Ok, so I've been fighting this flare-up the last couple of months and I'm down to just my right knee that is still swollen and angry. Every day is up & down. I had a cortisone injection that helped somewhat. I had my Remicade on Monday and besides the knee my other joints have calmed down and my skin is fine. So, how can I say the Remicade isn't doing it's job? UGH!
BUT, the other concern is that I just had tons of lab work done to check on vitamin deficiencies, Thyroid, and a couple of other tests I don't truly understand just yet. I received all the lab results today via email , but I don't see my Dr until Tues!!! So, my B12 is low, my T4/Thyroxine blood test is elevated, as is my T3 bld.
I have had a lot of the hyperthyroid symptoms, and even joked about to my husband a couple of weeks ago about it, but truly didn't think that that would be an issue. I've been on a lot of of oral pred lately and some of the symptoms seem to run together. So, now I'm sitting here worried. (why would they send lab results if I haven't seen my dr?) UGH
I know it's common to have multiple auto immune diseases, but I'm not finding much info on Hyperthyoid and PsA together being a "normal" thing. Does anyone have this combo? And have you been able to regulate it with the tapazole? And also , have you noticed that when your levels are off that it could trigger joint issues????
(I'm a former veterinarian tech and know a lot about it in cats….not so much in humans. Although, it seems similar.)
I know i'm jumping the gun, bc I haven't seen the doc , but I Just wanted to pick your brains.
Stacy, I was diagnosed with Graves' disease a few years ago. I'm not sure there is any connection, other than that if you have one autoimmune disease, they like company so you might end up with another!
A lot of thyroid patients complain about joint pain when their levels are out of whack. I'm not sure what the mechanism is to explain this. The worst joint pain I've ever had was triggered (I think) by PTU, the second anti-thyroid drug I tried after an allergy to methimazole. Both rheumatologists and my endocrinologist say that this is entirely possible. I had not yet been diagnosed with PsA. I've looked, and can't find a definite connection between Graves', PTU, and PsA/RA. I have noticed that a number of people on this board and an RA board I participate on have thyroid problems.
The free T3 and free T4 tests are more accurate than the total T3 & T4.
I struck out with both methimazole and PTU. I have been able to get along with just a beta blocker, and hope that continues.
I'm with Sybil and lamb on this. I had all kinds of symptoms that looked for all intents and purposes like an under-active thyroid except for any change in appetite or weight. My blood work came back very slightly in the below normal range. Once all the prednisone was out of my system all the symptoms went away. I haven't had my blood work done again, and the other symptoms (like not tolerating cold) have gone away, too.
Well, I saw the dr about my lab results. What a pointless trip. She couldn't tell me anything about my thyroid. She said it would not be from Pred (?) , but could be altered from my birth control pills. (it never has been before) and that they will just recheck it in 3 months. It was not a good experience, she typed on her computer the whole time and then when SHE was done with me said "are time is up, so our appmt is over" I started laughing and said "well, this was not at all helpful, and you didn't even answer any of my questions" She did not appreciate that. I don't care. What a horrible dr. very disappointing. She was more concerned with everything BUT my arthritis issues. UGH!!!
Then, saw my rheumy again, I got another court inj in knee , started another round of Pred and we also discussed Synvisc. Anything to keep me away from a replacement right now. We'll see what happens.