I have noticed on several posts recently the mention of thyroxine. Out of curiosity can we do a check to see how many of us with poly also suffer with hypothyroidism. My thyroid has been underactive for Forty years.
2nd anniversary of steroids this month and trying to get down to 6mgs this month. Starting to feel wobbly and a bit down and still taking Mirtzapine for panic attacks and depression that set in earlier in the year!
Does anyone ever feel like chucking all their pills in the bin!
Hi,
Yes to throwing pills in bin!
I was on statins and tablets for high BP years before GCA came along, and ever since I finished Pred almost 2 years ago have been reducing the number of tabs for BP (back in the day it was decided a cocktail of tablets was better than just one - all changed now!) and questioning statin but GP insisted I stay on them.
Ironically following my knee replacement op my BP has been very low, so no tablets. Saw him yesterday to discuss, “well as BP good, come off them, don’t need Omeprazole either if not taking aspirin”. “How’s cholesterol?, oh that’s good so come off the statins as well!”
Could have knocked me down with a feather! He must be in demob mood (due to retire soon)!
So all I’m on now is Adcal & paracetamol (for arthritis).
As for number with PMR/GCA and Thyroid problems, you could as the question!
I can’t wait to get off the pred and Mirtzapine.... then I remember the pain and anxiety and feel thankful for having wonderful meds!
Hi again. Just thought I had slight over active thyroid when I was 17-18yrs old. My mum recognised the early symptoms as both elder brothers had same problem.
Because it was caught early it was treated with radiation therapy- one session only if I recall - no problem since! No medication.
Strange how you forget earlier illnesses. Glad you are ok
Well it was so long ago! 🤔 and as I say didn’t really impact on life that much, and at that age was just a minor blip in life!
I was diagnosed with PMR a year ago. I was diagnosed with an under active thyroid over 40 years ago.
Does seem strange that so many of us with hypo also get polymalgia.
Several years of thyroid playing up then got thyroid cancer. X
Sorry you got thyroid cancer ....how are you feeling now?
Hyper thyroid 15 years ago radiation pill so now under active, PMR diagnosed early March 2016 GCA two months later. Interesting.
It will depend on the underlying cause - if it is autoimmune then that probably left you at higher risk of developing another a/i condition at some later point. And being hypothyroid can be a cause of similar symptoms to PMR.
Hi, My thyroid has been under active for about 30 years. How will you check the numbers?
Sorry to hear you are depressed it makes everything difficult to cope with.
But hang in there.
Hi Xanthe,l have an under active thyroid,just’bordeline’ apparently and have been taking 50 micrograms of levothyroxine for about eight years,six years prior to PMR. I do not like having to take pills but could not have functioned without the steroids.
Became hypothyroid about 3 years ago, one year before PMR (possibly less, as PMR symptoms in hips and pelvis area started about the same time as hypothyroid). Doc suspected Hashimoto’s, though no confirmation by blood test. PMRpro once told me that autoimmune disease can be a collection of symptoms that gets diagnosed by which disease(s) your set of symptoms most conform to. I think I’m still collecting them.
Hypothyroid for the last 26 years. On 125mgs Thyroxine. PMR for 6.5 years.
Hashimoto’s for 15 or so years. Thyroxin 100 = too much, 75 = not enough! So alternate. PMR since May this year, was on 15mg, now down to 11mg. Pain all good, just the dreaded fatigue! But can’t sleep through the night anymore!
I know it sounds strange but I know when my thyroid is not right when the hairs on my arms vanish.... besides the fatigue! always had hairy arms! Lucky I am very fair skinned.🙈
Hashimoto’s for decades. PMR for 2.5 years so far. Recent positive P-ANCA test with MPO antibodies, no active vasculitis for now. Just expanding my collection of AI diseases!
I had an anca test but not sure why.
Just a hunch my rheum doc acted on. She knows I’ve had lifelong sinus issues but they got worse.
I have had an underactive thyroid for over 30 years and am in my 3rd year of PMR. My readings for my thyroid go up and down hence I have to keep adjusting the meds. I can really tell when I am not taking enough. My exhaustion gets worse.
I know the thyroid and poly fatigue is the worst.
I have been hypothyroidic since my 20s 50 years about! My mother, brother and sister are too! My daughter age 39 developed hyperthyroidism.
I have been 3+ years PMR.....now at 3.5mg per day.
With other conditions high BP, osteoarthritis and preventative stomach protection and statins.....now take 14 different pill types a day! Have a chart to remind me what to take when as some are contraindicated. Yes, yes I wish Icould bin them all! But could I exist with the consequences.
Hopefully, my 2nd hip replacement in October ( first in May) will sort out osteo pain and greatly reduce tablet consumption.
Valerie
interesting to me that the docs say you have an underactive thyroid--take a pill-BP is up- take 3 pills-Pre-diabetic-take a pill. I think they don't know that the leg bone is connected to the knee bone!
Made it to 3mg rather easily-PMR
Down to 5 mg of prednisone 
GCA Happy anniversary!
Word of Wisdom for those struggling out there.
Just can't seem to taper past 3mg of Prednisone.
