Muscle weakness… again.

[Murphysmum]

So this is something I’ve struggled with for a long time now.

It has disappeared at times, most recently when I was on 60mcg T3 only but after a few months that dose proved to be too high, and I was getting breathless, so I dropped it again to 57mcg.

So now the muscle weakness is back, and I’m back worrying about it. I’m going for hip surgery in June, and whilst I’m quite cardio fit, I’ve lost all my strength over the last few years, despite my best efforts. I have no muscle tone anywhere except my food thigh now!

I’ll need to be on crutches for a good few weeks, and need more core strength anyway to be able to compensate after the op so I’m trying to build myself up again a little. But even small, physio directed beginner level exercises leave me shaking after seconds. This isn’t normal, surely? For a fit, active 45 yo? Granted I’m not a gym bunny, but I’m a cyclist, gardener (ie weilding hedge trimmers etc) and I generally just get stuck in to diy etc. I’m no couch potato.

So is this normal, or should I be seeing my endo about this? All my vits n mins are good, I supplement everything, thyroid levels are good although I wish I could take a slightly higher dose.

What do I do? I suspect my hormones (female!) aren’t helping, maybe if I get those optimal, the rest will follow, even on a lower dose? What does everyone think?

This is scary 😞

[golfmargaret]

What do you mean by ‘dose was too high’

[Murphysmum in reply to golfmargaret]

I developed breathlessness. Not immediately but over time, maybe about three months. To the point I did covid tests as I was convinced I had something.

Dropped the dose and within days it was gone

[M33R4]

I am also breathless. Currently on Levothyroxine and also HRT so not had my levels right for a long time and still working towards that and because it's a 6 week wait between each meds adjustment, this takes a long long time to get right.

I went back to the gym a few months ago (before Hashi I was a gym nut and into strength training with heavy weights) and was regaining my strength but a kidney infection knocked me for 6 in December and it's only this morning that I dragged myself to the gym.

I get breathless climbing 13 steps in my house and I walk slow when out and about, lagging behind my husband.

Some days I feel less breathless but those are rare days.

I hope to find an answer like you.

Best wishes.

[Murphysmum in reply to M33R4]

Feeling your pain! It’s taken me 4 years and many many changes of meds and a migration over to T3 only to get here.Stick with it, you’ll get there and it’s better done slowly so you find the right point for you.

I’d suggest n your case (though I’m no expert, just been there) that your breathlessness is just because you’re not optimal. I’ve had that too but on T3 it was very different - it would just happen spontaneously whilst doing nothing, as well as with exercise. Took me a while to work it out for that reason.

Pain in the bum though because otherwise I felt amazing on that dose!

[Karen3hob in reply to Murphysmum]

How long did it take you to come off t4 ,how much t3 are you taking now

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You will need to forewarn anaesthetist that your blood test results will be abnormal on T3 ….or you risk the surgery being cancelled at last minute

[Murphysmum in reply to SlowDragon]

Ooh, that’s good to know - thank you! I have already mentioned to the consultant that this is that case.

Interestingly at an earlier meeting I had told him that I felt the thyroid issues and the muscle weakness had accelerated my problems, and whilst he didn’t disagree he asked if that was all sorted now. I said yes as at the time I felt great and had no weakness - now it’s back I’m wondering more why he asked.

[M33R4]

I tried T3 only in 2019 but my T3 blood tests showed it was too high:

8.1 pmol/L - Normal range is 3.1 - 6.8

I am in the process of tweaking my Levo and adding T3 to see if I feel any better

[Hedgeree]

Hi Murphysmum,

What are your vitamin D levels?

I know from my own experience when I had a severe deficiency I had no strength in my arms, my muscles were very weak. I also had pain and discomfort too.

It may be worthwhile getting your levels checked.

Best wishes.

[Murphysmum in reply to Hedgeree]

Well annoyingly I just had bloods done by the gp - first time in about 3 years I’ve not gone private - and whilst complaining of fatigue, muscle weakness, etc etc they didn’t check vit d, or b12, or ferritin 🤷🏼‍♀️

However, the last time I checked them privately they were 90-something - not great but significantly up on where they had been. I’ve supplemented ever since (about a year) so they should be ok.

[Hedgeree in reply to Murphysmum]

That's a bit annoying that the gp didn't think it wise to check them with your symptoms.

Hope you find the cause soon.

Best wishes.

[serenfach]

I would do a private test for Vit D (the NHS does not like doing this one), add ferritin, B12 and iron, and if they do one Zinc. Then you know if it is the T3 or other stuff and can correct it as necessary. Good luck with the op.

[FancyPants54]

You are almost certainly perimenopausal by now and that will be having a big impact on muscles. Your hormone levels will be changing all the time and having to manage thyroid as well won't make this easier.

Have a read on the balance.co.uk web site. It was the menopausedoctor.co.uk but they have rebranded it. There is so much information there. Written and podcasts and video. It sounds like you need HRT now to try to help reduce the impact of the surging and falling hormones. You might also need testosterone. Trouble is you will probably only get that at your age if you go privately to a specialist.