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Loose Stools, Weight Loss. Have Hypothyroidism. Taken Antibiotics. Suffering From Cough. What To Do?
Question: Lossing weight lose yellow mucius stool . I also have hypothyroid. I had abad virus that lasted 6 weeks and was on three different antibotics. I feel better now. I had a cough that would make me get the dry heaves.
Hi and thanks for the query
Loose stools and weight loss would indicate maldigestion - malabsorption
This can be because of a lack of enzymes, problem in the mucosal lining affecting the absorption and a postmucosal defect which impairs transport of nutrients from the intestinal mucosa to other parts of the body.
In people with hypothyroidism there is intestinal dysmotility and intestinal bacterial overgrowth. This excess bacteria in small intestine deactivates the enzymes needed for digestion and alters the mucosal surface affecting the absorption. Both these mechanisms contribute to the diarrhoea and weight loss. This can occur even after the blood levels of thyroid harmones have returned to normal values.
However one cannot rule out a co-existant disease and you have to get your stool examined and probablly even get a colonoscopy done. Other investigations like a fasting TSH, Vitamin B12 levels, complete blood count and a fasting and postprandial blood sugars will be desirable.
Meanwhile make sure that your thyroid status is optimised, take some multivitamins, prokinetics, physillium husk and if all other workups are nonyeilding a couse of Rifaximin - a topical intestinal antibiotic will help
Hope this answers your query
Regards
Dr XXXXXXX KS
Loose stools and weight loss would indicate maldigestion - malabsorption
This can be because of a lack of enzymes, problem in the mucosal lining affecting the absorption and a postmucosal defect which impairs transport of nutrients from the intestinal mucosa to other parts of the body.
In people with hypothyroidism there is intestinal dysmotility and intestinal bacterial overgrowth. This excess bacteria in small intestine deactivates the enzymes needed for digestion and alters the mucosal surface affecting the absorption. Both these mechanisms contribute to the diarrhoea and weight loss. This can occur even after the blood levels of thyroid harmones have returned to normal values.
However one cannot rule out a co-existant disease and you have to get your stool examined and probablly even get a colonoscopy done. Other investigations like a fasting TSH, Vitamin B12 levels, complete blood count and a fasting and postprandial blood sugars will be desirable.
Meanwhile make sure that your thyroid status is optimised, take some multivitamins, prokinetics, physillium husk and if all other workups are nonyeilding a couse of Rifaximin - a topical intestinal antibiotic will help
Hope this answers your query
Regards
Dr XXXXXXX KS
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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