Osteoporosis

[Sewalot]

I would be interested in how many others , taking thyroxine for over 40 years, have oesteoporosis. Only diagnosed 3 years ago.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

I have been taking thyroxine for 47 years, I don't have osteoporosis .

Has someone told you that taking it leads to osteoporosis?

[Sewalot in reply to SeasideSusie]

When I was first diagnosed, before lockdown, I went to a local meeting of the Osteoporosis group, and lots of folk were also on levothyroxine. Bone loss is also mentioned in the leaflet that comes with the tablets.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Sewalot]

Well, we're all different but after 47 years it's not caused osteoporis in me. Lots of people get osteoporosis who don't take Levo.

Do you already have osteoporosis which is why you were at that meeting?

Have a read of the 7 myths of hypothyroidism, particularly the one about osteoporosis:

thyroiduk.org/further-readi...

and the synopsis of the study “Long-term Thyroxine Treatment and Bone Mineral Density” :

We have examined the effect of long-term thyroxine treatment in a large homogeneous group of patients; all had undergone thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid cancer but had no history of other thyroid disorders.

The 49 patients were matched with controls for age, sex, menopausal status, body mass index, smoking history, and calcium intake score; in all subjects, bone mineral density at several femoral and vertebral sites was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

Despite long-term thyroxine therapy (mean duration 7-9 [range 1-19] years) at doses (mean 191 [SD 50] þg/day) that resulted in higher serum thyroxine and lower serum thyrotropin concentrations than in the controls, the patients showed no evidence of lower bone mineral density than the controls at any site. Nor was bone mineral density correlated with dose, duration of therapy, or cumulative intake, or with tests of thyroid function. There was a decrease in bone density with age in both groups. We suggest that thyroxine alone does not have a significant effect on bone mineral density and hence on the risk of osteoporotic fractures.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

But are you correctly treated

Being left UNDER medicated on levothyroxine can result in LOW Ft3

Osteoporosis 

thyroidpatients.ca/2018/07/...

ALWAYS test thyroid levels early morning and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once a year

Low vitamin levels are extremely common on levothyroxine

Please add most recent vitamin results

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

[Sewalot in reply to SlowDragon]

Only vitamin D. I have always had a healthy diet.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Sewalot]

how good or bad our diet is immaterial

On levothyroxine/hypothyroid we frequently develop LOW stomach acid, this leads to poor nutrient absorption and low vitamin levels as direct result

Low vitamin levels tend to lower TSH, because conversion of Ft4 to Ft3 is poor. Results in higher Ft4 and lower Ft3

Low Ft3 extremely common on just levothyroxine especially if not maintaining OPTIMAL Vitamin levels

Low Ft3 implicated in osteoporosis

When supplementing vitamin D it’s important to also consider taking vitamin K2 mk7 and magnesium supplements too

Any magnesium supplements must be minimum 4 hours away from levothyroxine

Vitamin D tablets or gels also 4 hours away from levothyroxine

How much vitamin D are you currently taking

Do you have autoimmune thyroid disease (hashimoto’s’

[Sewalot in reply to SlowDragon]

Seems like I don't know much about what you are saying. I have an annual blood test.

All I have ever been told is that my thyroid is underactive.

I take 150 micrograms one day and 125 the next day, alternately.

Vitamin D 800 IU

I will take your advice about the 4 hours and other vitamins.

This happened after 3 pregnancies in 4 years. Around the age of 31 years.

wow, such a learning curve in old age! Thank you.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Sewalot]

So almost certainly autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto’s

800iu is tiny dose vitamin D

See what tests you can get out of GP

But thousands of members forced to test privately to make progress

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Sewalot]

Request GP test full thyroid and vitamins

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

 

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested

plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies 

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis. 

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis 

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test 

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

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

List of private testing options and money off codes

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

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins 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/

Monitor My Health also now offer thyroid and vitamin testing, plus cholesterol and HBA1C for £65 

monitormyhealth.org.uk/full...

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning. 

Watch out for postal strikes, probably want to pay for guaranteed 24 hours delivery 

[Fruitandnutcase]

I have osteoporosis but I was under the impression that it is being hyperthyroid that is the problem rather than being hypo.

I developed Graves’ disease in 2012 followed by inflammatory arthritis in 2014, then osteoporosis in 2020. I think osteoporosis is fairly common among for arthritis sufferers as well . Also with people who take PPIs and steroids.

I struggled to get NHS blood tests so now I use Medichecks home finger prick home tests to monitor my thyroid, vitamins and minerals and antibodies and I adjust what vitamins etc I take accordingly. At the moment I take Vitamin D3, Magnesium, K2-Mk7, Omega 3 250 DHA algae oil, I top up my dietary calcium with a seaweed based calcium supplement and Boron, think that’s about it.

Oh and I’ve been in a totally gluten free diet since 2014 - I didn’t test for coeliac before I did it but my thyroid antibodies plummeted after I did and it has made an enormous difference to my IBS.