feeling numb

[Lindsay]

has anyone suffered from any numbness? my left arm and left side of my face have felt numb for a few days now. I've had a thyroid condition for nearly 13 years now but I've never had this symptom before.

[marram]

What thyroid condition do you have, what are your latest blood test results? I do think it is important to see your GP about the numbness in your face and arm, just to be safe. It might be useful to test your Vit B12 as well.

Please do put your latest blood results and ranges, plus what medication you are on, and someone will be able to give you better support. I do hope you feel better soon.

Marie XX

[helvella Administrator in reply to marram]

I agree. Lindsay really needs to get her problems evaluated by a medic.

We always see thyroid issues everywhere - and that is entirely understandable - but sometimes the actual problem is something else. (Even if the ultimate cause might be thyroid-related.)

Rod

[Lindsay in reply to helvella]

I have made an appointment with my doc on tuesday so hopefully something will be sorted...but last time I saw her I went in with a list of symptoms written down which I read out to her and she didn't seem the least bit interested!

[helvella Administrator in reply to Lindsay]

I rather felt that might be your response. Entirely understandable - and very difficult to deal with. Hope it goes better this time.

Rod

[Lindsay in reply to marram]

I am underactive. I had blood tests about 5wks ago and heard nothing at all from them. This usually indicates they came back normal otherwise the doctor would ring. But as I have been feeling very tired and rundown I thought I would ring and check yesterday. Turns out the doctor put a note on the computer saying I have gone under again and my dose needs increasing....nobody bothered to ring me and let me know this! I am currently on 150 levo. I have an appointment with my doctor on tuesday.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Lindsay]

Failure of the system to work is so common it is a scandal. As I see it, we have to "fight back" by always asking for results. Hopefully, in future, we will be able to get hold of our results without going through the hoops as we do at present.

Rod

[Lindsay in reply to marram]

I have already replied to this but its not showing on my screen, so I appologise if you get it twice! I had a blood test about 5wks ago...I rang yesterday to check the results as no one has bothered to ring me. I have gone underactive again so docs advises increase in dose. I am currently on 150 levo. I have an appointment with the doc on tuesday. Thank you Marie I hope i feel better soon too!

[Lindsay in reply to marram]

Marie my TSH is currently 105, I don't know what the ranges are but that is obviously way too high. My dose has been increased to 200mcg from 150mcg. I will have another blood test in 4 weeks which will include B12.

[VanessaB]

I had some numbness in my hands and face I went to the doctor my results were normal but high end of normal. but had an increase in dose and it gradually went.He said it was anxiety it was very scary I think once I felt it once I became very conscious of my body and quite stressed once I relaxed a bit it cleared up.But it is best to go to see your gp but do try not to worry I made the mistake of googling it I think and made myself a bit hysterical but just to reassure you really xx

[begutbegut]

Yes! I had the same problem, until I started taking Vitamin B12 supplements (I am hypothyroid and also take 50cmg of thyroxine). Also had pins&needles and really painful cramps. These disappeared within a week of staring vit B12 supplements (I started with 1000mcg, now on 5000mcg). Energy levels have improved too.

Definitely check your thyroid hormones and vitamin levels.

Ana

[Lindsay in reply to begutbegut]

I'm going to ask about Vit B12 but I suspect I will be fobbed off, but I will give it a go!

[Hidden in reply to Lindsay]

If the doctor won't do it you can get a finger prick blood test for B12 and folate here for £30, both can cause numbness/neuropathy:

myrios.co.uk/en/test-condit...

[Lindsay in reply to Hidden]

thats great thank you

[MaryF]

I would be tempted to go for a check up if this persists, you need to be given the once over with symptoms like these. Mary F x

[Jop64]

I had facial numbness and was extensively investigated - that was when it was found that I have autoimmune hypothyroidism.

It has been diagnosed as a mono neuropathy of the facial branch of the trigeminal nerve. My symptoms have been just the same for the past 3 1/2 years and cause me no problems.

As yours is in your arm as well, I think it would be worth seeing your GP about.

[JudyS]

Interesting ... I've been having trouble with numbness at the corner of my mouth which comes and goes, one eyebrow I can't lift so high (the other side, or I'd be panicking about a stroke) and I also suffer from pins and needles in the arms and shoulders, and sometimes in my scalp.

However, I do think that Helvella is right in that we often think 'thyroid' when anything goes wrong, and it's possible your symptoms are due to neck problems. I've just been told by my dentist that I've got TMJ - possibly he always thinks of dental and jaw problems! There's no easy answer, but I think you should get checked out.

[Lindsay in reply to JudyS]

Thank you Judy...as it happens I have an appointment with my dentist on 25th September. I've been getting a salt taste in my mouth which could be linked to a gum infection. My jaw clicks sometimes when I open my mouth too...don't know if thats related.

[JudyS in reply to Lindsay]

Maybe, but I don't see how jaw problems would cause your arm to be numb, to be honest. Although the jaw problems are also due to the same cause as the numb arm.

[tavy]

yes I do. the left side of my face, around my eye. My gp sent me to A & E once because he didnt know what to do. I think he thought Bells paulsey. no one knows what to do with it. Sorry you are feeling this. I am learning to live with it. Although it does travel all down the side of my head. very odd feeling not quite pins and needles but cold.

[Lindsay in reply to tavy]

you shouldn't have to live with it though, none of us should. perhaps you should ask your gp to test your B12? I'm going to try when I see mine.

[justina72]

Yes when i was first diagnosed i had a numb mouth lips and tongue which would come and go and also move around the whole area..Which was quite worrying it was like i had had an injection that was wearing off at the dentist and would persist for hours..I went to the docs and ended up having loads of tests including an MRI which came back normal the only thing that showed low was my B12...i never did get a conclusive answer but my thyroid was the general consensus and since they have upped my dose and my B12 is now normal 'touch wood' the symptoms have gone...Justina

[Lindsay in reply to justina72]

From what everyone is saying all signs point to my B12 levels. This is something I have never had tested, I don't think GPs generally even consider testing vitamins levels at all.

[tavy in reply to Lindsay]

no I have never been tested, to my knowledge, for B12. I will try to make an appointment. thank you.

[editfmrt in reply to Lindsay]

Agree you do need B12 levels checked - should also do folate at the sane time. Don't forget though your GP has already said your tests show under active which can also cause these symptoms. He might say increase your thyroid meds and see how it goes to put you off and save money. Stand your ground and say you haven't had these symptoms before so you would like the tests done. Good luck x

[Hidden]

I also had a similar experience this summer - it started in my right leg which felt asleep and tingly, and the next day it was also in my right arm. The third day my face felt weird so I finally went to gp who sent me to the emergency room because he was worried I was having a stroke - I was not (I'd been lifting my arms up over my head all day and smiling in the mirror so I didn't think so, but they were scary symptom). Junior A&E doctor thought it was related to recent back pain (face wasn't that dominant then, he couldn't explain the arm) and gave me a spinal x-ray and sent me home.

But then the arm and leg got better but the face got worse, to the point where I was having trouble eating because my tongue and gums would be numb. My face was numb, on the left side, on and off for about 3-4 weeks. I also had a brain and spine MRI, a gazillion blood tests (Sjogren's, B12, etc). No sign of MS, normal B12 (they tested methylmalonic acid as well when initial B12 was normal). In the end the neurologist concluded I probably just had what he called 'functional symptoms' (see neurosymptoms.org/) and said it was more common than you might think and he wasn't worried. Eventually, the facial numbness went away. I still get tingly and crampy but as I'm a non-medicated Hashimoto's (TSH just 6, didn't do well on levothyroxine so not taking anything right now) that was kind of happening anyway, so it's hard to tell if it's all related or if the neurological symptoms are in fact all completely separate from the hypothyroidism (neither my GP nor the neurologist thought numbness could be caused by the hypothyroidism with such a low TSH).

You should probably have all these tests anyway for your piece of mind but it could all be benign.

[Lindsay in reply to Hidden]

my gp has agreed to test my B12 and folate even though she does not think its anything to do with that. I have just been looking on the NHS website and came across Raynauds Disease. This sounds very likely as it is linked to auto immune disorders. Have you ever been tested for this siini?

[EffieW11]

Hi Lindsay - it would be very easy to blame these symptoms on your thyroid - we're all prone to blame it for everything! However, please INSIST that your GP checks you out for MS.

I read an article about it recently, and the symptoms can begin with unnatural fatigue, tingling, numbness, and pins and needles. It probably is your thyroid, but I'd never forgive myself if I didn't implore you to get checked for MS, all the same!

Best of luck and hope your symptoms subside soon!

[Lindsay in reply to EffieW11]

Thanks EffieW11 Doc has increased my dose from 150mcg to 200mcg and I will have another blood test in 4 weeks time for TFT, FBC, B12 Folate, CRP and Diabetes. She said if my TSH is still too high (its currently 105) then she will referr me to an Endo. Which I'm quite excited about as I havn't seen an Endo for 12 years! I will deffinately mention MS when I she her next see what kind of reaction I get.

[EffieW11 in reply to Lindsay]

Glad to hear you're being checked out properly and had your dosage increased! Hope you feel better soon and enjoy seeing your Endo (if you are referred) - that will be exciting! x

[helvella Administrator in reply to Lindsay]

A TSH of 105 is ridiculously high for someone already taking 150mcg of levothyroxine. For many people 150 might be a full replacement dose.

In my view, it is important in cases like this to consider why your TSH is so high. Ideas include:

Resistance to Thyroid Hormone

A TSHoma - a small pituitary growth that is chucking out more TSH than you need

Poor absorption of the levothryoxine you are taking

Interference due to a medicine, supplement or even a food

TSH antibodies which are falsely elevating the TSH reading (another TSH test done at a different lab can help to check for this sort of issue)

Of course, you could just be someone who needs a high dose of levothyroxine! We are all different and the nature of those differences is quite amazing.

Rod

[Lindsay in reply to helvella]

I am a little concerned about the increase to 200mcg but I have been on more before. was on 250mcg briefly a couple of years ago. So I suspect, as was the case before, my dose will be lowered again in a few months! up and down like a yoyo at the moment, which is crazy, as my TSH was in the normal range on 125mcg for many years.

[Lindsay]

I have had my test results back (once again I had to ring and ask for them as no one bothered to ring me!) They are..............TSH- 0.1

T4- 27

T3- 6.4

I'm afraid I don't know what the ranges are but I believe TSH and T4 are low and T3 is high. Can anyone enlighten me as to what this means? Thanks

[Petunia6]

They are within range if a little on the high (hyper) side. I have recently been told I need to reduce my dose (TSH 0.13) and one of my over medicated symptoms is numbness around my left jaw line.