Random aches and pains

[peskythyroid]

Hi All! I was diagnosed with hashimotos/under active thyroid December 2018. Since then my mother in law died suddenly of a heart attack and i had weird feelings and pains pretty much everywhere in my body (including chest pains so a few infuriating trips to A & E!) I was sure the medication was causing the problems and so gp/endocrine spec. Have been playing around with my meds since. I am now seemingly on a stable dose of 50mcg, bloods showing normal. I didn't really have any symptoms before diagnosis apart from a goiter and I almost feel like the meds have messed my body up and my head too. I am constantly thinking the worst about the feelings I have in my body. Does anyone have any good recommendations for any particular exercises that could help general stiffness, aches and pains.

[Hidden]

Hi there, aches and pains are a symptom of untreated hypothyroidism. When I first became hypothyroid I had aches in my glutes, my abdominals and shoulders. This did all resolve as got onto a better dose of thyroid meds. You might want to check your thyroid hormone levels and see if you are on the right dose. Others on this site can advise about vitamins and minerals. My experience is that no amount of stretching or exercise relieves pain if you are under medicated. But do check with your GP in case there is another potential cause.

Michael

[Jazzw]

What do you mean by “normal” bloods? Blood test results that are within the laboratory reference range? Because we often find that isn’t optimal.

Also, with Hypothyroidism goes the tendency for our Vit D, Vit B12, folate and ferritin levels to plummet. Low levels of any one of those may be causing the symptoms you describe.

If you have any blood test results would you consider posting them here?

50mcg levothyroxine is only a starter dose. It usually isn’t enough.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

50mcg levothyroxine is only a starter dose

Anxiety is common hypothyroid symptom

do you have any actual blood test results? if not will need to get hold of copies.

You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.

The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results

UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.

In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.

Important to see exactly what has been tested and equally important what hasn’t been tested yet

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Ask GP to test vitamin levels

You may need to get full Thyroid testing privately as NHS refuses to test TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are negative

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)

If/when also on T3, make sure to take last 1/2 or 1/3rd of daily 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

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

For thyroid including antibodies and 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

The aim of Levothyroxine is to increase the dose slowly in 25mcg steps upwards until TSH is under 2 (many need TSH significantly under one) and most important is that FT4 is in top third of range and FT3 at least half way through range

NHS guidelines on Levothyroxine including that most patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine.

nhs.uk/medicines/levothyrox...

Also what foods to avoid (eg recommended to avoid calcium rich foods at least four hours from taking Levo)

All four vitamins need to be regularly tested and frequently need supplementing to maintain optimal levels

[legsgran]

I just want to say that most of my symptoms of hypothyroid (gastro problems, IBS, fibromyalgia ( muscle aches), fatigue), came when I came off steroids after a hospital stay a few years ago. But then last year I nursed my Mum for weeks as she was dying, and exactly a week afterwards I had a TIA (mini stroke). Ever since then my symptoms have got a lot worse, specially the aches and pains, and also I started having a lot of anxiety. Stress, and particularly grief, I am convinced, do make things a lot worse, especially if you have an underlying thyroid issue. Just wanted to say to be kind to yourself, have lots of rest, and make sure you have people to support you, as well as doing detective work about your vitamins and thyroid. Also, your adrenals are all part of the hormonal system, and i find I can cope far less easily with stress now, and have to take things much slower and gentler. May not be the case for you, but just speaking from my experience. x

[Kim327 in reply to legsgran]

I have Graves And sound the same symptoms as you. Thyroid they say is normal and off meds. However, I was also out on steroids for severe sinus, head and neck pain for about 2 weeks last summer. Now I have bad gasto issues and had been diagnosed gastritis with a CT scan and endoscopy. I just lost a ton of weight. Everything I eat doesn’t stay in me (without being graphic). Plus reflux. I was out on Dexilant but don’t want to take that stuff. I tried for a week. Not much of a difference.

Going through menopause. And have spotting from fibroids. TriedHRT but weaning off now. I don’t want drugs. I just want to do all this menopause naturally. Had a D&c and biopsy 3 weeks ago all normal and benign.

All vitamins are good levels and checked.

Stress, anxiety etc is killing me. I can’t operate or ever want to leave the house. Of course I have too, but feels like my life is over at 48 yrs old and I still have young kids. (3 with the Youngest is 8 years old).

How did you get passed it??

[legsgran in reply to Kim327]

Oh I do feel for you. Steroids are evil, and do affect things, but I also had a dreadful time during the menopause. Was hideously irritable, depressed and anxious. It can drive you crazy. Some of us are more susceptible to hormonal changes I think, and it can be hell! To be honest, I couldn't take HRT for various reasons, but if it had helped would have grabbed it. Does it really not help at all? If not, perhaps Progesterone cream might? Have you tried that? Others may have suggestions, but all I can do to comfort you regarding menopause is that it does eventually balance, and your life will completely different. Be strong, and frankly, take whatever you can, and get whatever support you need, to help you through during this period, as it will pass. As to the gastro, I think most of it for me was stress. Meditation, healthy food, enough sleep (ha ha, with kids, I know) talking to good people, counselling, and screaming into the pillow are also useful! Swimming also helped me, but whatever makes you feel good (not too much booze or cake preferably :)). Good luck, have courage. xxx

[SilverAvocado]

50mcg is a starter dose /low dose of Levothyroxine (T4). It's quite common for these low doses to make people feel worse. It's enough hormone to disrupt the balances in your own body, but not enough to give meaningful replacement.

I think it's a difficult question if thyroid illness was picked up without any symptoms, and you feel you were completely well before starting on hormone. Symptoms are really more important than blood tests, so there is an argument that maybe you shouldn't be on any hormone replacement at all. I do think you need to be very careful because these symptoms can creep up on you, and things like anxiety and starting to step back a bit from your life are common early symptoms that people don't realise.

Difficulty coping with stress is a hypothyroid symptom, and things like a period of heavy stress can be a bit of a trigger for people realising they have thyroid illness and symptoms really coming on. In my experience I feel going through stress is very similar to energetic activity in how it impacts the body, and both are hard on hypo people.

[Kim327]

I have them too. I’m Graves but Off meds now. I don’t know how to get past them either. It’s my shoulders, hip and my left side. I also experience weird pains on my right. I wish I had answers. People told me vitamin levels are important, Magnesium spray may help too but I’m not an expert and I still have pain.

I just want you to know you’re not alone!

I’m trying meditation now. It does relax me but in need to do it every day. Tension, anxiety and stress can’t be helping us!

Feel better and hope you find answers too!!

[Batty1]

It’s possible to have developed some type of arthritis suddenly especially with a death in the family (stress) or common for some of us with thyroid disease.