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A rant on thyroid meds... Any input?
I just found this thread posted on Drug Info Net.
Synthroid [posted 1/8/99]
Question: It is my impression that the synthroid may be affecting my hip joint, which is very stiff whenever I change positions. These symptoms of my joint stiffness and aching started and have progressed since Jan 1998. Is it true that I can't stop taking the synthroid now, to see if the joint stiffness goes away? I don't feel many changes since taking the synthroid, perhaps looser bowels and this joint aching, especially in my right hip area. Can synthroid affect bones as a side affect? I know people are different and I would like to see if stopping the synthroid would help. How can I safely do this?
Answer: Excessive thyroid replacement will cause osteoporosis over time. However, I suspect that you are experiencing an increase in osteoarthritis, a common complaint as thyroid is replaced for some reason.
(Cut to me reading this...) Hey!!! I have the exact same problem with hip joint pain in particular, since I started Synthroid. Maybe I'll get some good info... But the answer provided by "whomever...", is way too vague. Why is there an increase in osteoarthritis with thyroid replacement? Why only in some people?
I know about all the inert ingredients in the meds reaking havok with some people's systems.... But why arthritis in particular? And why only in some people? Am I missing some test(s) I should be having/asking for? I'm only 44. I inherited a little arthritis in my thumbs from my mom, that was just starting to set in when I got the dx of cancer. It was NOTHING compared to life on Synthroid!!! There is constant pain in my thumbs now. And the hip. Don't get me started! I never had any joint pain there before, ever!
I'm calling my doc in the am for options, but I've been on a slew of meds and different dosages now since my TT in September. And every single one of those meds has brought with it, the promise of the "end of the saga/the light at the end of the cancer tunnel...". And every single one has had issues and/or baggage that I only find out about after switching to them via personal experience... I can't be the only one can I? GRRRRRRRRRrrrrr!
This is so out of control! I have friends who ask in that concerned (you're becomming a hypocondriac, aren't you...) way "You're not on the right med/dose yet?" This must stop! I'm not this "unwell" person that thyroid meds would have me be!! I want my energy back, heck, I want my life back!!!!!!
I'd love to think that Armour is the answer after seeing so many of you posting rave reviews, but I'm becomming a devot skeptic after thinking the same thing about Synthroid... Sorry, I'm just frustrated! Frustrated at being one of the "lucky" 5% that get cancer from one of "those" nodules... AND, I also have to be one of "those" who has the obscure reactions to the drugs as well???
Synthroid [posted 1/8/99]
Question: It is my impression that the synthroid may be affecting my hip joint, which is very stiff whenever I change positions. These symptoms of my joint stiffness and aching started and have progressed since Jan 1998. Is it true that I can't stop taking the synthroid now, to see if the joint stiffness goes away? I don't feel many changes since taking the synthroid, perhaps looser bowels and this joint aching, especially in my right hip area. Can synthroid affect bones as a side affect? I know people are different and I would like to see if stopping the synthroid would help. How can I safely do this?
Answer: Excessive thyroid replacement will cause osteoporosis over time. However, I suspect that you are experiencing an increase in osteoarthritis, a common complaint as thyroid is replaced for some reason.
(Cut to me reading this...) Hey!!! I have the exact same problem with hip joint pain in particular, since I started Synthroid. Maybe I'll get some good info... But the answer provided by "whomever...", is way too vague. Why is there an increase in osteoarthritis with thyroid replacement? Why only in some people?
I know about all the inert ingredients in the meds reaking havok with some people's systems.... But why arthritis in particular? And why only in some people? Am I missing some test(s) I should be having/asking for? I'm only 44. I inherited a little arthritis in my thumbs from my mom, that was just starting to set in when I got the dx of cancer. It was NOTHING compared to life on Synthroid!!! There is constant pain in my thumbs now. And the hip. Don't get me started! I never had any joint pain there before, ever!
I'm calling my doc in the am for options, but I've been on a slew of meds and different dosages now since my TT in September. And every single one of those meds has brought with it, the promise of the "end of the saga/the light at the end of the cancer tunnel...". And every single one has had issues and/or baggage that I only find out about after switching to them via personal experience... I can't be the only one can I? GRRRRRRRRRrrrrr!
This is so out of control! I have friends who ask in that concerned (you're becomming a hypocondriac, aren't you...) way "You're not on the right med/dose yet?" This must stop! I'm not this "unwell" person that thyroid meds would have me be!! I want my energy back, heck, I want my life back!!!!!!
I'd love to think that Armour is the answer after seeing so many of you posting rave reviews, but I'm becomming a devot skeptic after thinking the same thing about Synthroid... Sorry, I'm just frustrated! Frustrated at being one of the "lucky" 5% that get cancer from one of "those" nodules... AND, I also have to be one of "those" who has the obscure reactions to the drugs as well???
i started levothyroxine 6 years ago after 7 years on armour. i have had bad hip and back pain for the last two years and am getting a new right hip at the end of the month. i have degenerative joint and disc disease now. i have been wondering if there was a connection as i have always been very athletic skiing, kayaking, much more. i was put on tsh suppressive therapy for 7 years. ????
As for the Armour; I had all the above symptoms and have gotten rid of almost all of them since changing from Levothyroxine to Armour. Was on Levo for 6 years and continuously felt worse and worse. Horrible swelling, stiff joints-more so than normal arthritis I have--breast and abdominal tenderness and swelling also.
Just my personal experience.
Just my personal experience.
I'm a post Op hypo (total thyroedectomy) a year ago, and have been on synthroid ever since. My levels should be close to normal. Scheduled to see Endo next week for lab result. I noticed you mentioned swelling in the eyes and cheeks, and two of my MANY symptoms I experienced during my hyper to hypo time was bulging eyes, puffy face/cheeks and gynecomastia (enlarged breasts)... mind you I'm a male who's always tried to stay active and in shape. My question to you is what exactly, if anything, are you taking to counter these symptoms. I thought my puffy face/cheeks would eventually go away, and my gynecomastia would correct itself. My left eye still feels different most of the time. Also I'm constantly experiencing headaches around my head, and I don't know if it's because of the synthroid or what....
To anybody outthere, what's Armour? is it better than synthroid? should I bring it up at my next appt?
To anybody outthere, what's Armour? is it better than synthroid? should I bring it up at my next appt?
All the pain expressed above is normal from hypo and yes water aerobics and walking is wonderful but how do you get in and out of the pool. This was my only form of exercise I could do and now I can not make it up and down even wide steps because of pain. Any ideas?
I have a suggestion to you regarding exercise. I am 77, have a hip joint replacement, and a knee problem. I have been on thyroid replacement for over 55 years. My exercise of choice is water walking and aqua areobics. The water is wonderfully refreshing ( no sweating) and water walking of 30 minutes is equal to 2 1/5 miles on land. In addition you have the opportunity of meeting other people and having lovely conversations while you work out. Give it a try "you will like it"
So, just a thought I had today while getting my labs drawn... Do you think that my doc's nurse/PA (whatever she is..) keeps mentioning, steering me really... towards Cytomel because the high T3 levels would do less damage to my bones via the calcium it is probably siphoning out of me, than full-on dose of T4 I've been taking?
I never had any of these bloating/arthritis issues (you should see my feet tonight...) when my free T3 levels were high and free T4's were low... Just problems getting to sleep at night, then waking up in the morning. I don't know how I'd even research something like that, but it seemed like it was a valid hypothesis, given my situtation. Maybe this should have been a new thread, but any opinions are welcome!
I never had any of these bloating/arthritis issues (you should see my feet tonight...) when my free T3 levels were high and free T4's were low... Just problems getting to sleep at night, then waking up in the morning. I don't know how I'd even research something like that, but it seemed like it was a valid hypothesis, given my situtation. Maybe this should have been a new thread, but any opinions are welcome!
Tell your doc you need a DEXA (bone density) scan.
High doses of thyroid replacement hormones (like for cancer suppression) keep the body from absorbing calcium. Add to that any "female" hormone problems (like me being surgically menopausal and NOT on hormone replacement due to family history of breast and ovarian cancer) and you have a recipe for osteoporosis. (Not to mention parathyroid problems and RAI)
I'm at the high end of osteopenia, on the borderline of osteoporosis, and am on Boniva for it. Thank you thyroid cancer.
Also developed arthritis after RAI. Wahoo.
No, the Armour hasn't helped the bone/joint pain. It's been overwhelming this past few weeks. Guess it's a good thing I have an appointment with the rheumy this week for more injections in my knuckles. (sniffle)
High doses of thyroid replacement hormones (like for cancer suppression) keep the body from absorbing calcium. Add to that any "female" hormone problems (like me being surgically menopausal and NOT on hormone replacement due to family history of breast and ovarian cancer) and you have a recipe for osteoporosis. (Not to mention parathyroid problems and RAI)
I'm at the high end of osteopenia, on the borderline of osteoporosis, and am on Boniva for it. Thank you thyroid cancer.
Also developed arthritis after RAI. Wahoo.
No, the Armour hasn't helped the bone/joint pain. It's been overwhelming this past few weeks. Guess it's a good thing I have an appointment with the rheumy this week for more injections in my knuckles. (sniffle)
So just an update after my phone call this morning... I'm going in for bloodwork tomorrow morning. The PA or nurse or whatever her job title is, was VERY receptive to me changing to Levoxyl or whatever would make me feel better. It feels good to have them be so open to changing me to whatever I ask for. She did mention cytomel again and asked if I didn't want to go back to that. I said at this point I wouldn't close the door to anything except Synthroid. I didn't bring up Armour, but maybe I should after the labs are in. Anyone out there have similar meds issues and go to Armour? I'd love to know...
Let me warn you ahead of time what they will say. They will tell you to see a shrink LOL .. the terms I gave you are beyond their comprehension .. they took a skilled pediatric rheumatologist AND a pediatric allergist to educate me on this type of uncommon occurance LOL
The other possibilitiy is that you do have an unknown infection in your system .. even UTI going on .. and that can cause joint pain ... but to come and go with meds being changed as written above wouldn't be infection .. but I would get knee/ankle pain with UTI's and/or stones on the move and not know I had an infection!
Cheryl
The other possibilitiy is that you do have an unknown infection in your system .. even UTI going on .. and that can cause joint pain ... but to come and go with meds being changed as written above wouldn't be infection .. but I would get knee/ankle pain with UTI's and/or stones on the move and not know I had an infection!
Cheryl
Well, my husband did run around saying, "Seven year itch, seven year itch"... at year 7 of our marriage...but I'm pretty sure he was just trying to make me laugh... ;P I'm off to work and call the doctors office on the way... We'll see what "he" via his nurse, has to say...
So I guess I was pointing in the direction to an allergic delayed reaction or delayed hypersensitivity in the joint lining causing the pain which is happening as a direct result to one of the ingredients in the med you are ingesting on a daily basis.
I write out the big words so you can google them .. you will get lots of techno info like T Cell mediated responses, etc., etc. I only know this stuff bcz my one daughter has this type of reaction which isn't all that common but does exist!
C~
I write out the big words so you can google them .. you will get lots of techno info like T Cell mediated responses, etc., etc. I only know this stuff bcz my one daughter has this type of reaction which isn't all that common but does exist!
C~
Toxic Arthritis is another term but it all talks about infection, too .. but not always because my severely allergic bee sting daughter got stung once on her thumb and ended up with a reactive arthritis for 6mos in her hip as a direct result of the sting and it was not bacterial ..it was merely reactive!!!! Sometimes things trigger what are called DELAYED HYPERSENSITIVITIES or DELAYED REACTIONS in the body in the way o fthe immune system and it actually causes inflammatory changes in the joints.
Just wanted to clarify I wasn't leading you all down the road to STD's .. YIKES! You know there is a STD community at MedHelp but not neede for us .....!
Cheryl
Just wanted to clarify I wasn't leading you all down the road to STD's .. YIKES! You know there is a STD community at MedHelp but not neede for us .....!
Cheryl
My daughter is now using Beano on the advice of her Pedi GI .. she is lactose intolerant most likely on a temporary basis since not recoveirng properly from a stomach virus in February! It is helping her alot ... have you tried Beano ..it is replacement enzyme to help digets the milk lactose?
C~
C~
My comments on eating habits were in reference to being lactose intolerant, which I am.
Milk and ice cream have been off my list for YEARS, but butter and cheese never bothered me much. However, for the last year in particular my digestion is very poor and my absorbtion of nutrients is horrible. I feel bloated constantly, and I will spare you the details on bowel movements.
It would be convenient to blame it on the Synthroid, but it could be the acid lowering med I am taking, or the strong antibiotics I took a few months ago, or who knows what.
A lot of people complain about Synthroid, and I guess the grass is looking greener on the other side of the fence. It would be nice if Levoxyl solved any of my complaints.
But I have a feeling Levoxyl will have some of the same side effects as Synthroid. Probably not all the same things, as some people do much better on Levoxyl than on Synthroid.
Doctors always seem to either perscribe generic Levothyroxine or Synthroid. Levoxyl never seems to come up. Synthroid's manufacturer must have a better PR campaign.
I don't know what to think.
Milk and ice cream have been off my list for YEARS, but butter and cheese never bothered me much. However, for the last year in particular my digestion is very poor and my absorbtion of nutrients is horrible. I feel bloated constantly, and I will spare you the details on bowel movements.
It would be convenient to blame it on the Synthroid, but it could be the acid lowering med I am taking, or the strong antibiotics I took a few months ago, or who knows what.
A lot of people complain about Synthroid, and I guess the grass is looking greener on the other side of the fence. It would be nice if Levoxyl solved any of my complaints.
But I have a feeling Levoxyl will have some of the same side effects as Synthroid. Probably not all the same things, as some people do much better on Levoxyl than on Synthroid.
Doctors always seem to either perscribe generic Levothyroxine or Synthroid. Levoxyl never seems to come up. Synthroid's manufacturer must have a better PR campaign.
I don't know what to think.
So I looked up "reactive arthritis" and most of the information says it comes from the sexually transmitted disease chlamydia... YIKES! Maybe just a tad off base here?... I even tried reactive arthritis and synthroid... Nothing!
This joint pain is from Synthroid. Along with the severe bloating/water retension/breast tenderness (sorry for the last one... but it's gotten WAY worse with the Synthroid...) I take no other "drugs" with the exception of Vit D and Calcium... Sometimes a B-50 and Vit C. *When* I can remember to take them. I'm not a pill person. Remembering the Synthroid daily is something I struggle with everyday. I have to continually tell myself that I WILL DIE if I don't take it.
And I don't think that since my 10 year anniversary is days from now, that chlamydia is the answer... (Ok, so really it's not even in the ballpark...) But if that is just the first 3 pages of search returns and reactive arthritis is really a "reaction" to other things as well, I'd be open to hear more.
AR, what about the eating habits? Is there something that reacts poorly to Synthroid? Or was that a comment about the digestive tract only? Ok, so I probably wouldn't cut out cheese or butter anyway (relation to joint pain or not...) :P And I didn't have this reaction on Levothryoxine either, but when I went to try all T4, everyone said go Synthroid. ARG! I guess the "rant" continues...
This joint pain is from Synthroid. Along with the severe bloating/water retension/breast tenderness (sorry for the last one... but it's gotten WAY worse with the Synthroid...) I take no other "drugs" with the exception of Vit D and Calcium... Sometimes a B-50 and Vit C. *When* I can remember to take them. I'm not a pill person. Remembering the Synthroid daily is something I struggle with everyday. I have to continually tell myself that I WILL DIE if I don't take it.
And I don't think that since my 10 year anniversary is days from now, that chlamydia is the answer... (Ok, so really it's not even in the ballpark...) But if that is just the first 3 pages of search returns and reactive arthritis is really a "reaction" to other things as well, I'd be open to hear more.
AR, what about the eating habits? Is there something that reacts poorly to Synthroid? Or was that a comment about the digestive tract only? Ok, so I probably wouldn't cut out cheese or butter anyway (relation to joint pain or not...) :P And I didn't have this reaction on Levothryoxine either, but when I went to try all T4, everyone said go Synthroid. ARG! I guess the "rant" continues...
I was changed from the generic to synthroid and within 3 days had the most horrible joint pain in my arms and shoulders. I then switched back to the generic and the pain stayed with me. I was told there was nothing else I could take and would have to be either one by my endo. Thanks to this forum I found out about other brands are out there and got my Internist to switch me to Levoyxl and the pain went away. Now I only get twitches when I have to increase my dosage wich usually lasts about 1 - 2 weeks. I think I ticked off my endo by having my internist switch me. My endo refuses to prescribe Armour. Endos don't know it all because mine didn't even know that synthroid had lactose in it.
I've been taking Synthroid for two years now, and I am thinking of trying Levoxyl.
My digestive tract has been toast for a long time and I keep thinking that teeny tiny bit of lactose in Synthroid is messing with me.
But at the same time I have not stopped eating butter or cheese...so maybe I need to change my eating habits first.
I didn't have this problem on generic Levothyroxine, but my overall health picture was much different at that time, so who knows.
My thought is the material refferenced above is discussing T4 replacement drugs, or Levothyroxine in general. The question was about Synthroid. The answer was about T4 replacement drugs, which is levo in one form or another.
I know fillers are a big issue, but I am not sure fillers are to blame for osteo-anything. Just my opinion. Not an opinion I am willing to defend.
My digestive tract has been toast for a long time and I keep thinking that teeny tiny bit of lactose in Synthroid is messing with me.
But at the same time I have not stopped eating butter or cheese...so maybe I need to change my eating habits first.
I didn't have this problem on generic Levothyroxine, but my overall health picture was much different at that time, so who knows.
My thought is the material refferenced above is discussing T4 replacement drugs, or Levothyroxine in general. The question was about Synthroid. The answer was about T4 replacement drugs, which is levo in one form or another.
I know fillers are a big issue, but I am not sure fillers are to blame for osteo-anything. Just my opinion. Not an opinion I am willing to defend.
I am curious on the osteo as I already have osteo in my ankle (unrelated to the Synthroid) and am on Synthroid rest of my life as other side isn't working and for cancer supression anyway.
Look up reactive arthritis ........ that is a term used for arthritis that develops from something. Could be that and not osteo per say ?
C~
Look up reactive arthritis ........ that is a term used for arthritis that develops from something. Could be that and not osteo per say ?
C~
...Also wanted to add that not long ago I started to take an additional supplement of mostly calcium, mag and vit d. Those are ones I need and take but I started to noticed I was feeling achy in my bones and stiff in my joints. It subsided when I stopped taking that supplement. Now I just take the amounts I always had been. Maybe it was just too much or maybe again it was the fillers.
Perhaps looking into what else you take might be helpful.
Keep us updated. Once again, good luck.
Perhaps looking into what else you take might be helpful.
Keep us updated. Once again, good luck.
Just wanted to throw out a thought...
This is not an advertisement, but when I had to change brands and went to the brand Levoxyl some vague side-effects I'd been having went away. Apparently, the fillers are different. Also, and maybe there's no correlation here, about six months later I had a bone density scan and it came back better than the year before.
Good luck.
This is not an advertisement, but when I had to change brands and went to the brand Levoxyl some vague side-effects I'd been having went away. Apparently, the fillers are different. Also, and maybe there's no correlation here, about six months later I had a bone density scan and it came back better than the year before.
Good luck.
I also have sore hips, but I thought it was from age and years of running. The onset coincided with a fall while playing hockey, in which I hurt my hip flexor muscle. Your post explains why I hurt on the left and right hip even though I only injured the right side in the fall. I wonder if we all should have bone density tests done. I am a little older than you-almost 49.
Trish
Trish
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