Joint Aches With Hashi's

[Jimlow]

Hello and Bless You All!
I'm an age-42 man with Hashi's and was wondering if any of you out there with the same, have joint pain even though on medication? I have already been tested for RA Factor, Uric Acid, ANA, ESR possibilities but all were negative. After being on thyroid med. for two years and getting my TSH in good range "1.0" and my other thyroid hormones in the upper half of the ranges, I asked for the antibodies tests because none of the five Dr.s I've had to go to to get proper treatment, would suggest one. My Anti-thyroglobulin ABs were "537" (normal being <40) and my Anti-Peroxidase ABs were "84" (normal being <35).
When I originally was diagnoses hypo, my TSH was "8.3" (high) and the other abnormal was a T-3 Uptake, flagged "low". Other than this, labs were in lower half of normal ranges. The Dr.s claimed this was only "sub-clinical Hypothyroidism" however, this part I know now is BALONEY! With Hashi's, TSH and other levels can fluctuate! ANYWAY, to sum up my question, do you guys/gals believe HIGH ANTIBODY LEVELS, can perpetuate symptoms, even while on thyroid replacement? AND, do any of you have joint pain even on treatment? My joint pain is almost all upper body, cervical spine, shoulders and collar bones but occassionally my feet ach in the arches too.
THANKS, I feel a real kinsmenship to all of you! You are a Comfort, I know I'm not alone!

[Jimlow]

Thanks, so much ladies for your input, that is truely amazing and i have a feeling it is a common problem with Hashi sufferers. ShannieK, you mentioned joint aches worse with the medication. Strange you should say that, I often comment to my wife, that my joint aches became much worse with the medication and she remembers this too. Back when I had been on medication only a few months, I got discouraged and so did a search, using key words "reasons thyroid replacement medication may have adverse effects", or something to that effect and it took me to sights stating "untreated adrenal cortical insufficiency may become worse after starting thyroid medication", in fact ALL BRANDS of thyroid medication have this warning. So, I searched "symptoms of adrenal insufficiency" and there listed, were the same symptoms for hypothyroid, including fatigue (Which I also still have do you?), joint pain etc... This prompted me to order a home Stress Hormone Test from GSMDL, Inc. and over the past year, I done 4 of these and each time, my cortisol (the major stress hormone) was low normal, borderline low and even clinically low on one of them. I've also found sites that said 25% of Hashi patients develope other problems, such as adrenal insufficiency, anemia (I was borderline) and diabetes (borderline on this too). It's funny how the typical Dr. will not tell you these things. Have you ladies read Mary Shomon's book "Living Well With Autoimmune Disease"? I highly recommend it if not. Mary had a time of unrelieved symptoms even while on thyroid replacemen (she has Hashi's) so I knew I related to her problem but I wanted to hear from others on this too.
Thanks again SandyAnn and ShannieK. I'll be looking at the message board and inputting more from time to time. I'm sure!

[ShannieK]

I have the joint pain as well, I have Hashimoto's was diagnosed last year, my worst pain is my fingers, and wrists, something unusual, a couple weeks ago, I stopped taking my Synthroid  for a few days,  You know all that pain went away, instantly, when I started taking the meds again, the pain came back.  I think it's my meds, I always associated it with the disease itself, but why did it go away?  I also have been tested for the RA and other connective tissue diseases, it all comes back fine.  Just a thought.

[SandyAnn]

Hi!!  I also have a lot of joint pain and my levels are also good .9 I believe it was last time.  They have also done a ton of blood work on me to check for RA and other things but everything comes out negative.  I am almost always having some sort of pain.  My fingers, wrists, ankles, elbows and knees are the worst.  Yes I beleive something is causing it.  So you are not alone.