Hi,I'm fairly new to posting on here. I have 2 questions.
1.Is anyone bothered with swollen legs and feet, especially the left,and have you a remedy.
2. How do you know if your thyroid is producing anything and if it's not does Hashimotos still affect you.
Thank you.
1. Oh, yes! Very often. Right now, in fact. However, there's been a lot of talk on here, lately about Horse Chestnut tablets, as a remedy. Lots of people have said it's working for them. I got hold of some today, and have only taken one, but already I notice a difference.
I have also ordered some dandylion leaf tablets, on-line, because they're supposed to be very good. Maybe I should go and pick some in the garden and make a salad, like the French. But, with the dog, I can't quite bring myself to do that! lol
Sometimes, but not always, the adrenal cocktail helps : one glass of orange juice, half a tsp sea salt, half a tsp cream of tartar, mix and drink.
2. I think, after a certain point, when your dose gets high, you have to just assume that your thyroid is no-longer producing. But, even then you can be surprised! I was told in 2005, that my thyroid had finally given up the ghost, because it was very small to the touch, and I needed a high dose of whatever. But, in 2013, for reasons I won't go into, I stopped all thyroid hormone replacement, for six months. When I finally got tested, my thyroid had managed to squeeze out small quantities of T4 and T3, enough to keep me alive, even though it was supposed to be dead. So, I wonder, does it ever completely stop working? I think, because I'd kept my TSH suppressed since 2005, no further damage had been done, though.
Anyway, yes. Once the thyroid stops producing hormone, the antibodies do die down and disappear. But, perhaps, the only way to get rid of them completely is a thyroidectomy. I'm not sure anyone has a definitive answer otherwise, it's all just theory. 
Thanks Greygoose
1. I'll try and find Horse Chestnut tablets. It's irritating to be able to wear a shoe comfortably sometimes and not the next, and mostly wear trousers because your legs( especially ankles) don't match!!
2.I was curious about thyroid function because when I was diagnosed I was told what I now know is my TSH was sky high and my thyroid output was extreemly low, virtually non existant (Don't know figures, didn't know to ask then.) That was 3 years ago when I went straight on to 100mcg levothyroxin. On my last visit to the doctor since discovering this fantastic sight, I persuaded him to increase my dose and now on 125mcg. Not sure if i feel any different, but we'll hopefully find out when I get my blood test. I also asked him what caused my thyroid to pack in and he said my antibodies were through the roof then so now know it's Hashimoto.
The reason I ask is because I've never been aware if any flare up having read others peoples experiences.
The flare ups tend to happen in the beginning, and gradually get less and less, as there's less and less gland to attack. But, none of it is an exact science. The only way to really know if your gland is still producing, is to stop the thyroid hormone and wait. But, that's rather a drastic way of going about things! It's not going to change the treatment, either way.
Do you ask for a print-out of your results, now? When did you have that increase in dose? You should be tested six weeks after any increase, and if your TSH isn't one or under, you need another increase.
Oh, and you can find Horse Chestnut on Amazon.
Hi heretofore, any particular brand?
Sorry greygoose kindle predictive text!!!!
Sorry, too new to Horse Chestnut to know what's good and what isn't. Possibly all the same. But, the one I bought is Puritan's Pride, which is a reputable brand.
Hi Grey Goose I was wondering what dose of horse chestnut to take. I bought Natures best Horse Chestnut Complex which has 300mg horse chestnut (plus grape seed butchers broom and rutin but it says to only take 1 tablet per day but will that give me enough to make a difference? Other sites say 600mg/conflicting info
I have had hashimotoes disease for 20 years now and swollen ankles have only really been a problem for the last few years. My bloods are fine as they always were no change really. Tsh under one and low to middle range t4 and t3 which is my normal. Could this be caused by different brands of levo or the erfa I take?
I have been tested for other possible causes and I don't take blood pressure meds so it's not that.
I really miss my wonderful Dr Skinner at times like this!
I'm afraid I can't help you, it didn't work for me.
But, one thing I can tell you, I wouldn't buy any sort of complex (except a B complex) because you cannot adjust the quantity you take of any one thing. You many need to take 600 mg horse chestnut, but would it be ok to double the dose of the other things? We just don't know.
It's just coming up to 6 weeks since my increase. I haven't asked for a print out, just enquired over the phone, but I will next time. My TSH is under but my T4 and T3 weren't optimum, so persuaded the doc to increase. I need to get an appointment with the right nurse to get my T4 and T3 tested.
Hypothyroidism can cause swelling. You may not be on sufficient thyroid hormones so I'd ask GP for a new test. It has to be at the very earliest, fasting you can drink water and allow a gap of 24hours between your last dose of levo and the test and take it afterwards.
If thyroid gland isn't producing sufficient hormones, you have to have levothyroxine to allow your body to function normally. Swelling is a classic clinical symptom so you have to have a new test and also, at the same time ask for B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate to be checked - we can be deficient which can also cause symptoms.
If you have hashimotos - it is the antibodies which attack your thyroid gland. They wax and wane and ultimately you become hypothyroid. The treatment for hashi's or hypo is the same. Going gluten-free can reduce the antibodies and their attack on the thyroid gland.
Thanks
I've been upped to 125mcg Levo, got to go back for my blood test soon. I'm very lucky to have a sympathetic doctor and there is one of the nurses who is very interested in thyroid, so I'll go when I can get an appointment with her!!
when I went on nature throid instead of t4 only, the leg swelling went away. a agree horse chestnut helps also...
Odd isn't it, that the left leg swells more. Same with me.
My swelling finally went away when treatment was optimal.
Good luck
Yes it's very odd that it's the left. Will try the horse chestnut.
You may find this of interest :
examine.com/supplements/hor...
It gives dosage information, and also warnings for those people who might be best to avoid horse chestnut, plus lots of other information.
I have no knowledge of what horse chestnut may do, never heard of this before.
But I do know about swollen feet, and I had a perfect solution - I got bigger shoes!
I always took size 11's but now take size 13's; trouble is I have occasional gout which messes things up considerably. Good job for Amazon/Ebay as it's almost impossible to get that big a size locally.
Wow, don't want to have to do that!! Maybe you should try the horse chestnut.
I've already bought 2 pair of boots, several pairs of trainers and some wellingtons. I could really do with a pair of thigh waders to make life a little easier when I am dredging the park lake, so I'm going to order some right now.
I actually have a big bag of horse chestnuts I collected an 1998 but I wouldn't fancy eating them, they're rather hard! I believe they are good for getting rid of spiders.
Yes I believe they're good for repelling spiders!!
hi. The swollen leg or legs bit is my early sign that I relapsed so sought advice from my GP. He didn't know so arranged an Urgent appointment for the endocrinologist. It did in fact show through bloods from both. I was starting to relapse so I started the meds again.
I guess that first part I wrote answers your second question. In a round about way ...
Do thyroid hormones replace what the thyroid produces itself?
Is there anything I can do about my terrible hair loss?
How do i make sure i get the same manufacturer for my thyroid tablets?
Night sweats? Anything to do with interactive thyroid?
How can I lower my thyroid antibodies 
