Could sternum pain be thyroid related? Everything else seems to be according to my Dr!

[prettypurpledaisy]

[prettypurpledaisy]

Sorry forgot to fill this bit in! I have been hypothyroid for 18 years and have a sore tender lump at the base of my sternum, it only hurts when touched. Whenever I see the Dr he says it is related to my hypothyroidism and offers no other help. My anxiety is thyroid related but best treated with ADs. I am losing faith.

[puncturedbicycle in reply to prettypurpledaisy]

Have you had your vitamin d tested? You can get costochondritis - chest pain - if you are deficient.

Do you feel that your uat is being adequately treated? As I don't need to tell you, it isn't much help for your doctor to say everything is the fault of your uat but not propose a way to help you feel better!

[redredred in reply to puncturedbicycle]

I have costochondritis and i been borderline 6 years off to gp in am as i need them to listen as i found out my dad sde woman have thyroid problems

[shaws Administrator in reply to prettypurpledaisy]

If you can get a copy of your latest thyroid gland blood tests, complete with ranges, post them and someone will comment. Also you should have a B12, Vit D, ferritin. folate and ironblood tests too.

He says your anxiety is better treated with AD's instead of checking your T3 level which could be low if you are not converting T4 properly.

[Margo in reply to prettypurpledaisy]

I had my thyroid removed ten years ago, and suffer the same symptoms as yourself. My Vitamin D levels are fine, so I presume it must be that I am not medicated sufficiently.

[prettypurpledaisy]

I will ask when I next see him, thanks for the reply.

[marram]

Very interesting that your doctor says everything is related to thyroid and won't give you any help.

I had exactly the opposite problem, he said none of it was related to the thyroid and refused to increase my thyroxine. Now it is increased almost all the symptoms have gone away or reduced.

There seems to be no rhyme or reason to these GP, does there? Except for one thing. They never listen.

If the doctor is acknowledging that you are having hypothyroid symptoms still, why does he not test your T3 and titrate the dose accordingly? Have you tried a higher dose in the past, that leads you to believe that Anti-ds are better then treating the thyroid?

I hope you find some answers, there is some good advice here.

[prettypurpledaisy]

Everything seems to link back to thyroid when I see my Dr but of course my thyroid levels are 'normal'. Even the last Endochrinologist I saw said that although I was symptomatic my levels were 'fine' and when I asked if I just had to battle the fatigue and anxiety (as he would not test T3/T4 or consider me for an alternative to Thyroxine) he replied 'yes'. I tend to get 'oh that is to do with your thyroid' and that is that. I am going to take a friend along next time as I tend to get upset and can't get my viewpoint across properly, hence ADs. Thanks for your replies I clearly need to be more assertive.

[puncturedbicycle in reply to prettypurpledaisy]

For me the key was to not allow my gp to make me feel helpless. It was the helpless feeling that overwhelmed me and made me feel like I was begging for help. After all, if he won't help you you can find someone who will. And bringing a friend might help too (safety in numbers, etc). Good luck!