Weak muscles, joints, low progesterone and Oestradiol

[Dramlouie]

I am 62 and used to be very sporty and strong. I am on NDT and take supplements for inflammation. I am feeling good. But my problem is that my muscles have disappeared and just left with flab and cellulite. I am so very weak. I go for walks every day and am busy around the house and caring. I saw my old school friends last night and they don't have hypothyroid but they are much stronger than me and look much younger. I found some old progesterone results from Nov 2014 and wonder if this could be the problem. My progesterone level was 12.6 optimal (20-70). Oestradiol 0.8 optimal 1-4. My afternoon DHEA level is 0.14 optimal (0.2 - 0.7) which is low. My skin is very crepe and saggy and my hair is brittle, and falling out. I keep mentioning my weakness to my doctor and endo but I don't get any answers. I am seeing my endo tomorrow!

[greygoose]

The problem could just be that your FT3 is too low. And if your T3 is low, your HGH is probably going to be low, too. And, if your HGH is low, your muscles are reabsorbed and replaced by fat.

I would have thought that on 3.5 grains of NDT your FT3 would be higher. Do you have an absorption problem? Do you take your NDT on an empty stomach, etc. just like you would levo?

[Murphysmum in reply to greygoose]

Following.

Sorry greygoose , what’s HGH?

[greygoose in reply to Murphysmum]

Human Growth Hormone.

[Dramlouie in reply to greygoose]

yes an empty stomach. It is so difficult to get anything tested, always the same, your fine, what do you expect at your age. I was so fit before I had children then it was too much to pick them up, I just ached, but the doctors fobbed me off as usual. Seeing other mothers carrying their offspring and I couldn't even lift my cat! I have no idea what it is, feel the doctors think I am a hypochondriac.

[greygoose in reply to Dramlouie]

Doctors think all women are hypochondriacs. Once, when told I was a hypochondriac, I said: well, maybe hypochondria is a symptom of low thyroid. I just got a blank look.

[Lora7again in reply to greygoose]

or in my case delusional, as was written on my notes 10 years ago!

[Dramlouie in reply to Lora7again]

That's terrible, how did you find out?

[Lora7again in reply to Dramlouie]

I logged into my medical notes at my surgery because we are allowed to view our own medical notes it is the law.

[Angel_of_the_North]

If you have muscle wasting you probably have low testosterone, too, and you might be protein deficient, before investigating bio identical hormone replacement, I would look at gut health - you might not be absorbing what you are eating - vitamin levels and thyroid hormone levels

[Dramlouie in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

trying to eat healthy but it is so expensive

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Dramlouie]

Only more expensive than total junk - ie living on white bread and biscuits

[Sandria]

I'd get your iron .B12 and D3 tested

[Dramlouie]

I have just returned and mentioned all the points to the endo. Even though my ferritin is at 50 he wasn't concerned as it was in the normal range. I showed him the progesterone results from 5 years ago and mentioned testosterone and he is referring me to a gynaecologist and I have to get a blood test for FSH< LH estradiol, testosterone, SHBG and progesterone. Hooray someone has listened to me after a decade of problems. Thank you for all the pointers and I am feeling relieved, at least I will be tested. He mentioned HRT, I am 62, thought I was a bit old for that! I have to increase my NDT by .5 to 4.5 grains a day. Doesn't want to see me for a year.

[Murphysmum in reply to Dramlouie]

Dramlouie how did you get on with those tests?

Are you feeling better?

my muscle weakness/loss continues 😢

[Dramlouie in reply to Murphysmum]

Still waiting for a gynae appointment, not till Feb now, keeps being cancelled!

[Lora7again in reply to Dramlouie]

I am 60 and don't take any HRT because I am worried about it causing breast cancer. My mother died from breast cancer in her 40s and although I don't have the gene I am not taking the risk. I look ok for my age and have been told I look in my 40s but that could be due to good genetics my grandmother had a smooth skin and a round face like me. All my problems come from having Graves' disease and not because I have been through the menopause.

[Lora7again in reply to Dramlouie]

Try eating pate a couple times a week to raise your Ferritin mine is too high at 300 because my thyroid is inflamed.