Help with hair loss aching joints

[jane166]

Hi guys any suggestions I'm on 300mgtthyroxine but I'm absolutely shattered acting joints hair fallout wen brush it any help grateful appreciate d

[shaws Administrator]

Jane, I am sorry you are suffering even after fifteen years on levothyroxine.

You are on a high dose but if you have clinical symptoms it's not doing much to relieve them and that's supposed to be its job - to relieve symptoms.

First thing to do is make a new appointment at the surgery and it should be the very earliest appointment and fast. You can drink water. If you take levothyroxine first thing don't take it on the morning of the test so that there is approx 24 hours between your last dose and the test and take it afterwards. Ask for TSH, T4, T3, Free T4 and Free T3. The labs might not do them if TSH is 'normal' (never take normal as being o.k. if we still have symptoms) so you would have to get these done privately. It will be worth it. We have recommended labs.

At the same time ask GP - tell him its about time you felt much better and have taken advice of the NHS Choices on information and advice. You want Vitamin B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate tested too. Deficiencies can cause symptoms.

I was like you, muscles/joints so painful I could barely walk or move. I'm well now with no pains.

If you are on the correct thyroid hormones for you you should feel well.

Some of us when not improving need some T3 added to a reduced levothyroxine and some members have had to source their own and have felt the benefit.

Get a print-out with the ranges from the surgery (some ask for a nominal sum for paper/ink) and post for responses from members.

If you reply to a certain response, press the reply button and the person is alerted that you may need a response

[radd]

jane,

Thyroid hormone replacement doesn't always work well with iron//nutrient deficiencies. These are common in people with hypothyroidism due to gut issues leading to malabsorption, cause by the slow thyroid hormone levels.

Ask your doctor to test Vit B12, folate, Vit D and iron and post results complete with ranges (numbers in brackets) for members to comment. Also post any thyroid test results you have.

Hair loss can be due to low T3levels or//and iron deficiency.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Also need to ask for blood test for thyroid antibodies - there are two types - TPO Ab and TGAb. If either or both are high then this means you have Hashimoto's, autoimmune thyroid - most common cause of being hypo.

If Hashimoto's, then adopting a gluten free diet can reduce symptoms