Thyroid disease and bone loss

[Mag999]

My sister has been hypothyroid for 7 years or so and has recently discovered she has significant bone loss in her jaw. I know there are links between thyroxine use and osteoporosis, any experience out there of this, and treatment options. Stopping thyroxine not an option so how do people protect themselves from bone loss? I already have bone loss on dexa scan so am worried for myself too, but have only just started thyroxine.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Osteoporosis can be linked to being hypothyroid and under medicated.

You can’t assume it’s due to levothyroxine/over medication

How much levothyroxine is your sister currently taking

Low FT3, due to under medication and/or low vitamin levels and poor conversion can be linked to bone loss

Osteoporosis

thyroidpatients.ca/2018/07/...

Does she always get same brand of levothyroxine

Which brand

What vitamin supplements is she currently taking

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

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

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)

If/when also on T3, make sure to take last third or quarter 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 she does her tests?

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 antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Thriva also offer just vitamin testing

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

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

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

Vitamin D NHS postal kit

vitamindtest.org.uk