Low oestrogen or low vit d

[yellowpostitnote]

I just wondered what people's experiences of either of these was aches wise?

I've been suffering on and off for many years with deep bone aches especially in my feet and lower legs, hips, lower back sometimes wrists and hands. Sometimes also stiff muscle aches too. I was diagnosed with hypermobilty but my aches are definitely variable and possibly linked to parts of my cycle. I'm also 43 and probably peri menopause's.

It's definitely not thyroid (im on thyroxine) as weirdly I was recently tested and out of range at nearly 7 tsh. However all the aches had actually gone for a good few weeks when I was tested! Coincidentally my vit d was 73; I'd been getting lots of sun and supplementing.

Now tsh is 2.3 6 weeks later but the aches and feeling washed out returned after my last period. There's been barely any sun since May but I'd doubt vit d falls that quickly?

Somewhere here I'd seen someone mention they knew when their vit d was falling as their feet ached in the morning which is definitely a symptom I'm dealing with again. I'm not even at work pounding corridors and am wearing soft trainers!

I have never suffered the types of aches you mention despite having low oestrogen every six months for the last 30 years. (Biannual HRT)
I have had plantar fasciitis but that certainly had no connection to my oestrogen levels.

Ok thanks that's helpful.

I think if I'm still having periods my oestrogen is probably ok.

I do find that topping up my Vitamin D makes a big difference to aches and pains and how tired I feel. If I start to feel achey I take a supplement.

Also iron, especially after my period. I take one of the liquid forms which I find more digestible. I can tell I need iron if I start to feel very tired and slightly breathless.

And have you considered your diet? I suddenly noticed that if I eat a lot of bread it makes my arms and legs ache. So I have given up bread and feel much better generally. Maybe you might be having a similar reaction to something you’re eating.

But I’m not a doctor and I am sure you should get your symptoms properly checked!

Hmm interesting about the bread.

The iron is a definite possibility actually, I know from experience that I have to have a good ferritin level. Which fits with a lot of increasing knowledge of women on thyroxine.

I don't think it would account for the feet aches etc though. I suppose a private vit d test would tell me but I can only find ones with thyroid too and over 80 quid. Gp wouldn't test again as it was 73.

What with the amount of random symptoms I get I do limit my Gp visits and try to make changes at home for as long as I can. Just been through a lot of peripheral neuropathy issues which better thyroid levels plus some b vits has helped.

I don't like being one of those people who have lots of random symptoms but I bloody well am and it's wearing!

How much vit d do you take BoudicasBoudoir when you top up?

Take vitamin d with vitamin k to help it absorb. And magnesium, take the best quality you can find every day. Its the best thing for aches. I have a thyroid issue too, have you been checked for tpo antibodies? Doesnt matter what the reading is id your thyroid is unwell you will still have symptoms. Get checked for thyroid antibodies.

You can get a range of things tested at home with a Thriva kit - I definitely paid less than £80 for a whole range of tests. Results were super quick too.

@yellowpostitnote

How much vit d do you take BoudicasBoudoir when you top up?

Vitamin D3 2000iu. It’s quite a high dose but I find it sorts out the issue quite quickly.

Thanks for the advice all.

When I was taking vit d it was with k2 in a spray and I think 3000. But I had been taking it daily (plus the sun we had in April/ May) for 2 months so it's possible I was a bit low prior to that.

And actually I was taking magnesium glycinate. But a lot of things have slid by the wayside recently. I'll revisit the regime and see if it helps.

Regarding thyroid antibodies; how would they be affecting me if my thyroid doesn't work? I think the all in tests do include that but I can't see how that would impact anything.

Thank you all again.

Because the antibodies will be creating inflammation in the thyroid as they attack the thyroid tissue, so even if the meds are giving you the reading you need, your thyroid will still be under stress causing similar symptoms. My Dr didn't test me for antibodies until I asked.

Cant say about other things but if your feet hurt in the morning or after sitting for too long like you place your feet flat on floor and you go 'ouch' but then it keeps getting better as you walk - then it is because of low b12.

Super, would that be the case if I had no functioning thyroid at all? It hasn't worked for over 20 years and I had to have much higher doses during pregnancies.

Literally, yes it's like a a bruising ache. It gradually fades during the morning. But it's also hips and lower back. Last autumn b12 was good (in upper ranges).

I take at least 4000iu Vit D3 every day unless I have been outside in the sun for at least 15 in summer. In winter, if we have a period where there is no sun for days on end I double that and take 8000iu.

It has definitely eased my aches and pains and helped my mood summer and winter.

I am also hypothyroid so take thyroxine and other supplements
Magnesium glycinate 400mg
K2
B12
Iron (spatone) and vitamin c to aid absorption
Folic Acid

B12 deficiency causes peripheral neuropathy which causes feet pain, but if your b12 is normal then may be it is your thyroid itself. Hypothyroidism can cause fluid retention resulting in swollen tissues that exert pressure on peripheral nerves.

Thank you IAint and Literally.

I have been having burning neuropathy in hands and feet and had been told by Gp it could be "burning foot syndrome" - but obviously both hypothyroidism and b12 / folate are implicated in that. It's been improving recently as the tsh went down. Just the aching bone pains returned!

I'm feeling much better today. I've adjusted my thyroxine dose very slightly (id been taking 3 150s a week and 4 125s, so going to straight every other day.) as 2.3 tsh could be a bit better. It's been rubbish all year tbh. The Gp originally thought the peripheral neuropathy might be as my tsh came back borderline too low; at that point I didn't know about avoiding biotin before tests and I've queried that test as I've basically been quite hypothyroid since, making slight adjustments. I went as low as 100 thyroxine and became v hypothyroid but even 125 is clearly not enough.

I take mag glycinate but 200. I do at various times take the others Iain't. Could I ask the amount of b12 and folic acid you take? (I've taken folate in the past for fertility.)

I'm going to set up a regular regime of all those things and the vit d and pay for a private test in a couple of months. as the Gp will think I'm barking

I take 400 mcg of folic acid every night plus 300 mcg of b12 after lunch and 100 mcg b12 after dinner. I also take 300 mg of magnesium citrate daily and 60000 iu vitamin d every 45 days ( recommend by GP). I have irreversible neuropathy as I was b12 deficient for a long time and was also given 6 shots of b12 to begin with.
If you are self medicating then get 100 mcg tablets of b12 and start with 2 a day . Wait for a week and see how it goes , keep adding 1 per week to find an appropriate dose for you.
Do not take folic acid for more than 4 months at a time.
As for vit d levels , NHS levels for low is less than 20 but for your age and thyroid health you should aim for 50. Less than that and you will get cramps in your legs.