Cold tingly legs and feet.

[Deotima]

I have other hypothyroid symptoms, but can’t warm up my cold tingly legs.

My TSH is normal.

What can help warm them up?

[Lora7again]

I have this and wear bed socks during the summer. Mine is bad circulation and I have been like it long before I got thyroid disease.

[Deotima in reply to Lora7again]

Thank you. I’m sure this is a thyroid symptom. I have bed socks, mohair socks, electric blanket and heated pads in chairs. The only thing that seems to help a bit is an opiate painkiller like tramadol.

[Lora7again in reply to Deotima]

What is your normal TSH?

[Deotima in reply to Lora7again]

TSH 2.32

Free T3 4.84

Free thyroxine 15.400

All well within Medichecks normal ranges.

[Lora7again in reply to Deotima]

Most people with a healthy thyroid have a TSH of about 1. For example my 65 year old husband's is 0.97 and my son-inlaw who is 29 is 1.05. Mine is 0.38 because I have Graves' disease so mine means nothing unless it is suppressed. With results like those you will not be treated I'm afraid because the NHS usually wait until the TSH is 10.

[Deotima in reply to Lora7again]

Thank you.

[Lora7again in reply to Deotima]

I personally think your thyroid is struggling so I would test your vitamins to see if they are low. As gg has listed because they could be giving you symptoms as well.

[greygoose]

It's not about your TSH. And it's not about being 'normal' - which just means 'in-range'. You can have an in-range TSH and still be under-medicated - I take it you are medicated?

What you need is full thyroid testing:

TSH

FT4

FT3

TPO antibodies

Tg antibodies

vit D

vit B12

folate

ferritin

If you get all those tested, you'll have a better idea where the problem lies.

[Deotima in reply to greygoose]

No not medicated. Dr said ‘ nothing wrong with thyroid’.

But I have so many hypo symptoms, rather confused with long term ME.

Thanks. I will get tested. Who should I use to test please?

[Lora7again in reply to Deotima]

I use medichecks because I live in the UK. I have no idea who gg uses because she lives in France.

[Deotima in reply to Lora7again]

Thanks I’ll get retested.

[greygoose in reply to Deotima]

You'll find lots of details about private testing here:

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

[Deotima in reply to greygoose]

Thank you.

[greygoose in reply to Deotima]

You're welcome.

[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 you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Ask GP to test vitamin levels

Or test privately

Low vitamin levels tend to lower TSH

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus vitamins including folate (private blood draw required)

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Thriva also offer just vitamin testing

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

Come back with new post once you get vitamin results

Frequently people find improving vitamin levels to optimal and then retesting Thyroid TSH has risen so that they can get thyroid treatment

Improving low vitamin levels will also often significantly improve symptoms

[Deotima in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you I will get some tests done. I have been on Prednisalone for many years for Rhehmatoid Arthritis, can that effect the thyroid?

Also I wondered if I could have a potassium deficiency. Could that cause the cold tingly legs and feet please?

We have dreadful broadband so may be delayed in replying to you.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Definitely prednisalone will affect TSH

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

while 30 mg of prednisone is likely required to significantly alter TSH levels (4).

In effect causing central hypothyroidism....Absolutely essential to test Ft4 and Ft3 and thyroid antibodies

Having one autoimmune disease makes another much more likely

Hashimoto’s and RA often occur together

everydayhealth.com/rheumato...

[Angel_of_the_North]

TSH may be in range, but how are your actual thyroid hormones? I wear bedsocks even in Summer

[Deotima in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

All in range according to Medichecks ( see above post )

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Deotima]

I get tingling symptoms when my B12 drops below 1000 and I feel hypo when FT3 is under 5. Everyone has their own sweet spot, just being in range means not a lot.