Thyroid - swollen legs - non-pitting oedema?

[Issy]

I am taking thyroid meds, but my swollen legs - from the ankle bone to the start of the calf muscle never go away - they are swollen 24/7. Any advice please?

[shaws Administrator]

You must ask for a new blood test for your thyroid hormones. Ask for TSH, T4, T3, Free T4 and Free T3 to be taken.

It sounds as if you are on too low a dose of thyroid hormones if you have 'swelling' (a clinical symptom of hypothyroidism).

Some doctors think that to keep our TSH 'in range' is correct - it is wrong when we may feel better if it is around 1 or suppressed.

Get a print-out of your last blood tests with the ranges (these are very important) and do a new post if you don't have them today.

Blood Test: Have the earliest possible appointment . Leave 24 hours since last dose of levo and test as it may skew results and fast. Take levo after test.

Take thyroid hormones on wakening and wait approx 1 hour before eating. Some foods interfere with medication. Leave about 4 hours between hormones and supplements which I have at lunchtime. Some prefer bedtime dosing, in that case you must leave 2 hours after eating before taking hormones. If you've had a fatty meal it should be longer. Food can interfere with the uptake.

Ask for Vitamin B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate to be tested. They should be towards the upper range.

[bantam12]

Check renal function.

[ticktickatick]

Epsom salt baths and magnesium help me.

"Soaking your swollen body parts in an Epsom salt solution combats inflammation because the magnesium in the salts reduce swelling. Magnesium is an essential mineral that can be taken internally or applied topically to lessen inflammation and swelling, reports Health Quest. Inflammation typically causes a depletion of magnesium, so as your body absorbs magnesium from Epsom salts, the magnesium works to combat the inflammation. Taking an Epsom salt bath is one of the most effective ways of getting magnesium into your body, according to the Epsom Salt Council."

I take epsom salt baths a couple times a week, and take Natural Calm magnesium powder almost every night. It seems to keep the swelling down and relieves constipation too.

Also tried magnesium oil/gel that you apply topically, but it was not as effective.