Joint pain, achey hands and feet, fatigue, lethargy, increased thirst

[Gakatsbsk]

Hello

Firstly, I do have a GP appointment booked but it’s not for 3 weeks

I’ve always struggled with fatigue, have a dx of under active thyroid and on meds. I’ve also struggled for a long time with severe period pain, also on meds.

However, recently the fatigue has been worse, I’ve also got the worst (for me) aches and pains, in my feet and hands, knees, ankles and elbows. I find my joints quite stiff.

I was out in the heat today for a very short time (and in the shade) and feel awful.

I am a HCP 😆 but in a very acute setting, chronic conditions aren’t my area of expertise and I was wondering if anyone has had similar symptoms to me and had a diagnoses ?

I do work shifts, and am only in my 20s and know that all of my symptoms aren’t helped by my physically strenuous job, but for at least the next couple of years this won’t change.

Any ideas / diagnoses / advice appreciated x

Obviously I mean potential diagnoses * 😂 only my GP or other doctor can diagnose

When did you last have your thyroid levels checked? Sounds to me like your meds may not be sufficient which is pretty common - lots of people need T3 as well as T4 but GPs will no longer prescribe it.

@SinkGirl a very long time ago, that will be my first request but if I’m getting bloods I usually like to suggest a few other things get checked 😆 (HCPs make the most annoying patients)

Are your bloods also covering things like vit D and Vit B12 ?

Have you ever been tested for diabetes?

I have all the same symptoms as you (plus hair thinning, weight gain, loss of libido) but my thyroid levels are always in range so they won’t consider that could be the issue even though I think it’s very likely. They say ME and fibro 🙄

Worth making sure they check your thyroid antibodies

I have same issues, minus the thirst, and I have ME.

However, my vitamin D levels were severely deficient and once I got them up the aches in my hands and feet improved a lot

I had similar (plus hair loss, brain fog and mist weirdly a real craving to crunch ice!) and it turned out my ferritin level was 0 and my RBC was low. Most likely from years of heavy painful periods (but the GP didn't consider anaemia may be a result of said periods and refused to do the bloods to check).

I have been taking 600mg of Ferrous Sulphate a day for a number of months now (as told to by my gynae consultant who discovered the anaemia) and feel like a new woman.

I'm gutted that I spent years feeling so rubbish and not knowing that tablets I could buy from a pharmacist for a couple of quid were all I needed....

Had similar and B12 was exceptionally low. Started injections and energy is fantastic.

Make sure they add CRP to the blood test. Any number of autoimmune diseases could be going on.

These symptoms can all be linked to your gut health. A naturopath specialising in gut health can look into whether bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) or other issues e.g. thrush could be causing your problem.

If you look online you may be comfortable trying oil of oregano capsules and probiotics etc to reset your balance.

Food sensitivities are another option and can be difficult to spot. Maybe try cutting out all gluten and dairy for a couple of weeks and see if that helps?

Hope you find out what’s causing it soon

Thanks everyone, I’ve had a time of it, back in full PPE at work, car playing up plus all this so apologies for not replying sooner