Autoimmune hypothyroidism and breast pain - Thyroid UK

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Autoimmune hypothyroidism and breast pain

Saltwater profile image
37 Replies

Hi there, I just wondered if anyone noticed more breast pain since being diagnosed hypothyroid. It is really tricky to know if this is down to my thyroid diagnosis or because I am in my early 40's and possibly this is a pre menopause symptom along with the thyroid helping to thin out my hair. Nevertheless, there is definitely something going on because it is disrupting my day, my activities and my sleep.

I notice that each time I increase my Levo dose, the shooting pains and discomfort in the breast worsens. Do you think there is a connection? I can't even sleep on my side right now. Turning over in bed is excruciating at times.

The last two times I increased dose, the tenderness kicked in again and this time it is doing the same thing again. I haven't changed anything else so I am just wondering why the two seem to be going hand in hand? It tends to settle after about 3 weeks but then kicks in when my GP increases my dose again. Could be just a coincidence, I suppose.

I have not been able to get my hands on any vitamin levels because my doctors refused to test me for them and I cannot afford to get them done right now. I was just told by my endo that it is unlikely I am nutrient deficient because I am not living in the plains of Africa! Obviously seeing him was a waste of time.

Any thoughts?

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Saltwater
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SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Low iron or ferritin may cause chest pain

Your GP clearly unhelpful

With autoimmune thyroid disease we should have vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested

Pester GP to get vitamins tested

Alternatively

Suggest saving up for full Thyroid and vitamin testing privately 6-8 weeks after dose increase in Levothyroxine

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood 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)

Saltwater profile image
Saltwater in reply to SlowDragon

Thanks SlowDragon. It's hard to know what symptoms belong to what. My metabolism is kicking in more and more so I don't think the weight gain was Menopause. I have lost 2 stone since starting Levo and also taking care of my diet. I just don't feel well mentally or physically. My body hurts and aches and my brain is still in a low gear and considering I eat well, I don't think I am getting half of these vitamins. I have always had some degree of breast tenderness since about 5 or 6 years ago. It reduced when I lost weight a little bit but I get so stressed every time I am given increases in dose and I have these flare ups which I can't help but notice get worse each time I increase.

I will try to put aside for a test in a few weeks time. GP's have not been helpful and told me on many occasions that I only need to take my Levo. I don't need to make any more changes. The slight improvement that I have felt has been down to what I have implemented myself. GP's 5 minute rushed appointments are getting me nowhere.

Cooper27 profile image
Cooper27 in reply to Saltwater

If your weight has changed, and the breast pain lessened when you lost a little weight, I wonder if it could partially be your bra is the wrong size?

Saltwater profile image
Saltwater in reply to Cooper27

Well the first time I mentioned breast pain to the doctor, I was wearing underwired bras and she recommended I switch to a soft bra which I have done ever since. I have not wore a wired bra now since January and seen some relief in conjunction with the size reduction. I went from a D/E cup to a C and feel better with that size. I also started taking evening primrose oil which helped somewhat. I just get so wired and anxious every time I increase and I don't sleep well until things settle after about 3 weeks. It knocks my whole body out of whack and I don't know if breast tenderness is one of them because I read that anything that affects your hormone balance can affect breast tenderness?

Cooper27 profile image
Cooper27 in reply to Saltwater

Be sure you're wearing the right bra size. I used a calculator like this to find mine recently, was surprised to discover I'm an E, as I've always been wearing C cups with a bigger back. You may find it wasn't cup size that needed to change, but back size.

mybrasizecalculator.com/

Saltwater profile image
Saltwater in reply to Cooper27

Thank you. I will take a look. I've always struggled to find a bra that fits properly but now it's even more important than ever to take care of yourself.

Cooper27 profile image
Cooper27 in reply to Saltwater

I have too! But the bra calculator is really helpful :)

One tip they gave was to try the bra on back to front at first (with the cups at your back), so you can see how well the back strap fits first off. Once you get the back strap right, then you can twist the bra round to start focusing on the cups.

I only just did the calculator so I've not replaced all my bras yet, and I am noticing boob pain when I wear my old 36Cs (as recommended by a professional bra fitting service).

Lora7again profile image
Lora7again in reply to Saltwater

I wore a size 36 C for years and recently I found out after being measured that I am actually 36 DD ... I had been wearing the wrong size for years

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Saltwater

You will see on here, the majority of Hashimoto's patients have low vitamin levels

Hashimoto's frequently badly affects the gut. Poor nutrient absorption results in low vitamin levels. Regardless of how good our diets are

You could get vitamin D test now £29

vitamindtest.org.uk

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/286...

Vitamin D deficiency is frequent in Hashimoto's thyroiditis and treatment of patients with this condition with Vitamin D may slow down the course of development of hypothyroidism and also decrease cardiovascular risks in these patients. Vitamin D measurement and replacement may be critical in these patients.

endocrine-abstracts.org/ea/...

Evidence of a link between increased level of antithyroid antibodies in hypothyroid patients with HT and 25OHD3 deficiency may suggest that this group is particularly prone to the vitamin D deficiency and can benefit from its alignment.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/186...

There is a high (approx 40%) prevalence of B12 deficiency in hypothyroid patients. Traditional symptoms are not a good guide to determining presence of B12 deficiency. Screening for vitamin B12 levels should be undertaken in all hypothyroid patients, irrespective of their thyroid antibody status. Replacement of B12 leads to improvement in symptoms

Folate supplements can help lower homocysteine

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Levothyroxine can decrease serum homocysteine level partly; still its combination with folic acid empowers the effect. Combination therapy declines serum homocysteine level more successfully.

Low ferritin frequent in hypothyroidism

endocrineweb.com/profession...

lisabax profile image
lisabax

Personally i would never ignore breast pain, especially if it is unusual for you. I would get it checked out. I say this because I developed shooting pains in my breast in 2004 which turned out to be a precancerous condition that I have had monitored. I was on thyroxine only at the time, but had been on it for while so I didn’t associate the pain with increased doses of T4 and immediately went to my GP for a referral. Have you mentioned it to your GP?

Saltwater profile image
Saltwater in reply to lisabax

Hi Lisabax, sorry to hear that. Yes, I have mentioned it to my GP but she didn't think too much of it and nodded that it was probably due to me being untreated for hypothyroid at the time. I am due in soon so I will bring it up again. Breast tenderness is not unusual for me, but the flare ups are certainly a little more uncomfortable than usual. I am being treated for stress and anxiety/depression and me and my stress don't mix well. I am just tired of eating well, taking care of myself and still feeling like crap. Things seem to settle after a few weeks of changing my dose but then they come back again when she changes it. She said I am obviously very sensitive to the Levo but there doesn't seem to be too much connected to breast pain and thyroid except for vitamin deficiency related issues.

Paulannttsmn profile image
Paulannttsmn in reply to Saltwater

Hi just noticed your post on breast pain, this is currently happening to me, so nice to know I am not alone, shooting pains across one breast and then with increase of Levo (only taking this as getting on ok with it at mo) now happening in both breasts. Mine also settles down after some weeks go by. I try not to worry about it, as I feel if it was something to be concerned about, I would have had it regardless of being on Levo or not, so I put it down to those lovely things called hormones.

Saltwater profile image
Saltwater in reply to Paulannttsmn

Yeah, there definitely feels like a connection. I often have some degree of niggles or tenderness but I have a noticeable increase alongside dose changes. My GP said that fluctuations in hormones can trigger episodes of breast pain. It's weird how it always settles after a few weeks so seems connected in some way. Mine is also both breasts which is somewhat reassuring. I will have a chat about it at my next appt. My mum had breast cancer twice in close succession so I qualify for early screening my GP says. I haven't noticed the discomfort for weeks until the Levo was increased and this pattern has been going on since January off and on. Hope you feel better soon too.

Paulannttsmn profile image
Paulannttsmn in reply to Saltwater

Sorry late reply, Yes both breasts is reassuring, hope you feel better too

purpanda profile image
purpanda

I have been getting breast pain recently too, but not for the same reasons. I have been on NDT (NP Thyroid, to be specific), and apparently there has been a change to the drug over the summer. I started feeling hypo and didnt know it was due to drug changes until I did some research online and saw that everyone was experiencing a return of hypo symptoms on the same drug. Anyway, aside from breast pain, I also have chest pain. Both come and go throughout the day, and never at the same time, and not after taking my medication. Not sure if this comment is at all helpful but thought I’d share.

Saltwater profile image
Saltwater in reply to purpanda

I wish they would tell people when they change the medication. Everybody should be updated. It is so simple to keep people informed these days but we are all kept in the dark.

I am glad that you managed to figure out what was causing yours. I hope you have had some relief. I am pre menopausal so it is really hard to know what is causing it as I haven't managed to get my thyroid levels settled yet either and I'm pretty sure I am undernourished due to the autoimmune disease and it can all lead to breast pain. It's so hard because I can't tell if it is in my chest, my muscles, my ribs, my breasts.....it's all the same sort of area and the aches and pains move around and are quite diffuse at times.

Best wishes to you.

purpanda profile image
purpanda in reply to Saltwater

I get you. I used to think I had a multitude of physical and mental health issues, (from insomnia to anxiety) until one day I connected the dots and realized being hypothyroid is what is causing all these health problems and they are all inter-related. When I was at my worst, I had horrible joint pain too, but that eased up after I increased my NDT dosage.

When I am under-medicated, I get a lot of infections, be it UTI or fungal. Sorry, not trying to be gross. I'm also hungry all the time and of course have water retention.

When I was slightly overmedicated, I was always thirsty, my right ribs would hurt and I would have an increased urgency to urinate.

I can tell the difference between my chest and breast pain. The breast pain starts from the sides and radiate towards the center. Whereas my chest pain is right where the sternum is, smack dab in the middle.

Perhaps your heart is responding to the surge in hormones and can't tolerate the increase yet. In that case, it is suggested to work on getting your iron levels up first...along with the other recommendations :)

It takes a while to get settled. It's still work in progress for me. Hope you get it figured out soon too.

Saltwater profile image
Saltwater in reply to purpanda

OMG, yes. That's all the same crap I go through, random body aches all over, joint pain, chest pain, rib pain, can't sleep or if I do, I have nightmares, not to mention terrible anxiety and subsequent depression. It's been over a year now since my first diagnosis and I am trying really hard to get right with all of this. I currently have a lung and a gastric infection out of nowhere. They found them after I had 2 massive panic attacks (again out of the blue) and went to the emergency room to be checked out. Now I am on PPI stomach meds which are probably the opposite to what I need because I am pretty sure I have low stomach acid.

Honestly, it gets me down. I am humble and don't mind my turn to be sick. I accept illness when it comes, but the doctors are useless and pass all the problems and stress back to me because they say just take your levo and I can't get any answers or anything to work with. I honestly feel we have to get ourselves out of this. They give you the diagnosis and that's it. The rest is up to us. Hence this forum!

You don't need to do anything else, the doctor says, just levo. Well clearly I do because I was depressed and tired before my diagnosis but after 'treatment' I am even worse off.

Hopefully things will settle when the levels get right and I can rid myself of these infections. Trouble is, I know I am vulnerable to things right now and I personally think I have had them a while. I can't shake them off. I've had a cough for 5 years and they won't treat it. They won't give me antibiotics or anything for these infections so I feel stuck with them.

I can always tell the sternum pain. That is very obvious as you say. I get like a gnawing, droning aching pain. Sometimes it's not even pain, it's just generalised aches. Other times, I get small shooting pains. I get some relief from evening primrose oil from the breast pain but there is other muscle style pains from within, like underneath that hurt too.

I think having all the pain in this area for a year and in and out of the doctors without any answers led to the panic attacks. That, and the fact that I didn't know I had gastric infection and was feeling really tight in my upper stomach/chest from that. I had the thought, 'gosh my chest feels really tight'...and the next thing I know, I am in an ambulance.

I really could cope with all of this far more if I just got some answers. I am good with pain, I can handle pain. But I need to know what's causing it. Then I can be in a position to fix it and work with it.

purpanda profile image
purpanda in reply to Saltwater

You must be feeling very overwhelmed and helpless. From what I know, there is some overlap between hypo and hyper symptoms (anxiety, and insomnia, hunger, pain), which all stem from having either too much or too little thyroid hormones. We have to apply the goldilocks principle and have just the right amount.

The thing is, every single cell in your body needs thyroid hormones to order to function properly. Imagine not having enough of those hormones going to cells in a particular organ, joint, body part, you name it. Not to mention all of our organs work in tandem, so if one isn't functioning up to par, it starts effecting another... I'm no expert but hopefully you get the idea.

Funny, because before my diagnosis, I used to have the most horrible chest pain too and landed in the ER once. The EKG was normal and the doctor attributed it to stress. Later, another doctor who properly diagnosed me said my Hashi gave me a mitral valve prolapse. I don't know if it causes pain or anything.

Most doctors can't seem to find a discernible cause for your problems because there's probably no disease affecting the area (and believe me, I've been labeled a worry wart and hypochondriac myself). But the reality is, our body is a fine tuned machine, and the thyroid hormones are like the engine oil (or battery), and if you are running your car without either , random parts start breaking down, and you start feeling very ill. My analogy could be absurd so anyone can feel free to correct me. I think I read it somewhere long ago and I am regurgitating from memory.

It will take time, and hopefully you'll get better sooner than later!

Saltwater profile image
Saltwater in reply to purpanda

I think your analogy is perfect and I relate to it very well. Thank you for sharing. My story is much like yours. If you look through my profile this year, all it is is ECG's palpitations, panic attacks, chest pain, rib pain, pins and needles, gastric issues, anxiety, depression and so on....Believe me, I don't enjoy talking about illness. I am sick of hearing myself say that I don't feel well. I think GP's don't pay enough attention to this condition because people can still go to work and can try and carry on just because they have to. They consider it to be fixed once you take the Levo. It is like some sort of magic wand. Except it's a crap magic show because it doesn't work. Symptoms do not disappear but your sanity does!

I am so blessed to have found this forum. I have learned so much and am so grateful to be in the company of so many helpful people. It really is true, it is best taken from the horse's mouth so to speak, from those who know the condition because they live with it, not because they learnt it from a book. Perhaps if doctors learnt to listen, they wouldn't have given me PPI's to reduce my already depleted supply of stomach acid.

Let's just say I put those back in the draw. I just know that's not my issue because that is not how I feel. So many illness have the same or similar symptoms but that's why it is important to listen to people, but doctors can't do that in a '5 minute, 1 problem only appointment'. (as stated over my GP's door!!)

I kid you not.

purpanda profile image
purpanda in reply to Saltwater

Same here on feeling blessed to find this forum. I'm finding a wealth of information I otherwise wouldn't have if I just ran a google search. You might have to find a doctor that is willing to work with you. They do exist however few and far between.

Frenchee2019 profile image
Frenchee2019 in reply to purpanda

Is Uti related with hashimoto?

So is breast disconfort?

Thank you Purpanda!

purpanda profile image
purpanda in reply to Frenchee2019

Hi Frenchee, not sure if UTI is related to Hashimoto’s but when you are hypothyroid, your core body temperature tends to be lower, and your body can become a host to all sorts of fungal or bacterial infections. I think the breast pain may be hormone related because the thyroid affects your sex hormones.

I have the pain in my armpit. Was told by consultant to take Evening Primrose Oil.

purpanda profile image
purpanda

Hi Saltwater, a couple days ago, healthful member on here provided a link to a Canadian blog with very eye-opening and informative articles. I started reading older blog posts and came across this one, which talks about Reverse T3:

thyroidpatients.ca/2018/07/...

Here's a snippet further down the blog post:

In addition, if thyroid symptoms worsen, especially cardiovascular symptoms like chest pain, within 1-2 days after a T4 dose is increased, that is a sign of acute T3 depletion via hormone inactivation, triggered by a T4 dose above your individual set point and/or illness.

Low Free T3 can create heart and stroke symptoms that mimic Excess Free T3 (See “Low T3’s effects on the cardiovascular system“.) When T3 levels are extremely low below reference range, this is just as damaging to the cardiovascular system and vascular integrity as excess T3.

If you notice this effect after it happened, now you know why.

If you suspect Reverse T3 based on these signs, raising your T4 dose can be very dangerous, especially if you have a weakened cardiovascular system due to long-term T3 insufficiency!

Now we shouldn't jump to conclusions and make a claim that your chest pain is caused by T3 depletion, but I highly suggest your doctor get your Reverse T3 tested to eliminate that possibility! The whole article, heck all the articles on the website are worth reading. They are science based and some of the terminology goes over my head, but the author does a good job of imparting education. Thanks to Cat68 for linking us to the original article.

Saltwater profile image
Saltwater in reply to purpanda

Thank you so much for sharing this. It really is an eye opener. I see that acute levels of stress for prolonged periods can cause this strange phenomenon. I don't think I have ever heard of this before. I have to wonder what goes on with me because these symptoms occur every time I increase dose and the pain worsens and the chest is tight.

I thought it could just be the excess nervous energy but it also could be what you describe.

I mean, I am a recovering gambling addict. (20 years of hell) but have been clean for 2 years now. Unfortunately, quitting gambling didn't resolve my problems because the stress remains. I have a LOT of debt and worries and the hashi diagnosis last year was at the height of my depression and anxiety. I think mostly, because giving up gambling didn't make the pain go away. I have to live with the mess I made for all of us and some days it does make me ill. I wasted all that time with the children and it kills me inside. I was so tormented and buried myself in the gambling.

The stress of all this illness on top has been difficult because that hasn't been resolved either. It is all still up in the air. I went in with frequent urination initially and they did blood tests, found the hashi, but doctor's weren't able to find anything wrong with the bladder and the tablets didn't work so I am stuck with going 30 odd times a day.

I had hoped that the hashi diagnosis might have resolved the depression and tiredness but it didn't and has created lots of other problems on top.

All that and the recent stomach and lung infections led to the panic attacks that put me in hospital. Honestly, I feel like I am losing my mind sometimes. I am absolutely fine with pain. I can deal with it. ( I have learnt that through years of hiding my addiction) Mental pain is something that I am used to, having had depression and anxiety for 30 years but I can't take all the uncertainty and lack of answers with illness.

I gave up gambling to be well but instead I have more issues to deal with and I still have all the same problems that led me to gamble plus the debt to boot so it wouldn't surprise me if my body is refusing to convert hormones properly. Personally, I think my entire body is throwing a strop these days!

I think I will have a hard time getting doctors to check for reverse T3. They won't even check my vitamin levels. I see there is a comprehensive 12 part test on Medichecks that looks for this as well as deficiencies though it is a bit pricey for my shoestring budget.

I am due in to clinic soon and will mention this. I know they will just pester me and moan because I keep going in with symptoms but am still alternating because I have to increase so slowly. They moaned at me last time when I had to go to ER and said the GP said take 75mcg and you aren't listening. You need to do as you are instructed and then these symptoms will clear up. Maybe they will, maybe they won't, but in the meantime, I feel dreadful when I increase and am only just starting to settle on the increase after a month of alternating but they will expect me to be taking 75mcg daily.

That was a very interesting read. Thank you again for thinking of me. That's more than I get from my extended family!

((hugs))

purpanda profile image
purpanda

Thanks for being brave and sharing your story. I'm sorry you're going through such a difficult time! On the bright side, congrats on staying clean for 2 years! That in itself is a remarkable feat! Unfortunately, stress can absolutely wreak havoc and cause Hashimoto's. Financial stress is the most burdensome. I know because I've been there! I graduated into the US recession and acquired a mortgage debt from a death in the family. I had my own student loans to worry about and couldn't find a job in that economy. My story is long and too boring to share but my point is, many of us are born with the genetic susceptibility for certain diseases, and external factors such as trauma or prolonged stress activates the disease.

Source here:

restartmed.com/types-of-has...

If doctors aren't willing to help you, you'll have to run the private tests yourself. It may cost a pretty penny, but we should all prioritize our own health and find out what's really going on. Once you take back control of your health, then can you tackle the other problems. You know there have reports that having adequate T3 helps with depression and anxiety, so once you are adequately treated, you may perhaps find yourself in a mental position more equipped to deal with these problems.

((hugs back)).

Saltwater profile image
Saltwater in reply to purpanda

Thank you for your kindness. Yes, I am very lucky to be out. I consider myself very fortunate despite the debt. Many are still struggling with addiction.

I am very sorry that you too had to go through financial difficulty. I hope things are much brighter for you now. You are right about the genetics too and thank you for sharing the article.

Losing money is nothing compared to losing time. I am still grateful that it happened because it made me strong and mindful and now I can also help others for having had such a low time in my life. I believe that obstacles are put in our way to challenge us to rise above them and when we do, we come out stronger. In finding my weakness, I also found my strengths.

I have read a lot about T3 and how it can help. I will see how my levels have come up this time, if at all. I seem to cycle between being under and over treated, even though I am steadily increasing. I am going to start putting some money by for the tests just in case the GP's refuse flat. You are right though about taking control of your health. Doctors can only do so much. Strangely enough, my daughter started on levo a few months after me. She is diabetic type 1 and never reported any cardiac issues or chest pain before being 'treated' for hypothyroid. Since then she has had an Echo, multiple ecg's and similar pain in chest and ribs as me. The doctor's say it's not thyroid related and said it's anxiety but it didn't start until she started on levo and she has always had some level of anxiety.

Seems odd that both of us have very similar issues with the chest pain that were not present before the hypo diagnosis yet are 'not related symptoms'.

purpanda profile image
purpanda in reply to Saltwater

You're right, lost time cannot be made up, that's why we need to take control of the present :)

What is happening to your daughter is not a simple coincidence. I think the anxiety will taper off once the T3 levels are optimal.

overunbykids profile image
overunbykids

I had a hysterectomy in Feb (I kept my ovaries, so still "cycle") to stop the extreme blood loss and debilitating pain that went with it. I have always gotten sore breasts in the few days to a week leading up to my period, followed by 3 days of being bedridden with migraine at the onset of my period. Snce the op, though, I now get weeks of really sore breasts, ending in the 3 days of worsened migraine.

When my thyroid levels are not good. the breast pain and pms symptoms are much worse. I also clench my teeth and suffer jaw and neck pain when my levels are not good.

it has been an ongoing struggle since the op, although I did need a 2nd surgery after the hysterectomy as I had internal bleeding and infection that became sepsis. It then progressed into septic shock and I nearly died). I then went on to need a surgical hernia repaired 3 months later, so I am not sure if that is the reason for my increase in pms symptoms, or if it has to do with the thyroid. I thought I would mention it as your symptoms sound similar to mine.

Saltwater profile image
Saltwater in reply to overunbykids

That sounds absolutely awful for you. I hope things have gotten a little easier. The pattern of breast pain and headaches sound very similar. I would also get the headache thing, except it would be very routine, 5 day headache. 3 days of normal migraine and 2 days of icepick headaches. It always followed that pattern and no medication would make them go away. I just had to ride them out. A change of diet and more exercise has helped with the headaches but it is always difficult to exercise well with the breast pain and I had to spend £90 on a really good sports bra just so I could try and lose some weight. Having smaller boobs does seem to have helped somewhat but it might be more about being healthier than just breast size as I was 2 stone overweight and sitting a lot with depression and addiction issues. Evening primrose also seems to keep the pain back a bit but it is very much still there. Sometimes it feels like it is in the breast, other times it feels in the ribs and deep within the muscle tissue. It is very hard to locate and sometimes it feels right in the middle on the sternum.

I also do the clenching thing and often wake up with aching jaw and a sore mouth too because I bite my cheeks sometimes in my sleep. I used to do the gasping for air thing where you hold your breath while you are asleep but I have not been like that for a while.

Doctor thinks it is anxiety.

I am due a blood test soon and will be able to see how things are going.

I actually feel more like they have gone lower despite the increase. The tiredness and poor mood is back and itchy dry skin and the pins and needles have returned with a vengeance.

I sincerely hope you have good health for the future. I think you have had your fair share of illness. Thank you for your thoughtful reply.

Saltwater profile image
Saltwater

Yes, it makes sense that hormones are linked. That was my thoughts also. It's pretty darn painful, though. Some days are fine, others are like OMG, I don't even want to take my bra off. I only wear soft bras now but the pain persists. I didn't know if the wiring was adding pressure to it but it's not helped. The pain is dull and achey, droney and sometimes stabby and gnawing. I can't locate it. It's really here there and everywhere! I suppose that's more reassuring than pain in just one location.

Hope you get some relief too. Evening primrose oil keeps it manageable but it is still there.

ilyfunnybunny profile image
ilyfunnybunny

I know this post is a bit old, but I wanted to chime in for anyone who might stumble onto it later.

I experienced breast pain for the first time after my TT. I was fine on 125mcg, but when doctors gradually lowered my dose down to 100mcg in order to raise my TSH (I know, yay), I started experiencing all kinds of symptoms that sent me into a PANIC. The breast pain was one of the most distressing, as my first thought was breast cancer.

But over the last three years I've had it checked out multiple times via palpation, ultrasound, and even a mammogram, and there has never been any evidence of a problem, not even a cyst. It really is just random pain, sometimes an electrical shock feeling, sometimes achy or painful to the touch. The pain disappeared while I was on my highest dose of NDT, and has reappeared briefly while readjusting to Synthroid.

I've since found a few articles online describing how hypothyroidism can induce breast pain...

Just thought I'd share, as I wish I would've known this a few years ago. Would have saved me a lot of stress!

SuperDayz profile image
SuperDayz

Hello, I am experiencing similar symptoms but mine is way more prominent on my left side. I got an ultrasound November 2017 and today I had 3D mammogram and another ultrasound that came out fine. Nothing- no cysts. I do have dense breast tissue. I was diagnosed Hashimotos last year. I was right at that line to dx and was able to reverse my hashimotos. I felt like I still had breast pain (left side) but to a lower extent. Since November and after abandoning my supplements and AIP paleo diet, I think sent me into a tailspin. My hips hurt and lower back but I am focused on my breast because its worrisome. It ahes, all through my period and depending on days I ovulate and I have to hold it up to get relief ( I am a 34 B perky boobs) but feel like a D cup some days. My right breast acts up and feels itchy and achy and heavy but my left side has all the wonkiness. My nipple sesnsitivity and pain can be high some months, sometimes I notice its erect with little stimulation. It is sensitive in the shower and if someone brushes up on me. I have to hold it up with my arm or by my bra strap for relief from the pain. I have chest pressure but don't know if its related. I also have sensation changes on that breast and no one can give me answer. I am glad its not cancer but a part me still cant believe one boob can cause this much havoc and it not be cancerous. My left breast also larger than my right. I bought evening primrose oil and ordered an MRI scan because I just cant accept that one breast is so affected.

Saltwater profile image
Saltwater in reply to SuperDayz

Sorry to hear you are in so much discomfort with this. I can certainly relate, although mine is very similar both sides. I also have the chest heaviness and sometimes it's hard to know if it is breast pain or chest/heart pain, hence all my ecg's, panic attacks etc...all investigation so far reveals nothing, but pain is prominent and I have tried to lose weight especially to help with breast size as sometimes, I feel like I can't even bend over or take off my bra. Last year, I was an e cup, now I am c/d. I am not totally sure that reducing breast size has helped.

The ligaments are also very tender, where the breast joins the shoulder. I could cry sometimes, it is so painful but it varies a lot too. Left side is probably worst, because that's where I find myself holding a lot, and also under the breast, along the bra line is very painful with a sort of electric shock pain in the side. There is also nipple pain, burning, sensitivity, etc no sign of any visible issues. My left breast is also bigger, maybe half a cup size. I thought that losing weight might help even them up a bit, but not really...However, this has always been the case since I was a teen, so I am not worried about size and it's only really noticeable to me.

I am probably coming around to the pre menopause, but have no idea because I am birth control pills and never see a period on them anyway. The evening primrose oil helps, I feel because if I forget to take it, it flares up worse.

Sometimes, I sit with a hot water bottle on the breast because of the pain. That always offers comfort. I have lost just over 2 stone since getting my diagnosis and I feel I was way over weight before, not realising how much my system had slowed down with the Hashi.

Over a year in, I don't feel that much better, many symptoms persist. The one thing that has improved is tiredness but the brain fog is prominent along with intermittent depression and I am still freezing all the time, often under blankets and clinging to hot water bottles!

On my next visit, I am going to ask for a mammogram because so far, they have focused on the chest/heart rather than the breast. I also worry about cancer as my mum has twice had breast cancer so they say I can have early screening.

It is very good to know that nothing serious is wrong, but when the symptoms are still present, it is still worrisome as they only really tell you what it's not, rather than what is causing it.

Hope you get some relief soon. xx

SuperDayz profile image
SuperDayz

Hi Saltwater, sorry to hear you are also in so much pain. I had my MRI results given to me today and no abnormalities. I think its wise to get it checked just to be diligent but I think a lot of this the drs hve no answer for sometimes. I have heard women suffering until menopause. I cant accept that I am going to try massages and supplements but I don't want to have this for twenty more years!

HowNowWhatNow profile image
HowNowWhatNow

Am reviving an old thread here because I’m also suffering from breast pain and have been for the last 3 months and just hadn’t joined the dots to its - potentially being - connected to my hypothyroid issues. Auto-correct wanted me to type “joy thyroid issues”, if only.

Not really a question as such, more of a nudge to anyone who goes through the same types of breast pain to 1. recount it and 2. explain how you and your GP / specialist manage to rule out anything “more sinister” and accept it as merely being tied to your thyroid - by which I think we all mean “cancer”, so we should probably all say “rule out cancer”,” by now, or should we? - and 3. say if anything (evening primrose seems very popular, above) helps the pain abate.

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