Is it possible to get gastroparesis because of hypothyroidism?

Question

Hello doctor,

I think I may have gastroperasis. I cannot think of food without feeling nauseous and eating food is a difficult task for me. I have hypothyroidism which I saw that could be a cause of gastroperasis.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Well you are right it can be gastroparesis secondary to hypothyroid. But does your hypothyroidism remain out of control? Are you on some medication for that? You see if the thyroid is controlled, then it is unlikely that you would have any symptoms related to hypothyroidism.

Secondly, hypothyroidism has to be severe to cause gastroparesis or small bowel slowing with constipation. The hypothyroidism generally decreases the basal metabolic rate of body, means it slows almost everything. The muscle pain, mental fog, lethargy, slowing of heart rate and slowing of respiratory rate. You did not mention any of these symptoms.

Lastly, I want to know what sorts of tests you have been done to establish diagnosis of hypothyroidism. The common cause is iodine deficiency in source poor countries, which may not be the likely cause in you. Given your age, I am afraid that it can be secondary to some autoimmune process. And the autoimmune thyroid disease can frequently occur with other autoimmune disease like pernicious anemia (this is stomach related condition) which can present exactly almost similarly as a patient with gastroparesis present.

So to summarize, I think you should share your recent thyroid profile, and also share any relevant information, which you think is necessary after reading the above explanation. I may consider testing you for some investigations, but I want that you provide me other information before I can suggest you any more testing or treatment. The treatment of hypothyroid related gastroparesis and slowing of small bowel is simply to treat hypothyroidism. And no other therapy can really solve your problem for long term. If you like my service, kindly give rating.