Hello and happy new year everyone!! Aching legs when I walk more then 50 yards (in a nutshell)!!

[sheenah]

Hello All,

It's been ages since I wrote a post. I have been relatively OK for a while and then went down hill middle of December with my annual COPD freakout chest infection - heavy duty antibiotics sorted that out but of course, as I have discovered, "old age don't come alone". I am 70 now and although some days forget that, what bugs me most is aching legs when I have walked a short distance. So I have decided to go on heavy duty vitamin therapy to see what happens. I take a fair few vits anyway, but recently re-read "Could it be B12?"and decided to go on a heavyweight B12 binge. I take Thyroid-S and seem to be fairly stable on that (for years). It is worth noting, especially for our older members, that B12 is SOOO important in enabling you to hold on to your marbles - as I couldn't find my original copy and I was too tired to have a good look - I got the 2nd edition on Kindle for £7.49 and it was well worth a re-read.

Anybody else got aching legs? I was having trouble with my hips and presumed it was arthritis causing it, but an x-ray revealed the arthritis was only mild.

Love to All

Sheena

[Jazzw]

Which part of your legs? Just wondering because there’s a link between Achilles tendonitis and undertreated/untreated hypothyroidism.

[HandS in reply to Jazzw]

Do you have more info on that? I ask because I recently saw my GP about excruciating pain in my foot and stabbing pains in my calf: after thorough examination, discovered that I had achilles tendonitis. I have had it before 12 years ago - and then, and now, I put it down to walking in wellies a lot during the winter.

BUT - my October 23 blood tests showed an extraordinary drop to well below 50% in my T3 and T4 - I retested yesterday and am awaiting Endo appt. No changes to meds have been made yet.

So your post has made me curious as I never would have associated the two.

[sheenah in reply to HandS]

Hello,

Its not in a specific area; it just gradually becomes so unpleasant that I have to stop walking, standstill for a couple of minutes, walk another 20 feet, stand stiil, 20 feet etc. I am so hoping it is B12 because that is so simple to remedy (ha ha). I have never seen an Endo - tbh I have found most of the info I needed on this forum!

Many Thanks for your reply.

Sheena

[pennyannie]

Hello Sheenah :

No thyroid hormone replacement works well if the core strength vitamins and minerals - viz - ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D - are not maintained at optimal levels :

Maybe your conversion has been down regulated a little - often happens when unwell - might be worth seeing if your T3 has dropped a little ?

[sheenah in reply to pennyannie]

Hello

Thanks for that. I am beginning to feel stronger day by day, and will report at the end of the month with a list of what I have been taking. As for blood tests, there is very little chance of my getting a blood test from my GP. I did do a H&B blood test a couple of weeks ago for B12, and it came back at 466 which is about middle range. I did read an excellent article which said that levels under 500 should be regarded as suspect hence I am taking Natures Plus Shot -o-B12 5000ug.

Thanks for your reply.

Sheena

[pennyannie in reply to sheenah]

Yes - with serum B12 I'd aim for 500++ :

though read an active B12 a better test option :

I just presumed you were resigned to arranging your own thyroid blood tests and could just run a postal finger prick test for your T3 and T4 :

I've had some ' bug ' for the past 6 weeks which is finally going and now slowly coming back up to where I was and I haven't adjusted my dose of Thyroid S .

[sheenah in reply to pennyannie]

Hello again

Yes - I am basically resigned to the dreaded finger prick test as well but it took 3 fingers last time - horrid!! I see you are taking Thyroid -S as well. How long have you been taking it and do you get supply problems?

Sheena

[pennyannie in reply to sheenah]

I started self medicating Thyroid S around 6 years ago now after being refused both T3 and NDT on the NHS - I'm with Graves Disease and post RAI thyroid ablation in 2005 and now manage lingering Graves, thyroid eye disease caused by the RAI amongst other things and hypothyroidism.

I think there were supply issues around the time Covid 'hit ' and also this was when we were told Sriprasit the manufacturer was reformulating the make up of the tablets.

I notice some wholesalers have disappeared but thankfully haven't experienced a supply problem.

[McPammy]

what is your latest blood results. You could be over medicated or under medicated. If I take too much levothyroxine my muscles start to ache. If I’m under medicated my legs are weak no pain just weak. Check your TSH, T4 and T3 after taking your meds to see if your levels are going too high.

[humanbean]

Do you have a Pulse Oximeter? It might be a good idea to buy one if you haven't and start keeping records of your O2 Saturation (O2 Sat) under different circumstances. If your COPD is reducing your O2 Sat then it could be low oxygen in your muscles causing pain. Think of how it feels if you sleep on an arm for a while, or sit with your foot/leg under you.

The "normal" level for O2 Sat is between 95% and 100%.

verywellhealth.com/oxygen-s...

Lots of people bought pulse oximeters during the pandemic (including me) and the prices shot up. They have come down quite a bit since then.

I have poor lung health due to heavy smoking (I stopped 15 years ago but the damage doesn't go away). I've found a nebuliser is a worthwhile investment - I use saline ampoules to create the mist produced by the machine. It makes me feel better generally and regular use does keep my O2 Sat up.

[sheenah in reply to humanbean]

Thank you so much for that. I have read the article you pointed me toward. Turns out I have a pulse oximeter - not quite sure how to read it though but I'll get there.

I still smoke my little rollies, between 9-11 per day and I stub them out half way through. I come from a long line of smokers, and although I have tried to stop on several occasions it doesn't work for me, and I don't plan on giving up. My COPD is fairly mild really, I use an inhaler (Duaklir Genuair) although I only use it if I feel I need to.

I will certainly think about a nebuliser.

Thanks again for that!

Sheena