Dear All, is this just me or have you had the same and unlike me found a way to deal with it. I have a large garden project on at the moment and am working hard on this. Following a tough day my joints ache so much I have to have the next day off. I expect after activity to get muscles stiffness, that sort of thing but this is way beyond that. I pace myself and keep hydrated, is there something else I could do or is this yet another complication of auto immune hypo thyroiditis?
Any thoughts welcome, thank you Rosiebones
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rosiebones
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I do take vitamin D3 daily and as my activity is outdoors and in sunlight I had thought I'd be okay but I take your point and will attempt to get a test done. Rosie
I'd agree with greygoose , optimising your vitamin D will help a lot.
When I first tested mine it wasn't even terribly low, but it was quite a bit below optimal. Supplementing enough to increase my level up to optimal had a pronounced beneficial effect on my aches and pains. My experience is common on the forum.
You would benefit from getting other nutrients and your thyroid properly tested. You may be short of lots of nutrients. You may be inadequately medicated.
Being hypothyroid has an impact on stomach acid production. Low stomach acid is very common. As a result the body's ability to extract nutrients from food is much reduced and we end up with low levels of them - very low in some cases. Low stomach acid leads to indigestion and heartburn, and many of us get prescribed acid-blockers as a result. They just make things worse. There are better ways of dealing with indigestion and heartburn than by blocking acid when acid levels are already low.
Another likely cause of your aches and pains is low levels of T3. But the NHS doesn't generally test Free T3 in hypothyroid patients. They think that TSH tells them all they need to know. They're wrong. TSH isn't even a thyroid hormone, it is a pituitary hormone. T3 is the active thyroid hormone that affects every single cell in the body which explains why the symptoms lists for hypothyroidism are so very, very long.
You can buy your own private tests to check both your thyroid and your nutrients and many of us on the forum do this.
The two most popular tests on the forum are from Medichecks and Blue Horizon :
Always check for money off codes and special offers from the various testing companies. It is worth registering so you'll be notified by email when they have special offers.
As I said to Greygoose I had thought my vitamin D was covered but maybe not. I am one of those on acid blockers as the pain from indigestion etc., was so bad one day my husband called the paramedics thinking I was having a heart attack! T3 should be okay, I am lucky enough to be on Armour Thyroid which has T3 included. What are the better ways of dealing with indigestion etc.? Rosie
When were last FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing done?
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
Low vitamin D is extremely common and often a cause of joint pain. But low FT3 can be cause too
What vitamin supplements do you currently take?
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).
If/when also on T3, make sure to take last dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test
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
Particular thanks for the reminder about when and what to do prior to blood tests - top tip. The last time I was tested antibody wise I was off the scale, I should therefore get my vitamin levels checked generally? I take daily, vitamins C. + D3. a multi vitamin/mineral for seniors (as I am one), Co enzyme Q10 and selenium, Zinc once a week. We eat a good diet, I cook from scratch with a high percentage of raw foods. Rosie
If you have high antibodies then cause of your hypothyroidism is due to autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto's
If you are not already strictly gluten free, you very likely need to try this
Certainly need to regularly retest vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels
Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone
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
While still eating high gluten diet 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 very much for such a detailed response. I have been tested for coeliac, it was negative. I have never been okay with wheat and make my own bread, half rye half spelt, organic whole grain flour. If away from home I can eat a little but any more than that I get cramps etc...... I will read the link and see about a vitamin + blood test. Rosie
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T4 level too high..
T3 level too high 
Joint pain in wrists and ankles
High active b12 result
Glucosamine -does it work?
I know a lot of thyroid sufferers have joint pain/arthritis too.
