Dead fingers: Have been on levothyroxine now for... - Thyroid UK

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Dead fingers

sugarlugs profile image
14 Replies

Have been on levothyroxine now for 2 wks, very much up and down, as previous blogs stated but feel am beginning to see light, however I have noticied that my fingers keep going dead, this is annoying more than anything because I do a lot of craft work which has kept me safe over the last 20 yrs.

Is this a side effect of the drugs ?

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sugarlugs profile image
sugarlugs
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14 Replies

don't forget to get that Vitamin D tested - just speaking from own experience with dead (wo)man fingers - apparently mine are 'blunted' I couldn't even do my buttons up before supplementing - and I didn't think a mere vitamin important either, until I found out it was actually a hormone and essential. Of course sunshine would be better - I found a bit at the Welsh coast - but not enough! J :D

PinkNinja profile image
PinkNinja

Glad to see you posting again :)

Do your fingers lose their colour and go white or blue? It could be Raynaud's syndrome which is where the capillaries clamp down in response to cold temperatures far too eagerly. It is a natural response that has become triggered far too easily so that it happens when temperatures are not really that cold. Getting your thyroid sorted out should hopefully help this.

Another thing could be low vitamin B12. This can cause all kinds of problems including fatigue, depression and nerve problems such as numbness and tingling of the extremities.

I agree with Spareribs about vitamin D too. Vitamin D is involved in something like 300 metabolic processes and deficiency in the UK is common so it is well worth getting it checked out.

I hope you start to feel better soon.

Carolyn x

sugarlugs profile image
sugarlugs in reply toPinkNinja

My fingers do go white and my husband says they are really cold but they don't feel cold to me.

I was told that i was low in Vitamin D but was not given any advice.

I have got really confused as to what is good for me and what not?

I have had a reasonable day today, but am beginning to feel bit weepy so am going to try and get some sleep

Thanks for your help.

Sugarlugs

PinkNinja profile image
PinkNinja in reply tosugarlugs

You can buy over the counter vitamin D supplements. 1000-2000iu should be enough if you can also get some sunshine. You want vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) for best absorption.

It would be good to take a B12 supplement. 1000mcg of methylcobalamin is a good maintenance dose but you might need more if you think you are deficient. I am currently taking 5000mcg.

If you can, please ask your doctor for the following tests and post the results here.

Serum iron

ferritin (stored iron)

folate

vitamin B12

You already know that vitamin D is low. Vitamin D deficiency can cause all kinds of symptoms including fatigue, depression, joint and muscle pain, rib pain and many more. B12 deficiency also carries many similar symptoms.

Hang in there. I'm sure you will find something that helps soon :)

Carolyn x

EmJB profile image
EmJB

I'm so glad you posted this as I have been on thyroxine for about 10 years 75mcgm, but over the winter my fingers started going "dead" in the cold and it is still happening regularly now. I hadn't thought it may be connected to my thyroid. I take 5,000 iu vit D3 but as there has been no chance of supplementing this with sunshine so far this year should I increase it? It sounds like a multi B or B12 supplement would be good too. I used to take more vitamins but have stopped as couldn't afford them and buy food too!

TraceyLE profile image
TraceyLE in reply toEmJB

Hi Em

Can you tell me what vit d3 you take as I have only found one that is 1000 iu and my endo has said its not enough.

Many thanks

Tracey

EmJB profile image
EmJB in reply toTraceyLE

Tracey, I take Credence D3 5,000 iu from credence.org or tel 01622 832386 There are 240 softgels in a bottle so they last a long time

TraceyLE profile image
TraceyLE in reply toEmJB

Thank you

tavy profile image
tavy

I have pins and needles in my fingers. not totaly dead though.

Mary52 profile image
Mary52

the crafting is maybe a clue here,

there is a nerve running down from the elbow and when the lower arms are rested on tables etc they (the nerves) can become trapped which can result in numb fingers,

(little finger , ring finger and palm underneath them on my left hand).

then ofcourse there are the other problems with being hypo etc that others with more knowledge maybe able to help with.

keep crafting it does give us a focus.

mary

mvdmeer2 profile image
mvdmeer2

It could be carpal tunnel syndrome. I suffered badly from it and ended up having surgery on my hands. The surgeon said it is often caused by hypothyroidism.

Sounds like carolynB spareribs and mvdmeer2 are all thinking the way I am here and have worthwhile avenues for enquiry/supplementation: vit D3 (I am inclined to use more, but if in doubt testing is much more available now) & B12 are good ideas for all of us who are hypothyroid anyway and all I would add is think about looking into supplementing vitamin B6 too for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

I can sympathise as CTS has had it's impact on my Instrumental playing over the past several years, although my disabilities have now knocked that back into touch anyway! :-(

in reply to

I have raynauds and even though we are in late May I still wear my gloves. I have had it many years so connected to thyroid medication, but I have noticed it has been worse this year than ever. They are numb but to look at they are white. Don't know if yours do. Get it checked out as there are so many things it could be

Heloise profile image
Heloise

B6 is good for nerve circulation and often recommended for carpal tunnel although I think only two weeks on thyroxine is not enough time to get all those cells that were deprived of T3 to have had a chance to repair. Vitamin D is so necessary for other problems as well, I would urge you to take care of any deficiency by a large margin over the low requirement.

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