Hi all
I have been on levothyroxine 75mg for five months now and having pains in my legs, almost like pin and needles at times especially in my lower legs. Does anyone have similar symptoms and if so, has anyone found a remedy to ease this?
Any advice, suggestions would be really helpful.
I had problems with pins and needles to but found getting my minerals in check helped. Have you tried eating liver?
Thanks Margar, I haven't and I do like liver. I'm so confused to be honest about what minerals will help and what I can take? Can you give me any pointers?
Pebs, Margar won't know you've replied to her, because you didn't click on the 'reply' button under her comment.
It is important to have minerals optimised - especially iron - but pins and needles-like sensations are more likely to be low B12. Ask your doctor to test vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin. These all need to be optimal for your body to be able to use thyroid hormone. 
Thanks grey goose, I'm new to this site so thank you for the advice. Would it harm going and getting these vitamins off the shelf it would you suggest a visit to the GP? If lack of the correct vitamins levels are responsible for Levothyroxine not working effectively, could this be responsible for continued fatigue and lack of weight gain?
Yes, it would harm. Not that I would expect your doctor to do anything about them, unless they were really, really dire - and then he'd probably prescribe the wrong thing! But, because you need a base-line.
You need to know where the levels are in the beginning - is your B12 so low that you need testing for Pernicious Anemia?
Is your ferritin so low that you need a complete iron panel done?
Is your vit D so low that you need a loading dose?
If none of those, do you need to take anything at all? Because too much vit D and iron isn't a good thing.
And, if you do need something, how much?
None of those questions can be answered without doing the tests first.
If these are all low, then you could - and I do say 'could' - not be converting your levo to T3 correctly, which would mean that your T3 is low. Low T3 will cause fatigue and stop you losing weight.
However, there are many things that can cause poor conversion, so just optimising your nutrients won't necessarily help. But, it's the first thing to eliminate. And, optimal nutrients are necessary for many other things : certain symptoms, absorption of thyroid hormone, etc. etc. etc.
So I'm due to go back for a blood test middle of November. What am I asking for them to test? I thought that having medication for this would be the answer. Appears to me that medication is only the starting block to getting my physical health back to some normality. This is so frustrating and soul destroying . Any more helpful tips to feeling well again would be so welcoming
The tests you need are :
TSH
FT4
FT3
Tg antibodies
TPO antibodies
vit D
vit B12
folate
ferritin
It's doubtful the NHS will do all of them, but get what you can.
This is a complicated disease, because the thyroid gland controls so much within the body. And the problem is, doctors believe it's - to quote them - 'easy to diagnose, easy to treat'. Well, sometimes it is. But, more often it isn't. Which is why forums like this one exist.
Thanks greygoose. I will make sure I get tested for as much as possible. Where can I get private testing from?
I will give you a link and we have two labs and they are home pin-prick tests so make sure you are well hydrated a couple of days before blood draw.
The test should be the earliest possible, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a 24 hour gap between your last dose of levo and the test and then take it afterwards. Blue Horizon or Medichecks.
So what are the reasonings for these specific testing when hypo thyroid?
TSH is a pituitary hormone that tells the thyroid to make thyroid hormone. If the thyroid can't respond, the TSH increases.
FT4 and FT3 are thyroid hormones. If you are hypo, they will be low, and if you are hyper, they will be high - basically.
If the TPO and Tg antibodies are over-range, then you have autoimmune thyroidits - aka Hashi's - and need to take the appropriate measures.
Vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin are nutrients and are often low when we're hypo, due to low stomach acid - a symptom of hypothyroidism. However, they need to be optimal for your body to be able to use thyroid hormone. Also, if they are low, they will cause hypo-like symptoms.
Love your reply! Greygoose!!
A+ ( not sure if in the UK it means the same as the US, but an A+ = EXCELLENT!💫😊
Yes, it means the same. Thank you!
join the magnesium advocacy group on FB & read read read
Grey goose is right about all the testing and that getting medicine for hypothyroidism is just the beginning. If you are on levothyroxine(generic of synthroid), the Dr. will only be interested in regulating your med according to the TSH. My mother is hypo. She was on the levothyroxine for a couple of years and her TSH was optimal. She was cold all the time. Her hands were like ice. I took her to my np to get her on natural dessicated thyroid , which is what I am on. Her hands are no longer cold after years of that. Neither she nor I have been able to raise the ndt (We use WP thyroid) to optimal levels because of developing RT3 which is the bodies way of putting on the brakes. We also take leothyronine (straight T3) which doesn't have to be converted like the straight T4 (Levothyroxine, synthroid). My mother lost all the hair on top of her head with the use of the levothyroxine, which is not at all uncommon. I recently have lost some of mine. I am taking 1 1/2 gr of the nth and only 10 mcg of the T3. You Must be optimal with your iron and do what you can to get your adrenals optimal to get anywhere with thyroid treatment. I have been on this journey for many years and still am searching for answers. Get your D3 optimal. It is a fact that hypothyroidism has several underlying problems. Your absorption in your gut is compromised. I am working on that now. If you don't correct that, in my opinion, you are spinning your wheels. So much to learn and it can be so frustrating to say the least!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Under Active Thyroid & Depression
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