Shiny legs

[Baileyleigh123]

I have previously posted about shiny legs and I just want to know if it is the under active thyroid that is causing this or the amount of thyroxine I’m on because when I goggle it it says it could be peripheral artery disease which is a worry because I am a smoker I’ve tried all different creams and nothing makes a difference I have been to the doctor and he wasn’t concerned this is really stressing me out as anyone any answers please I hate my legs shining thankyou

[Hylda2]

Mine shine and then they split and crack scaly like chicken’s legs. I think it’s something to do with fluid in my legs but then I have AF. I’m plastering them with E45 at the moment which is helping.

[Baileyleigh123 in reply to Hylda2]

Mine don’t crack it’s just the shine on them I hate them they also feel like there burning 🔥 I might try the e 45 if it’s helping you x

[Hylda2]

I get the burning too. B12 is supposed to help. I was taking supplements until my B12 tested over range. Think I’ll have to start again soon

[Baileyleigh123 in reply to Hylda2]

I also tried b12 but my doctor said my levels were normal so stopped them also I’m trying to lose weight so they were giving me an appetite lol thankyou for your reply just wondering if I’m on to much thyroxine 150 at moment xx

[greygoose]

Just had a skim through your last post...

Did you ever get hold of your blood test results, as asked? You never posted them. Or, did you ever get full private testing of thyroid and nutrients? If you've got any results, post them now and let's have a look. Otherwise, I don't think there's much can be said that wasn't said in your last post.

I just want to know if it is the under active thyroid that is causing this or the amount of thyroxine

Unlikely to be anything to do with thyroxine, whatever your dose. It's a hypo symptom.

I’ve tried all different creams and nothing makes a difference

Doubtful if they would because they won't get rid of the water under the skin. But, you could try massaging with ginger oil, that might help a bit - if it does, let us know!

I also tried b12 but my doctor said my levels were normal so stopped them

I doubt if your doctor would know what normal was if it got up and bit him on the bum! Never, ever ask a doctor for nutritional advice, they know nothing but have a lot of very weird ideas! Far better to get the actual numbers - ask at reception for a print out and post them here - results and ranges.

Doesn't matter if B12 is over-range because it's water soluble, so excess is peed out. Far, far worse to have it too low. But, B12 is all about symptoms, not blood test results. And, your burning skin is more than likely due to your B12 being too low for you.

[Baileyleigh123 in reply to greygoose]

Aww thankyou I didn’t know if I get just get the results of my doctor I will do this and then post them so do you think the b12 would help with the shiny skin x

[greygoose in reply to Baileyleigh123]

Don't ask the doctor. They don't like people to know their results. Ask the receptionist to print you off a copy.

No, B12 wouldn't help with the shine, but might help with the burning, and possibly a lot of other things. Low B12 can cause a lot of symptoms.

[Baileyleigh123 in reply to greygoose]

I was just worrying that it was the pad cos people with that have shiny legs 😢

[greygoose in reply to Baileyleigh123]

Well, given that you know you're hypo, I think it's far more likely to be that, than some disease you're not diagnosed with. But if you're really worried about pad can't you get tested for it? Just to set your mind at rest.

[Baileyleigh123 in reply to greygoose]

I don’t think I have but it was worrying me I went doctors with these shiny legs lol and he didn’t seem that concerned never really said much so with being hypo Is there nothing that will take it away could my thyroxine be to high and that’s causing it sorry to be a pain but I hate it x

[greygoose in reply to Baileyleigh123]

I know what you mean. I've always hated my legs. But, I've never found anything that will get rid of the water. In 2013, I spend two weeks in hospital with very swollen legs due to infected insect bites, on a duiretic drip - it was hell, but I won't go into the details - and I lost over 30 kilos in those two weeks. for the first time in my life I was skinny with quite nice legs - no puff, no shine. It lasted for about two years before the water started building up again, and now I'm back where I started. That damned mucin is there and it wants water!

[Baileyleigh123 in reply to greygoose]

I’m going back to doctors with this and I don’t want fobbing off I want to know what it is cos it’s getting me down plus I should be due my blood tests so will post on here when I get all my results back thankyou x

[greygoose in reply to Baileyleigh123]

You're welcome. But I don't suppose your doctor will know what it is.

[Baileyleigh123 in reply to greygoose]

Will let you know what he says x

[greygoose in reply to Baileyleigh123]

👍

[Hylda2]

I take 4 diuretics a day to keep fluid away from my heart. By rights, my shins should be like prunes! 🥺

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Looking at previous post

You had dose levothyroxine reduced

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

If yes, which brand

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Low vitamin levels common as we get older too

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 .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

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 all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

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

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

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 down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

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

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

If TPO or TG thyroid antibodies are high this is usually due to Hashimoto’s (commonly known in UK as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto’s. Low vitamin levels are particularly common with Hashimoto’s. Gluten intolerance is often a hidden issue too

Link about thyroid blood tests

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

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-un...

Come back with new post once you get results

[Baileyleigh123 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi I always have been on levothyroxine for about 30 years now my highest dose at one time was 300 now on 150 the last time I had a full blood count doctor said everything was fine I’m quite fit otherwise but on medication for high blood pressure it’s just my legs what are bothering me thanks for the reply I dont take any vitamin d do you think that would help x

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Baileyleigh123]

Baileyleigh123

I dont take any vitamin d do you think that would help x

As suggested, test first. Don't take Vit D without knowing what your current level is, whether you need to take it, and if you do then you need to take the correct dose along with it's important cofactors.

Vit D is fat soluble so any excess is stored and can lead to toxicity.

Test and post your result on the forum. SlowDragon gave you a link to NHS postal test if that's all you need to test.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Baileyleigh123]

That’s a vast drop in dose

You will need to get FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing

Unlikely GP will do so

Thousands of U.K. patients are forced to get full testing done privately

Always test thyroid levels as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

Many people find different brands are not interchangeable

Low vitamin levels extremely common after dose levothyroxine is reduced

[Anthea55]

Do be careful with creams. You can do more harm than good. Avoid anything containing SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate) which you will find in Aqueous Cream and many other products. Adding cream after cream is not helpful and doesn't give the skin a chance.

See this article 'Are my wash products damaging my skin'

bbc.co.uk/programmes/articl...

And this about 'Eczema cream making skin worse'

dailymail.co.uk/health/arti...

And this about Aqueous Cream

medsafe.govt.nz/profs/PUArt...

Then this article suggests that we are showering too much and washing away the skin's microbiome

telegraph.co.uk/health-fitn...

I became interested in this when I developed a rash on my leg. In my opinion this came from being prescribed cream for venous eczema which didn't seem to be much use, so instead I used either E45 or Aqueous cream for several years. I knew nothing about SLS or that there might be harmful ingredients in skin products. With help from a dermatologist I'm winning, but my skin has not gone back to normal and may never do so.

[Baileyleigh123 in reply to Anthea55]

Oh I do shower every day I stopped using cream now cos it wasn’t making a difference I will have a look at the links you sent thanks x