Hi can I ask does anyone suffer with pain along their spine. Mine seems to be getting worse. Joints stiffening and lower back pain. Palpitations back.
Saw doc re joint pain anf trying hrt just says it's anxiety and wants me anti depression tablets. Which I have refused. Has given me hrt patches to try. Ankles starting to swell but putting that down to warm weather.
Not started them yet as not feeling good. Did not want to blame it on them when it's something else. Get my bloods tested soon as the yearly check up is due.
Thanks.
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Foxy23
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Could be an auto immune connection.Perhaps a form of arthritis. I had similar 50 years before hypo .It was ,after many years, diagnosed as ankylosing spondylitis.
Hi a locum did diagnose spondylitis quite a few years ago. Another has also diagnosed fibromyalgia. But I have felt better. I do think both go hand in hand with thyroid. I am putting weight back on so think I may need an increase. Told her I am not living just existing. I was getting upset when she kept on insisting it's anxiety. Told her it's my body I know how I feel but no one is listening. She then gave me the HRT patches. I just need to find the courage to try them. I probably do have anxiety now over how I am being treated. It's like they just no longer care.
My lower back pain was investigated, and it was discovered that in my case, I have varying degrees of deterioration along the full length of my spine, plus kyphoscoliosis (spine curvature in two planes rather than just one). It's a good job my GP didn't dismiss my pain as anxiety!!! I wonder what your Dr picked up in Med School that taught him back pain = anxiety? Perhaps the first investigation you need is a back X-ray to see what that shows up, if anything.
HRT often means you need dose increase in Levothyroxine
Strongly recommend getting full Thyroid and vitamin testing
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also 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
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
I am on vit d 1000 per day as doctor suggested. Currently on the spray.
If I take private bloods to they accept them. Not sure if I have been tested for B12. Will ask nurse if she will do full bloods this time for everything.
A doctor did once say I has spondylitis but nothing ever mentioned since. He was a locum. Another locum said I have fibromyalgia i had 17 pressure points. The standard is 11. I think my dose is too low. As all these symptoms seem to dissapear for awhile, but now back and getting worse. I do think they go hand in hand with thyroid problems.
Make sure to get blood test as early as possible in morning and fasting and last levothyroxine dose 24 hours before
1000iu vitamin D may not be enough
Recommended NHS dose if result under 50nmol is 1600iu daily for 6 months
Then ongoing maintenance dose
Hi Foxy i have chronic ectopic heart beats .I also have osteoarthritis which im sure i have read somewhere can also be connected to autoimune diseases.I also have spinal stenosis which i think in my case is to do with the arthritis but i will find out later this month.
Of course "fibro" also .
I was also told peri meno at 42 and told to have patches which i tried but put the palps through the roof.
What i really had was a vitamin D deficiency and as i now know hashimotos all that play havoc with hormones .
I agree. I think fibro goes hand in hand with thyroid issues. I had bad palps not so long ago. I was taking menopace stopped it and not so bad now. But I also bought a vibro plate so wondering if this could have also been an issue.
I did take menopace again and got a bit anxious so thin it's down to those. Maybe my vitimins wete too high.
Dr don't realise how ill we feel. We just want to have a normal life.
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