Aches and pains after exercise

[5219]

How do I get across to my GP that even though my blood tests say I am in normal range, I don’t feel well? Most of the time I feel achy and fatigued. I have good muscles but strength and stamina is non existent. I try to keep active, I do Pilates, aqua fit and love gardening and walking but suffer from painful aches and pains, plantar fasciitis. I am on 100mg Levothyroxine. Have been told in the past that I may be over medicated? I have recently had a full range of blood tests and they have come back normal.. hope you can help

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Plantar fasciitis is often due to low vitamin levels (especially vitamin D) and/or low FT3

Previous post

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Do you have actual results and ranges you can 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)

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

[5219 in reply to SlowDragon]

I will get a print out of my recent blood tests from my Gp. I paid for some tests at my surgery but they weren’t fasting or 24 hours after meds. I am going to go back to Gp and push for more investigation.

[5219 in reply to SlowDragon]

Are finger prick tests reliable?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to 5219]

Yes, thousands on here use private testing

Personally I pay the extra £25 for private blood draw. I find I can't get enough blood out via finger prick test. Plus local clinic is convenient

Many of us only made progress after full Thyroid and vitamin testing

Low vitamin levels must be improved to optimal for good thyroid function

Essential to test BOTH TPO and TG thyroid antibodies at least once

Can you add your most recent blood test results and ranges. Members can advise on next steps

Frequently TSH is still too high, FT4 too low and nothing else tested

[5219 in reply to SlowDragon]

I will get them from my surgery tomorrow hopefully and put them on. Thank you

[shaws Administrator]

Always ignore the word 'normal' if you do not feel normal, which I believe is that someone who is 'normal has no clinical symptoms' would be feeling good and not complaining of symptoms.

There's no such thing as normal if we don't feel normal and have clinical symptoms:-

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

When doctors state the word 'normal' all the mean is that our test results are within the normal range. We do not want normal - we want optimal which is a TSH of 1 or lower, and a Free T4 and Free T3 towards the upper part of the ranges.

When having blood tests for thyroid hormones, it always has to be at the very earliest (even if you've to make the appointment weeks in advance) it also has to be fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between your last dose of levo and the test and take afterwards.

GP should also test B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate. Everything has to be optimal. The aim is relief of all clinical symptoms.

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

Put your results, with the ranges onto a new post for comments.

[5219 in reply to shaws]

Are finger prick tests reliable?

[shaws Administrator in reply to 5219]

Yes - many of our members have used these labs. I will add in SeasideSusie and SlowDragon who can confirm.

[5219 in reply to shaws]

Thank you

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to 5219]

5219

I have done a fingerprick test a couple of days later than a test at my GP's surgery, same conditions - same time of day, overnight fast, last dose of Levo 24 hours before blood draw. The results were virtually identical, the ranges were different so I worked out the percentage through range my results lay and the difference was about 3%.

You just have to make sure you do the fingerprick test as recommended by the lab and not spoil the blood by squeezing it out of your finger. These are my tips for fingerprick test that I posted recently, 5th reply down the thread:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

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Yes I agree with slowdragon you need to be able to see what needs adjusting in your blood for optimal performance. I say this to everyone like a parrot and to aid in healing I found a water filter jug and clear liquids makes a hell of a lot of difference to body's filtration and your body will thank you in return .

Tam x