Advice needed. Feeling shaky and aches in arms and legs.

[Locky1971]

Hi,

I hoping that you all may be able to give me some advice. In 2015 I followed a paleo diet, lost 4 stone,started T3 and for the first time in years I felt great.

However over the last year and a half I've put on about a stone, I no longer feel good. My T3 has been put up from 20mcg a day to 40mcg a day taken half in the morning and half in the afternoon. I was on 50/75mcg T4 and I'm now on 25mcg. But I'm still getting shakes in my hands and feeling like I'm shaky all over. My arms and legs ache a lot,I feel dizzy. I've recently developed a reaction to my hair colour that leaves me with an itchy head for weeks. I'm wondering if it psoriasis. I have underactive thyroid and Hashimotos autoimmune disease. Years ago I was diagnosed with PCOS too. My eyes water loads and go very blurry when tired and I'm always tired. If I take the dogs out for a little while I feel exhausted after. I'm also under a lot of stress as one of my children is severely depressed at the moment.

I have a Doctors appointment booked for tomorrow and a specialist appointments in May. My private health insurance is refusing to pay for this now so I'm going to try and get my GP to do the blood tests but what should I ask for please?

Any help would be appreciated thank you

[bluebug]

I think you haven't finished your post. Please finish it so someone can answer your query.

[Locky1971 in reply to bluebug]

Thanks I hit the wrong button. I blame Brain fog 😉

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Did you get blood tests done? Sounds like you might possibly be over medicated. When was T3 doubled? Why was it not a smaller increase.

What about levels of vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin. These tend to be low with Hashimoto's and we need them at higher end of normal. Do you supplement any

As you have Hashimoto's are you, or have you tried gluten free diet. Many of us find it gives significant reduction in symptoms

[Locky1971 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi, Thanks for replying. I am on a gluten free Paleo style diet which has helped loads. 2 years ago I followed kick start fat loss with fantastic results and lost 4 stone. I have put about a stone back on but I eat the same as before 80% of the time My T3 was really low and I was hoping to go up to 30mcg but was really surprised when it went up so much. I have just seen my specialist and I'm now on 2 grains NDT and so far the shakes are alot better. Still feel achey though. My specialist did write to my GP about at vit d and b12 test but I haven't heard anything from him yet and when I asked him about it before my specialist appointment he wouldn't do it. It's so frustrating. My ferritin is 36 but before Xmas it was 14 so it's coming back up slowly. Mainly because I'm on decapeptyl to stop my periods. It's waking up with arm and leg aches that are the worst symptom at the moment.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Locky1971]

You can test vitamin D via vitamindtest.org.uk - postal kit £28

GP unlikely to prescribe vitamin D unless result actually described as deficient. Then you should get loading dose for month or two, followed by maintenance dose

We seem to need level quite high with thyroid issues & often GP standard maintenance dose of 800iu is inadequate anyway.

Lots of posts on here about how to increase ferritin - especially from SeasideSusie

We tend to need it up to around 70 to help thyroid hormones work

B12 & folate - can you get that tested privately? It's important to be at good levels. Especially if you start supplementing vitamin D, you may then find you need the B's as well. (I certainly did - more on my profile )

[Locky1971 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you. I'll look into it. I was low vit d 2 years ago but GP says it should still be ok that's why he won't test. I had the loading dose then have vit d every night but it's 10 on the bottle from holland and Barrett so probably no where near enough. Last time I was in decapeptyl I got my ferritin levels up to 60 and felt loads better. But GP's just don't listen when you say you need optimal levels. It's so frustrating. But thank you for your help. I will check out your profile and seasidesusie as I'm desperate to learn as much as I can to help myself.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Locky1971]

H&B stuff generally cheap for a reason.

They do stock Better You vitamin D mouth spray. Sometimes have 3 for 2 offers as well. It comes in 3 strengths 1000iu, 3000iu or 5000iu.

Best get tested before you buy so you know which you likely need. But 3000iu is good compromise. If you didn't need much you can just use occasionally, if need a lot then use every day. I am currently on 2x 3000iu daily & will retest after 2-3 months.