Painful tendons.

[hairyfairy]

For the past 2-3 months Iv`e been suffering from very painful tendonitis in my shoulders and hips. The pain spreads all the way down to my hands and feet when I sit still for a long time. I know this is a symptom of underactive thyroid, but I`m taking the prescribed dose of Levothyroxin How do I make my tendons heal?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

@hairyfairy

I know this is a symptom of underactive thyroid, but I`m taking the prescribed dose of Levothyroxin

Maybe you are not optimally medicated. What are your current results? Please post results and reference ranges so we can try and help:

TSH

FT4

FT3

Thyroid antibodies

and because we need optimal nutrient levels for thyroid hormone to work properly:

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

[hairyfairy in reply to SeasideSusie]

My blood test don`t normally give numbers, just normal or not.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to hairyfairy]

Do you get a print out of your results from our surgery's reception desk?

[hairyfairy in reply to SeasideSusie]

No.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to hairyfairy]

Best to ask for a print out so that you can keep an eye on your levels yourself, then you'll be able to see if you are under medicated or have low nutrient levels.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Looking at previous posts, possibly you are still only on 50mcg?

Standard starter dose is 50mcg

The aim of Levothyroxine is to increase the dose slowly in 25mcg steps upwards until TSH is under 2 (many need TSH significantly under one) and most important is that FT4 in top third of range and FT3 at least half way in range

NHS guidelines on Levothyroxine including that most patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine.

nhs.uk/medicines/levothyrox...

Also what foods to avoid (eg recommended to avoid calcium rich foods at least four hours from taking Levo)

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. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

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

All four vitamins need to be regularly tested and frequently need supplementing to maintain optimal levels

Restless legs associated with low magnesium, common if hypothyroid as especially if vitamin D is low

Guideline dose is 1.6mcg per kilo of weight - 9st 8lbs = around 100mcg Levothyroxine

[Hidden]

The only time I had pains like yours was after my TT in 2015 when I was put onto Levo for 8 months for the first time, I had gone from Swimming, Yoga, and Walking before to not being able to get myself off the floor. I then joined this site and now feel well on NDT which I source myself.

[hairyfairy]

How can i get it and how much does it cost?