Sticky dry eyes and itchy skin- is this hypo or hyper?

[Polly91]

Hello helpful people

It’s been a little while since I posted a question. I had been over replacing with metavive earlier in the year and came off it rather suddenly which was not a good idea. I was very tired, gained a few pounds, slept poorly , even more hair loss, lack of motivation & 2 viral infections (not covid thankfully). My results reflected that I was very hypo and my TPO >200.

I have since increased metavive again and am feeling much less brain fog and have energy again but I’m wondering if the symptoms I’m getting now are because I’m still under replaced or over?

Sticky (worse at night) & dry eyes

Itchy skin

Hair loss (this is one symptom that is pretty consistent regardless of my replace my dose )

I will get tested early September when I have been on my current metavive dose for at least 6 weeks.

Any advice greatly appreciated - many thanks

Polly

[Polly91]

Thanks for getting back to me. It’s so confusing that hair loss and dry eyes can be both hypo and hyper.

Unless you get blood tests done every 4-6 weeks you never know where you (your thyroid!) stands!

[Polly91]

Oh that’s so frustrating isn’t it. So if your thyroid treatment is optimal and presumably this is confirmed through blood tests what is the likely cause of your dryness symptoms and hair loss?

[Radio2 in reply to Polly91]

Hi Polly,I found my hair loss was worse when I was very low on Ferritin. Now that it’s come back up, I’m not losing as much hair. I find that this can fluctuate when I have to take anti inflammatory meds though - hair loss increases again until I stop taking it.

Strangely, when I mentioned this to my endo - he said that it shouldn’t matter! But it does with me!

I also have dry eyes permanently. I use eye drops with Sodium Hyaluronate 0.3% morning and evening and this helps me tremendously.

Hope this helps and hope you can find something that helps you.

Good luck.

[Polly91 in reply to Radio2]

Thanks so much for this. My ferritin has always been on the high side so unfortunately I can’t pin it on that. Interesting though about anti inflammatory meds though. Thanks again

[Radio2 in reply to Polly91]

Hope you get things sorted out. Best of luck.

[Polly91 in reply to Radio2]

Thanks v much Radio2. Everyone is so kind and helpful on this network.

[Polly91]

You poor thing. Hope you get to the bottom of it.

[Buddy195 Administrator]

Eye symptoms can occur with hyper, hypo or euthyroid (no thyroid symptoms). I recommend using preservative free eye drops for dry eyes as often as needed. I swear by Hyloforte or HycoSan. If your symptoms persist, do see an optician. Very best wishes to you.

[Polly91]

That’s interesting to hear. Thanks v much Buddy I will try those drops.

[Hidden]

I wouldn’t assume this is thyroid related. It might be a rheumatic autoimmune disease, Sjögren’s, which both hypo and hyper can often accompany as secondaries. I’d get your systemic autoimmune antibodies checked thoroughly plus inflammatory markers, immunoglobulins and consider requesting an appointment with a rheumatologist if this suggestion makes sense to you.

nhs.uk/conditions/sjogrens-...

[Polly91 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks v much. I did wonder a couple of years ago if I had sjogrens but my tests came back negative - that was 2 years ago. I guess things could have changed.

[Hidden in reply to Polly91]

I was diagnosed by lip biopsy in the end but already has rheumatoid arthritis and now progressed to systemic sclerosis 😬- nothing apart from ANA, systemic sclerosis and hypo in my blood

[Polly91 in reply to Hidden]

Sorry to hear this. You’ve had a lot to deal with.

[Hidden in reply to Polly91]

Well yes I have - but it’s not about me! I just wouldn’t want you blaming your fatigue and dry sticky eyes or hairloss and dry skin all on thyroid disease without flagging up Sjögren’s. 30% are seronegative (negative in blood work). This article might help: sjogrens.org/blog/2019/13-t...

[Carys21]

I was told at the eye infirmary it is due to the oils being secreted being too thick (a type of cholesterol) and this causes the sticky itching as it blocks the small pores and becomes infected with bacteria. The best treatment I found is to scrub the eyelashes with a weak warm water solution of sodium bicarbonate. Doing this daily makes a massive difference to me. They used to say baby shampoo solution but that is no longer recommended. eyecaretrust.org.uk/view.ph...

[Polly91 in reply to Carys21]

Thanks Carys- hypos often have high cholesterol ( mine is a bit on the high side).

[Carys21 in reply to Polly91]

The doctor at the eye infirmary said it wasn't the same type of cholesterol that they measure on tests (but I didn't know what he meant, lol)

[bluejourney]

I found that a low carb diet gave me dry eyes, and that just raising my carbs a bit solved the problem.

[Polly91 in reply to bluejourney]

Now I like that as a solution. I love carbs!Thanks

[bluejourney in reply to Polly91]

Also bizarrely I’ve found that lightly tickling your skin makes your eyes water! I think it produces melatonin. I’ve read that a side effect of melatonin can be watery eyes.

[Starfish123]

Hi,

I’m hypo and have dry eyes and skin etc. I was recommended sea buckthorn oil supplements for the dry eyes and hydrosan night gel. Both have been excellent, the sea buckthorn oil supplements have not only helped the dry eyes but have been a cure for my internal dryness, a miracle product. My eyes are much better than they were and I use the gel at night, I’ve not needed the drops I have much at all. My dry itchy skin is also much better.

[Polly91 in reply to Starfish123]

Thanks so much. I will try all these products out. Really appreciate the replies

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to Polly91]

It’s trial and error to see what works for you. I have posted before re sea buckthorn and tried this for 6 months, but (for me) it made no noticeable difference. However, for other members it clearly does. I have found noticeable benefit from taking lutein and zeazanthin (Eye Complex 7 on Amazon).

One thing I would advise with supplements is to trial one thing at once for a couple of months. In a bid to ‘feel well’ (I have thyroid eye disease) I trialled quite a few things, then got in a muddle to work out what helped/ what didn’t. Do keep posting to let us know how you get on! 👍

[Polly91 in reply to Buddy195]

Thanks Buddy I’ve heard that before about not trying too many things at once so I will only try one thing at a time and give it a few months. I’ve heard about lutein before.

Sorry to hear you have thyroid eye disease - is that part of hypo or hyper thyroid?

What are the symptoms of thyroid eye disease and how is it diagnosed? Must admit I’ve not seen an optician since 2019 and ( pre covid).

Thanks again for the great advice

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to Polly91]

Most people with TED have Graves and are hyperthyroid but some (like myself) have TED with Hashimotos/ hypothyroid and a few people have it who are euthyroid (no thyroid condition). Ive suffered with very dry eyes, eye pain, light sensitivity, lid retraction, and some ‘bulging’, but double vision can also occur (which I’ve not had). It’s always worth getting any eye complaint (however minor) checked out with an optician, to be on the safe side. In mild cases of TED it’s important to stop smoking if you do (I’ve never smoked) and take a Selenium supplement.

[Bellaowl]

I had very itchy skin and dry eyes and found out skin was lack of riboflavin B2- I ran out. I have had dry eyes about a yr, optician suggested Synalar gel. Helps. Optician says it’s age related.

Bella🦉

[Polly91]

Thanks Bella. Interesting when I was very ill with Lyme disease a few years ago I had all sorts of tests and I learned I was deficient in riboflavin too but after one bottle (bright yellow drops) I didn’t continue with it. Which brand do you use?

Ageing just keeps on giving !