Pretibial myexadema: What specialist do I need to... - Thyroid UK

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Pretibial myexadema

Joanneconnor profile image
28 Replies

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

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Joanneconnor profile image
Joanneconnor
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28 Replies
Joanneconnor profile image
Joanneconnor

Docs have told me I’m thyrotoxicity too

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toJoanneconnor

You probably were at one point. Do you know how Hashi's works?

Joanneconnor profile image
Joanneconnor in reply togreygoose

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

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toJoanneconnor

Yes, but the levels swing because your thyroid is being slowly destroyed by your immune system.

Joanneconnor profile image
Joanneconnor in reply togreygoose

My endo said to me that i probably wouldn't have much thyroid left by now, he's an idiot how can he tell without actually doing a scan

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toJoanneconnor

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?

Joanneconnor profile image
Joanneconnor in reply togreygoose

No all he's interested in is bloods and doesn't like to answer any of my questions he just brushes them off

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toJoanneconnor

He probably doesn't know the answers! lol

Joanneconnor profile image
Joanneconnor in reply togreygoose

Do you think I went thyrotoxic when my hormones kicked in as I developed the skin thickening almost over night

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toJoanneconnor

I don't know what you mean by 'when my hormones kicked in'. But as far as I know, Pretibial myexadema appears slowly, not over-night.

Joanneconnor profile image
Joanneconnor in reply togreygoose

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

Joanneconnor profile image
Joanneconnor in reply toJoanneconnor

It’s the same heavy thick skin in all areas

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toJoanneconnor

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?

Joanneconnor profile image
Joanneconnor in reply togreygoose

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 😕

Joanneconnor profile image
Joanneconnor in reply toJoanneconnor

Vaseline will only make my skin soft I’ve tried everything but not cortisteroid injections

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toJoanneconnor

So, what is the treatment for mucin? I think that's something everyone would like to know.

What sort of pain do you get?

When was your last thyroid test?

Joanneconnor profile image
Joanneconnor in reply togreygoose

There is a lot, topical corticosteroid therapy, I will put photo on the post

Joanneconnor profile image
Joanneconnor in reply togreygoose

My last thyroid test was 2 months ago he said I was thyrotoxic.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toJoanneconnor

Did you not get a print-out of the exact results?

I don't think that topical corticosteroid therapy treats the actual mucin itself, just the skin surface. :)

Joanneconnor profile image
Joanneconnor in reply togreygoose

Yes I have printed everything off to show doc just to get a referral, hopefully get a good dermatologist

Joanneconnor profile image
Joanneconnor in reply togreygoose

I did have Mir fine on legs said I had edema

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toJoanneconnor

You probably do, and it's probably mucin causing the oedema, but Pretibial Myxedema isn't just oedema, is it.

What is 'Mir fine'?

Joanneconnor profile image
Joanneconnor in reply togreygoose

Sorry MRI on my legs, Pretibial myexadema doesn’t always have the lesions it’s called non pitting edema

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toJoanneconnor

OK :)

Joanneconnor profile image
Joanneconnor

Yes I think

Joanneconnor profile image
Joanneconnor

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 😢

Joanneconnor profile image
Joanneconnor

The pain is more of an ache feeling although on my worst bit on my calf it gets really hot and starts pulsing when I don’t test it

Giraffes profile image
Giraffes

What vitamins and minerals are you taking to support your system.

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