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Feet and thyroid meds... Thread for Jody.. :)

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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 7/7/2007 4:26 PM (GMT 0)
Here you go Jody... Ask away.. I do hope I can answer your questions!
Posted 7/7/2007 5:20 PM (GMT 0)
hi there,
Thanks for answering so quick...when I look back at the post, looks a little funny doesn't it? Like how on earth can thyroid meds be connected to feet???? But actually was wondering about a couple of things, and saw that 1) you are also on synthroid, and 2) seem to remember you posting about foot problems in the past.
So....here goes. First, I'm on synthroid too. Had over-active in high school and had to have part of the gland nuked to kill part of it off. That's the way they did things way back in my day, not sure what they do now. Then in my 30's it went under-active, so have been on snythroid ever since. Have my levels checked once a year. Was wondering if RA or any of the meds we take have any effect on thyroid levels? Do we need any different monitoring because of it? Things feel a little "off", tired, weight gain, etc, that usually I would think maybe was thyroid, but now think it's RA. What have you found?
Second, had lots of foot problems before the RA diagnosis, Coritsone injections like crazy, neuroma surgery, special orthodics for metatarsal problems, etc. Just before the rheumatologist, the foot doc wanted to do another surgery for what he thought was another neuroma, and bunions. Was wondering what helped you? My feet are better, but some days, they just kill me, along with the ankles. Do the meds take away all of that? Does anyone have a special brand of shoes that has helped, any suggestions??? you seem to be able to keep up with your kids, job, etc, so was hoping you'd have some sort of magic to share with me.
Thanks for your help and your patience, hope I'm not too big a pain to all of you! As usual, my post is way, way too long, must hold some sort of record here....
Jody
Posted 7/7/2007 5:47 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Jody.. I had Hyperthyroidism too (Grave's).. they couldn't nuke my thyroid 'cause I was pregnant at the time, so I had the whole thing removed. I had that done in 1998.. Since then, it has been a balancing act with my Synthroid.. I have got from one extreme to another. As of right now, my Endocrinologist thinks I may have Cushings. Which would explain a lot of my weight gain, and other issues I have been having.. Who is following you with your thyroid issues? Your Primary or do you see a specialist?

I have foot issues 'cause of the arthritis I have.. I have Psoriatic Arthritis and it effects feet/toes a lot of the time. I do have orhotics (though I do not wear them).. I have had cortisone injections also, those help short term.. I had MRIs done 'cause the podiatrist thought I had neuroma also, but the MRI showed none.. All I have done, is to try and find a good comfortable shoe.. I am in the military, and have to wear combat boots (they're not so comfortable) I really don't have a choice in the matter.. but when I am not in uniform, I try to wear a good snug fitting tennis shoe.. Right now I am wearing a set of New Balance.. As long as they have good cushion, I am ok..When I wear other shoes (dressing up, etc) I try to wear an open toe shoe that doesn't squish my toes together.. I have wide feet already, but with the arthritis, I just can't wear any shoe that squishes my toes, it causes me great pain later on.. For around the house and the beach/lake, I wear Crocs.. Amazing at how something as simple as those shoes are so darn comfy on my feet!

What do you wear now? Do you also see a Podiatrist? You know, there are days that no matter what I do, my feet hurt.. so I just soak them in a nice hot bath and try to put them up.. but I am on the go alot with my job and my kids, so that's not often.. I used to hardly EVER wear shoes.. I love love love to go barefoot.. but I just can't do it anymore, it hurts too much (we have hard wood floors not carpet in the house) so I wear my tennis shoes and go about my day.. or my Crocs..
Posted 7/7/2007 5:48 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, and don't worry about the long posts! Somethings aren't cut and dry and we need to vent or explain.. no worries! We all do it! Hang in there!
Posted 7/7/2007 6:25 PM (GMT 0)
When was the last time you got your thyroid levels checked? Do you remember what the levels were?
Posted 7/7/2007 7:54 PM (GMT 0)
Hi again,
Thanks for the info about the shoes, almost bought a pair of crocs, but wasn't sure if they would be good. I, too, LOVE to go barefoot, or anyway used to. But our house is mostly tile, with carpet in the family room and bedrooms. Tile hurts!! Used to wear New Balance, but when my feet kept getting worse and worse, thought maybe they weren't right. Now I think it was just my feet getting worse and worse! The best I have found so far, is some shoes I can only get online. They are Saucony Grid Integrity ST, they have a stretchy part in the front sides of the shoes that give as your foot swells..Very comfortable. My feet are wide too, and my doc was yelling at me to make sure shoes weren't too tight in the toes. But then, he was also yelling at me that my foot problems were because I was going barefoot too much, not using my orthodics enough, and that my shoes were too tight, etc. Then, found out the RA started in my feet!!!! So, that was my poditrist, and haven't seen him since I started on meds, do need to go back about the bunions though. Those Saucony's are the best I've found so far for my feet, did have to order 1/2 size larger than my normal size though, seem to run small. Orthodics fit in them real nice. Now I'll have to get a pair of Crocs, too.
My primary has been doing my thyroid tests, and meds, can't remember my last levels for sure, but think it was around 2, or a little under. The tests were run in April or May. Thought about asking my rheumy to test that as well when she tests me for everything else. What do you think?
Thanks again!
Jody
Posted 7/10/2007 7:04 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Jody,

I have graves' disease and RA.  Go for the crocs!  I live in them.  Lucky for me I am a nurse so I can wear them to work too.  I hope they never stop making them.

Mary

Posted 7/10/2007 1:40 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Mary,
Will be out shopping for some Crocs for sure. Have'nt seen you on for a bit, how are things? Hope all is well with you!

Does anybody have any other suggestions for foot/ankle woes?
Ducky, 12 hours a day in combat boots.....ouch, can't even imagine it!
Posted 7/10/2007 10:30 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks for asking.

Took a much needed vacation with my son 8-year old son in Maine.  Took him fishing with my brothers family and my father.

Only needed one pair of shoes - quess which one?

Rheumy appt tomorrow.  Due for fifth dose of MTX tomorrow night.  Less swelling still incredible pain and poor sleep.  Hanging in there.

Hope all is well with you. 

Mary

Posted 7/12/2007 12:07 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Mary,
How'd the appt go? So sorry you are still in pain and not sleeping, hope the doc told you something that would help you with that. I think I'm on about week 5 or 6 of 15 mg of mtx this week myslef. Started out on a smaller dose and worked up. Has helped some, but not as much as I hope it will eventually. My doc told me it could take up to 10 weeks to see full effects. Just hope we all feel better...soon!
Glad you got to take a break and get away...hope you got a chance to relax. An eight year-old? Bet he keeps you hopping..our boys are all grown youngest is 22.
Thanks again for the help, going Croc shopping this weekend!
Jody
Posted 7/12/2007 3:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Jody,

The appointment went ok. MTX increased from 10mg to 15mg. Prednisone decreased from 7.5mg to 5mg. Stopping the Mobic. Also take folic acid and Ultram. It does help but definitely doesn't last 'til Wed, but I work twelve hour night shifts Friday and Saturday, so I'm getting through them but not as comforatbly as I hoped. Got nuked for Graves' 10 years ago TSH up to 2.9 so expect to be on synthroid in the near future. See Endo in Sept. Made appt with PMD for something for occassional use for sleep.

What joints of yours are affected. Mine started in my knees, then elbows, ankles, feet and hands. I think I've actually had it in my feet longer than I can remember. The first time I went to the Rheumy he focussed on these bumps on the top of my feet that I can't remember when I first got them - I'm so stupid I thought they were muscles from running in track shoes - DUH. He aspirated the one on my right foot and gave me a cortisone shot thinking my tendons would rupture.

As for having an 8 year old - I'm 50 - but it seemed like a good idea at the time! But anyway he's a great kid and I wouldn't trade him for the world. He's also very understanding patient and helpful, more then my husband.

Well have a great day. I'm sure we'll feel better soon even if not perfect.

Mary
Posted 7/12/2007 3:28 PM (GMT 0)
Ooops, forgot my wrists which are the most painful right now (along with my hands).

P.S. My crocs are pink. Thinking of getting another pair.

Mary
Posted 7/13/2007 12:34 AM (GMT 0)
I have a pair of pink and a pair of blue crocs.. I need to get some more.. my daughter has about 5 pair.. :) When I'm not in my boots, I'm in my crocs.. yeah, 12 hours in boots wrecks havoc on my feet, but I gotta do it!
Posted 7/13/2007 2:17 AM (GMT 0)
Oh Ducky God bless you in those boots!

Mary
Posted 7/13/2007 2:25 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Mary.. thanks! :) I've got the next few of weeks off, I'm going to rest my feet! :) No boots for 3 weeks!
Posted 7/13/2007 8:09 PM (GMT 0)
Aaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!

Sigh of relief for your feet.

Mary
Posted 7/13/2007 10:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,
Ducky, I'm so glad you get some vacation!! Hope you get to enjoy and relax a bit. What do you think about the thyroid numbers? Should I ask the rheumy about it, or just stay with my primary? How'd it go with all of your company?
Mary,
Fifty is right in headlights for me, only about 6 weeks away ( not that I'm counting) But, had my first at 19 and the youngest is 22. Don't know how I'd keep up with an 8 year old, but i do have an in-home daycare with 4 little ones, 9months old to 4 years. You asked what joints this has hit, almost all of them by now. Like you, if I think back, it's probably been around a long time. Foot problems for years, then ankles. Hips have been sore for a long, long time, then last winter, hands, wrists, followed by shoulders. Right now it seems like the whole right side is on fire, but tomorrow is mtx day, so hopefully one of these doses will kick in really good. I just take that right now, along with Celebrex, but not sure how much that is helping. Never have taken prednisone. Sometimes I get a little down about it all, but when I read what everyone here deals with, and they keep such good attitudes, helps me get through.
Hope you have a good night!
Jody
Posted 7/14/2007 2:39 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Ducky,
Meant to ask you before, what's Cushings?
Jody
Posted 7/14/2007 11:19 PM (GMT 0)

Hey Jody.. about your results, do you know which test was run.. There are a lot of different ones.. Free T4, Free T3, TSH? 

Cushings is basically your body producing too much cortisol.. A lot of the symptoms are similar to Hypothyroidism, and since I have had my thyroid removed, I thought that my levels were off and may now be hypo.. but all my levels were normal.. so I had a cushing's test done since I show a lot of those symptoms too.. You can go here, this is a good website with lots of info on it.. I need to go back to my Endocrine and find out what the results of my test were.. I'm just so tired of going to the doctor!  eyes

Posted 7/15/2007 2:14 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Ducky,
Thanks for the info, I'll check it out. I'm pretty sure the doctor did a TSH, that's the one he usually runs. I don't think I've had the other ones done.
Sure do hear you about going to the doctor!! I just wish we could see one for everything instead of one for each body part.
thanks again.
Jody
Posted 7/19/2007 4:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Jody,

So did you get your crocs? Like 'em? Hope all is well.

Mary
Posted 7/20/2007 11:57 AM (GMT 0)
I just bought my hubby 2 pair.. :) :) :) They look more "rugged" I think.. but still just as comfy... OH! And I found a pair of Adidas flip flops that have "memory foam" in the bottom of them.. and they were on SALE FOR $3.00.. Love them! :) :) :)
Posted 7/20/2007 1:56 PM (GMT 0)
Ducky,

The flip flops sound great - love flip flops! $3.00! I think I should go shopping.

Mary
Posted 7/30/2007 3:15 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Mary,
Haven't been on for a bit, but wanted to check in...how are you doing?
No, things have sort of blown up around here, and haven't gotten those Crocs yet...went to one store, but they didn't have my size..hopefully this weekend I can get some. One of our boys got a pair though, he absolutely loves them, told me to be sure and get some soon.
Guess I need to look for those flip flops Ducky was talking about, too. We live in flip flops in Florida all year long.
Ducky, did you get the results about you test for Cushings? This week my primary is going to re-run the TSH and some other tests, not exactly sure what.
Take care,
Jody
Posted 7/31/2007 5:10 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Jody,

MTX seems to be kicking in the last couple of weeks - not quite where I would like to be yet - but have been able to use less pain medication. PMD also gave me Rozerem for sleep and had to start Diazide to counter the high blood pressure and water retention from the steroids.

Will see the Rheumy and the end of august and am scheduled for a bone density test.

See the endo in September.

How have you been? MTX working for you? Where in FL do you live? Since I live in NJ you know I know plenty of people in FL!!

Have a great day.
Mary
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