struggling with painful muscle/joints

[Ryebr]

have been getting up because pain wakes me, legs arms hands achy burning, leg muscles this week hurt to sit, struggling to get up from sitting, weight gain too

[Buddy195 Administrator]

Welcome to the forum Ryebr,

So we can offer better advice, can you tell us if you have a thyroid condition and if so, when you were diagnosed, any other ongoing symptoms, thyroid medication & dosage, plus blood test results (with ranges in brackets) for:

TSH

FT3

FT4

Plus any antibody and key vitamin tests (ferritin, folate, vitamins D and B12)

I personally have found low B vitamins have led to joint aches. In addition, supplementing with magnesium has helped.

If your GP is unable to complete all the above (eg if TSH is within range, some surgeries may not be able to access FT4 and FT3 tests), you could look to do this privately, as many forum members do, for a better picture of your thyroid health:

thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...

[Ryebr in reply to Buddy195]

Firstly thank you for responding I am truly grateful for your help

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in 2015. In the last year I have had joint /muscle pain worse in the morning after bed. Poor concentration. Had an annual check Jan 2024 and increased from 75 to 100mg. on telephone call Dr asked if weight had increased which it has.

TSH 5.8 range 0.38 - 5.33

T4. 12.2 range 7.9 - 14.4

Haemaglobin 154 range 115 - 164

White cell 9.3. range 4 - 11

Mean corpuscular 92.5 fl. range 78 - 96

Now muscle pain worse when resting , waking me up to the point I put off going to bed. Going back to Dr as felt so ill last few days, my leg muscles hurt so much to sit down and my left arm aches. Chest feels so tight. Good though, I have noticed my hair isn’t falling out now. I have not had tests for B12 Vit D etc.

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to Ryebr]

I’m not surprised you have such adverse symptoms as you are clearly under medicated thyroid wise, TSH should always be under 2, with most members reporting they feel best when this drops significantly under 1. I would insist on an increase in Levo Ryebr. When you have been in a consistent increase for 6-8 weeks retest levels (including FT3 and key vitamins),

[Ryebr in reply to Buddy195]

I went to the Drs yesterday I have blood test booked for 4/4 to check thyroid also asked to do vitamins too thank you. In the meantime keep on 100mg.

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to Ryebr]

As a patient to patient tip, we advise earliest possible blood draw, or before 9am as this ensures highest TSH.

[Ryebr in reply to Buddy195]

Did I read on the forum not to have levothyroxine that morning too, also am I ok taking it with blackcurrant squash not keen on water alone

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to Ryebr]

yes leave your Levo until after the blood draw. If you consistently take it with squash then I don’t think there are any issues (it’s coffee and milk products we need to leave a gap between when taking Levo).

[Ryebr in reply to Buddy195]

Thank you was trying to pinpoint why last week I felt so unwell, my buttocks and thigh muscles hurt so much I had to be careful sitting down, when I get up out of the chair Ireally struggle I’m an active person who is always doing, so frustrating

[greygoose]

First thing that comes to mind is low nutrients - especially vit D, magnesium and zinc. Have you had your vit D and zinc tested? No point in testing magnesium due to the way the body handles it. But it's probably low because most people are magnesium deficient, as soils are depleted. So, you could try just taking some and see if it helps. It's water soluble, anyway, so any excess will be excreted.

[Ryebr in reply to greygoose]

I have vitamin and bloods now booked for 4/4 thank you 🤞

[greygoose in reply to Ryebr]

You're welcome.

[Ryebr in reply to greygoose]

I have my blood results

TSH 0.14 range 0.38-5.33

T4 13.1 range 7.9-14.4

B12 197 range 133-675

Ferritin 122. 11.0-306.08

TSH ? Over replaced

The Dr has requested to see me, my TSH has gone the opposite now been on increased thyroxine 100 since January. Muscles still ache and struggle to stand from sitting.

[greygoose in reply to Ryebr]

TSH ? Over replaced

Absolutely not. Your FT4 is 80% through the range - so not over-range. And you have no idea what the FT3 is, because he hasn't tested it. But if that's still in-range then you are not over-replaced. Do not allow him to adjust your dose just by the TSH because once it gets under 1 it is unreliable.

Your B12 is dangerously low. He should be testing for Pernicious Anemia. And ferritin is a bit iffy. I would want mine higher than that. Can you increase the amount of iron-rich foods in your diet to bring that up?

No vit D or folate?

[Ryebr in reply to greygoose]

Other tests done too

Erythrocyte sediment 12 range 1-20

Serum folate 8.3 range 3.10-19.9

Serum sodium 143 range 133-146

Serum Urea 4.3. range 2.5-7.8

Serum creatinine 69umol/L range 49-90

EGFRcreat 80 ml/MIN

Haemaglobin 150 range 115-164

Total white blood cell count 8 range 4-11

Platelet count 283 range 150-400

Red blood cell 4.77 range 3.90-5.60

Haematocrit0.441 range 0.36-0.47

Mean corpuscular volume 92.5 range 78.0-96.0

Mean corpuscular Haemaglobin 31.5 range 28.0-34.0

Mean corpusc Hb 340g/L range 320-360

Neutrophil count 3.8 range1.9-7.5

Lymphocyte count 3.0 range 1.0-4.0

Monocyte 0.9 range0.2-1.0

Eosinophil count 0.2 range 0.0-0.4

Basophil count 0.1 range 0.0-0.1

They have done a lot of tests, thank you for taking the time to read them. I don’t understand what is good or bad. and really appreciate your comments

[greygoose in reply to Ryebr]

Well, the only test on there that has any bearing on thyroid is the folate. And that is too low.

So, what you want now is testing for Pernicious Anemia (low B12), vit d and zinc. They do all those useless tests that they take no notice of, anyway, but won't test the essentials! It's a crazy world we live in.

[Ryebr in reply to greygoose]

I went to the Drs yesterday to discuss my blood test results. He wanted to reduce back down to 75. Having talked to you I stood up to him and disagreed. I asked about ferritin and B12, anaemia he said all was fine, 😤and asked why FT3 not tested “all you bloods are fine”I told him how am feeling aching muscles and difficulty getting up out of the chair, he said I need to exercise to build up my muscles and had sent me an NHS app to lose weight. I have took my 100 levothyroxine and been for a walk this morning and I will keep it up. Dr wants another blood test in 6 months. Said I could take a multivitamin too. Felt he didn’t listen please what should I do?

[greygoose in reply to Ryebr]

Well, you should not take a multi-vit for a start! So, you got the usual ignorant-medic run-around! No idea what he's talking about! And he didn't answer your question about testing T3 because he has no idea what T3 is! Not many of them do.

Walking may be good healthy exercise, but if your aches and pains are due to nutritional or hormonal deficiencies then it's not going to help. Nor is it going to make you lose weight, and nor is anything else. But he's obviously totally out of his depth and floundering.

However, I really think you should continue to insist on getting further testing for iron/ferritin and B12. Whether he thinks so or not - and quite honestly he hasn't a clue - they are too low. I would also as for zinc to be tested, too. As hypos are often low in zinc and that causes muscle pain.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

has the brand of levothyroxine changed

What brand of levothyroxine were you taking for 75mcg

If it was single tablet it would have been Teva …..only brand that makes 75mcg

Which brand of levothyroxine is 100mcg

Many people find different brands are not interchangeable

Joint pain

do you currently take any vitamin supplements

U.K. government recommends everyone supplement vitamin D at least October to April

Increase in levothyroxine can initially exacerbate vitamin deficiencies

[Ryebr in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes I was on Teva 75, since Jan been taking Aristo 100 would you suggest the Dr puts me on Teva 100. I have asked for vitamin tests when nurse does blood test on 4/4 as I haven’t had them done. Thank you

[Ryebr]

I went to the Drs yesterday to discuss my blood test results. He wanted to reduce back down to 75. Having talked to you I stood up to him and disagreed. I asked about ferritin and B12, anaemia he said all was fine, 😤I told him how am feeling he said I need to exercise to build up my muscles and had sent me an NHS app to lose weight. I have took my 100 levothyroxine and been for a walk this morning and I will keep it up. Dr wants another blood test in 6 months. Said I could take a multivitamin too.