Stiff, painful swollen hands and feet

[Prezza45]

Has anyone experienced rheumatoid arthritis symptoms with Hashimotos?

I’ve read that if you have one autoimmune condition, you’re more likely to get others. I’ve never had any hand issues previously, but recently experienced a sudden onset of symptoms after reintroducing some foods while on the AIP diet. The change was literally overnight, within 24 hours, and symptoms have built up over the past 8 weeks to the point where movement is quite limited. Yet the rheumatologist refuses to acknowledge that food has anything to do with it. I am 38 so still relatively young for an arthritis diagnosis.

I’ve spoken to a friend who received an arthritis diagnosis, yet when her Hashimotos was optimally treated the problems disappeared. Has anyone experienced similar?

I was without medication for a period (at the agreement of my Consultant Endocrinologist, due to the fact I was feeling terrible on Levo). But this has shaken me up so I’ve paid to see a private thyroid specialist who has now started me on NDT. Currently at a low starting dose but will be building up over the coming weeks under his direction.

[shaws]

You are not too young to maybe developing rheumatoird arthritis as that can affect anyone of any age. You need appropriate blood tests or referral to a reumatoid specialist.

Now you are on NDT, and are improving it could be that this may resolve your pain etc. if it is caused by a problem with your thyroid gland, i.e. not issuing sufficient thyroid hormones.

All blood tests for thyroid hormones have to be at the earliest possible, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose and test and take it afterwards. This helps keep the TSH at its highest as that seems to be all doctors take notice of.

[Prezza45 in reply to shaws]

Thanks, yes having done a bit more reading I can see that this type of arthritis is not age restrictive! Yes I’ve had blood tests and x-rays done my hospital Rheumatology dept and they’ve formerly diagnosed it 😕

Yes I do wonder whether this is an effect of poorly treated and managed thyroid, although of course the rheumatologist will not have it or look further than his own specialism! 🙄Hoping my new private functional doctor will do just that!

Thanks for the heads up on the testing also 👍🏼😊

[shaws in reply to Prezza45]

Maybe the following advice from one of TUK's deceased Advisers will be helpful and read 'Safely Getting Well on Thyroid Hormones'.

naturalthyroidsolutions.com...

plus the other advice given.

The above doctor only took one blood test - for the patient's initial diagnosis - and thereafter it was tiny dose increases until symptoms were resolved.

[Marz]

Prior to Hashimotos diagnosis in 2005 - my finger and wrist joints were swollen and tender. All fine now !

[Prezza45 in reply to Marz]

Thank you, interesting to know! Did you have a formal arthritis diagnosis? And are you now on NDT?

[Marz in reply to Prezza45]

I am T3 only. I have had a diagnosis from time to time when I have had various MRI's/scans/x-rays on spine and hips. Click onto my username and you can read my Bio - won't take long 😥 Any condition ending in itis indicates inflammation so healing the gut can help...

[Prezza45 in reply to Marz]

Gosh you have been through it all! Glad you are on optimum meds now.

Yes my functional doc has put me on all the supplements! (am now rattling😂) and back on strict AIP for gut healing.

Did you ever get put on specific arthritis meds and if so how did you find them? They’re recommending DMARDS which seem to have a whole raft of unpleasant side effects! 😳

[Marz in reply to Prezza45]

Have not taken any prescribed meds apart from thyroid meds. I prefer to spend my limited funds on Acupuncture - physio - osteopathy - supplements 😎 More costly now I am in the UK !

[Batty1]

I had thyroidectomy for cancer and developed Psoriatic Arthritis shortly after the surgery I hurt from my toes to my hips with random pains in hands and back.....it just sucks.

[Prezza45 in reply to Batty1]

I’m sorry to hear that. It does indeed suck!!

Are you now on thyroid medication and if so what sort? Are you also on any arthritis meds and have you found them helpful/noted any negative side effects?

[Batty1 in reply to Prezza45]

I'm on 100mcg synthyroid and 10mcg cytomel which I split in two doses during the day and I inject monthly with immunosuppressive therapy and neither are a cure. I went from fit and healthy before thyroid cancer to fat and at times house bound due to the pain.

What I find worse for me is no one really understand psoriatic arthritis since its not just a bone arthritis it's also a tendon attacker and everyone thinks exercise is the fix.....I wished I could exercise like I did prior to Cancer and PSA.

[jgelliss in reply to Batty1]

Batty1 I'm so sorry your not feeling up to par. Not having our G-D's given thyroids puts us in a more challenging situation. I feel your pain .Did you try perhaps lowering your T3 and seeing how that feels. Some of us do better with more T4 and a much lower dose T3 . I'm one of them too. I need a very low dose NDT for my T3 mix with a higher dose T4. I'm not a good converter T4 to T3 and the T3 in the NDT helps to calm my palpitations . After my TT I was on Synthroid only and it caused me many side affects one of them was palpitations. Our hearts have T3 receptor sights. Many Dr's are not comfortable with dosing their patients with T3/NDT. Either they don't understand or they just don't want to bother with another thyroid med.

Batty1 please see to it that your on all the nutrients that help our thyroid meds work better for us . Read *SlowDragons* excellent posts on the nutrients. I further learned that Guts/liver/gallbladder have to be up to par they are also connected to our adrenals well-being . Our thyroid meds are converted by our liver /gallbladder/guts etc.

Wishing you Well-Being.

[jgelliss in reply to Batty1]

Are you dosing with T4 only or your dosing with some T3/NDT too?

[Batty1 in reply to jgelliss]

I'm on t4/t3 synthyroid and cytomel

[jgelliss in reply to Batty1]

Batty1 I was on Synthroid and didn't do well with it . I switched to Levoxyl and it made a huge difference for me. Cytomel was the first T3 that I tried and I felt the T3 run out with it . I switched to the NDT and it was a much smother way for me to have my T3 . Small tweaks I found made a big difference . Don't be afraid to try different things till you find what works *Best* for you.

Best Wishes.

[Prezza45 in reply to jgelliss]

Armour, so T4/T3 combo. But I’ve only been on it for one week so far at a low starting dose!

For 15 years prior, I was on Levothyroxine and always felt bad on it, hence the change in tack.

[Prezza45 in reply to Prezza45]

Sorry, just realised that message was for Batty1! 🤦🏼‍♀️