Puffy hands

[Elaine22]

I've woke up this morning, left hand numb, both hands swollen, I'm on 50 mcg and 75 mcg alternate days. Does anyone know why this happens

[Lifeback]

Hi Elaine22 i have same problem and on same as you 50mcg and 75mcg alternate days i had this problem before i was diagnosed i think i am under medicated supposed to go for blood test on 15th July im going tomorrow feet are swelling as well sorry cant give you a definate answer but perhaps should have another blood test. How long have you been on alternate days? x

[Elaine22 in reply to Lifeback]

Hi. Thanks for reply. Been on this med, 8 weeks. It was a trial for me to see if I improved, slight improvement in some symptoms.

[shaws Administrator]

I think you need another blood test as you may be undermedicated. 75mcg is quite a low dose. Swelling is common in hypo when not on adequate meds.

Get a a new thyroid gland blood test and post here for someone to comment. Of course, your GP may give you an increase and if it doesn't help with the swelling, ask to be referred to an Endo.

web.archive.org/web/2010122...

Also, if you haven't had a Vit B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate ask for these to be done too.

[Elaine22 in reply to shaws]

Hi shaws my last tsh was 4.55, also had the other test only vit d low. My doc said just eat things with vit d and take multi vits. I had to ask for increase from 50 to 75, he said I was in range, so no increase. So if I wanted more, to manage my own meds. I'm havin blood done this week to see if anything changed in last 8 weeks. Also to ask to be referred to endo. Will get back with all results. Thanks

[sewfossy in reply to Elaine22]

If vit D low you need more than that. I had to battle with gp 6 months to get it. Google vitamin D deficiency and vitamin D dosage & take info back to your gp! You need vit D for your thyroid hormones to work at a cellular level. For me taking vit D & vit B12 made all the difference with swollen numb hands xx

[shaws Administrator in reply to Elaine22]

I see he has given you a trial of meds. The fact that you have puffiness (a clinical symptom) is a clinical symptom and you need to up your medication.

If you get a booklet from Amazon

amazon.co.uk/gp/search/ref=...

Read it and then show it to your GP. Also tell him that Dr Toft of the British Thyroid Association recommends enough meds to bring your TSH between 0.2 and 0.5.

Do not take medication on the morning of your blood test and have it as early as possible and take your Levo afterwards.

If he wont give you an increase (he has no right telling you to source your own) ask for a referral. Email [e-mail] and ask for a list of NHS Endos/private doctors who are sympathetic.

Also ask for copies of your blood tests (the ones with the Vit D etc) and the new ones and post them on another question complete with the ranges. We are entitled to our copies and keep them for your own records.

If you supplement with Vita.min D it must be Vitamin D3 and you can get it from Amazon. If it is low, your GP should give you D3. Also ask for B12, ferritin, folate and iron as they can be low in thyroid gland problems.

[Elaine22 in reply to shaws]

Thank you for your help and support. Elaine

[puncturedbicycle in reply to Elaine22]

May I add, if no one else has already, that if your vitamin d levels are properly low and not just a little off, it can take months to get them back up to normal. Eating 'the right food' just is not good enough. I supplemented with megadoses (called a 'loading dose') for three months and my levels still took further months to get there. I won't tell you how much I took because I did so rashly, only with guidance from t'internet and I was severely deficient (and when I told my doctor about it her eyes bugged out), but it was in the five-figure range every day. It's a sort of hormone, so it isn't good to mess about with taking a lot of it unless you know you need to.

I say this only so you know it isn't just a bit of oily fish or whatever that will do the trick, and so you don't have that 'what am I doing wrong?' feeling if your levels don't improve. This may not be the simple thing your gp claims, but my gp did the same. They don't know any better. If necessary, bring them this: imperial.nhs.uk/prdcont/gro...

...or this:

icms.qmul.ac.uk/chs/Docs/42...

...or if you get no joy, feel free to use them to figure out how to treat yourself.

Good luck. You'll get there!

[ianessex]

Hi ,, is that dose an increase from 50s ? Do you know your last thyroid result?

Ian

[Elaine22 in reply to ianessex]

Only that my tsh was 4.55. And doc said within range, I told him people tend to feel better when the tsh in lower range. So under protest he asked me how much would I like. I said 25 to start, I will wait to c what results are, after blood this week.

[Marz]

....I too suffered with swollen ankles whilst flying or sitting for too long over a meal. I realise this very rarely happens now that I am being treated. Never took more than 75mcg of T4 and now on just T3. Hated it when it happened as I don't have that many slim bits - but my legs/ankles were !!

I agree with shaws about all the other tests too....

[puncturedbicycle in reply to Marz]

Yes, it was the t3 that did it for my oedema. Even being on quite a 'good' dose of t4 - all my blood levels were quite good, tsh under 1, t4 and t3 looking good toward the top of the range - did not help. Only 10mcg of t3 made it go away like magic, probably 90% resolved.

[Marz in reply to puncturedbicycle]

...pleased to hear that it worked for you - here's to T3 !

[puncturedbicycle in reply to Marz]

Like you I need all the slim bits I can muster!

[roslin]

Hi Elaine

This sounds a bit like the same problem I have. Is your hand white and do you think it has something to do with how you sleep, and the position of your arms and shoulders. I have had nerve conduction tests and nothing was found (so not carpal tunnell) It is much worse when I am more my myxoedematous so if it is the same as I have it has to do with being hypothyroid. Never quite got to the bottom of it.

Roslinxx

[Elaine22 in reply to roslin]

Hi roslin, I was sleeping on opposite side. But hopefully will ask to see endo. I think the waiting list is long. Then get some results

[roslin in reply to Elaine22]

Exactly, it is the top arm that is numb and swollen! Can't work out why, let me know if you find out

Roslin

[ChemicalAngel]

I have suffered for months with very swollen hands, not on any treatment except water tablets that have done absolutely nothing.

Ann xx

[zeberdee2468]

my ankles and hands swell up, worse if I sit too long or if it is too hot. When I had an op they had trouble getting the compression socks on then had to take them off, with an awful fight as my ankles and legs were hurting so much and swelled up even more.

Don't think water pills will do any good or at least they didn't for me just destroyed my potassium levels.

Hope you get it sorted soon

[Elaine22 in reply to zeberdee2468]

Thank you.

[Marz]

......grassrootshealth.com has a score chart for optimal VitD dosing. Your blood test result down one side and the dose required under the column of 50/60/70...you will understand when you see it ! Depending where you want to be - higher the better. There is an example under the chart !

Good luck...

[happychick]

Hi just to let you know i'm not on any medications as doctors still watching thyroid levels still 7.72 tsh after 4 months but now got carpol tunnel in both hands that's what took me to gp don,t let your hand carry on as you will be the same as me as told hands will not get better on any medication got to wait 6 months for operation. ps anyone know what sub -clinical hypothyroidism means ?