LIOTHYRONINE

[Cassandra]

I had been on Liothyronine for a couple of years and not noticed any difference to energy etc and my sleep was dreadful. Consultant halved my dose and when I complained at last appointment about severe pain in joints and I can hear the joints rubbing together he said I should have a bone density scan done. I am currently waiting for an appointment. I have also put on a lot of belly fat which I’ve never had before and I’m now 73 years of age. My worry is a friend was told by her GP that he wouldn’t prescribe T3 to patients because it can cause problems with bones etc further down the line. I’m wondering if I’ve caused more problems for myself. Any advice please.

[jimh111]

What dose of liothyronine are you on? Too much thyroid hormone can cause gradual bone loss, T3 or T4. You previously had a high fT4 suggesting you may have been on too much levothyroxine.

[greygoose]

My worry is a friend was told by her GP that he wouldn’t prescribe T3 to patients because it can cause problems with bones etc further down the line.

First thing you have to know is that doctors are terrified of hormones - all hormones - and have no idea what T3 is or what it does. And they seem to be totally oblivious to the fact that a healthy thyroid will churn out T3 regularaly every day because it's the active thyroid hormone needed by every single cell in your body to function correctly. If T3 - any amount, apparently - caused 'problems with bones', the human race would slowly grind to a halt and disappear.

Excess T3 does increase your risk of bone problems, but you cannot live without the correct amount.

As to your consultant, I don't really see what a bone density scan has to do with joint pain. Not saying you shouldn't have one, it's always good to know these things, but for the joint pain it would be more helpful to test your vit D. Low vit D can cause joint pain. But, I think he was just clutching at straws because he didn't have an answer.

[AKatieD]

I am on T3 too and got knee problems, that with an MRI scan, turned out to be osteoarthritis. Nothing to do with T3, just with age all my hormones have gone awry.

The only thing that helped was HRT, which should be good for bone density too. Oestrogen helps to repair cartilage (the substance between the end of the bones that stop them rubbing together). If you get wear and tear in the cartilage it will hurt so you need it to keep repairing itself.

I don't know if this is an option for you or if you are the relevant age, but made all the difference to me, no pain or flares). Had to work it out for myself tho as endos will, as the others have said, tell you it is too much T3. Orthopaedic surgeons will just say it is your age and offer you joint replacement. HRT specialists often don't think of joint problems, concentrating on hot flushes etc.

[Cassandra]

Thank you for your reply. I am 73 and use Vagifem now and again as I’m too old for other types of HRT. The pain wakes me once I get over to sleep. Prescribed low dose cocodamol again because of age. I have started to take glucosamine as recommended by health food shop to see if that helps in any way.