Thyroid

[Scarpetta]

I have hashimoto's but I am suffering awful with the side effects from it. I am on levothyroxine but still I am struggling especially with joint and muscle pain and brain fog especially. Along with my osteoarthritis I can hardly walk now. Should my doctor be giving me more medication or not as I am getting confused.

[Marz]

Hi Scarpetta - and welcome ! You haven't given us much information - so would it be possible to post your latest blood test results with the ranges. To me you still look very Hypo in your picture. Do you have any gut issues ? What dose of Levo are you on and how long have you been diagnosed ?

You also need the following tests - Ferritin - Folate - Iron - B12 - VitD. They need to be high in their respective ranges.

When you post your result people will be able to comment and be able to help. Could be your VitD is low causing the joint pain. Also low B12 can cause confusion and aches and pains. Ferritin needs to be around 80/90 so the T4/Levo converts into the active hormone T3.....

Hope you soon feel better....

[Scarpetta in reply to Marz]

I have been diagnosed for 3 years now I am on 50mcg a day. I am always cold very confused all the time talk slowly tired all the time my muscles hurt have no energy at all. I have had cellulitis now I have varicose eczema, constant sinusitis and thrush in the mouth my asthma is bad, I have to use walking sticks but I go dizzy and lose balance a lot, I always have bruises. With my osteoarthritis now my shoulders are cracking and I can't put my weight on sticks. I suffer with anxieties and am seeing a psychiatrist. It is just 1 infection after another. I am on 800iu vitamin D3 my last thyroid result was 3.2 .b12 not been checked for at all. Could you tell me what checks I need done so I can tell my doctor to have them done plz.

[Marz in reply to Scarpetta]

You should NOT have been left on 50mcg for 3 years. Your dose is a STARTER dose - and should have been raised. You should have been re-tested after 6 weeks of taking the 50mcg and had your dose increased accordingly.

The VitD tablet is probably one with Calcium they have given you - which seems to be the standard practice - but not always a good one. The Calcium contained is not always easily absorbed. A good level of VitD supplement will raise your calcium naturally. You also need to take VitK2 with it to ensure the calcium goes into the bones and the teeth.

Your last TSH test indicates you are UNDER treated - you will feel better when it is 1 or under. You also need to know what the thyroid is producing - so you need the FT4 testing and the FT3 - which is the MOST important test as it is the most active thyroid hormone - needed in every cell of your body. If your FT3 level could be towards the top of the range many of your symptoms could be helped.

Dizziness and loss of balance can be due to LOW B12 and VitD - the dose of D you are taking is NOT enough.

So again - the tests you need are:- TSH - FT4 - FT3 for the Thyroid and then B12 - Ferritin - VitD - Folate - Iron. I am suspecting you will be low in everything which is not helping you to be well.

I think you are being neglected by the very people who should be taking care of you - your Doctors. Are you in a position to have your tests done privately - you can have the kit sent to your home - and you have a full report. The details are on the main website of Thyroid UK.

T3 in the past was given to people with low mood/depression - so again if your FT3 is low - it could explain your anxieties....

You have made a very positive step in joining this forum - so now you can take control of your health. Everyone here will do their best to help....

[sky1hypothyroid in reply to Scarpetta]

some of us take 5,000 units of d3 a day me for one.. swanson's

[shaws Administrator]

As Marz's says - welcome. I am sure our members can be of help to you. If you can get a copy of your latest blood tests results with the ranges we can go forward.

When were you diagnosed, what's your dose of levo?