Leg weakness and muscle swelling

[Pippypiper]

Hi, does anyone have severely weak legs and or inflamed or enlarged leg muscles as a result of hypothyroidism ? I am struggling to walk and the muscles above and below my knees are raised as if they are inflamed. I’m having other tests to see if it’s something else but I’m kind of hoping it’s down to the hypothyroidism . I’m only on 50 McG which doesn’t help! Thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator]

50mcg Levothyroxine is only a starter dose

How long have you been on this dose?

Do you have any recent blood test results and ranges to add

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 if Thyroid antibodies are raised

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose 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)

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

[Pippypiper in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you SlowDragon. I had some repeated thyroid tests on Monday so hopefully Gp will increase my Levo ASAP. I’ve been on a vitamin D protocol for about 3 weeks as I was only 31nmol/l but it’s now up to 52 nmol/l.

My TSH was 5.8 and I had elevated antibodies. Both t4 and t3 were bottom of the range .

I didn’t know that tip about the timing of the blood test . I will remember that for next time!

I be had tests for b12 and ferritin and they were “in range” (although we all know how unhelpful those ranges are . I will supplement with b12 once my D gets higher.

Thanks x