Graves - darkness under eyes

[Jenna5]

Hi, I’m just wondering if anyone has experienced darkness under their eyes after they have had a total thyroidectomty following graves diagnosis? Since my TT two years ago it’s been getting worse and worse and I’m wondering if it is connected to my graves? It’s becoming really noticeable now and no concealer I’ve found so far is covering it. Ive attaches a photo, this is with concealer on. I’ve started using eye cream, hoping it will work, I’m only 27 and feel like it’s really ageing me 😩 or is it a result of ageing? Thanks in advance Jenna x

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Presumably you are on Levothyroxine?

How much were you started on? How long have you been on this dose and where bloods retested after 6-8 weeks on this

Add results and ranges if for TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Dark rings can be adrenal exhaustion, common for adrenals to get overworked if not on correct level of Levothyroxine or if vitamins are too low

adrenalfatiguesolution.com/...

All thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Do not take Levothyroxine dose in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take immediately after blood draw. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Is this how you do your thyroid tests?

[Jenna5 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi, thanks for your reply. I last had thyroid bloods done on 19th Sept at my T4 was 17.2 (range 6.5-17) and my TSH was 0.33 (range 0.34-5.60). I didn’t have my vitamins done as it’s usually a battle to have them test them. I will ring up tomorrow and see if I can sway them

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Jenna5]

Do you get tested early morning and no Levo 24 hours prior to test?

You need FT3 tested plus vitamins

Just testing TSH and FT4 is completely inadequate

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and also very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or vitamins

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

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

Come back with new post once you have results and ranges

[Jenna5 in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes, I usually get tested first thing. I do think that this test I actually took my Levo before my test which I usually don’t, unfortunately habit got the better of me.

I will, thanks very much ☺️

[Jenna5 in reply to Jenna5]

They will only let me get my T4, TSH, B12 and Iron tested. She said T3 is just an ‘American thing’, it’s so annoying 😩

[MaisieGray in reply to Jenna5]

Well of course she's absolutely correct, it's a known scientific fact that only Americans have triiodothyronine in their bodies ...... I wonder, does she hear herself?

[Jenna5 in reply to MaisieGray]

Haha I know! I hate how ignorant the doctors are to thyroid associated issues. The only specialist where I live (who I refuse to see now as he made me cry) said I need to eat 800calories a day to lose weight (obviously that’ll make me lose weight, it not healthy though), although I’ve only gained weight since I had a TT but according to him that’s nothing to do with it, and it’s how much I eat. I’m not a bad eater at all! I was fine before I had a thyroid issue. God they make me angry.

[MaisieGray in reply to Jenna5]

Oh dear, clearly hasn't kept up with "not all calories are equal" etc thinking, or the thyroid classes ... In fact 800 calories does nothing for me, and even on a VLC diet of 420 per day, there were more days when I weighed more than less, and I have the 6-plus months of spreadsheet numbers to prove it LOL. Even with prescription weight loss drug I didn't lose an ounce. I understand why of course, but many Drs don't, sadly.

[Jbold1 in reply to SlowDragon]

Ik, I had to TELL my new PCP, in the states btw, what thyroid panel to test FOR THE THIRD TIME even though it's the exact same one that's in my friggin' chart! He's such a fool! I'm like, "Dude, just look at the exact tests that were run from my last doctor. All I want to do is compare my thyroid numbers. How in the actual hell am I to know if I still have Grave's disease if you don't run the exact SAME tests that SHE ran, YOU INCOMPETENT FOOL?!" He FINALLY ran the right panel after me going the lab THREE times, which sucks for me and for the lab cuz they hate me there cuz I'm a recovering heroin addict who is an INCREDIBLY hard stick, and my thyroid function is finally in the correct range! Woohoo! I juste hate that it took all THAT to figure it out, lol.

[greygoose]

Dark bags under the eyes are a hypo symptom.

[Jbold1 in reply to greygoose]

She could be hypo now that she's been in treatment for long for hyper.

[greygoose in reply to Jbold1]

Indeed she could.

[Fruitandnutcase]

No, I’ve been in remission from Graves for five years and I’ve never had dark circles under my eyes, not when my Graves was active or before I was eventually diagnosed or since.

At 27 you might feel as if you are but you definitely aren’t aging, not really 😉

[Marymary7]

Worth buying your own blood test on thyroid Thursday bargain times and get the vit plus one. It's very easy.

I read a good thing this morning where the young girl said she got rid of darkness under eyes with a micro needle thing. She swore it worked and it doesn't cost much. It just encourages blood flow and collagen I think. I will look out for link now.

[Marymary7 in reply to Marymary7]

byrdie.co.uk/how-to-get-rid...

[Jenna5 in reply to Marymary7]

That’s a really good read and it makes sense. I’m going to do some googling on the internet for other reviews. Thanks so much! ☺️

[Marymary7 in reply to Jenna5]

I still think you could be low on certain vitamins so it's worth getting your own test done. Got a vague feeling I remember something about vit k and dark circles, I could be wrong and perhaps iron levels and vit D?

[Jenna5 in reply to Marymary7]

I had a little research and it’s low Iron and B12 from what I can see, so doctors have begrudgingly agreed to let me have them tested

[Marymary7 in reply to Jenna5]

I just looked at the under eye creams which seem to have vit k so that's where I remembered it from...not sure about ingesting?

[Jenna5 in reply to Marymary7]

I do have Vit K tablets, I forget to take them a lot though so will need to start remembering

[Marymary7 in reply to Jenna5]

My brother has b12 problems and his eyes look like yours at present. Good luck with the micro needling it sounds good.

[Jbold1]

I'm in my 40s, so no help there, lol. I normally have this problem and haven't noticed a darkening since my Grave's diagnosis. Have you asked you Endo or your PCP? Your Endo would be the best person to ask. Even a call to their office with a quick question might put your mind at ease. I just know that I had SEVERE anxiety, mood swings, and muscle atrophy with my hyperthyroidism. I was lucky enough to only need methimazole and not a full on thyroidectemy or a lobectemy. Immediately after starting the methimazole, I started getting better. My anxiety starting decreasing, I stopped screaming and cursing at my family at random intervals, and I have stopped wetting the bed...yes, my pelvic floor muscle were the first to go, and it SUCKED! Why does the worst thing always happen, like you always gain weight in your butt and always lose it in your boobs? Anyway, I also finally got in to see a psychiatrist after waiting for two whole years and am on a new antidepressant that works for me, Celexa. No more Effexor for me, bleh! My Endo said it'll take a while for my muscles to come back, no matter how hard I try. That's why we with Grave's get tremors, cuz of the atrophy. Who knew, right?

I'm sorry you had to go through that. I imagine you still have to take some type of med now like Synthroid. It'll get better. Have you had your thyroid function tested lately? Idk what your thyroid panel would say since you have no thyroid. Hmmm, what a conundrum. Did your Endo give you a choice to have it removed or to try medication? Did you try to use methimazole? If not, I wonder if they should have tried meds first. My thyroid is still a little enlarged, but it's working fine. My function is in the normal range.

Look, we Grave's people need to stick together. Send me a message if you're feeling down... or up or even just meh. I don't always read my email, but I'll get it eventually. 😉

[SlowDragon Administrator]

If you are in the UK get full private testing via Medichecks or Blue Horizon

TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin

Extremely common after thyroidectomy to need high FT4 and suppressed TSH or addition of small dose of T3

Low vitamins extremely common if under medicated