Does anyone else have a thyroid condition with RA. Are you on medication for that as well?
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GenaRogers Yes - I am. I think it is a fairly common combination of diseases actually, from what I have read. I have been taking Synthroid for about 20 years now - taking RA medications for only 4. My GYN found a lump in my thryroid and did tests initially, and results showed low thryroid function that he said would leave me with a low quality of life untreated. Little did he know what else would come along to take a whack at my quality of life.
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Yep I take synthroid too, Rd told me that people who have thyroid problems and athritis need to keep in touch as to making sure their synthroid is at the correct level. Not enough synthroid can cause your joints to ache even more, besides making you more tired. The thyroid affects many parts of your body, and if it is not corrected it can cause higher cholesteral, heart problems, problems with other organs in your body, depression, and mental health problems.
Meme
I am hoping my weight will go down a bit when the synthroid kicks in. Some days, I get this ring around my neck. It is so funny. My mother noticed it one day. I should have read more about the synthroid and it's side effects when I got it... The paper they gave me with it is around here somewhere. I keep meaning to read it.... if I can stay awake long enough.
Anyone else have side effects to synthroid???? I see the endocrinologist on June 7th.
I have been wondering about thyroid issues and ra also. I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism 3 years ago. I also have graves disease which is related to the thryroid problem. I take synthryoid. I was diagnosed with ra about a year ago. Of course it doesnt show in my blood work and yesterday when i went to the doctor she all of a sudden starts questioning my synthryoid level. I am only upset by this because she didnt seem to care about it before. now she cares when my blood work still doesnt show ra. I would appreciate any comments on this subject. Thanks
Well, I know (from my experience a few weeks ago), that RA can affect your thyroid. She is probably wondering about the synthroid level now because maybe the RA is either in a flare or you were in a flare, and now are not... and the level needs to be adjusted. RA can cause the thyroid to become inflamed and then it either produces too much or too little hormone. I don't really know for sure, but that is my take on it.What she maybe concerned about is maybe your synthroid level is too low. When your thyroid is not acting properly and you are not taking enough synthroid, it can cause your joints to hurt like a flare up and make you very very tired. Hypothyroidism needs to be taken seriously, this little gland affects your body in so many ways. thickening of your skin, losing hair, depression, even dimentia(?)!!!! I know it is hard to believe,but it is real every organ of you body can be affected, by not taking your synthroid or not getting enough synthroid. I am lucky if my thyroid is causing problems, my rd send me to the dr who cohabitats in his office, his wife!!! She is an endocrilogist. There are some very good books out there to read on thyroid disease both at the library, and at Barnes&Noble. Get yourself a book to read, they even have thyroid diets in some of these books. It was published here before, but there is a list of foods that hypothyroid people need to avoid. Soy, Canola oil, peanuts, are a few, but there are many more. The reason we need to stay away from these certain foods is they interfere with the synthroid. meme
Shanbr,
Have you had an echocaridogram done? Inflammation of the heart, or pericarditis is very serious. They upped my prednisone, gave me percocet and made me quit working for awhile. I have had pericarditis at least two times now and they put me through all the major heart tests.
If you have that going on, your RD needs to get you to a Cardiologist for evaluation.
Oh, and it hurts, baby! I know it. Plus, it will make you very, very tired.
Gena, a TSH really should be in the 1-2 range for most people to feel well. Although "normal" range is .5 - 5, most people are at their best between 1 and 2.
It is also wise to learn about your T3 level, and if treatment with synthroid still doesn't have you feeling well, ask your doctor to prescribe a medication with T3 also, and see if that improves things.
Your level will need to be checked at least yearly, if not more frequently due to your RA. This is a hormone, and as we all know, they change over time!
My TSH level was not that abnormal.... 9.8Isn't 9.8 a high number??? I was a 6 at my last test and that was considered high.
I see the endocrinologist on the 7th of June. Thanks for the info Hilhoney!!
Maybe it is high... my doctor is very.... how do I say it. He is very much a country doctor and is very laid back. He didn't seem that alarmed by my test results. Working in health records at our local hospital, I file most of the tests in the charts and have seen some people's as high as 24! I can't imagine how those people kept awake. I don't know if it is the RA or the thyroid problems, but I just about can't make it through the day. I am so tired and exhausted!Hi!
I have thyroid problems also. I had originally been diagnosed with a goiter back in HS so they put me on meds to shut it down so it wouldn't grow any more. Well, of course, I moved and the new GP decided because my blood levels were normal I didn't need it any longer. Well, then I was complaining to him that I wasn't feeling right--like my thyroid was acting up. I was tired all the time, gaining weight on 900 cals a day, and unbearable sore throats. finally I convinced him to have an ultrasound done & a biopsy. I then had 3 lumps, not just one but everything else was normal. a year later, I had a lump in the front of my throat that every one could see. he did another US and low and behold---a fourth nodule had appeared!!! AMAZING!!(NOT!). He finally sent me to an ENT surgeon and I ended up having half of my thyroid removed and getting put back on synthroid to keep the other side from changing--just like I had been originally--AMAZING AGAIN!!!!(NOT!). Don't let your GP just write it off if the blood tests come back normal--that doesn't mean anything. Needless to say all of the weight I put on is still there because of the prednisone I am taking. BUMMER!!! I'm doing Nutrisystem so I hope it will help--I hate being big!!
Good Luck!!
Typically, what are your TSH numbers when they put you on synthroid. Is 6 a number that screams for medication??
Yes Gena and dar733 you both should see an endocrinologist and get treatment. The thyroid controls so much in the body - it is a very important gland! One thing to keep in mind is that much research has been done in recent years about what is "normal". The numbers for "normal" are lower than they were even 10 years ago. A lot of GP's have not kept up with the current research and just keep plugging along the same way they have for years. Many would never even think of adding T3 to the treatment plan. That was the case with my GP. I ended up going to an endo and getting my Levoxyl dosage increased, and then came back to my GP for my regular care. He huffed and puffed, BUT he refills my prescriptions at the level the endo prescribed, and I am doing much better.
I am seeing a new endocrinologist on June 7th. I was pre-screened by his office like I have never been pre-screened before. He called for blood tests TSH, T3, T12?? and something else. I feel like this is going to be really positive for me. Maybe I can get my weight under control. Hard to deal with putting so much weight on when you work out 5 days a week and typically eat 1200 calories a day. Thanks for the suppport HillHoneyIt sounds like you've got a good one! Good luck - I hope you are feeling better very soon!