Swollen legs and feet

[AliF]

I have never had lovely shapely legs and ankles but now they just seem to get bigger and more swollen. I have also noticed what look like sausages on the top outside edge of my feet! Anyone else had anything like this ?

[Clutter]

AliF, Oedema can be due to hypothyroidism, mucin can collect under the skin causing swelling but it could also be water retention. Ask your GP to examine and to do a thyroid test to check you aren't undermedicated.

[greygoose]

Oh, god yes! I'm with you all the way on that one! All my life, people have talked about my 'fat' legs - you know how kind people can be! But it was only a few years ago (I'm now 70) that I understood the connection between my 'fat' legs and my thyroid - or lack of it.

Anyway, I thought getting my thyoid hormones optimised would mean I had lovely skinny legs, because every time I had what I now know to be a hyper phase of my Hashi's, my legs slimmed down beautifully. But it didn't turn out that way, for some reason. But maybe it's because I was hypo so long (about 50 years) without diagnosis or treatment. So, the only way for me is to take 'water pills' from time to time, to drain the water. Actually, I've always thought I was fat all over! But no, it was just the mucin/water retention that now comes and goes.

So, you have Hashi's and you are on 100 levo. Well, it could just be that you aren't on enough levo. You really need a blood test to test TSH, FT4 and FT3. If your doctor can't - or won't - do them, you could always do them privately. But you really do need to know your FT3.

[AliF in reply to greygoose]

Thanks Greygoose and Clutter ......again! I love this website. Touch wood, I have felt a lot better for the last few months but my legs, and now feet, have continued to swell and often ache/throb. I must get all my various levels tested privately (my GP only tests the basics) but I will show her/him my feet with chipolatas on the edges! Doesn't hurt, just unsightly. I used to be trim but now although I am 5'1 I should be about 6'3 for this weight. V depressing. I wish more research was carried out into Hashi's.

[Trixie64]

Yes, my ankles and feet have been swollen for 5 years now. I've lost all the 2 1/2 stone I put on when I became so hypo, but the only time my ankles and feet went down was when I was on T3 only and became hyper. I'm on NDT now and feeling better than I did, but ankles and feet are swollen again and I can't find shoes to fit!

[nightingale-56]

I would certainly never win 'Miss Lovely Legs' and over the past few years they have got worse above my knees (can at least wear skirts)! Just lately have felt as though I am not passing enough urine, but am working on raising T3 and hope that this will help.