Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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RA and Hypothyroidism

Lisa-Witt
Lisa-Witt
Just started medication for hypothyroidism today. I am nauseated, shaky, and hot. But I'm optimistic this means it's working and I just need to adjust. I've learned that a lot of the fatigue I've been feeling and definitely my frustrating weight gain is due to this and I'm looking forward to things getting better. I've been reading, as I do a lot, and I've read that a lot of people with hypothyroidism develop RA and vice versa. Didn't ever hear or see anything about it until I went looking. Figures. Anyway, I was just curious about others' experiences who also have both. What was your experience, did medication help? Did you lose weight? Were there any issues with your doctor blowing off one or the other diagnosis because some symptoms overlap? Thankfully my doc acknowledges that they tend to go hand in hand and didn't even suggest misdiagnosis, but I can just imagine that happening to someone. RA can be hard to diagnose as it is. Mainly, I'm just curious. As I said, I read a lot. I like to know as much as I possibly can. I've found I'm better educated on RA than some doctors I've met.
Sistahbear
Sistahbear
When they were running all of the tests for my RA they found out right away that I had very low thyroid and vitamin D so they started me on treatment for that. I guess it may be due to the RA that I really didn't notice any relief from the thyroid medication or weight loss or anything but things are sort of weird right now trying to adjust to all the new medications for the RA and Fibromyalgia. (I was already on 12 other medications before all of this).
I wish you the best of luck in getting some relief. Hugs.
Lisa-Witt
Lisa-Witt
They tested my thyroid early on and it was normal, so it's a new development for me, but I read that either can come first. My vitamin D is also low, aaagain. Another thing that goes with RA. I'm really hoping for some weight loss. I gained 15 pounds shortly after starting RA meds two years ago and haven't been able to lose it, and gained an additional 10 just in the past few months. It's been frustrating. I chalked it up to just not trying hard enough since I'd been able to lose all my excess weight after each of my kids But I kept saying things like "it's like a switch was flipped". Guess I was right.
GrammyKat
GrammyKat
My thyroid woes started a good 20 years prior to the RA. I don't think they were just not seeing the RA then. I did not have any of the symptoms then.
gaitless
gaitless
I was diagnosed with my Hypothyroidism in Jan 2012. Ten months later I got my RD diagnoses. What came first? Hard to say since my pcp wasn't looking for RD when he found it.

My Vit D is also low. My weight loss was non existent until I did a major overhaul on how/what I ate.
cindyleb
cindyleb
I was dxed with hypothyroid in Feb of 2012, when I went to the doc because I could hardly walk with my feet.... he was thinking gout and since I rarely went to the doctor ran all my blood work. At that point found out not gout in feet and had hypothyroid. Doctor forgot all about my feet hurting and then brushed it off "oh it is probably just arthritis. I quit him I was so mad he wouldn't do anything for my pain.... a month later went to the clinic to have my pills for thyroid adjusted and she ran the right tests and sent me to a Rhuemy.... dxed with RA in April 2012.

So really hard to say which came first.... I don't really feel any different on the thyroid meds and I do think that has to do with the RA. I am 10 pounds heavier now then I was... still haven't lost the prednisone weight.

Good luck
Cindy
carrottop50
carrottop50
yes I do have both Ra and thyroid problems... plus low Vitamin D and Vitamin B12. My thyroid problems come and go for some reason... one dr will said I have it then another will say I don't then I can go to another and they could say yes or no that I have it... well I am on meds for it and I am staying on the meds... I have lost some weight since I have been on the meds for low thyroid.... but like any time I lose weight it take some time. I was on prednisone for years and put on the weight and puffiness... then was off of the prednisone for about 5 years and I lost about 50 lbs... but now the dr has me on it again...but I said only for a short time will I be on it this time... only until the methotrate starts to work...about 2 months... then I am off of it... no matter what.. I am not gaining that weight back.... But not sure I would gain as much this time as last because the dr has me on Methotrate and plaquenil with it this time and both make me nausea so I don't want to eat. Plus my insides hurt on all these medicines. Well hope you get it all figured out and feel better soon.
Lisa-Witt
Lisa-Witt
Thanks for your answers guys.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Add me in too. Started on synthroid about 6 years ago. Didn't have any symptoms, but on annual bloodwork my thyroid function kept going down until my PCP decided to start treatment. RA diagnosis in August, although I've had symptoms for a while. Didn't know that the two were related until then...of course didn't know lots of things!
Thewino
Thewino
Hello Lisa,

You can add me to this group of sleep deprived individuals. In addition to my autoimmune problems, I have hypothyroidism, a very low Vitamin D level, severe sleep apnea, low testosterone, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

I am being treated for all the above. Despite my physician wanting me to decrease my work hours, I still work full time while I am able. Who ever knows what tomorrow will bring?

Best wishes,
TheWino