Muscle twitching/Hashimotos?

[Cmerrill]

Has anyone else experienced muscle twitching with their hashimotos/hypothyroidism?

I seem to get random bouts of muscle twitching, right now it's below my lip and above my chin.

It's very annoying and of course Google tells me it's a tumor and MS..

[Heloise]

It could be due to a magnesium deficiency which is very common. Do you think you are getting an allergic reaction to something? Lysine might help as kind of an antiviral. Also you may be low in B vitamins.

Since hypothyroidism affects smooth muscle perhaps you need a different dose.

[MaisieGray]

You could be low in potassium, an electrolyte . Try upping your intake of potassium-rich food such as bananas. I doubt it's going to be indicative of anything serious, and is probably just a simple form of myoclonic jerk that we all experience - simply a muscle twitch followed by relaxation (a hiccup is another example of this, as is the jerk you can have when you fall asleep). These simple forms of myoclonus occur in normal, healthy persons and are nothing to worry about.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Looking at previous posts, 2 months ago you were very under medicated and dose was increased to 75mcg

Have you now had bloods retested?

You may be ready for next dose increase in Levothyroxine

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially after being under medicated

Low vitamin D often goes with low magnesium

Low magnesium can cause twitching muscles

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Do not take Levothyroxine dose in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take immediately after blood draw. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all 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 special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

[TonyFl]

Cmerrill,

You are describing similar symptoms to myself. I'm yet to be officially diagnosed but I just had a blood test show high levels of thyroglobulin antibodies, I see the doc next Friday. Since Christmas (3 months) I've had significant muscle twitches (daily), mostly in my legs but sometimes in my shoulder, elbow, hand and last night while playing tennis in my bottom lip and above my chin. It's annoying and periodically concerning if I get on Dr Google. My blood test also showed Vit D deficiency and borderline low iron. For the past 2 weeks I've been taking Vit D supplements but no change as yet. My magnesium levels appear fine btw. I'd be interested to hear what more you discover. I'm a 45 yr old male in good physical shape.

[humanbean in reply to TonyFl]

Regarding magnesium testing, this is not very reliable.

The usual test measures magnesium in blood, but can't tell anyone how much is in the rest of the cells of the body.

Due to the importance of magnesium to general function, the body will keep levels good in blood by sucking it out of other cell types when necessary. (Sorry for the unscientific vocabulary. )

[Cmerrill in reply to TonyFl]

Mine have sinced mostly subsided. I've also increased my dosage of Levothyroxine to 88mcg.

I think it was maybe associated with being under medicated and possibly low vitamin levels.

You really need to get properly diagnosed though. Also, stop eating gluten and your antibodies will plummet. Id also recommend taking magnesium glycinate supplements. I take 200mg daily and vitamin D.

I'm a 37 year old male, its been a nightmare. Are you experiencing other symptoms that lead you to be tested?

[TonyFl in reply to Cmerrill]

I had a strange episode over Christmas which, in retrospect seemed to be an autoimmune flare (likely triggered by bad processed food - I eat very healthy normally, organic etc.). It started with unusual malaise then I had burning hamstring and calf muscles (felt like sunburn) for about a week followed by carpal tunnel and then joint pain, particularly in hands and feet, but also in other places, plus of course this muscle twitching. I first went to neuro - MRI brain, cervical spine etc. all good, then to a rheumatologist as I was concerned about RA. Those tests were clear but she tested my thyroid with showed this antibody present. She said it's likely Hashimoto's and asked me to connect with an endocrinologist, that appointment is next Friday. Burning pain, joint pain etc. now long gone thankfully but the twitching persists. Plus I have a slightly inflamed right eyelid which also twitches constantly, that has been going on for months (since late Nov. last year).

Thanks humanbean for the magnesium information, I'm pretty sure my levels were ok in the blood test as I started taking supplements about 2 weeks prior. So perhaps my true levels are off.

[Hidden]

Hi Cmetrill. Had loads of muscle twitches when first ill because I was more hyper than hypo. My legs used to twitch and my jaw would snap like a dog when I had thyrotoxicosis. It did clear up but I Still get a little now if overmedicated.You should probably get it checked out but it is definitely something that happens with hashimotos.

Michael