Acid reflux, Shoulder Pain since increase of Levothyroxine from 50 to 75mg.

I have had my Thyroxine dose increased by my specialist from 50 to 75mg. However my first attempt at this I had to stop after 3 days. I got intense pain in my chest around my heart, left shoulder cramps, Between my shoulder blades and down my left arm. As well as this sever acid reflux.

After coming off this dose and going back to 50mg per day, and recovering from the soreness. I went to see my GP, who advised to go back onto this Dose but stagger the increase 75mg one day, then 50mg the next. Slowly increasing the days on the higher dose. Then try 2 days on 75mg, next on 50mg. She advised the pain in the chest could be acid irrupting my throat and to take my Lansoprazole 30mg.

This appears to have helped slightly and I don't feel like I am having a heart attack anymore every time but still the pain lingers, in the chest sometimes, under the left shoulder blade always and again in-between my shoulder blades at the back, and my joints in my shoulders sometimes hurt so much if I move them suddenly upwards (move a pillow etc) the pain in my shoulder joints takes my breath away.

My question is does or did anyone else have this problem when they had to increase their dose of Levothyroxine. I still suspect that because everything is now slightly faster, my pain maybe coming from my Gall Bladder and this is referred pain, travelling up to my shoulders. I do have other symptoms which would indicate my Gall Bladder not being too happy, but previously my tests have come back negative for this. Yet I still have a dull ache under my right ribcage, especially after eating spices, meat, sometime tea, chocolate etc.

I do feel so much more energetic and my mood has lifted (thank goodness) on the 75mg dose. I just wished the pain would ease off altogether, especially my left shoulder. The Doctor did say it may take upto 2 weeks for my body to adjust to the increase, but to keep at it.

My partner is convinced my gall bladder is the problem as he sees me looking uncomfortable when I have eaten.

Maybe the increase in Levothyroxine has meant I am short in something and this is now causing me to have joint pain and acid reflux problems?

[Piedo]

Hi Tallmiss

I have similar pain to you in my chest left shoulder blade and under left ribs I am on 100 thyroxine I Haven t increased for 1year .some days I don t notice it other days it is there all day.I feel I am under medicated but can t see Dr letting me increase.

If your problem was gall bladder I think your pain would be on right side.

It will be interesting to see what other people think

Piedo

[Hidden in reply to Piedo]

yes it will be interesting. I have to persevere and see what happens when go back to the Gastro Specialist, thats a while yet. Yeah I have pain on the right side, but the left shoulder is a killer. we will see if anyone else has this if they also reply.

[sarahstevenson]

Have just spotted your post as I need to stop for the day - but replying as sounds very familiar to me - will respond better asap- Nutrigest really helpful in combatting digestive pain, I was booked to have gall bladder removed in Nov 2011 and opted out as it coincided with my mother's inquest - I adapted diet quite a bit for a while and now seem to be much less fat sensitive ; Nutrigest helped by increasing stomach acid and aiding digestion - I am on an interesting journey using T3 only and much much less left shoulder pain over the last 10 days - will fill you in more.

[Hidden in reply to sarahstevenson]

Hopefully when I see the Thyroid specialist in April she can advise on this and adapt my medication accordingly. I am hoping I won't have to have my Gall bladder out. I have had enough of being opened up an prodded. The Gluten, yeast, and sugar, Spices, Alcohol , fatty meat and lactose free diet has helped. Not that theres much left after all that !

[Clutter]

Tallmiss,

I was over-replaced post ThyCa and didn't lose the fibro type pain until I stopped taking T4 for a few weeks to detox. It worked for me and I'm now able to tolerate T4 without adverse effects.

Your doctor's advice is good but if it isn't working go back to 50mcg until the pain ceases. Then cut 25mcg in half and add that every other day for a week or two, then every day for the second/third week.

If the pain resumes I suspect you're not converting well and the T4 is pooling. Ask your GP for a trial of T3 (Liothyronine). I found 20mcg had a calming effect on the palpitations T4 gave me and raised my FT3 which was low in range.

[crimple]

Are you taking a 50 mcg tablet and a 25mcg tablet? Are they both the same? That is from the same manufacturer?

I had problems which I suspect are due to 25mcg tablets. I seem to be fine with 100mcg tablet from same manufacturer as 50mcg!!

[Hidden]

Hi Crimple, no they are both the same make and its 50 one day, and 50 +25 the next.