Symptoms unresolved

[Chelle2729]

Hi all:
I have been diagnosed with Hashimotos for 5 years, but have not been on meds b/c TSH was around 5. Recently I began having symptoms that terrified me to include proximal muscle weakness, buzzing in bil feet, tingling in bil hands, burning on bottom of feet, pain on bottom of heel,  and muscle twitching. I have also had dry skin, outer 1/3 of eyebrow missing, thick skin on heel, anxiety, panic attacks...I'm sure I'm leaving something out :) My TSH was 8, FT4 1.02, TPO 980, Vit D 19, Ferritan low. My question is can all of this be caused by my thyroid?  I have been on 25mcg for 5 weeks but have not seen an improvement in the muscle weakness and buzzing in feet. Could it be another disease? I had a NCS that showed carpal tunnel only, and an EMG showed slight weakness in triceps/bicept but I feel weakness in quads as well. I am worried that these symptoms
could be something else....any feedback is appreciated! Thanks!

[Chelle2729]

Thanks for responding! I have had B12 tested it was like 480. I have also had ANA it was neg. I was diagnosed with Hadimotos...that shouldn't been TPOab :) I have been constantly worried that it is something else causing this...so hard to believe thyroid can cause it all!

[armywife92]

Please read the effects/symptoms of low vitamin D , and ferritin. It is imperative that in thyroid disease we don't allow ourselves to become vitamin/mineral deficient b/c these can bring on a whole host of symptoms that we will blame on having thyroid disease. In fact I believe several symptoms are secondary to auto-immune thyroid disease. I've never heard of the burning on the bottom of the feet though, that kinda sounds like raynauds but i could be wrong. Have you ever had an ANA test?

[Barb135]

I agree with everything jtlmom said, and would add that you need to get your vitamin B12 tested as well.  Low B12 levels can/will cause that tingling feeling (neuropathy) in your feet and hands.  I had untreated pernicious anemia for many years and now have some permanent peripheral neuropathy.  It can be very uncomfortable.

In addition, you can try taking calcium and magnesium to help with some of the discomfort; as well as selenium to help "control" the antibodies a bit.  There is also research that indicates selenium to be helpful in the conversion of FT4 to FT3.  

Has your doctor diagnosed you with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis?  Should that be TPOab, as in testing antibodies?  Or just testing the Thyroid Peroxidase?  

[jtlmom1577]

Yes everything can be caused by your thyroid.   You should have been on medicine before but that is water under the bridge.  This disease can be brutal and it takes patience to fine tune the medications.  My doctor re-tests bloodwork at the 8 week mark.  You are currently on a very low dose and it has only been 5 weeks.  You will need to have further bloodwork in a couple of weeks and my guess is that your medicine will be increased.  Even then you might not feel better and you will repeat the process until your symptoms are managed.  Your doctor is right to start you off slow.   This is a great place for information.

When is your next bloodwork?  Make sure that your doctor tests for Free T3 in addition to TSH and FT4.  FT3 is the actual active thyroid hormone.  Your doctor should be treating you based on symptoms and FT3, FT4 not TSH.

When you get your blood work, post the results here with the reference ranges and everyone will be glad to help.

I would also recommend at the very least a good multi-vitamin and well as supplementing with Vitamin D.

Good luck