Total Thyroidectomy and Arthritis.

[Dimples]

I am a 54 year old Woman who had T.T. six years ago, because I was suffering from Graves Disease, one year ago my menopause began and I started suffering multiple joint pain and swelling, last week I had an x-ray on my feet 👣 as they were incredibly painful and swollen with some small nodes on the joints, it appears I now have arthritis, the Dr sent me away with Codeine and some Gel and told me to keep active 😐 my question is are you more prone to a further auto immune disease, once you have experienced a Thyroid disease ?

[Clutter]

Hi Dimples, Having one autoimmune disease predisposes you to having others, but RA is unlikely to have developed because you have Graves.

[shaws Administrator]

Hi Dimples,

I am sorry you are still suffering. Have you asked your doctor for a Full Thyroid Function Test. If he/she wouldn't do ask for a Free T3 blood test. (you may have to have a Private T3 test). Your TSH should be around 1 or lower or suppressed.

I would think you are undermedicated with the resultant clinical symptoms you are having at present.

If we have one autoimmune disease we are apt to get others, so we have to have our hypothyroidism under control.

For many who have had TT feel much better when T3 is added to their levothyroxine. I am hypothyroid, still have my thyroid gland, and am fit and well on T3 only. Levothyroxine made me far more unwell with widespread body and joint pain.

T3 is the active hormone and if levothyroxine (T4) isn't converting to sufficient we remain unwell.

If you've not had a recent blood test for your thyroid gland, make appointment to see your GP. Ask for a Full Thyroid Function Test as you've been given advice (she/he may not but no harm in asking) and you want to recover your health. TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, and Free T3 plus B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate. Some hints before blood test:-

"Blood Test: Have the earliest possible appointment . Leave 24 hours since last dose of levo and test as it may skew results and fast. Take levo after test.

Take thyroid hormones on wakening and wait approx 1 hour before eating. Some foods interfere with medication. I leave 4 hours between hormones and supplements which I have at lunchtime. Some prefer bedtime dosing, in that case you must leave 2 hours after eating before taking hormones. If you've had a fatty meal it should be longer. Food can interfere with the uptake"

Get a print-out from the surgery with the ranges and post on a new question for comments.

hypothyroidmom.com/from-hyp...

hypothyroidmom.com/is-your-...

[Dimples in reply to shaws]

Thanks Clutter for all the useful information, I have suspected for some time that I am under medicated at 125 mg of levothyroxine because of symptoms such as weight gain, dry skin, nails, brain fog, anaemia, malaise and generally feeling unwell, my G.P. gets the glazed expression on his face when I mention in but actually I haven't had my TSH tested for at least 18 months, so will make an appointment and ask for your suggested bloods, wish me luck 😊

[shaws Administrator in reply to Dimples]

We should definitely have a blood test every 12 months for our thyroid hormones - more quickly if we have symptoms. I wish you luck and, theoretically, if we are on an optimum of hormones which suit (either T4/T3, T3 alone or NDT (no chance of that being prescribed) we should feel well.

[Anke88]

Yes, absolutely. Many AI sufferers have more than one. That is why treating symptoms does not help. Go to the cause. Fix your gut, allergies, toxicity, stress levels. There is plenty of information out there about Autoimmune Diet. It has helped many improve thyroid disease, RA, and other AI conditions. Look up Autoimmune Paleo diet. There are a few FB groups such as Hashimoto's 411 that can help. Supplements to heal the gut such as L-glutamine are important, and supporting the immune system. Basically most people eliminate sugar, processed food, guten or all grins, dairy and soy. Eating mostly vegetables and the cleanest meat and fish you can find, along with some good fats, can really help turn this around.

[Dimples in reply to Anke88]

Thanks Anke 88 I shall do some reading and research this weekend re: healthy eating.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Dimples]

These are previous topics some of which might be useful:

healthunlocked.com/search/g...

I have found taking betaine/pepsin tablets before meals very helpful. I also take Apple Cider Vinegar. Both help with putting acid in my stomach and thus allowing the protein to be dissolved.

Usually, hypo have low acid rather than high.

sott.net/article/265343-The...

modernherbalist.com/betaine...

Low or High stomach acid symptoms are so similar but many doctors don't relate hypo with low stomach acid.

[patsym]

Hi i am 54 with thyroid auto immune I get burning in my toes and joint pain i need to loose weight I joined slimming world hope it will help I live in bristol and would like to find a gym buddy

[greygoose in reply to patsym]

Patsym, if you are putting on weight due to being hypo, Slimming World is not likely to work, and could make things worse. You need to optimise your T3, not cut your calories.

The joint pain could be due to the hypo, and burning toes is almost certainly indicating low B12. Have you had that tested? I doubt if either symptom has anything to do with your weight.

As to the gym, that is going to use up T3 that you obviously haven't got enough of (if you had, you wouldn't be putting on weight). It's not recommended until your T3 is optimised. And it isn't going to help you lose weight.

[greygoose]

Hi Dimples, painful, swollen feet are a hypo symptom. Sounds to me like you're not on enough replacement. Do you have any labs to share with us?

[Dimples in reply to greygoose]

Thanks for response Grey Goose it's 18 months since my last blood test for TSH, I will ring my surgery for a blood test today 😊

[greygoose in reply to Dimples]

You need more than TSH. You need FT4 and FT3. Insist on having them, because once you are on thyroid hormone replacement, the TSH is about as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike!

While you're at it, it would be Worth asking for vit D, vit B12, folate, iron and ferritin. Some of those are bound to be low and that would affect your utilisation of your levo and make you feel even worse.

[Gismo333]

Hi what I would like to know is what you are actually taking in the form of meds and what is your pulse before getting out of bed. Have you filled in a thyroid symptom sheet? All this can give you an overall picture of what is happening. Please let me know and I will try to help.

[Dimples]

Many thanks for all the responses to my question, I do feel I have made some progress. Attended my appointment to discuss blood results and symptoms, G. P. announced usual statement TSH in range ! so I questioned him and asked him if he thought it possible to feel well without a thyroid relying on 125mg of Levothyroxine for ever, also said my body was exhausted and I could not continue functioning at 50%. Very surprisingly he agreed with me and has referred me to an endocrinologist, I feel this is a small triumph not only personally but for everyone who has the misfortune to suffer this debilitating condition, will post again after appointment, thanks again everyone for your ongoing support.