Did your puffiness go away once you were optimally treated?

[lau99]

Hi everyone. Sorry to sound like a broken record again...(and forgive me for sounding so vain, I know it's embarrassing that I keep coming back to this) I've just been going through some old photos and comparing them with how I look now to remind myself that it isn't all in my head and I actually do look noticeably different (unfortunately...).

There's no doubt that I'm definitely sporting the 'typical' hypothyroid look (dull skin, droopy eyes, very puffy upper eyelids, swollen looking face and jawline), but it was a bit concerning to note that I've basically looked this puffy since about 4 or 5 months post-TT, and even though my bloods have looked okay maybe once or twice in that time, my appearance never improved. Will this ever go away if I get sustained optimal blood results, or is this just how I look now?

[Jbrooke]

Not to sound so negative, but for many thyroid patients, being truly “optimal” is a struggle. So many doctors really don’t know how to treat patients optimally because they look at the wrong things and refuse to treat symptoms.

Usually, the puffiness comes from inflammation, which can be triggered by gluten sensitivities, etc. Also, I read where a thyroid patient began mixing alkaline water with Pedialyte and she was able to get some of the bloating released that way. Google it! Best wishes!!

[Alanna012 in reply to Jbrooke]

Great answer Jbrooke!

Having systematically tried a number of things and different NDT brands, I find the puffiness improves better on some meds than on others and some can make it worse.

But it generally improves with higher doses levo say around at least 150mcg plus (for me anyway, obviously we all need different doses)

But it's just one thing among many, in that I found I can get rid of puffy face but still feel rubbish in other ways. Current ndt I'm on isn't doing anything for my moon face and what I refer to as Cow eyelids. Adrenals also play a part somewhere.

Anti inflammatory supplements like curcumin (tumeric supplements) Quercetin, and Selenium can help. Selenium is good for the puffy eyes, but you have to take it religiously to get the effect.

[lau99 in reply to Jbrooke]

Hi Jbrooke, sadly I know all too well that being optimal is a struggle - I'm 3 years out from a total thyroidectomy and haven't gotten one optimal blood test reading since being diagnosed with Grave's in 2017. Thank you for the suggestion, I'll definitely look into it.

[grumpyold]

I have Hashi's and think I have been optimal for a couple of years now. I feel Ok and my puffiness vanished and my cheekbones and jaw line returned. Sadly, my hair never did.

[Molly161018]

I definitely had the puffy look when I wasn't optimally treated...my face looks thinner now even though I have gained weight from having a baby