I recently found I was very deficient in vitamin d. My value was at 8.4nmol/L.
I'm also hypothyroid, on 175mg. I also suffer from IBS, my bowels have been more loose.
I do realise that once I've been put on a loading dose of 40000iu/L for 7 weeks (had my first dose last Wednesday) then will be retested to see where I am on the gradient (am I right? ) I've been told to source my own vit d, would the gp tell you what dose you should be taking or is it all trial and error. My gp doesnt seem to tell me anything (!)
Has anyone ever had chest pain (around the breast on my right side) leading to the armpit and shoulder and as well dealing with arm numbness and tingling.
How long did it take you to feel "well"
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lexieboo36
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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)
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
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
If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's.
Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten.
So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .
If your antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).
Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels
Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working
Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten. Dairy is second most common.
According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)
Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies
Ideally ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first
Assuming test is negative you can immediately go on strictly gluten free diet
(If test is positive you will need to remain on high gluten diet until endoscopy, maximum 6 weeks wait officially)
Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse
Thank you so much for the comprehensive reply, it's far more what my gp has provided me with. I'll have a look through as I'm at the gp surgery waiting for my calcium blood test
As for the PTH, they havent (!) but I'm having calcium, u&es and liver function, HBA1C. I might have to get in touch with the surgery to ask them to put PTH on that list as well.
I do realise that once I've been put on a loading dose of 40000iu/L for 7 weeks (had my first dose last Wednesday) then will be retested to see where I am on the gradient (am I right? ) I've been told to source my own vit d, would the gp tell you what dose you should be taking or is it all trial and error.
After your loading doses it's essential to be retested. If your GP wont do it, and some wont, then do it privately. Only when you have your new level can you work out how much you will then need.
The Vit D Council recommends a level of 125nmol/L (50ng/ml) and the Vit D Society recommends a level of 100-150nmol/L (40-60ng/ml). Their website tells you how to work out what your dose should be
Your GP won't know, because they're not taught much about nutrients, but there are important cofactors needed when taking D3 as recommended by the Vit D Council -
D3 aids absorption of calcium from food and K2-MK7 directs the calcium to bones and teeth where it is needed and away from arteries and soft tissues where it can be deposited and cause problems such as hardening of the arteries, kidney stones, etc.
D3 and K2 are fat soluble so should be taken with the fattiest meal of the day, D3 four hours away from thyroid meds if taking tablets/capsules/softgels, no necessity if using an oral spray
Magnesium helps D3 to work. We need Magnesium so that the body utilises D3, it's required to convert Vit D into it's active form. So it's important we ensure we take magnesium when supplementing with D3.
Magnesium comes in different forms, check to see which would suit you best and as it's calming it's best taken in the evening, four hours away from thyroid meds if taking tablets/capsules, no necessity if using topical forms of magnesium.
I have costochondritis which, in my case, manifests mainly by pain on the right side of my chest at breast level and travels to my sternum and to my armpit. In the past, before I learnt to manage it better it travelled all the way around my body at that level like a band of pain and I finished up in A & E. All the tests for heart trouble were clear. I was finally diagnosed by a chiropractor as having costochondritis.
I manage this quite well now by never sleeping on my right hand side. With costochondritis, you need to keep your rib cage open - lying on your side with both hands probably on the pillow or thereabouts squishes your ribs together and causes the pain. The pain in my sternum can radiate gradually outwards until my ribs really hurt, particularly at night. If you press the points on each side of your sternum where it meets your rib cage you may well find there are a couple (or more) of really painful spots. It's a really sharp pain. This would indicate that you have costochondritis which is caused by inflammation of the cartilage between the ribs. It is a benign but painful condition which I believe is linked to hypothyroidism as, in my case, it has eased considerably since I started taking levothyroxine.
I am very careful not to carry heavy weights or do strenuous gardening or push/pull furniture about. In this way, along with never sleeping on my right hand side, I have managed to avoid any painful bouts for some time. The nighttime bouts are certainly to be avoided as to be woken by chest pain in the middle of the night is very scary. When that happens, which it last did a few months ago, I find it best to get up and walk around. Ibuprofen helps so a trip to the fridge for yogurt to line my stomach has proved useful.
I have no medical experience. I can only tell you how it has been for me. Chest pain is frightening - I really hope you find ways to manage it effectively. Obvously there’s lots of help and advice to be found online and also if you have any questions I am always happy to help.
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