Coexisting thyroid disease

[Nanaedake]

I would be very interested to know how many of you have coexisting thyroid disease. Do you think it is linked to development of your osteoporosis?

[Bev53-SB]

I have. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism when only 16 yrs old. I am now 74 yrs. I have been taking Liothyronine all these years. I was diagnosed with OP when I was 65 yrs after volunteering for a medical screening which was linked to a drug trial for OP. It included a DEXA scan but the trial was by then fully subscribed (in retrospect a blessing in disguise because I didn’t know then the horrors of OP meds. I was referred back to my GP, he wanted to prescribe bisphosonates and there was no reference to my thyroid at that point. I took the prescription but didn’t take the medication after reading about side effects and doing my own research. Very early in my research I recognised thyroid issues as a secondary cause of OP. I asked my GP to refer me to a Manchester hospital endocrine/bone clinic. The consultant immediately had a thyroid profile carried out. My parathyroid was way out of balance and my bone turnover profile fast and alarming. I had been taking prescribed thyroid medication for many many years, but the dose had been ridiculously high. Ironically I had never felt ill or experienced overactive thyroid symptoms. It took a while to balance my thyroid medication and this is now stable and for 9 years I have managed my OP by diet, exercise and supplements. I was however strongly advised to take a bone medication after a car accident, I was a passenger and suffered two spinal compression fractures and fractured sternum. I currently take Raloxifene with no side effects. I dread to think what would have happened if I had followed my GP’s advice 9yr ago to take a bisphosonate and continue with the high dose of thyroid medication I had been prescribed. Moral of the this story to anyone newly diagnosed with OP, please do your research and assertively question and challenge whenever you feel the need.

[Nanaedake in reply to Bev53-SB]

It makes me wonder how the NHS can prescribe these osteoporosis medicines without properly checking out other coexisting conditions. It's an appallingly poor approach.

[Bev53-SB in reply to Nanaedake]

I agree and it quite scary to think how a less assertive person could easily fall into a poor or inappropriate treatment regime.

[vick1]

I have osteoporosis, and I also had an overactive thyroid. I was treated for the thyroid for about 3 years then slowly came off the medication. I no longer take medication for the thyroid and have been clear from any symptoms for about 6 years, and have been discharged from the hospital.

[Nanaedake in reply to vick1]

Does your doctor check calcium and vitamin D levels and do you get checked out for parathyroid function?

[vick1 in reply to Nanaedake]

Yes I get checked for calcium and D levels - all fine. I do take calcium tablets every day though.

[Nanaedake in reply to vick1]

Is your osteoporosis connected to having an overactive thyroid previously do you know?