Leg pain

[Pattymill]

Hi,
I was wondering if leg pain (muscle) can be caused by a too low dosage of synthroid.  I'm 60, have hereditary hemochromatosis and am experiencing fatigue, leg pain, brain fog and it seems greater hair loss, elevated ferrtitin, 95, with a normal TSAT%, 33, and have a phlebotomy every 2 months.  My GP says my thyroid numbers are normal.  I'm taking 0.075 mg daily.  Should I see an endocrinologist?

Thanks

[Pattymill]

Hi, gimel,

Yes, my ferritin levels will rise until the next phlebotomy-it is an acute phase reactant but it is my understanding that ferritin is also a protein that carries excess iron.  For people who do not have hereditary hemochromatosis,  a ferritin of 70 is in the normal range but I have a tendency to have muscle and joint pain when it is around that number.  

Thanks for responding :)

[Barb135]

Ferritin tends to rise with inflammation in the body... are they only checking your ferritin levels or are they checking actual iron levels, as well?  

I once had ferritin levels that were well over 200, but on checking actual iron levels, mine were within the normal limit... As I got the inflammation under control, my ferritin level has also begun to come down...the latest one was 100 and I'm due to be tested again next week.

[gimel]

The recommended level for ferritin is about 70 minimum.  So does your ferritin level increase with time, until your next phlebotomy?

Hypothyroidism tends to reduce stomach acid and thus reduce absorption of vitamins/nutrients.

[des900]

what i meant by thyroxine overload state is not necessarily hyper but a reduced t3 level (usually due to high reverse t3) followed with poor circulation which can bring the symptoms you mentioned especially leg pain.

[des900]

your symptoms suggests you are experiencing hypothyroid or a thyroxine overload state. please post your latest thyroid test results providing tsh, free t3 and free t4 values with reference range.

most doctors simply look tsh and if its under normal range they say thyroid is normal so its very crucial you see the actual values.

also how can 95 ferritin level called an iron overload level? blood letting is usually prescribed when you have levels more than 1000 or near.

[Pattymill]

I am in maintenance mode for phlebotomies now-diagnosed 10 years ago and my Rx for phlebotomies is to maintain a ferrtin and Tsat% for 45-50.  At diagnosis, if premenopausal women have a ferritin over 200 on more than one occasion, phlebotomy is needed (for men I believe the number is 300.  A ferritin of 1000 is when liver damage can begin so best to get phlebotomies long before that stage if possible.
  I have a Dr appt on Dec 11 so will get all of my thyroid numbers, including free t3 and t4 and will get back to you.  I have asked my Dr. if checking for free t3 and free t4 and was told it "is all good".  Once I get the actual numbers, will get back to you. Thank you :)

[gimel]

To better answer your questions, we need to have a look at your thyroid related test results, and reference ranges shown on the lab report.  Also, does that ferritin result of 95 represent conditions before or after the phlebotomy?  

[Pattymill]

I have an appt on Dec 11 so will get all my numbers then and post them.  The 95 ferritin is before phlebotomy and it will be there again in about 2 months time.  I don't know why it is higher than my Tsat%-it's been that way for the last year-maybe arthritis or thyroid?-not sure if thyroid problems increase the ferritin.