Thyroid problems and inflammatory arthritis?

Starburst
Starburst Member Posts: 2,546
edited 19. Feb 2013, 18:11 in Living with Arthritis archive
Evening all!

Just wondering if anyone has any experience of autoimmune thryoid problems and autoimmune arthritis.

My GP did some blood tests - to find out why I am excessively tired and dizzy - and found I probably have an underactive thyroid. I have a lump in my throat too that could be thyroid swelling; I'm waiting for an ultrasound scan. He thinks it may be another autoimmune problem.

Thanks!

Comments

  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 30,231
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Gosh Sophie!!!

    I have no experience but feel like it's been mentioned on here before.

    One of my friends has an underactive thyroid though and when her levels are wrong she is pretty shattered too.

    Do let us know how you get on with the ultrasound
    Love

    Toni xxx
  • Stigger
    Stigger Member Posts: 72
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    My mother has developed this and has now had the combined set for about 6 years. I don't know how old you are but she is 74 and developed inflammatory arthritis after years of low thyroid problems. I think it was Hashimoto Syndrome?

    Some mornings she is so stiff, she has to be hauled up to sitting and then wait until she can move a little and it gets better as she moves. She takes steroids for this and because it is linked to heart problems and sluggish circulation, she takes warfarin to thin her blood. The steroids have caused all kinds of problems and she is now type II diabetic and carefully monitors her cholesterol and blood sugar levels. They also closely monitor her 'INR' levels for bleeding.

    It is a painful condition and can be quite exhausting.

    I hope they give you proper support and care.
  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    I had a nodular goitre and at age 16 years old had it removed and have taken thyroxine daily for years. I am 62 years old now.

    I have OA. I have scoliosis too and OP. I have had two total knee replacements and a spinal op. That is me in a nutshell.

    I keep going by exercising daily. :wink:

    Elna x
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 30,231
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    elnafinn wrote:
    I had a nodular goitre and at age 16 years old had it removed and have taken thyroxine daily for years. I am 62 years old now.

    I have OA. I have scoliosis too and OP. I have had two total knee replacements and a spinal op. That is me in a nutshell.

    I keep going by exercising daily. :wink:

    Elna x

    and kept lovely and slim! :)

    Toni xxx
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    I know there are others on the forum with both things, Sophie. I hope one of them will be around soon.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • L1985
    L1985 Member Posts: 120
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi hun

    I have graves disease and was originally told I can inflammatory arthritis but now they are not sure what I have but they think it might be connective tissue disease. Anyway I was told thyroid problems can cause joint pain. For me I have joint pain if my levels are too high or too low or normal so I dont think mine is connected to my thyroid. Saying that my levels did go low over christmas and my joint pain did increase.

    When my levels go underactive I am extremely tired there is no tiredness like it even blinking feels an effort. I had a goitre but it was removed when I had my thyroidectomy. I hope you get some answers soon. If you are started on thyroxine it takes 6 weeks to feel the benefit of the medication but once its the right dose for you then its no different from someone without thyroid problems.

    xxx
  • Mormodook
    Mormodook Member Posts: 130
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    I've got RA ( 15 years ) and a couple of months ago I was told I have nodules on a goitre but thyroid levels normal . I'm waiting to see an endocrinologist on the NHS. I'm having an RA flare right now and wonder if it is connected to becoming aware of the goitre. I'd also be interested to hear other people's options and experiences :)
  • chookgate
    chookgate Member Posts: 146
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Thyroid problems, particulary underactive, can cause all sorts of things, it's one of the reasons it is a condition that qualifies you for free prescriptions.

    I have an underactive thyroid, I have arthritis (had) in both knees which now both have TKR's, and I'm overweight, and suffer from being constantly tired. I don't know if the thyroid is the total cause, more likely it's a combination of appetite, attitude, laziness etc (I'm talking about me here, not anyone else! so please don't take offence). I'd like to blame the thyroid for all my problems, but I had most of them before the thyroid issue, and actually it was when I was having success at diet and exercise that I started to need thyroxine, and the last time I lost a bit of weight, my thyroid levels dropped again, and the thyroxine dose got upped.

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