Aa
JeniPenni ....
I wanted to let you know I read your post re my ankle issues and thank you for writing to me at such a busy time for you right now ... Yes, isn't it something else the diagnosis I got that is fully backed up by both MRI and x-ray findings along with physical exam. I am still in shock over all this but doing ok I guess ?
What I wanted to mention is that I am a prime example of something you have posted many times on the board and that is : EVERYTHING IS NOT THYROID RELATED and that once we have a thyroid diagnosis docs, ourselves, etc., tend to blame it all on the thyroid.
As my other post mentions, I went from Oct to last week thinking my joint pain was thyroid driven.....my endo thought so ... why would I have not been patient and waited for my Synthroid to level out if "she thought so" huh? ....... I had the classic calf muscle spasm along with it, too. Well, turns out I have fluid buildup on that big tendon going up the leg and that was the cramping, etc.
Anyway .. in my case a simple x-ray would have shown the extent of the arthritis back in October with my first complaint, but instead BOTH my docs seemed to blame it on the thryoid.
I am not sue-happy or anything like that but I have wondered more than once whether I would have only had arthroscopic surgery back in October to repair the tendon and gone on p/t for the arthritis and been ok vs. the massive joint destruction that apparently took place in a short time as I tended to my thyroid and believed what I was told.
Another ? for you .. I'm on 100mcgs of Synthroid now as my TSH was 1.3 (which was up from 1.1) and they want it at 1.0 or below. I felt very tired/dizzy the entire day yesterday ... so much so I did not take my anti-inflammatory for my ankle (in the beginning they caused dizziness together). So my ? is I wonder if the new dosing of Synthroid + anti inflammatory are causing the dizziness/fatigue or the Synthroid dosing being on the higher end?? GRRRRR so today no anti-inflammatory and will see if still happens. My endo said not to throw out the 88mcgs as she isn't sure I will be ok on the 100. l Grrrr again.
I'm on the 100 about a week now. Nausea the first 5 days in the AM but now that is gone.
C~
Cheryl
What I wanted to mention is that I am a prime example of something you have posted many times on the board and that is : EVERYTHING IS NOT THYROID RELATED and that once we have a thyroid diagnosis docs, ourselves, etc., tend to blame it all on the thyroid.
As my other post mentions, I went from Oct to last week thinking my joint pain was thyroid driven.....my endo thought so ... why would I have not been patient and waited for my Synthroid to level out if "she thought so" huh? ....... I had the classic calf muscle spasm along with it, too. Well, turns out I have fluid buildup on that big tendon going up the leg and that was the cramping, etc.
Anyway .. in my case a simple x-ray would have shown the extent of the arthritis back in October with my first complaint, but instead BOTH my docs seemed to blame it on the thryoid.
I am not sue-happy or anything like that but I have wondered more than once whether I would have only had arthroscopic surgery back in October to repair the tendon and gone on p/t for the arthritis and been ok vs. the massive joint destruction that apparently took place in a short time as I tended to my thyroid and believed what I was told.
Another ? for you .. I'm on 100mcgs of Synthroid now as my TSH was 1.3 (which was up from 1.1) and they want it at 1.0 or below. I felt very tired/dizzy the entire day yesterday ... so much so I did not take my anti-inflammatory for my ankle (in the beginning they caused dizziness together). So my ? is I wonder if the new dosing of Synthroid + anti inflammatory are causing the dizziness/fatigue or the Synthroid dosing being on the higher end?? GRRRRR so today no anti-inflammatory and will see if still happens. My endo said not to throw out the 88mcgs as she isn't sure I will be ok on the 100. l Grrrr again.
I'm on the 100 about a week now. Nausea the first 5 days in the AM but now that is gone.
C~
Cheryl
I just remembered when I was on Orudis years ago (I had a posterior shoulder stabiliation surgery from an auto accident) I took CARAFATE to help ease the GI symptoms from the Orudis ... that is another tricky med as it has to be spaced out very carefully from other meds cause it impedes absorption but that is something I can ask my Ortho if the GI symptoms get worse.
C~
C~
THANK YOU FOR your awesome replies.
The NSAID I am taking I've been on now for almost a month and my TSH rose from 1.1 to 1.3 .. my Endo said no interaction with Orudis and Synthroid .. she looked it up in her palm pilot while we spoke on the phone. What you wrote makes sense as they only tested the TSH this go-around and not the T3 and T4.
The pain I have is not so much from the arthritis (which is amazing in itself so we both agreed no cortisone shot as it is not really arthritis pain) as from the tibial tendonitis I have and the tenosynovitis, too ...... the NSAID is aimed at those serious problems along with the fluid in the joint not so much the pain releif. Yes, Tylenol works pretty well with the pain but there is a good am't of visible outside swelling along the tibial tendon coupled with the MRI results it is a mj. league mess inside. The calf cramps were from the tibial tendon problem coupled with the long tendon (ditalis something or other) that runs up the inside of the calf (boo hoo) .. that long tendon has tenosynovitis in it which is swelling of the tendon sheath I believe.
I have tried the supplements a few yrs ago for severe tennis elbow but couldn't tolerate bcz of awful awful gas pains but maybe will try again if I get a thumb's up from my urologist for the kidney stones .. he is picky on the supplements I take but I think it is ok to take this product. Can it regenerate if there is no cartilage left?
No matter how well we get the tendon going in phys. therapy it is rendered seriously ineffective in supporting the arch and they tell me since it isn't working the entire thing will collapse and when (not if) that happens at that point I will have to have a bone fusion vs. mj. surgery to reconstruct. The Ortho said a bone fusion is a terrible terrible surgery and if he thought the surgery I am looking @ now is very bad this one is off the charts. I have had bunionnette surgery in 1973 on both feet .. I KNOW what bone surgery entails in the pain dept and healing .. it is not fun.
Here is a great easy to read site on the tibial tendon problem:
http://www.mdmercy.com/footandankle/conditions/flatfeet/posterior.html
It is not repairable w/o a major corrective surgery to the foot. If I don't get it repaired then the foot will become rigid (it is still flexible) I am told and then a bone fusion will have to take place.
Re: the synthroid and dizziness when upping dose I do fall into that category .. we have been increasing by only 12.5mcgs. Lucky my Endo is supportive of that small incremental dosing. I am fine as far as hyper symptoms so far.
I read on the leaflet with the Orudis that the dizziness may go away with treatment ..... Yesterday, I took it during the day vs. the night (has more time to leave my system b4 taking the Synthroid in the AM) and it was more tolerable (15hrs vs. 8-10 timespan b/t both meds). I take the Orudis 1-3X day as needed so the further I space from Synthroid the better I am in the dizzy/tired dept.
Yes, I always take with food and even with that I have to pop a tums before bed sometimes as it does sometimes cause reflux even hrs. later. These NSAIDS are nothing to fool with for long-term use................
Cheryl
The NSAID I am taking I've been on now for almost a month and my TSH rose from 1.1 to 1.3 .. my Endo said no interaction with Orudis and Synthroid .. she looked it up in her palm pilot while we spoke on the phone. What you wrote makes sense as they only tested the TSH this go-around and not the T3 and T4.
The pain I have is not so much from the arthritis (which is amazing in itself so we both agreed no cortisone shot as it is not really arthritis pain) as from the tibial tendonitis I have and the tenosynovitis, too ...... the NSAID is aimed at those serious problems along with the fluid in the joint not so much the pain releif. Yes, Tylenol works pretty well with the pain but there is a good am't of visible outside swelling along the tibial tendon coupled with the MRI results it is a mj. league mess inside. The calf cramps were from the tibial tendon problem coupled with the long tendon (ditalis something or other) that runs up the inside of the calf (boo hoo) .. that long tendon has tenosynovitis in it which is swelling of the tendon sheath I believe.
I have tried the supplements a few yrs ago for severe tennis elbow but couldn't tolerate bcz of awful awful gas pains but maybe will try again if I get a thumb's up from my urologist for the kidney stones .. he is picky on the supplements I take but I think it is ok to take this product. Can it regenerate if there is no cartilage left?
No matter how well we get the tendon going in phys. therapy it is rendered seriously ineffective in supporting the arch and they tell me since it isn't working the entire thing will collapse and when (not if) that happens at that point I will have to have a bone fusion vs. mj. surgery to reconstruct. The Ortho said a bone fusion is a terrible terrible surgery and if he thought the surgery I am looking @ now is very bad this one is off the charts. I have had bunionnette surgery in 1973 on both feet .. I KNOW what bone surgery entails in the pain dept and healing .. it is not fun.
Here is a great easy to read site on the tibial tendon problem:
http://www.mdmercy.com/footandankle/conditions/flatfeet/posterior.html
It is not repairable w/o a major corrective surgery to the foot. If I don't get it repaired then the foot will become rigid (it is still flexible) I am told and then a bone fusion will have to take place.
Re: the synthroid and dizziness when upping dose I do fall into that category .. we have been increasing by only 12.5mcgs. Lucky my Endo is supportive of that small incremental dosing. I am fine as far as hyper symptoms so far.
I read on the leaflet with the Orudis that the dizziness may go away with treatment ..... Yesterday, I took it during the day vs. the night (has more time to leave my system b4 taking the Synthroid in the AM) and it was more tolerable (15hrs vs. 8-10 timespan b/t both meds). I take the Orudis 1-3X day as needed so the further I space from Synthroid the better I am in the dizzy/tired dept.
Yes, I always take with food and even with that I have to pop a tums before bed sometimes as it does sometimes cause reflux even hrs. later. These NSAIDS are nothing to fool with for long-term use................
Cheryl
Hi Cheryl,
I'm glad you finally got a definative diagnosis for the arthritis. It's good to know what you are dealing with. Arthritis is manageable (although I still wouldn't wish it on anyone - I'm really sorry you have to endure it). As long as you are not allergic to seafood or shellfish you should consider trying a Glucosamine (and Chrondroiton if you can because they work really well together but can be $$$ AND it is shark cartilage so some may have a moral objection) supplement for your athritis. It usually takes 6 to 8 weeks or more for the Glucosamine supplements to do their job so persist and be patient. These supplements help rebuild the cushioning between joints. Search it. Google Arthritis too - there are many ways to keep you moving better with less pain.
The fact you only got the dizziness from the Ketoprofen until the Synthroid dosing was increased *MAY* be because your metabolism is getting turned up a notch as the Synthroid continues to build up in your system - so you might get more of the side effects if you are metabolising it faster. Just a hypothesis.
I do recognise that you get these symptoms when you increase the dose of Synthroid. I think I found this info in a book by Dr Sandra Cabot and Margaret Jasinska (ND) called "Your Thyroid Problems Solved"
"A small number of people are sensitive to the inital thyroxine dose and to changes in the dose. They tend to experience some or all of the hyperthyroid symptoms even at small doses of thyroxine. The standard approach for these people is to slow the process down. Take smaller dose steps and take longer to move to the higher doses."
I don't know if this means that you are just getting these symptoms OR the therapeutic value is reached sooner too (as you'd know it takes anywhere btwn 3 - 12 weeks) - but personally I would doubt that the therapeutic value of the Synthroid is reached sooner. So maybe the diziness is nothing to do with your Synthroid dose and all just to do with the Ketaprofen. Am I going round in circles?
****Make sure you take the Ketoprofen (and any NSAID or other anti-inflammatory medicine) after or with food - they have a tendency to irritate the stomach lining and can cause gastric ulcers in the long term if you don't line your stomach first before taking them. You probably already know this but I thought it doesn't hurt to say again.
I'm glad the nausea is passing. Keep persisting with your 100mcg Synthroid dose. Hold onto the 88mcg but hopefully you won't have to go there. All is looking good and heading in the right direction for you it seems.
It will be interesting to see what happens to your TSH now you have started the Ketoprofen. Have a look in the Synthroid prescribing information Table 2: Drug-Thyroidal Axis Interactions (end of page 6, start of page 7) - it says that NSAID's cause protein-binding site displacement. It seems long term NSAID's will decrease the storage of the total T4 in your system BUT the free T4 and TSH should remain normal - so you should remain euthyroid.
I really encourage anyone who starts any new medication to get a printout of the prescribing info. Also it is kinder on your stomach if you take most medications with a full glass of water, ie. easier to soften and break down in the stomach..
By the way are you asthmatic? I ask because many NSAID's are not tolerated well by asthmatics ie. exacerbate their asthma.
What do they think is the cause of the calf spasms and cramps? Could it be related to the arthritis in your back causing muscle tension with pain? Or just simple strain? A good strain can take months to heal. I did something? last week to one of my left groin muscle but thankfully it was muscular and has now gone away but I wondered at the time 'cause I was hobbling with pain at times. No no... I know what you cold be thinking groin muscle strain - bedroom aerobics? I wish. Lol!!!
I'm not sure if I understand - have you now ceased the Ketoprofen because of the dizziness? Ask your doc for another type of NSAID if so - there are many in the family, when one doesn't agree with you, it is worth giving another a go.
Alternatively many people are finding that paracetamol (tylenol) is very effective for arthritic type pain. It is a very safe alternative (no nasty effects on your tummy) and you can take up to 4000mg per day as required - try it for a week or two to see if it works for you. Some people even find that if they stay on a Glucosamine supplement that this is enough even for pain management as when there is more cushion between the joints it results in less pain.
Unfortunately I must get going.
I send you my best wishes!
~Jen
I'm glad you finally got a definative diagnosis for the arthritis. It's good to know what you are dealing with. Arthritis is manageable (although I still wouldn't wish it on anyone - I'm really sorry you have to endure it). As long as you are not allergic to seafood or shellfish you should consider trying a Glucosamine (and Chrondroiton if you can because they work really well together but can be $$$ AND it is shark cartilage so some may have a moral objection) supplement for your athritis. It usually takes 6 to 8 weeks or more for the Glucosamine supplements to do their job so persist and be patient. These supplements help rebuild the cushioning between joints. Search it. Google Arthritis too - there are many ways to keep you moving better with less pain.
The fact you only got the dizziness from the Ketoprofen until the Synthroid dosing was increased *MAY* be because your metabolism is getting turned up a notch as the Synthroid continues to build up in your system - so you might get more of the side effects if you are metabolising it faster. Just a hypothesis.
I do recognise that you get these symptoms when you increase the dose of Synthroid. I think I found this info in a book by Dr Sandra Cabot and Margaret Jasinska (ND) called "Your Thyroid Problems Solved"
"A small number of people are sensitive to the inital thyroxine dose and to changes in the dose. They tend to experience some or all of the hyperthyroid symptoms even at small doses of thyroxine. The standard approach for these people is to slow the process down. Take smaller dose steps and take longer to move to the higher doses."
I don't know if this means that you are just getting these symptoms OR the therapeutic value is reached sooner too (as you'd know it takes anywhere btwn 3 - 12 weeks) - but personally I would doubt that the therapeutic value of the Synthroid is reached sooner. So maybe the diziness is nothing to do with your Synthroid dose and all just to do with the Ketaprofen. Am I going round in circles?
****Make sure you take the Ketoprofen (and any NSAID or other anti-inflammatory medicine) after or with food - they have a tendency to irritate the stomach lining and can cause gastric ulcers in the long term if you don't line your stomach first before taking them. You probably already know this but I thought it doesn't hurt to say again.
I'm glad the nausea is passing. Keep persisting with your 100mcg Synthroid dose. Hold onto the 88mcg but hopefully you won't have to go there. All is looking good and heading in the right direction for you it seems.
It will be interesting to see what happens to your TSH now you have started the Ketoprofen. Have a look in the Synthroid prescribing information Table 2: Drug-Thyroidal Axis Interactions (end of page 6, start of page 7) - it says that NSAID's cause protein-binding site displacement. It seems long term NSAID's will decrease the storage of the total T4 in your system BUT the free T4 and TSH should remain normal - so you should remain euthyroid.
I really encourage anyone who starts any new medication to get a printout of the prescribing info. Also it is kinder on your stomach if you take most medications with a full glass of water, ie. easier to soften and break down in the stomach..
By the way are you asthmatic? I ask because many NSAID's are not tolerated well by asthmatics ie. exacerbate their asthma.
What do they think is the cause of the calf spasms and cramps? Could it be related to the arthritis in your back causing muscle tension with pain? Or just simple strain? A good strain can take months to heal. I did something? last week to one of my left groin muscle but thankfully it was muscular and has now gone away but I wondered at the time 'cause I was hobbling with pain at times. No no... I know what you cold be thinking groin muscle strain - bedroom aerobics? I wish. Lol!!!
I'm not sure if I understand - have you now ceased the Ketoprofen because of the dizziness? Ask your doc for another type of NSAID if so - there are many in the family, when one doesn't agree with you, it is worth giving another a go.
Alternatively many people are finding that paracetamol (tylenol) is very effective for arthritic type pain. It is a very safe alternative (no nasty effects on your tummy) and you can take up to 4000mg per day as required - try it for a week or two to see if it works for you. Some people even find that if they stay on a Glucosamine supplement that this is enough even for pain management as when there is more cushion between the joints it results in less pain.
Unfortunately I must get going.
I send you my best wishes!
~Jen
mixed with the upped synthroid .. today I am just fine .. ankle hurts alot w/o the med for it but the Synthroid is a non-event.
UGH ..... and UGH again.
C~
UGH ..... and UGH again.
C~
drug (ketoprofen is the generic) I'm on for the ankle. Taking on the avg. 75mgs 1-2X day with the script reading up to 3X day. I have side effects from many other NSAID's so this old-timer wors for me the best for me. The bottle does indicate dizziness may occur but I was ok until they upped the synthroid dosing ?? hmmmmmm and only a week later felt the dizziness/fatigue yesterday.
C~
C~
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Thyroid Disorders Community
We tapped the CDC for information on what you need to know about radiation exposure
Endocrinologist Mark Lupo, MD, answers 10 questions about thyroid disorders and how to treat them
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
