Pitting Edema

[TeaEarlGreyHot]

For the last 6 weeks or so my right foot has been slightly swollen. Enough to make my footwear uncomfortable. After speaking with NHS 111 I saw an out of hours GP who wasn't concerned about it and said to see my own GP if I felt the need to. That was 2 weeks ago.

According to my unprofessional internet diagnosis, I have a pitting edema. It extends to my lower right leg - you can see a distinctive sock line. The other foot is fine.

I understand that this is sometimes seen in under medicated Hashi's patients. I was taking 150mcg of Levo until 2 years ago when I started taking Greater Pharma Thiroyd, with a daily dose of 2.5 grains plus 25mcg of Levo as my T4 was still low.

I'm hoping to see my own GP tomorrow, but just wondering if anyone else in the community has experience of this?

[Cariad123]

Yes I have Edema in my right leg ankle area

Result of 2 DvtS but made worse by poor kidney function

I have Hash’Thy l wear a compression sock full length when l feel it’s uncomfortable

Period of elevation of my leg def helps

[TeaEarlGreyHot]

I do remember the fluid retention well from before i was diagnosed, my abdomen was 'squelchy' and you could hear the fluid moving around. This being located in just one place, my lower right leg, made me think that it's not thyroid related, esp as i have no other hypo symptoms. My last lot of bloods suggested i was slightly low on FT4 but nothing major.

The GP I saw wanted to rule out Dvt as the cause, which she did.

But it's not improving, and walking is starting to feel a bit awkward hence my concern.

[Hidden]

What is Dvt

[MaisieGray in reply to Hidden]

Deep Vein Thrombosis

[SlowDragon Administrator]

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised or if under medicated

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose 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)

If/when also on T3, or NDT make sure to take last dose 8-12 hours prior to test

Is this how you do your tests?

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

[TeaEarlGreyHot in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes, that's the process that I follow when taking the blood sample - I use Blue Horizons.

Here's my results from last year. Before this I was not taking the 25mcg of Levo. After getting these results I decided that it would be worth supplementing with the Levo as my FT4 was on the low side, and TSH not suppressed as much as I would have expected (I know it tend to be a bit higher when taking NDT, but it seems a little too high).

[TeaEarlGreyHot in reply to TeaEarlGreyHot]

Dang, can't work out how to paste my results here. I'm sure it used to work...

[helvella in reply to TeaEarlGreyHot]

Are you trying to paste an image into your response?

You can't.

Only one image per thread - and only on the original post.

Either type them into a response. Or create a brand new post. Of course, if you choose a new post, that separates it from this post/thread. (And you can only have one image on it.)

[TeaEarlGreyHot in reply to helvella]

Ah thanks for that - I have edited the original post to add the image of the test results - best keep it all on one thread.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

I have pitting oedema, worse in left ankle/foot than right, mine has been linked to heart.

From healthline.com/health/pitti...

"Pitting edema is either caused by a localized problem with veins in the affected area, or a systemic problem with your heart, kidneys, or liver function. Edema without pitting is more likely to be caused by issues with your thyroid or lymphatic system."

[TeaEarlGreyHot in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks for that information - definitely time to see the GP then. Do you have to do anything to manage it, or is it just a case of yes you have pitting edema, let's just keep an eye on it?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to TeaEarlGreyHot]

They wanted me to have Indapamide prescribed (a diuretic). After looking into it I said I'd rather take a natural diuretic. Fortunately I was discussing this with the Advanced Nurse Practitioner who is very open minded and he was happy for me to do that (GP wouldn't have been) so I take dandelion leaf supplement. Prescribed diuretics deplete the body of Electrolytes, testing for a baseline should be done before starting them and regular monitoring carried out. Was this baseline testing offered to me and the regular monitoring mentioned - of course not. [I was expecting this as the same thing happened when I was put on a medication that can affect liver function, I had to ask for monitoring for that after I discovered that it should be done.]

[TeaEarlGreyHot in reply to SeasideSusie]

That's all good to know - I'll see the GP tomorrow armed with a little more information. Why am I not surprised that there was no baseline taken and regular monitoring...

Given that there is a "potential" for this to be a symptom of something more serious, I have to say that I am disappointed that the out of hours GP I saw didn't even measure my blood pressure. Apparently this pitting edema can be a symptom of congestive heart failure / right ventricle problems.