Puffy Hands

[Maybe21]

Hi - anyone know of a link between treated hypothyroidism and swollen hands & fingers - painless and all rheumatoid tests negative 👎🏻

[Dreamer12]

Hi Maybe21

I have two swollen fingers with Hypo!Negative for rheumatoid arthritis but positive for osteoarthritis. Have you had hand X-rays for that. Was painful but treating thyroid took all pain away. Saw rheumo .. nothing can be done but suggests Glucosamine supplements. Xx

[TSH110]

THERE is something called Acropachy which is quite unusual but can cause swelling in the hands if you are hypothyroid and are designated euthyroid:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Otherwise, perhaps your medication is not optimal causing continuing hypothyroid symptoms like swelling in hands front of lower limbs etc

If you post your latest results people will comment on how optimal they are and if they indicate room for improvement in medication doses.

[Maybe21 in reply to TSH110]

Hi thanks for the reply . I’m about to have re test including T3 and Rev T3 privately so may find out if I am converting or not . Latest results not far off but I stupidly went in the afternoon coz I was lots of other bloods done and I had taken the levo in the morning 🙄 So My T4 was unusually high at 22 . x

[TSH110 in reply to Maybe21]

Gulp TSH of 22 is way too high and it drops as the day goes on so you must still be overtly hypothyroid small wonder you have swollen hands! Shaws post is spot on.

The TSH should be below 1 and free T4 and T3 in the top third of range for most people to feel well. Louise of admin can give you a letter with this information from Toft - who was head of college of endocrinologists - to give to your endo if the latest blood tests are not showing those results. Do blood tests as early as you can and don’t take that days Levo dose or eat till afterwards I think plain water is ok but no tea or coffee, and there’s no need to mention it to the médicos. If you do the same every time it gives a standard to work from.

[Maybe21 in reply to TSH110]

T4 22 TSH 0.15

[Maybe21 in reply to Maybe21]

T3 is 3.6 ( 2.1 - 6 )

[TSH110 in reply to Maybe21]

I am not very expert on blood test readings or best for T3 and T4 as opposed to FT3 and FT4. TSH is pretty low the endo will not like it there! May be others will be able to comment better on the other 2. You don’t put a range for T4. May be you are not converting the T4 to T3 very efficiently causing lingering symptoms. I hope someone more expert will comment for you

Thyroid uk classify TSH of over 0.1 as normal

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

[Maybe21 in reply to TSH110]

T4 range is 8-19 when I have the retest properly fasted might drop back to 100 mcg of levo if no change . TSH range 0.1 - 5

[TSH110 in reply to Maybe21]

You could try a new post with those results and ranges plus your swollen hands symptoms and see what people have to say. Looks like T4 is too high.

[Maybe21 in reply to TSH110]

I posted recently under blood results .Responses seemed to confirm my error of going in the afternoon for the bloods having taken the levo instead of my normal fasted and no levo morning blood test 😬 Won’t be doing that again !

[TSH110 in reply to Maybe21]

Maybe21 oh gosh I think I read your earlier post but had not twigged it was yours from this one with a lot about when to do your test you must have rolled up your eyes 🙄 seeing me blathering on about it here again!! Sorry 😳 is it advice or resorting to brainwashing techniques 😂🤣😂

[Maybe21 in reply to TSH110]

No the eye rolling was for me getting it wrong 7 yrs after being diagnosed . I use far too many emojis !

[TSH110 in reply to Maybe21]

Maybe21 i say bring em on 😍😊😎

[Maybe21 in reply to TSH110]

👍

[Baobabs]

I had swollen fingers and joints but painful. My hand x-rays and rheumatoid arthritis tests were negative. I think water retention and swelling can be symptoms of hypothyroidism. As I am now adequately medicated and have gradually increased supporting vits/minerals as shown by my blood results, these symptoms are disappearing. Hard to believe as I was convinced I had some type of arthritis.

[Maybe21 in reply to Baobabs]

Hi thanks for the reply . Yes mine really look arthritic. I’m taking 125 mcg now and I’ve never been on a dose this high before so with supplements too maybe they’ll settle . Haven’t worn my wedding ring for yrs ! x

[Baobabs in reply to Maybe21]

Ditto re the wedding ring but only months for mine, because of this I lost it, so watch out and take great care of yours!

[Maybe21 in reply to Baobabs]

Will do 😊

[TSH110 in reply to Baobabs]

Baobabs that is sad re loosing your wedding ring but a good reason to get another! My dad used to get my mum a new wedding ring every so often to add to her collection hence me getting two!

[Baobabs in reply to TSH110]

Thank you! I still have my husband though and my health restored, so for me it is a small price to pay!

[Hillwoman]

Puffy extremities and even abdominal ascites are not uncommon in hypothyroidism. Along with profound physical and mental fatigue, fluid retention and myxoedema have been my most intractable hypo problems. Luckily, most people find that optimal TH treatment alleviates it over time.

Edited to add that I had to have my wedding ring enlarged three years ago, and now it needs doing again!

[Maybe21 in reply to Hillwoman]

Hi thanks for the reply - thankfully mine is just the hands . I had my wedding ring enlarged once and have just given up now . After 43 yrs married 😳 x

[Hillwoman in reply to Maybe21]

I quite often wear mine on a chain around my neck when it gets dangeously tight. I once sustained very bad bruising in an effort to remove the ring.

I lost it once in the garden, ironically when my fingers were very slim, and months later it turned up again, glinting at me from a flower bed. I thought it had gone for good, and was quite upset about it.

[Maybe21 in reply to Hillwoman]

Yes I panic with anything tight on my fingers so don’t even try now !

[TSH110 in reply to Hillwoman]

Hillwoman wow how very fortunate 🍀☘️🍀

[TSH110 in reply to Maybe21]

@Maybe21 that is sad to hear re your wedding ring. I wear 2 of my mothers and my partners mother on one finger they did get pretty tight when I was bad I remember taking them off but they are ok now but a silver ring I had bought in memory of my mother after she died of thyroid cancer suddenly caused a horrible itchy red rash and loads of painful swelling and I had to remove it altogether I put it in a box I have of a few little things of hers I kept that are special to me with sentimental value. I hope your finger swelling goes back down so you can wear the wedding ring again and congrats on 43 years!

[Maybe21 in reply to TSH110]

Thanks 😍 I tell my husband I need a medal 😂 Have my Mum’s ring too but that won’t fit either . It’s taken me 2 yrs to lose a stone in weight and even that hasn’t helped !

[TSH110 in reply to Maybe21]

Maybe21 I still call that a pretty amazing result with this condition! Really well done to shed all that weight 👍🏽

[shaws Administrator]

You have a condition called Myxedema (hypothyroidism) and the puffiness is a common clinical symptom - it is due to a fluid build-up (mucin) under the skin. Before blood tests it was one of the common sign for diagnosing hypo:- extract

What Are the Signs of an Underactive Thyroid?

Doctors are now investigating why thyroid tests may appear normal, but the thyroid itself may still be dysfunctional.

Seeing a pattern will help you determine if your thyroid medication is properly treating an underactive thyroid, or if more diagnosis is necessary:

1. Edema is the abnormal accumulation of fluid beneath the skin. The edema that occurs in hypothyroidism is the “non-pitting” form of edema.

“Non-pitting” means: You press your finger into the flesh, and it bounces right back and leaves no mark.

This is called myxedema, which is specifically associated with low levels of thyroid hormones.

Myxedema is swelling of the arms, legs, and face.

The bounce-back is due to springy molecules called GAGs (glycosaminoglycans).

GAGs are an important element in connective tissue.

In myxedema, they also accumulate beneath the skin with extracellular fluid.

bodyecology.com/articles/is...

cc Dreamer12

[Maybe21 in reply to shaws]

Hi and thanks - after my upcoming blood tests I’m going to see and Endo for the first time - in view of what you’ve written I’m far from optimum treatment x

[Baobabs in reply to Maybe21]

Oh and it was an Endo that told me the swelling, joint, bone and muscle pain had nothing to do with hypothyroidism and sent me on a wild rheumatoid arthritis goose chase.

[Maybe21 in reply to Baobabs]

Grrrr😡

[shaws Administrator in reply to Baobabs]

On this forum I think we learn more and know more than most doctors or endocrinologists who appear to have lost that sense of what made them choose a 'career' (which seems to have been a profession/vocation in the past) in Endocrinology which includes hypothyroidism except to look at a blood test result and not the patient (as they did before blood tests were introduced). I doubt they know one clinical symptom, I believe, and wont diagnose until the TSH is 10 and in other countries it is 3+and send you off with prescriptions for the symptoms rather than a decent dose of thyroid hormones. Although their hands are now tied as NDT and T3 used to be prescribed if patient wasn't improving on levo - but at least a person could have a trial. Now we have to source our own if not doing well on levo, which many appear to do o.k but most on this forum don't and could return to ill-health.

[Maybe21 in reply to shaws]

Very true ! I now access by GP records on line and my TSH was around 4 for years before I started treatment . Never any mention of hypothyroidism! Like so many I get v frustrated with the combination of fixed ideas and lack of knowledge.The Malcom Kendrick article says it all

[shaws Administrator in reply to Maybe21]

When quite newly diagnosed and prescribed and feeling quite awful. I was given the address of a doctor who had been pursued for treating patients as he was taught as a medical student and then pursued by the GMC for not following the rules, i.e. he diagnosed by symptoms etc.He resigned his Licence so that he could advise patients even though he couldn't prescribe.

Just after I sat down he held my hand - taking my pulse. I had to sit, stand and sit down quickly etc. and some other tests too. i.e. pulse if slow points to hypo, etc skin was cool and if you are able to find a book 'Tears Behind Closed Doors' it is a revelation. I thought it wasn't available but I have just looked and it is on Amazon at present.

[Dreamer12 in reply to shaws]

Thanks Shaws Just bought it online!! £4.87!! Wow!! Sorry for hyjacking thread!!😀

[Baobabs in reply to shaws]

Many thanks Shaws, my husband is putting in an order to Amazon, will get him to add to the list.

[Dreamer12 in reply to shaws]

Hi Shaws

Well said!!!!!! You are so right and always talk a lot of sense!! Thank you!! X

[Dreamer12 in reply to shaws]

Thanks Shaws very interesting!! X

[Dreamer12 in reply to Dreamer12]

My pulse was 50 on Friday and GP said it’s perfect!!!!! Bp through the roof!! Feeling much better two days back on 12.5T3 and one grain xx