Swollen eyelids! Please help.

[J_angel]

Hi everybody, i was diagnosed with a overactive thyriod 10 years ago aged 22, over the years it has become underactive then over and now under again. I went to see the nurse 2 weeks ago as i was feeling unwell and had swollen eyelids, she then informed me that i should have been put on iron tablets in January, and that it as probably my sinuses that are causing the swelling.

However i have been taking the allergy meds prescribed and there has been no improvement, the swelling is getting worse, i will be making an appointment to see the doc after the bank holiday, but i was wondering if anybody else has suffered with this and can offer any advice. i have also had swollen ankles the last 10 years and no doctor has been able to offer any solution.

any advice would be greatly apreiciated.

[RedApple]

Are you on any thyroid medication? If so, it may be that your swelling is because the dose is wrong.

Another possibility is that you have developed an intolerance to dairy foods. By process of trial and error, I eventually discovered this to be the cause of my swollen, red eyelids a few years ago. Never had a problem with dairy before, but now I do and have to mostly avoid it Worth a try!

[J_angel in reply to RedApple]

Hello thank you for your response, i have been taking 50mcg of levothyroxine the doctor recently upped it to 75mcg. i am concerned that i may have eye thyriod disease as i also have double vision in the eye with the worst swelling.

im sorry to here you have a problem with dairy, i hope this is not the case as i do love dairy products

[PrincessMisery]

Hello!

I've only just joined the site as a new Graves sufferer and this is my first post, so I don't know much about it all yet. But your post caught my attention as I also have very swollen eyelids. After having a lot of the 'usual' hyper symptoms, the thing that made my GP do a blood test initially was that my ankles also swelled up suddenly and just didn't go down, so I thought I sounded quite similar to you. I also have huge bags under my eyes, or rather, halfway down my cheeks! (I am currently on 40mg carbimazole daily, which isn't having much effect, but it did at least make my ankles go back down to normal.) When I saw the endocrinologist last week, he mentioned my swollen eyes and wasn't at all surprised, so in my case it's because I'm still hyper. I do have sinus problems as well but it's never made this happen, so I'd be inclined to think it might be your thyroid rather than anything else. As I said though, I'm a beginner at this, so I will also be interested to read other peoples' responses and suggestions.

Good luck with your GP visit. xx

[J_angel in reply to PrincessMisery]

Hello

thank you for your reply. I am also new on here and its comforting to know that there are people who understand what your going through. as this is a frustrating illness that effects people in so many ways.

my hair is also thinning more on one side which is making a bald patch at the front of my hair line, and it also keeps breaking on this side too which makes it impossible to grow lol.

I used to have terrible bags too when hyper but they did get better once thyriod was in normal range.

im seeing the doctor today, lets see if anything come from that, i wish you well and hope yours eyes improve soon, give it a little while longer then see your doc again as you may need your dose increasing.

you should also have your bloods checked at least every three months. xx

[PrincessMisery in reply to J_angel]

Hiya J_angel

Thanks for your reply, sorry to hear you're having problems with your hair as well - I haven't experienced that yet, but it seems you can never tell what's going to happen with this illness... lol

My doctor won't increase my carbimazole as he feels that its rather a high dose for me. He did say I can carry on with the same amount but I'm not feeling all that great on it so I'm having RAI next Thursday instead. I'm only having a small dose which he is hoping will just knock my thyroid back down to normal, enough to not have to take any medication once its settled. That's the idea anyway... lol

How are you feeling now and how did your doctor's visit go? Hope you are doing okay xx

[J_angel in reply to PrincessMisery]

Hi Princess,

I am sorry this is the first chance ive had to get on here lol. the docter said it was definately not sinuses or allergy, but myxedema.. he did say that as my levels go back to normal range then the swelling should stop, so fingers x. the good news is after all this time swelling in my ankles has gone down a lot since my dose was upped, so theres a good chance yours will too. I hope your RAI treatment goes well! and you are feeling well soon, i know these things may seem small to other people but hey can really get you down, so stay positive it should get better... with time lol hope your ok, let me know how the RAI goes take care x

[Toxiclmh in reply to PrincessMisery]

Hi,

I've just recently joined this site as a Graves sufferer too. I've also noticed swollen ankles and puffy eyes. I'm seeing the endocrinologist tomorrow and I'm sure he'll want to prescribe Carbimazole. Have you had any side effects from taking it and do you take Beta-bockers too? I'm rather worried about taking such strong drugs. Do you know your T3 level and TSH level? Mine are T3 12 and TSH 0.01. Hope your levels soon return to normal although it can take a little while.

[J_angel in reply to Toxiclmh]

Hi

sorry replys a little late. im not sure what my exact levels are, but i know my TSH level is up.

when i was on carbimazole i felt a lot better after a period of time, i dont recall having any side effects, and fortunately i did not need beta blockers, it might take time to get you on the right does as the docs dont like to give you too much as it could make your thyriod go the other way. around 9 months ago i started of on 15mcg ive now gone up to 75mcg. I Hope it went well with the endo, what did he say?

[Toxiclmh in reply to J_angel]

Hi,

Sorry my reply's a little late too! Not very good at checking my emails!

I'm afraid the endo was not very pleased with me as I expressed my concern at taking Carbimazole due to possible side effects. He recommends taking 20mg per day but says I could start at 5mg and gradually increase it to 10 then 20 which seems a good compromise. I think the other problem is that if the dose is too high, then the thyroid can go underactive. Did you manage to have a period of time when your levels returned to normal after being hyper before you became hypo? Thank you very much for replying, it's such a help to have this supportive site. Have you got a good endo? I don't seem to get on very well with mine as he thinks I ask too many questions! Fortunately, my GP is very understanding, so any real worries are best addressed to her. Hope things are getting better for you.

[J_angel in reply to Toxiclmh]

Hi,

im glad your more comfortable with taking the carbimazole now, it will take time for you to notice the effects as its not inmediate unfortunately.

I saw an endo about 9 years ago, shortly after i was diagnosed and have not been since. he didnt really say much other than he didnt think i needed RAI. i used to have my bloods done every 3 months in the begining they kept a close eye on things. but when my bloods come back normal they leave it longer.

I think i was mis-diagnosed with depression a few times over the years as ive had symptoms of thyriod but my bloods have been borderline (not enough to treat) and felt even worse taking anti depressents. so i came off them.

Doctors have taken me of thyriod meds completely a few times over the years too which is unusual i am told as your usaully on meds for life, but yes i had no medication for over 2 years then i started feeing unwell agian, im no doctor but for me personally i think extreme levels of emotional stress seems to trigger mine.

Dont let the Doctors put you off keep asking questions, its only through my own research that ive managed to connect the dots. Doctors just say " you have this.. take that"

I am glad you have a good GP it makes such a difference, once you have your thyriod under control you should feel a lot better.

the thyriod effects you in so many ways that i do feel people think im a hypocondriact some times lol.

I am sorry for t long reply, i do hope you feel better soon! keep in touch

[Taraqeen in reply to PrincessMisery]

Hi just read your reply and sounds almost identical to me. I have fluid on eyelids and swollen face near cheekbones like you've been hit in the face. I haven't seen endocrinologist yet so not on any treatment yet. And as I have hay fever I thought the swelling was due to that and sinus problems but I think you've answered my doubts about what's causing it.

[Gizz]

Hi Guys. I have swelling under eye brow line. Pretty bad really. Went to docs asked if it maybe the underactive thyroid problem maybe doze wrong. He replied. Prob not could be kidney. But prob not. There not much use really says could also be reaction to something so I none the wiser