Pins & Needles

[Suesews]

I suffer from 'pins & needles' in my hands/arms during almost every night, does anybody know what the cause of this may be?

I had a total thyroidectomy in 2004 and currently on 125/150mg of Levo on alternate days.

Thanks

[greygoose]

It could very well be low vit B12. Ask your doctor to test vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin. B12 needs to be at least over 500.

[Suesews in reply to greygoose]

Hi Greygoose, I would really appreciate your advice.

These are my blood test results taken last week, my B12 seems well below the 500, I am going to see GP next week how can I get her to look into this or prescribe B12 as result falls within the range?

B12 is 313 range 145 - 910

Folate is 12.3 range 3 - 20

Ferritin is 36 range 10 -150

Vit D 62.9 range 50 - 250

Thanks Sue

[greygoose in reply to Suesews]

Oh, forget your doctor, you'll just be wasting your time! Buy your own - if she did prescribe anything, it'd probably be the wrong thing.

What you need is 1000 mcg sublingual methylcobalamin tablets, one a day. And a B complex, one a day. Best to by Solgar brand, on Amazon.

What's happening about your low ferritin and vit D3?

[Suesews in reply to greygoose]

Thanks I will get that ordered.

Not sure about the ferritin and vit D, I have had a parathyroid removed at the same time as my thyroids, I take alphacacidol daily but I am now wondering if this is enough?

[greygoose in reply to Suesews]

Probably not. And it won't help your ferritin, anyway. If I were you, I would post a new question, just asking about your vit D and ferritin levels. With a bit of luck, SeasideSusie will answer and tell you all you need to know.

[Suesews in reply to greygoose]

Thank you, I have just put on a new post.

[greygoose in reply to Suesews]

You're welcome.

[shaws Administrator]

Have you had a blood test for B12 as a deficiency can cause pins/needles.

Do you have the lates blood test results for your thyroid hormones that you can post, with the ranges as that might give a bigger picture.

Do you have your blood tests at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a 24 hour gap between your dose of levo and the test and take it afterwards??

[Suesews in reply to shaws]

No, I have not had a B12 blood test, but I have been taking a multivitamin with Iron for quite a long time. I also take magnesium, Alfacasidol, and HRT. After reading a lot of posts on this site I have just, in the last 3 days, changed to taking my levo at night before bed, several hours after food etc, and my supplements in the morning.

These are m blood tests over the last 3 years but I did not fast or delay taking my levo as it has never been suggested to me to do so.

Aug 2016 Free T4 22.2 TSH < 0.02 Thyroglobulin marker <1.0

Aug 2015 Free T4 21.8 TSH < 0.02 Thyroglobulin marker <1.0

Aug 2014 Free T4 21.3 TSH < 0.02 Thyroglobulin marker < 1.0

I am going for my annual check up at Christies in 2 weeks time.

Thanks

[Suesews in reply to Suesews]

Sorry, you asked me for the ranges, but they are not given to me.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Suesews]

We have to make sure all of our vitamins/minerals are optimum. Not just somewhere in a range.

Ask GP to test B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate. If any of these are deficient your GP has to prescribe. If he wont do them all get a print-out of your blood test results and post them on a new question for comments,

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Suesews]

Suesews You might want to reconsider your Multivitamin with iron for these reasons.

1) Iron stops the absorption of anything else, it needs to be taken on it's own two hours away.

2) We shouldn't supplement iron unless we are tested and shown to be low, too much iron is as bad as too little.

3) Multivitamins generally nare a waste of money, they tend to contain too little of anything to do any good and often the wrong form of ingredients are used, usually the least bioavailable as they are the cheapest.

You would be much better off testing what Shaws has suggested and if levels are low then supplement those.

[Suesews in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks Susie, I am going to stop taking these from now.

[Suesews]

Thanks, I will make an appointment at the Gp for blood test and post the results.

[TraceyLE]

I had really bad pins and needles most nights and I thought is was because I put my arms/hands under my pillow. Since getting my Vit D and B12 within range I very rarely have this problem. Good luck.

[Suesews]

Thanks Tracey that sounds encouraging.

[mythreecats]

Hello Suesews,

I had pins and needles for 9 months before I was diagnosed hypothyroid. I started b12 sublingual tablets one week before my thyroid meds started. All I know is, the pins and needles have gone and did so reasonably quickly (although im still trying to get well with the thyroid meds). Although I still have hypothyroid symptoms the pins and needles and the short term memory and inability to think clearly have improved. My first b12 result was 350...in range but not good enough to stop symptoms of deficiency so it seems. I can still hear my doctor saying it was anxiety.....always the easy get out clause

[brighter84 in reply to mythreecats]

Oh that sounds familiar! My breathing issues and tingling hands and face are anxiety related too...... Apparently

[Suesews]

Thank you for your reply. After reading all of these very helpful replies I did some further reading on the NHS website about b12 deficiency

nhs.uk/Conditions/Anaemia-v...

I decided go to H&B this afternoon and purchased B12 high strength tablets, I am going to ditch the multivitamins with iron and take the b12 from tomorrow.

I am so glad I found this site with all these lovely people who are so willing to help and share their advice.

[spicedog27 in reply to Suesews]

Hi Hun,

I'm sure you're aware but make sure you take your medication on an empty stomach and do not take your vitamins or any form of calcium (including milk) for at least a couple of hours after as these can disrupt the absorption of the meds

[Suesews in reply to spicedog27]

Hi, Thanks I am aware of it now, but for the last 13 years I was not aware and have always taken my meds in the morning with breakfast (including milk) and coffee. I have just changed in the last 3 days to taking my Levo at night before bed, several hours after food and drink. And I now take my Alphacacidol and supplements in the morning.

I have spoken to my GP this morning and I going for a blood test tomorrow to check T4, TSH, B12, Folate, Ferritin, Vit D, Calcium and Magnesium. They can't test for T3!!

I have read a lot on this site about not taking meds for 24 hours and fasting before blood test, I can understand not taking meds but I am unsure as to why it is suggested to fast also?

Thanks

[Boohbette17]

Hello, also you may be low in magnesium & its very difficult to test in blood labs as its primarily in bone/tissue. You may need to eat more green leafy vegetables.

[Hattie007]

Hi. Could it be carpal tunnel related? That's what I put it down to, as a result of thyroid under medication.

[Suesews in reply to Hattie007]

Thanks for your reply, but I don't have any other symptons for carpal tunnel.

[Marz in reply to Suesews]

Which type of B12 did you buy ? Was it Cyanocobalamin ? You need testing first so you know your level and can dose appropriately. Also have Folate tested as it works in the body with the B12.

Jarrow Methylcobalamin is the one often suggested here on the Forum - a B12 lozenge that dissolves under the tongue to avoid gut issues.

As others who know have suggested you also need Ferritin and VitD tested.

[Hidden in reply to Suesews]

What you describe are the symptoms of carpal tunnel. You can easily get a referral to a hospital where a simple electrical conductivity test can be carried out to eliminate or confirm this possibility.

Carpal tunnel is one of the symptoms of incorrectly treated thyroid problems. A simple op on each wrist cured it for me and I now have no trouble painting above my head level; was almost impossible beforehand.

[Bluedragon]

Hi, you should really be tested first before taking any B12 as supplementation will skew the results- and it's hard enough to get diagnosed as it is. Hang fire for a little longer and as Marz says, there are better supplements than H&B.

[Busingye]

Hi check calcium levels... Had same ops years back. During total thyroidectomy had lost my parathyroids too. Was later diagnosed as hypo parathyroidism/ hypothyroidism. I am on calcium carbonate( calchew and Vit D) Just find out. Good luck.

[Francis1957]

Could be carpel tunnel syndrome

[Tamzin27]

Hi! I noticed someone else has already mentioned this, but please check your calcium level. I had a total thyroidectomy 9 months ago and I lost my Parathyroids too (not all). This left me hypocalceamic. Now have to take calcium tablets daily.

Has your TSH always been that suppressed? Mine is the same as yours but my endocrinologist and GP have been pestering me to reduce my medication. They keep telling me that I could possibly have AF or Osteoporosis. I found that I felt stable on 125 mcg Levo, but my endo reduced it to 100 mcg last week. Been feeling crap since. So, I have from today increased my Levo to 125 mcg.

Hope you can find a solution soon.

Tamzin27

[Suesews in reply to Tamzin27]

Hi Tamzin, Yes my TSH is suppressed and my Consultant is also doing her best to reduce my Levo, currently 125/150 on alternate days. I have my annual check up next Monday and she will probably want to reduce it again. I have had my bloods done at GP last week (fasting and no meds for 36 hours beforehand) I am going to take these results with me next week for my appt. I have also had a raft of other blood tests done, B12, calcium, folate, ferritin etc, etc to discuss. I am also putting together loads of info about adding T3 to my meds to see if I can make any in roads on this subject, but I am not too optimistic about this having read other posts regarding this issue!!

[Tamzin27 in reply to Suesews]

Good luck for your appointment.

[Nippy]

I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, more recently there have been links made with the thiroid gland and fibromyalgia + ibs.

The following video may be of interest to you.....Fibromyalgia cutting through the B.S.

By .....Martin Rutherford

It's a lengthy video but well worth watching.