Hashimotos pain or the start if Rheumatoid arthritis?

[Nessynu]

Anyone with Hashimotos get crippling lower back pain? I've had its of symptoms ranging from brain fog, fatigue, loss of feeling in my leg etc but the last 3 days I've had really sore upper back pain and now it's my lower back that's very sore. I'm not optimal on my medication yet as I'm awaiting a prescription for T3 only but could these pains indicate that my hashimotos is progressing or maybe it's the start of Rheumatoidarthritis as I've niggley pains in my my knuckles, fingers and ankles. I've never had pain other than a swollen sore neck since my diagnosis.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Low vitamin D is extremely common when under medicated

Gluten intolerance can cause bad joint pain too

[Nessynu in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you Slow Dragon. I should be able to get thyroid and vitamins tested soon now that some restrictions are easing.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Nessynu]

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking, if any?

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

Low B12 might be cause of lack of feeling in legs

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 third or half 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?

Frequently GP only tests TSH

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Medichecks often have special offers, if order on Thursdays

Thriva Thyroid plus vitamins

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

[Nessynu in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks Slow Dragon. I've tried the at home finger prick blood test but I can't seem to draw enough blood or it was coagulated by e time the lab received it so I'm trying to source someone for a blood draw in Ireland as both my GP and Endo have said I'm fine which is a joke to be honest. They never have or will test anything other than TSH and T4 as I'm sure your all to familier with. So I have found a functional thyroid Dr that works between the UK and Ireland but I haven't found anyone yet for z blood draw.