cramp in throat

[Benjipuss]

Thanks for the good advice I’ve received already. Since being diagnosed and starting levo late December I have occasionally had an uncomfortable and unnerving cramping sensation in my throat when yawning. However, today it came on three times when I was just drinking a cup of water. It then came on when I was applying lipstick and I noticed the left side of my neck was swollen stood out, like in your leg when you get cramp. It is quite frightening when it happens , and I worry in case it affects my breathing. Is this “normal” for thyroid as I’ve not seen anything about this so far on the forum.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

previous post shows you were not on high enough dose having been left too long on only standard STARTER dose

Started 50mcg levo December 20th and had blood test after four weeks which showed I was in normal range. I had another test last week (after 9 weeks on levo) with the following results

Serum free T4 level 14.5pmol/L. (11-26)

Serum TSH level 2.5 mU/L. (.27-4.2)

Are you now on 75mcg daily

Bloods should be retested again 6-8 weeks after EACH increase

Likely to need further increases in dose over coming months

Typically eventually will be on approx 1.6mcg per kilo of your weight per day

Levothyroxine doesn’t “top up” failing thyroid, it replaces it

ESSENTIAL to also test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels extremely common on levothyroxine, especially when on inadequate dose

[Benjipuss in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks, I am still on 50. My TSH level came down to 1.71 but has now gone up a bit but I do have an abscess at mo so taking second lot of double dose antibiotics. My blood sugar and cholesterol has risen which I think is related ? Bought folate but not taking any supplements so as not to interfere with abx. Everything was slowly going in right direction figure wise till now . Symptoms had virtually gone with new thyroxine but this is unpleasant symptom . Is it tied to thyroid? Thank you

[FallingInReverse]

Not sure I know what you mean by cramping, but I have had physical sensations like a clicking or something when swallowing (loud enough for it to annoy my family when near me), and if I turn my head sometimes I feel a sensation like something getting caught, or like wrenched/strained.

Have you had an ultrasound yet? I’ve got a whatever-you-call-it about a centimeter or so big I think. And I was amazed that before I was confirmed diagnosed a doctor was able to see it, and the swelling , from across the room. I have spent hours since trying to figure out how he saw anything - I still can’t.

Also, now a year or so in, and Ts are improving, my latest ultrasound showed the node or whatever it’s called was now slightly smaller.

Your thyroid is wrapped beneath your neck, it does get goiters and it does swell - hypo is definitely also a physical thing that impacts your thyroid and neck area.

Not sure what you’re experiencing exactly but that’s my experience.

[Benjipuss in reply to FallingInReverse]

Thank you . I did have a scan around November last year and that was how my thyroiditis was diagnosed as it was inflamed. Though what it may be doing now i have no idea. I had scan as had had lump in neck that disappeared before scan. My symptoms have been improved lately and for last few days have felt great. Have been so tired today, and feet were like ice blocks earlier but warm now. Sorry to hear about your jaw I had colicky jaw years ago which now gone,

[Vizslaaddict]

Hello Benjipuss I’ve been having something similar last few weeks. I saw a Doctor who also said neck looked swollen but repeat ultrasound showed no change. I’m now sure these symptoms are an indication of under treated thyroid so I’m hoping once I find an optimal dose of Levo they will disappear. Hope your symptoms improve too.

[Benjipuss in reply to Vizslaaddict]

Thank you!

[Obsdian]

I've not had neck muscles issues, but when I first started levothyroxine I was getting similar in other muscles, for example firearm, when I suddenly exerted myself.

[Benjipuss in reply to Obsdian]

Thank you! Yes, I too had a lot of pain in joints and muscles, particularly legs , which has thankfully now gone.