If you've had thyroid cancer and are postmenopausal. Ask your doctor what you need to do to prevent bone loss and how you should monitor bone density?
Let us know what your doctor says. Seems there is no national protocol to check bone density or monitor it.
The biggest mistake I ever made was agreeing to a DEXA Scan it stated I have osteopenia (very low risk) and the only take away I got was a lower dose of Synthyroid and no medical advice beyond.
Yes, Im menopausal for 14 yrs and survived ovarian cancer and still battling Thyroid cancer (mentally).
At the osteopenia stage there is so much you can do to rebuild and preserve bone. It's much harder once you are osteoporotic. I would have liked to have known when it was easier to make changes to diet and exercise. Usually with thyroid cancer we are on suppressive doses so can't reduce meds all that much. I know everyone is different.
I think GENETICS has a lot to do with bone health Im not sold on just low TSH maybe heavy steroid use which probably had more effect on my bones over the years . However, my mom and both of my sister's have awful calcium levels the worse being my older sister her calcium levels didn't even register on her lab test and she live in the sunshine state, her Dr. Told her to eat lots of cheese (Shocking).
I know, I think we've not been getting good advice and could have taken some preventive measures if we had known what to do. I don't think it's all genetic, no history in my family or extended family at all. No broken hips, arms or spines.
Do you supplement with Vit D and I think it's K2 with it? I just bought some K2.
Yes, I've been prescribed vit D3 and calcium. Although some people say calcium is useless, I've lost parathyroid glands and so I think I need it along with vit D3. I started taking my own vitamin D before I knew about the osteoporosis and started to feel a lot better as levels rose. Later the doctor prescribed it due to the findings in my spine. I do take K2 in the form of MK7. I also make my own kefir from organic grass fed cows which I've read has more vitamin K along with calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and some of the B's. I eat 6-12 prunes a day (with no ill effect) for the boron. Don't know if it helps but some research seems to say it does.
I take zinc once a week as I'm not sure how to monitor it so don't want to overdo it. I also take vitamin C as it's an antioxidant. I'm looking into cod liver oil instead of omega 3 fish oils as the cod liver oil contains some vitamin A which I've read bones need. All these things help thyroid hormone to work better too. I've also gone low carb, gluten free as I've read gluten can interfere with calcium absorption, maybe only in people who have coeliac disease but I feel better for not eating gluten so I'm sticking with it.
The jury is out on whether K2 makes a difference but there is a research project just started so perhaps we'll find out?
How long ago did you lose your thyroid? I lost mine 16 months ago and honestly it's been the worse thing I ever did to myself I can't get my weight under control I can't get Endos that get it or anyone for that matter and I've been riddled with body pains so bad that I often cry about it and sadly most people don't get this either. Very neat you make Keifer I buy mine but I do drink everyday.
I'm sorry you are having such a bad time. I did too. I had a Partial thyroidectomy about 11 years ago.
I had a lot of body pain and a lot of other symptoms but the body pain did not leave me. The doctors said it was due to anxiety but it vanished when I took vitamins. Also, people on suppressive levothyroxine doses are often prescribed betablockers but they can have the side effect of giving you lower back pain or joint pain which is not in the patient information leaflet.
I believe low calcium and vitamin D levels might cause pain and this coupled with being vastly overdosed due to faulty levothyroxine could have resulted in osteoporosis. Low calcium doesn't always show up in blood tests due to the fact that your body robs bones of calcium to balance the blood as your brain and heart are absolutely reliant upon it. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in our bodies.
I think a really good vitamin D level helps to prevent calcium deficiency and from what I've read it might prevent parathyroids from becoming overactive when calcium deficient although I don't know much about this aspect and I could be completely wrong. Vitamin D helps us absorb calcium better. I would check your vitamin D levels and get them up to mid lab range and ensure you are eating some calcium rich foods at each meal.
Getting vitamin D levels good might help weight gain as you will feel like exercising and it just helps the body function more efficiently.Check B vitamins too.
Doctors don't seem to advise about how to manage with missing parathyroid glands, how to manage vitamin levels or what symptoms to watch out for. It took a very long time to diagnose osteoporosis. There is definitely a need for education for both docs and patients and a better way to work together.
True the doctors have no clue about alot of things when it comes to thyroid removal and how it affects the patient your entire health all comes down to numbers and nothing more.
Im glad you found peace Im still working on that part of the puzzle and sadly its going to be a long road since Im scheduled for yet another surgery torn ligament in my knee from walking wonky for 16 month with non-stop tendonitis that the wonderful medical field couldnt have cared less about, not thyroid related thats all they ever said.
I do take a lot of vitamins and have since my thyroidectomy but they havent given me much relief, this pain is torture 24/7.
Can you work out where the pain is coming from? Often it doesn't come from where you feel the pain. I found starting yoga was good because I started to work out where the pain was worst and found exercises on the internet to slowly work on each bit of pain.
Could you get some good physio after your ligament surgery? It might start you on the way to a good exercise program that will strengthen ligaments and muscles. Try the book Exercise for Better Bones by Margaret Martin, all maneagable exercises at home. As you have not yet got osteoporosis there is a lot you can do to get yourself back into great condition! While on crutches, I hopped to the local gym to start working on arms as I wasn't going to let this beat me. I am not totally pain free but it's under control.
Hypothyroid & bone/liver bloods
Suppressed TSH and Dexa bone scan
Check your GP surgery
Thyroxine and bone loss
