Joint/ muscle pain with levo

[Hatalb]

So I've been taking levithyroxin for about 3 1/2 years now since the birth of my 2nd child. Just a low dose of 25mcg. I had my 3rd child 10 months ago and after I had her my thyroid seemed to go haywire. My endo put me on a higher dosage of 112mcg and ever since I have had severe muscle and joint pain. I am only 26 years old and I wake up feeling 65. It's getting to the point where it's hard for me to walk sometimes. Does anyone have any experience with this? I live in a very small town and have two options for doctors. I'm thinking about traveling to see a better one.

[Hatalb]

So my doctor hasn't been testing my T3 or T4 levels. Only my TSH. They went from 24 down to 15 and as of yesterday it was at .83. He wouldn't test my calcium levels either :-/ exactly my point with these doctors in our town. However after reading your posts I upped my vitamin in-take of calcium and Vitamin D3 and it sounds stupid but in a matter of a few hours my body became less achy and sore. I am also breastfeeding so I'm wondering if I was just completely lacking on these vitamins.

[des900]

Vitamin D3 take only if you are found deficient or not optimal. You can order the blood test in a private lab without any prescription. The test name is 25-hdyroxy Vitamin D3 blood test. The reason is because its a fat soluble vitamin and excess can stay in your body and hard to expel just like iron so supplement only after knowing the actual levels. Also by knowing the levels can determine the precise no of dose to reach the optimal levels. Mega doses of vitamin D3 available which can correct the deficiency within a few weeks.

Calcium and PTH doe it together if you are experiencing bone related issues and getting hypercalcemia symptoms like increased thirst, heart palpitations, irritable etc. Calcium alone is not useful as in the blood calcium level is almost same all time as body uses PTH hormones to leach calcium from bones in case of deficiency.

[Barb135]

It's been thought for years that low TSH caused by too much thyroid medication causes bone loss/osteoporosis.  Studies have proven that's not true.  

I, personally, have rebuilt bone that I'd actually lost (osteopenia) prior to starting on thyroid hormones, by exercising and taking adequate amounts of calcium, magnesium and vitamin K2, in spite of having had suppressed TSH for the past 8 yrs.

Calcium and magnesium, especially, magnesium deficiency can cause severe muscle/joint aches/pains.  You might ask your doctor to test your magnesium levels to see if they're high enough.  Or you could try taking a magnesium supplement... Don't take magnesium oxide; that's pretty much just a laxative - get magnesium glycinate, chelate, etc that's easy to absorb.  Also, you can try soaking in an Epsom salt bath, since Epsom salt has a lot of magnesium.  Ask your doctor.

[des900]

Such huge spike in levo dosage and remaining on high levo dose for long period can some times leach calcium from bones and can cause osteoporosis like symptoms including sciatica, fracture etc so if you are not feeling well on high dose consult with your doctor and ask him to reduce the dose which is manageable for you irrespective of the TSH value.

I suspect the symptoms you are experiencing is due to low Free T3 which can occur due to various reasons including the high levo dose as excess Free T4 can get converted to reverse T3 which can reduce the existing low Free T3 value. A Free T3, Free T4 and TSH blood test can confirm this. TSH is often a poor marker, Free T3 is the best marker for overall well being.

Also you can try natural dessicated thyroid medicine instead of levothyroxine as natural dessicated ones contain both T4 and T3.

[Barb135]

Do you have a copy of your latest thyroid hormone results?  Your doctor should be testing you for Free T4 and Free T3 on a regular basis; you're entitled to a copy of those results.  

A jump from 25 mcg levo to 112 mcg is a pretty hefty jump, all at once; perhaps it was too much all at once.

Once we see your lab results, we'll be able to help you a lot better...

[Barb135]

It isn't stupid that you felt better after taking calcium and vitamin D... most of us are deficient in Vitamin D because we don't spend enough time in the sun.  Supplementing with vitamin D isn't going to hurt, unless you go overboard and start supplementing with mega doses, but it would be best if you can get tested... As des900 mentioned, it is a fat soluble vitamin (it's actually a hormone), so make sure you take it with a meal that contains fat in order for it to be absorbed properly...  I often stop taking if I'm outside a lot and have large areas of uncovered skin.

Also calcium needs magnesium and vitamin D in order to be absorbed properly... Vitamin D deficiency can cause muscle/bone/joint pain.

Make sure you don't take calcium/magnesium, iron and other minerals within 4 hours of your thyroid medication as they will prevent proper absorption of the thyroid med.

If your doctor refuses to do adequate thyroid testing, such as testing Free T4 and Free T3, it's time for a new doctor, since TSH doesn't tell whether you actually have enough thyroid hormones in your blood or not.  All TSH tells you is whether or not your pituitary gland is happy!!

[Barb135]

It's always best to talk to your doctor about taking vitamins/minerals, but many doctors don't know the symptoms of deficiency or understand the importance of having optimal levels.