New concern | Arthritis Information

I wasn't sure if I should mention that I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism a couple of days ago. I had had routine bloodwork and that was the result.

I have no symptoms. That causes me concern. I'm a bit nervous, not fatigued. I'm worried about taking the very small dosage of levothroxine. I'm afraid it will exacerbate symptoms I already have!

I've read that people with ra may be more likely to develop another autoimmune disease. I jst didn't expect a new disorder so quickly!

Any information would be appreciated. I realize this is off topic.

I'm starting to feel a bit overwhelmed. I've always been healthy and I am grateful for that.

Ok now don't worry it is not the end of the world hon. Many of us here have hypothyroidism. You may have had hypothyroidism for a long time and the symptoms are just showing now. I had it before I got the oa pa and ra. Remembering to take the pill is the big thing because you need to take it everyday, and another thing you may find that once you are at the theraputic level for your thyroid you may find that you may not have so many aches and pains. When your thyroid is off whack it can cause the aches and pains to hurt even more. So welcome to the club of duo autoimmune disorders. I hope this will cheer you up a little too. meme

But I must calm down, I know many people have this disorder.

Thanks again!

Hi Dotty, symptoms occur very slowing and you may not recognize that you're symptomatic. I was diagnosed hypo 25 years ago and once I started meds and reached the therapeutic level I realized how bad I had been feeling prior to meds. Like Meme said it's part of the auto immune diseases that we get. I'm on #4 and hope that PA is the last one. Take your meds, hypo isn't anything to fool around with. It can seriously affect you in different ways. Keep us posted. Lindy.

Dotty

I too have an underactive thyroid. My symptoms crept upon me... mainly the lethary and need to sleep (eventually), 13 hours a day. My doctor gave me a bottle of tabs at 25mg each and said take 25mg a day for a week and slowly build it (or not) until I didnt feel the need to sleep as much. That is the only symptom I ever had. My son also has an underactive thyroid and he's never had any symptoms.... he takes 150mg a day. We both take ours first thing in the morning before we eat. The alarm goes off and we both head down to the kitchen and take our respective tabs. You need to pick a time and keep to it because as meme says if you stop taking it it has an afffect. My son (as they do), 'forgot' two a week (he reckons), and we had a letter from the doctor saying is tft had fallen off the end of the scale.... so missing a little does matter.

Really nothing to worry about though.

Dotty, I forgot. Did your doctor do any nuclear studies or scans of your thyroid? L

Try not to stress yourself Dotty. I'm also hypothyroid and have been since my early 20's. I went to the doctor because I didn't understand why I was always so tired. It really hasn't been a big deal for me all these years except when I wasn't taking my medication and found out the hard way how important it is. Just make sure you take you're little pill every single day and you should be just fine.

Peace & Love...Neasy

I missed three consecutive days and I couldn't believe how bad I felt! Never have I missed another pill. Take them same time every day and have blood work done every 6 months. Because of my age and some of my meds I have a hard time regulating the dose. Lindy

Hi Dotty,

you probably haven't noticed any symptoms. That is not unusual. I found out I had hypothyroidism during a physical when the dr. noticed I had a large goiter. I had not even noticed that. The medicine shouldn't bother you at all, it is just replacing what your body is not making and it takes time to build up in you. I am puzzled by those who said to be sure to take it every day. My dr said it is slow acting and it won't matter if you don't miss a dose occasionally. Hope this helps you feel better about it.

Laker

Thanks a lot for your replies. I see it is a fairly common condition.

Lin B, I haven't had as nuclear scan. The doctor gave me a prescription for 25 milligrams of medication and told me to come back in 6 weeks for blood work. I don't think my numbers are too much out of whack.

Thanks again for your good advice!

I just posted what happened to me when I didn't have the right thyroid panel test. Goes to show. But then when I went to an endocrinologist they did the complete works. I also posted on another site an AT HOME test to check your thyroid. Simple to see if it is out of whack. For me I had to learn the hard way when I got atrial fibrillation since I was waaay over in the overactive thyroid dept. That's when I found out it was so prevalent with RA suffererers. We learn something every darn day about this insidious disease. Then the DUKE and the DOCTOR said on her radio show (see post) "it's just an auto immune disease" saying her vitamins could normalize it!!! Don't let me get on my soap box on THAT one!

Joanne

Take care

I have PA and hypothyroidism. what showed my throid problem was a sudden increase in my cholesterol.obviously thats a sign of it !!! but now I take thyroxine and cholesterol tabs.

You will be fine, and even though you don't realize it now, when you take your levothyroxine you will start feeling better. I am on levothyroxine also, I was on synthyroid, but I do better on the levothyroxine. Keep us updated, and let us know if you feel better and how things are going with you, o.k.?