Hypothyroidism - on meds but in trouble at work

I was diagnosed as borderline hypo in May 2012, just after my 40th birthday.  I asked my GP not to faff about and put me straight on meds, as my friend was diagnosed but her GP wouldn't put her on meds immediately and she was ill for months.  During most of 2012 and the beginning of 2013, I was suffering joint pain basically in every major joint from the neck down, to the point where I could hardly dress myself some days, couldn't write, couldn't grip anything (from loose change to petrol pumps) and once almost crashed my car because I couldn't grip the steering wheel.  I had been told previously that I had carpal tunnel syndrome but I've been a touch-typist since a very young age so it was attributed to that.  I had numerous blood tests, out of which came the thyroid diagnosis but nothing else; I've never had any scans, x-rays or anything apart from one unrelated x-ray on my back in January 2012.  In December 2012 I eventually crashed and was signed off work with stress (partly work-related) and joint pains, which I was referred to the hospital for.  I was off work for 3 months in total, and just after I returned I got my hospital referral but of course, by this time, the joint pains had eased and I had very little to 'show' the rheumatologist.  He diagnosed wear and tear in my basal thumb joints and a bit of wear and tear in my back, and a hospital blood test showed that my Vitamin D was below half what it should be.  Despite the thyroid diagnosis, no one suggested that the joint pains might be related.

In November 2013, I had time off work with what I could only describe as flu without the fever; joint and muscle aches, I was sleeping for a good 12 hours and during my first lot of time off, I had been napping throughout the day.  I had 4 days off and made it into work on the 5th, only to be sent home at lunchtime.  I then returned the following week but when my thyroid results came back as normal, I had to take the earliest appointment to see a GP as I knew I had to do something.  He signed me off work for a week with arthralgia and when I checked the figures with him, I was at the top end of 'normal', 3.8.  So I asked for my thyroxine to be increased, which he did, to 100mg.  Unfortunately, this time off caused me to go over the allowed sick days at work with the 'help' of a cluster of migraines - which I've had since I was about 17 - all of which resulted in me being monitored informally for 3 months.  Midway through that, at the beginning of May, I blew my sciatic nerve which resulted in calling out paramedics, 3 panic attacks, hyperventilating and 36 hours in bed, plus a full week off work.  I returned to work after that, even though the combination of pain and nerve relief I was taking was affecting me quite badly, with a walking stick. Consequently I failed to meet the target I had been set, which means that on Thursday of this week, I'm having a formal review where my boss will decide whether or not to make it formal and begin disciplinary action for exceeding the time allowed off sick.  I had an Occupational Health referral in February this year where the nurse said that as I was on meds, my thyroid would not affect my ability to work when in fact it has done, twice.  I disputed it at the time, but she still put it in the report and I disputed it with my manager, citing the way I had felt in November 2012 and 2013 - at least now I know what signs to look for!  As OH couldn't suggest any alternative support or adjustments for my employer to make (I already have an ergonomic chair, roller mouse instead of traditional mouse, monitor on a riser, document holder, and so on), the review meeting is the only option open to them.  Despite the fact that my line manager has reassured me that my ability is not in question, ultimately (and quite a way down the line), I could lose my job.

I still get joint pain, thankfully nothing like the sciatica attack, but currently my hands ache - the prolonged joint pain left me unable to write much more than a birthday card before the discomfort sets in, my elbow (I was told it was tennis elbow), and the sciatica left me with nerve damage in my left leg.  My knee is numb and I have odd nerve sensations, such as feeling like my skin is wet.  Sometimes I get hot and burning pins and needles, and it's affected my ability to tackle lots of stairs or walk far.  In the beginning I struggled to drive as well, but have got through that although I'm being more conservative with my speed and using my handbrake a lot more!  

Sorry that went on a bit, but the question is could those severe joint pains have been an initial indicator of my thyroid even if I was originally only borderline?

Also, my periods have changed drastically this last couple of months.  In mid-May, somehow, I missed both a pill (mini) and my thyroxine tablet for a day.  Extremely unusual for me.  I carried on as normal after that but my periods changed from approx. 28th of the month to 18th in June.  This month it was 14th.  I am very light, and it usually only lasts a couple of days.  Could that be down to my thyroid?

I'm having the results of my thyroid check tomorrow, conveniently so I can go into this meeting with the most up-to-date results I have.  I also always take an appointment because the GPs' receptionists only ever tell you your results are 'normal' or 'abnormal' with no detail.  

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