walking, which can help with digestion and relieve bloating and discomfort.
-
Follow-Up Care: Since you’ve already seen your doctor, continue to keep them updated about your ongoing symptoms. If there are any significant changes, such as persistent pain, vomiting, or worsening diarrhea, don’t hesitate to reach out.
It’s good to express concerns, but the signs you've described, including the absence of severe pain or blood in the stool, are typically not indicative of serious conditions like appendicitis or cancer. However, if your symptoms continue or change significantly, or if you develop new symptoms, ensure that you seek further medical advice promptly. You're taking positive steps by monitoring your health, and together with your healthcare provider, you can address these concerns effectively.
Related Questions
Seeking Answers for Digestive Distress: Recommended Tests and Advice
I am a 34-year-old Caucasian female, standing at 165 centimeters tall and weighing 78 kilograms. On a daily basis, I take several medications: Prestance (5/5), Aerius, a hormonal contraceptive vaginal ring, and magnesium bisglycinate (365 mg). Occasionally, I also use Lexaurin (bromazepam) at a dosage of 0.75 mg every two or three weeks, primarily for anxiety and sleep disturbances, though I have not taken it in the last three weeks. Previously, I underwent multiple tests. Initial blood tests indicated a slight increase in amylase levels, which led to an abdominal ultrasound, yet nothing abnormal was detected. Both flexible sigmoidoscopy and a subsequent abdominal ultrasound were performed, revealing only hemorrhoids and an anal fissure. Throughout my life, I’ve grappled with digestive issues. Since childhood, I dealt with constipation, which ultimately resulted in hemorrhoids and my first anal fissure. To address this, I became conscious of my diet and utilized osmotic laxatives, which significantly improved my situation for many years, allowing me to have regular bowel movements without bleeding. However, approximately one year ago, I began experiencing unexpected episodes of diarrhea that can last between a couple of days to a week at a time. Mornings are particularly challenging, as I often experience loose stools, which eventually stabilize later in the day. During these episodes, I feel continually fatigued; after waking up, all I want is to return to bed, and merely completing my workday feels incredibly taxing. I also suffer from persistent nausea without vomiting, and this typically follows a pattern of ten days of normal or firmer stools followed by three days of diarrhea. Thankfully, I managed to avoid any diarrhea for over two months and even found myself needing to use Miralax occasionally. However, this past Wednesday, I awoke to an upset stomach once again. My meals consist of homemade food, which I ensure is not overly greasy or heavy, avoiding fast food and excessive sweets altogether. My overall daily functioning is severely impacted by the fatigue and frequent headaches I experience. Although I don’t encounter much abdominal pain, I do feel cramping in the lower central abdomen along with considerable gas and rumbling. I have scheduled an appointment with my general practitioner for Monday, though I find her approach somewhat passive; she tends to follow my requests rather than take the lead. What diagnostic tests should I consider requesting? While I am open to the possibility of upper endoscopy, a full colonoscopy seems daunting due to my anal fissure. I would greatly appreciate any insights regarding what might be happening. I understand it’s difficult to provide specific answers, but any guidance would be immensely appreciated!
Concerns About Abdominal Discomfort
To start with, I feel compelled to mention that I struggle with severe health-related obsessive-compulsive disorder, which leads me to intensely focus on any symptoms I experience, resulting in unnecessary worry. Recently, I began to experience some discomfort in my abdomen, specifically in the area just below my right breast, which has now evolved into tenderness upon touch. This soreness is located beneath my rib cage, and I haven't experienced any changes in my appetite or feelings of nausea. My last bowel movement occurred on Thursday, and as of this morning, the discomfort has shifted slightly, now positioned just above my belly button. I had a regular bowel movement this morning and was able to take a walk without any issues. The pain only manifests when I cough or during the transitions between sitting and standing. Initially, I was concerned about the possibility of a hernia, but I understand that the pain associated with a hernia typically does not shift in location like mine seems to. I should also note that I am classified as overweight and have been living with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), for which I’m taking a proton pump inhibitor. Fortunately, my heartburn symptoms have remained stable, largely influenced by my dietary habits. Over the past year, I've dealt with some weight fluctuations due to medication side effects and stress (ranging from 330 pounds to 275 pounds and back to 310 pounds). Thankfully, I have not encountered vomiting or any changes in my bowel movements. I would appreciate any insights or advice on this matter.
Lymph Nodes Observed in Abdominal CT Scan
A 26-year-old female, standing at 5'1" and weighing 70 kg, who does not smoke and drinks alcohol occasionally, has been experiencing gastrointestinal problems characterized by alternating periods of constipation and softer stools since January 24th. Additionally, she was diagnosed with a bladder infection on February 3rd, which was treated with a single dose of antibiotics totalling 3000 mg. She sought emergency medical attention due to significant discomfort in her lower left back, initially feeling colicky before becoming a constant dull ache, leading to an overnight stay for an abdominal CT scan the following morning. The findings from this scan have caused her some concern, particularly regarding identified lymph nodes. **Medical Findings:** Diagnosis: Lumbosacral radiculopathy and fecal impaction. **Treatment Approach:** The patient has been prescribed spasmolytic analgesics and will undergo further radiological evaluation. **CT Scan Results:** The low-dose native abdominal CT revealed normal appearances of the kidneys and urinary tract on both sides, with no signs of urinary retention or kidney stones in the renal pelvis or ureters. However, a few small, nonspecific mesenteric lymph nodes were detected in the mesenteric root and perizocecal areas, along with small inguinal lymph nodes on both sides. There is also no indication of appendicitis, and the colon contains a moderate volume of stool. The remainder of the low-dose CT findings are within normal limits. **Ultrasound Findings:** The abdominal ultrasound indicates grade I ectasia of the left renal pelvis, while no abnormalities were noted in the left renal pelvis, and the bladder was observed to be empty following urination. **Next Steps:** A referral for further urological evaluation is recommended alongside maintaining adequate hydration, with analgesics suggested if pain management is necessary.
Could This Be IBS or Something Else?
Greetings! I’m a 27-year-old male, standing at 172 cm and of European descent, currently using Iqos. My medical troubles began roughly four months ago, around October 5, 2025. Initially, I experienced intense back pain lasting for two days, which I recognized as kidney stone pain. To alleviate this discomfort, I took NSAIDs, predominantly Metamizole-Natrium. Afterward, I visited urgent care, where I was given Diclofenac and Monural, an antibiotic for urinary tract infections. I took one of each at night. **A couple of days later, I started experiencing several troubling symptoms:** - Frequent diarrhea (4-5 times a day, often watery) - Significant gas and belching - Persistent nausea that greeted me each morning, sometimes relieved by eating - A general sense of malaise - A loss of 5 kg (I dropped from 63 kg) because I lacked appetite, especially under stress. These symptoms developed quickly and intensified through October, fluctuating over time. Blood tests showed no abnormalities, with normal CRP levels. Then in November, I underwent a colonoscopy and gastroscopy. - I had three very small erosions, about 1-2 mm, in the terminal ileum, but no signs of inflammation. Histology revealed no pathological issues, all was well. - There was one small erosion in the sigmoid colon, with minor inflammation around it. Histological findings indicated small infiltration in the lamina propria but no chronic signs, leading to a diagnosis suggesting a high likelihood of infection. - The areas were healing, with fibrin present. The rest of my colon appeared healthy. The doctor attributed the ulcers to NSAID-induced damage. I was later diagnosed with LA-A GERD. Due to my anxiety about health, I spent the month consumed by fears of complications such as colon cancer, PC, or Crohn's disease. I finally found some relief and felt symptom-free for the subsequent two weeks. However, in December the troubles resurfaced, though to a lesser degree, with occasional loose stools—2-3 times for a few days— and lingering gas. My anxiety about Crohn's returned, and I mistakenly took Algopyrin Complex, which triggered additional stress. **In December, my primary worries included:** - Loose stools resembling Bristol type 5-6, mainly occurring once each morning - Excessive gas often felt trapped in my rectum - My weight stabilized at 62 kg **I underwent various tests:** - Negative results for Giardia and E. coli - Negative FIT tests - Negative MRI (everything appeared normal) - Negative MRE (all normal) - Calprotectin level measured at 18.7 - I was found to have low levels of B9 and Vitamin D, with B12 at 320 and LDL at 5.9 **Moving into January:** - I only had one bowel movement each morning, sometimes loose, but mostly firm in the past three weeks (Bristol 4), compared to my usual Bristol 2. - After meals, I often felt gas building in my rectum, sometimes getting stuck before eventually releasing. This gas, thankfully, rarely had an odor. - Mornings have been troublesome, as I needed to pass gas 2-4 times, and in bed at night, I felt bloated with gas movements. **What I have observed:** - No signs of blood in my stools - No pain - No nocturnal symptoms affecting my sleep - No extraintestinal symptoms - My weight has stabilized without additional loss after recovering some weight Overall, I feel fine, yet the worry about my condition persists in my mind. Previously, I would have bowel movements twice weekly, with little to no gas. It baffles me that I often wake up feeling this uncomfortable. My primary concern is whether I should be worried about Crohn's disease (which occupies my thoughts constantly) or if my symptoms might stem solely from anxiety. Currently, I'm taking the following medications and supplements: - Itopride (doctor suggested it for motility issues) - L-Glutamine - Curcumin - A B-complex supplement - Ashwagandha - I briefly tried rifaximin for three days, but it did not yield significant changes. - I had also experimented with antacids previously, though they proved ineffective. Thank you for your assistance in advance!
Can Eating More Fiber Alleviate Menstrual Cycle-Related Constipation?
Every month, during the week and a half leading up to my menstrual period, I experience constipation. I'm curious if boosting my fiber consumption might ease this issue. I already ensure that I drink plenty of water throughout the day. I am a woman in my mid-20s.