What should you know about Hashimoto's and Crohn's disease?

Hashimoto’s disease is an immune-related condition affecting the thyroid. Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel condition that can affect parts of the digestive tract. They can occur in the same person, but one does not prove that the other is present. Symptoms may overlap: tiredness can have several causes, while Abdominal Pain and Diarrhoea point more toward digestive assessment. Thyroid symptoms and bowel symptoms should be considered separately instead of being attributed to one diagnosis.

Keep a record of bowel frequency, pain location, blood or mucus, appetite, weight change, heat or cold sensitivity, and prescribed medicines. Arrange a GP Consultation if symptoms are new, persistent or changing. A Blood Test may help assess thyroid function, inflammation, anaemia or nutritional problems, depending on your symptoms. Do not change thyroid or bowel medicines without advice. Bring previous results and the names of all medicines to appointments so clinicians can coordinate follow-up.

Seek urgent care for severe or rapidly worsening abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, a swollen abdomen, heavy rectal bleeding, fainting, confusion, or inability to keep fluids down. Arrange prompt review for persistent diarrhoea, fever, dehydration, new blood in the stool or unexplained weight loss. These signs need assessment even if thyroid treatment is stable.

Which symptoms could be thyroid-related and which need bowel assessment? Should I have thyroid and inflammation tests? Could my medicines affect absorption or bowel symptoms? What changes should prompt a gastroenterology review? How will the two care plans be monitored together?