Puffy face/mucin/weight

[Lenaa]

I heard that mucin is very hard to get rid of even when treated and can take ages to improve.

I am two months in at 100ug Levo and I have had definite improvement in face puffiness at least half of the time (my upper body seems less puffy too). Seems to go up and down. Can I expect this to totally go away eventually?

I also read some study that weight loss even when treated is actually quite minimal. I can't remember what it said but it was something like 5kgs on average after two years. Is that right?

[Lalatoot]

Yes the facial puffiness goes in my experience when hormone levels are good.. Can't say about the weight loss because I am one of those annoying people who lose weight when they are undermedicated.

[LivingWithHT in reply to Lalatoot]

Oh, you annoying person, you! 😜

Lol, I am the total opposite 😄.

[KT77]

The mucin is usually the last thing to go. Think more like 2 years rather than 2 months I have been taking thyroid medications for 2 and half years now and its only now that mucin and swelling both on face and body decreasing. Nice feeling though once its start happening. Feeling the softness of the body. Patients is required

[Lenaa in reply to KT77]

Maybe levo is reducing my water retention then. My face is definitely less puffy already but it does go up and down

[KT77 in reply to Lenaa]

Probably just water retention then. In my opinion mucin doesn't come and go. It takes a while for it to build up and is typical for advanced stages of hypothyroidism . Its possible that you have high estrogen levels especially if you are overweight and that can cause puffiness and water retention too. And levels tend to fluctuate so it comes and goes. Sex hormones tend to be out of whack with thyroid problems. I had them imbalanced too.

[Lenaa in reply to KT77]

I’m not overweight and my oestrogen is not high. It was a bit low last time I checked but should be ok now cos my periods are back to normal. Hypo causes water retention doesn’t it. So must be helping me with that. Still have a way to go esp around the chin and eyes but I hope that will improve.

[Lenaa in reply to KT77]

Mucin makes water retention worse doesn’t it? It totals water ideal I remember right?

[LivingWithHT in reply to Lenaa]

Also, the amount of excess mucin and water retention gained in weight differs from person to person. Some of us can carry up to 10 kg of excess water but we don’t know it because of the mucin that traps it or because it can sometimes appear like fat but it’s not.

Some people are lucky and only retain a few extra kilos of water, at most.

[Lenaa in reply to LivingWithHT]

I’m about 6kgs more than my natural weight but given I have M.E. and don’t move much, hard to tell which thing is the most to blame. Nevertheless, I have a horrible, puffy appearance on my body. When I look at people with more body fat than me, they still look smooth and carry it well. On me, every extra kg just looks awful. I had fast metabolism before I got sick.

[LivingWithHT in reply to Lenaa]

Yes, because excess water and mucin gives that puffy look...because it is in excess, and thus, it doesn’t appear like it’s naturally meant to be there. I know what you mean, I am the same.

Also, we must try not to compare our figures and how our bodies carry fat, muscle, water, etc to others too much (or at least not to people whose natural figures are different to ours) because it can make us feel self-conscious and increase cortisol levels, which in turn, increases water retention 😄😩.

Also, elevated levels of cortisol can make us look unnaturally bloated/puffy.

[KT77 in reply to Lenaa]

Yes water is part of the mucin. If your estrogen is ok and you are not overweight then its 2 less things to worry about☺ in that case just wait and it should go over time.

[LivingWithHT]

Taking N-acetyl Cysteine with Vitamin C is said to help but, yes, it still takes a while.

I am actually taking those two supplements together now and while I notice my body expelling the excess mucin and water, it is taking time!

[Susieg1 in reply to LivingWithHT]

How much NAC and vitamin C are you taking and how often?

Thanks

[SilverAvocado]

Even though people talk in general principles, in real life everyone is different. You can't ever predict how you will respond as you get on with hormone and how your symptoms will change.

[sidneymark70]

I’ve never heard of mucin. Can you give me more info please? I do suffer with puffiness especially round the eyes - I hate them. Don’t think GPs are doing blood tests for thyroid at mo sadly or I’d go and ask for one. (Have hashis) Thanks, Sheila