Joint pain with T4 meds

[Alexandrawolf]

I know that T4 and stressed adrenals are not a good match, but what exactly causes the crazy joint pain I get? I am taking NP Thyroid, and it seems better than with Nature Throid, but Levoxyl was HORRIBLE, even combined with Cytomel... My other symptoms include, weight gain, and puffy face and dry skin... TY!

[shaws Administrator]

There's no thyroid history in your Profile - only your name. I am assuming you are hypothyroid.

I shall give you a list of clinical symptoms for hypo and it could be that you aren't on an optimum dose:-

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Your Free T3 and Free T4 could be too low

[SlowDragon Administrator]

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, TT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and also very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common

All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. When on Levothyroxine, don't take in the 24 hours prior to test, and if on T3 or NDT don't take in 12 hours prior, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

[Alexandrawolf in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you - I am about to get all the tests above next week. However, I am currently on 100 mcg of time release T3, and 1/2 grain of NP Thyroid (the NP is more recent about a month). Actually, I JUST switched from Nature Throid to NP to see if it's the fillers that are causing me joint pain. I know I am hypo, my Dr treats according to symptoms, but the joint pain and weight gain come on like gangbusters as the .75 grain level! When I tried Levoxyl a few years ago, I gained 10 pounds in 3 weeks and could barely move at all. It is definitely the T4. However, when I can take it, my libido increases and my eyebrows start to grow in. My Ft4 levels are VERY low...

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Alexandrawolf]

There's no point testing thyroid levels until been 6-8 weeks on exactly same dose and brand

[Alexandrawolf in reply to SlowDragon]

Got it. He just wanted to see where I was as I had bumped up to the 100mg of T3 over 6 weeks ago.

[Hidden in reply to Alexandrawolf]

I'm currently on 88mcg synthyroid and 15mcg Cytomel and have had pains in my feet, ankle, calves and knees no matter what dose of Synthyroid I have been on over past 19 months now although reduced a bit with addition of cytomel but I'm still broken and good grief the weight gain is a pain in the backside. I'm looking to give armour a try but I'm not sure what to do anymore.