Am I alone, and what does it mean?? 1st ever post!

[supernan2012]

I had my thryroid removed back in 2016 and am taking 100mg levothryroxine. Also on BP tabs, Anti Dep, and water tabs. And I have never felt so unwell. I joined this site about 3 wks ago, and I am addicted! I have learnt so much, many thanks.

My reason for posting is cramps. I was awoken in the middle of the night with severe cramps in both my lower legs, I can honestly say, I screamed out with the pain, couldn't even cry... never known anything like it. I'm sure it only lasted a minute or two, but felt like an eternity. Today, 2 days later, my calves feel like I've run a marathon! chance would be a fine thing! very painful. Can anyone tell me why?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

supernan2012

Try supplementing with magnesium, most of us Hypos are low or deficient.

Different forms of magnesium here naturalnews.com/046401_magn...

I think magnesium malate might be good for cramps.

Also there is magnesium oil but I didn't like that, too messy and didn't like the feel of it on my skin.

My late husband used to use New Era Mag Phos, little fast melt tablets neweratissuesalts.wordpress... I occasionally have a foot cramp during the night and keep them in my bedside cabinet to use when it happens.

[supernan2012 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Many thanks SeasideSusie for that info, it might help my severe itching as well, my arms are full of scars, dr decided to put plaster on and gave me antihistamines! Don't you just love em'

[Nanaedake in reply to supernan2012]

I agree with SeasideSusie that you sound undermedicated. I have had partial thyroidectomy and take around 120mcg of levothyroxine so unless you are very tiny 100mcg is a very low dose for someone with no thyroid.

Has your GP investigated itchy skin? If you've tried antihistamine and it's not going away then it needs exploring.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Have you got recent blood test results you can add. You sound under medicated if only taking 100mcg Levothyroxine

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, TT4, FT3 (plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies not essential in your case)

But very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or vitamins

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.

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, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

[supernan2012 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for all your help, I have made appointments with nurse and dr re blood tests, I have also arranged for private bloods with Medichecks, which I'm hoping will come through before going to the doctors appointment. I'm arming myself with as much info, which I can print out, ready to defend my reasoning, I am going to ask for T3, I think I need a combination of the two. But I'll wait and see what my results are!! wish me luck. I go next week!

[UCSFDAB]

I may be stating the obvious to you, but water tabs are know to be associated with cramps in some people. These cramps are largely due to decreased sodium and more commonly potassium. I wish you well in your journey to a better, less crampy new normal.

[LAHs in reply to UCSFDAB]

Yes, agreed. I have recently been juggling with reducing my blood pressure "naturally" so I reduced my salt intake to practically nothing. I immediately had leg cramps in the night just as the OP describes.

[UCSFDAB in reply to LAHs]

It is welcome when Occam;s Razor can be used to help solve a problem. It is good to remember, posting any message on a patient moderated board will view all posts and problems through a very particular lens.

Occam's razor (also Ockham's razor or Ocham's razor; Latin: lex parsimoniae "law of parsimony") is the problem-solving principle that the simplest solution tends to be the right one. When presented with competing hypotheses to solve a problem, one should select the solution with the fewest assumption

[humanbean in reply to LAHs]

Having too little salt (or sodium from salt) may cause a condition called hyponatremia.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypon...

Sodium/salt is essential to life, so reducing it to virtually nothing is not a healthy idea.

stopthethyroidmadness.com/b...

Do you have a monitor to measure your heart rate and blood pressure? If you haven't it would be a good investment. Don't bother with a wrist monitor, get one similar to the ones that doctors use with a cuff which goes around the upper arm.

[LAHs in reply to humanbean]

Yes, will do. I have been meaning to do that for a long time.