What specialist do I need to ask for, I have Hashimotos for 1 year no symptoms got pregnant 15 years ago and almost overnight had this skin thickening on both calves and shin bone but also on the anterior of arms and thighs. I need to ask for a biopsy and with the hope to get some treatment. I am aware I am probably the 5% of hashis people with this and don’t think docs will take me serious as I’ve been back numerous times with the pain in calves, they sent me to physio on the last visit 😤😢
Any advice appreciated
Thanks
Written by
Joanneconnor
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Is it where your levels swing back and forth? I've mostly been in hyper state my twin who has hashi's spent most of her time in hypo. She also has the myexadema
Oh! Difficult to answer that without knowing the depth of your endo's knowledge of thyroid. If he's like most endos, a diabetes specialist, then it's probably just a wild guess. But, if you really know the patient and follow the trend of her blood test results, then that should give him some clues - if he's open to interpreting them. Did he at least feel your neck?
As soon as I got pregnant I developed Pretibial Myxedema with no lesions on my calves. then over the years since I’ve put on 2lb in weight per year and my clothes started getting tighter on the outer bicep area on arms and on outer thigh area
OK, well to come back to your original question: which specialist do I need to see? It's very doubtful you'll find one. Endos are supposed to know about the whole of the endocrine system. But they only know about diabetes - and not much about that, either, apparently. Endocrinology is the Cinderella of the health system, nobody know much about any of it.
So, how were you diagnosed with Hashi's? And, who diagnosed you? What were your thyroid levels at that time? Have they been tested recently?
It's quite possible that your hypothyroidism raised its ugly head due to your pregnancy, when all the hormones go wild. It often happens. But, why do you think you need to have a biopsy? I'm not sure that would tell you much. It one of the symptoms of Hashi's, but there is no treatment for Hashi's. All they can do is prescribe thyroid hormone replacement to make up for the hormones your thyroid is slowly becoming unable to make. But, they won't do that until your blood tests show hypo, I'm afraid. Have you tried rubbing vaseline into your legs?
Yes I know I’ve printed a lot of info off the internet and I was convinced a few years ago that this is what I have and was passed around to different specialists, I was diagnosed with thyroid disease by a hormone test to see if I was fertile to have children and I was borderline, it’s only the last 2 years I have been told it was Hashimotos after I demanded antibodies doing, I had no symptoms from diagnosis to a year later getting pregnant, I might ask to see a dermatologist, I want a biopsy to prove it is mucin that develops in Pretibial Myxedema, there is treatment for this, as I’m fed up of the pain and heaviness 😕
They can give you immunosuppressants too, the mucin is mainly made up of hyaloronic acid, which is lip filler. I have bought some Hyaluronidase off the internet which devolves it and injected very tiny amounts in a few areas, the very sharp needle bounced off the thickened skin and I found it very hard to penetrate, it has loosened it somewhat but I’m not sure it’s a permanent fix, but it did make my arm feel lighter, and not so heavy but I’m desperate 😢
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.