over medicated- got extreme muscle pain in left... - Thyroid UK

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over medicated- got extreme muscle pain in left leg, won't work properly. My level is very low reduced meds. Not sure if something else is going on? Help

Birdy profile image
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over medicated

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Birdy
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RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator

It's difficult to give any suggestions without more details. Can you give us some more info? What thyroid medication are you taking? What dose are you on now? What are the actual numbers of your test results? Has your doctor changed the dose based on your test results?

Birdy profile image
Birdy in reply to RedApple

Hi thanks for your reply. I'm on Levothyroxine was 175 level 0.06. Reduced to 150 now. I have no thyroid due to cancer. Been to the doctor this morning he doesn't think the pain in my muscles especially my left leg is anything to do with my thyroid!

RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator in reply to RedApple

Well of course, your GP might be right. Does he have any suggestion as to what it might be though? Is he investigating further?

I can say from personal experience that I get terrible muscle pain, cramps and so on when my thyroid levels are out of whack.

You're in a tricky situation of having to have a suppressed TSH due to the thyroid cancer issue though. So dropping your dose any more probably isn't an option.

Something that might be worth considering is potassium deficiency (hypokalemia). This can happen when there's an excess of thyroxine in the system. Here's a link to some info:

nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/enc...

RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator in reply to RedApple

A quick way you might be able to test if potassium deficiency could be causing your problems, is with an over the counter product that's sold for cystitis relief. The brand name is Cystopurin, and it contains potassium citrate. It's available in many supermarkets and chemists. Make absolutely sure you get this product, which is potassium citrate, and not any other cystitis relief product that is sodium citrate.

If you feel some symptom relief shortly after drinking a sachet of this dissolved in water, then it's worth investigating further.

Please do be aware that an elevated potassium level (hyperkalemia) is equally undesirable, so using potassium supplements on a longer term basis should only be done with medical supervsion.

Birdy profile image
Birdy in reply to RedApple

Gosh thank you so much. This is the first time I have done anything like this on the computer. You are brilliant. The doctor doesn't know what it is but taken lots of blood!