Can anyone help.. my legs have started to swell during the day and at night my arms and hands swell and wake me up..

[pam13]

Will try to keep this short. In july 2011.. 2 stone fell off me.. then In march 2012 I was sleeping 16hrs a day and eyelids full of water on waking.. weight gaining quite quickly with no change in diet.

dr tested tsh which was 5.7. Dr put me on 50mg levothyroxine. Within 8 week's I couldnt sleep at all.. heart pounding. . Sweating. . Skin hot to touch.. became so weak I couldnt climb my stairs. I stopped taking levothyroxine and spent 6 months on sofa. . Researching on Internet I thought maybe my adrenals were weak. Endocrinologist did blood and urine tests and said adrenals were fine. I took 2000-3000 vit c a day and vitamin tonics with added iron. I am now wondering was it thyroid toxicity I was suffering from? In january 2013 I had to go back to work or lose my job.. my memory is awful now, been very dizzy and lightheaded and weight gain continues.. have put four stone on... I have tried to exercise. . But I am exhausted after even slight exertion.

the good news is I can sleep again.

I am so worried though as my legs are so swollen.. deep indents from socks or trousers. I wake up freqently with swollen arms and numb hands. . In the dark I can see them swollen. Its quite scary.. my face is swollen every morning too.. I am rapidly going grey and feel I look so much older. Growing lots of facial hair too

doctor wants to put me in levothyroxine again.. I am too scared to try it..

Whats strange is my latest blood tests tsh is lowest its been in four years at

tsh 3.15 range 0.3-4.2

free t4 13.4 range 10.6-23.2

Free t3 4.2 range 3.1-6.8

Ferritin 41 range 13-150

Iron 14.3 range 10-30

Blood work

mch is high 32.8

Rbc is low 3.5

Packed cell volume is low 3.54

Haemoglobin low 116g/l

c reactive protein 0.69 range 0-5

Cholesterol high 4.6 (0.5-4)

Sodium and potassium mid range

b12 326 (191-663)

Folate 6.3 (4.6-18.7)

Hormone profile

serum LH 10.7

Serum FSH 4.5

Progesterone 1.6

Oestradol 351

Prolactin 175 (102-496)

Body temperature is slightly low.. average 36.1 - does drop lower 35.4 at times. . But this has improved since last year..

I know I have posted alot of information here.. but would be so grateful if anyone could give me any ideas as to why I am having such problems with fluid retention/swelling and generally unhappy and antisocial?

Thank you

[shaws Administrator]

I don't know if this link will through light upon your swelling:-

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

[pam13 in reply to shaws]

Thank you a very interesting article.. It certainly sounds like my thyroid is causing my swelling.. now I just need to work out whether its t3 or t4 I need? Based on the bad reaction I had to a low dose of t4 in the past, I am wondering if anyone could comment on my blood results and suggest what they think would be worth trying. My doctor will not prescribe t3 or any ndt's such as armour

[Hidden]

That sounds miserable. Just wondering whether you may get some relief from manual lymphatic drainage and if you're in Hampshire then I can highly recommend a therapist.

My feet and ankles were badly swollen, my body was to a lesser extent but weekly sessions made a huge difference.

Perhaps you cold push your GP for a referral to an Endo, having researched first some decent ones.

[pam13 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you.. I think I will look into getting some massage thanks.. good to know something helps.. ive been drinking alot of dandelion tea to no avail and there are no good endos in NI, well none mentioned anywhere on internet

[Hidden in reply to pam13]

mlduk.org.uk/therapists/

Looks as though there is a therapist in NI. The lady I saw treats many cancer patients and she did actually have some knowledge of how difficult it can be to get diagnosed with a thyroid condition.

The treatment is very relaxing with absolutely no pain whatsoever.

Do let us know how you get on!

[pam13 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks so much for finding her.. I will make an appointment tomoro I hope I have the same success as you

[bcdgn]

Just to let you know you are not alone. My leg has become swollen below the knee recently and hasn't gone down yet. I cant take T4 because it makes my throat swell and gives me panic attacks. Have been on 10 mgs of T3 Liothyronine since May and felt better for a while and started to lose weight with no diet.

Got quite ill lately with the swelling on my leg. feel terrible, body aching, very breathless and awful carpal tunnel in my right hand and I'm an artist and cant paint at the moment. My face looks puffy as well. So fed up with it all and I just don't know what to do next. Tried to double up dosage of my tablet but felt awful. cant see a way forward and need some advice.

[pam13 in reply to bcdgn]

Thank you for sharing.. if I find the answer I will let you know.. its so awful these things happen to so many of us... im so clueless at the minute.. take care

[Clutter in reply to bcdgn]

Bcdgn,

Repost this as a question with your recent blood results and lab ref ranges for advice.

[pam13 in reply to bcdgn]

Yes as clutter says.. you should repost.. I dont know enough to advise u.. but really feel for you.. you will get better and be painting again.. There are so many good and knowledgable people on this site