Vertical Ridges on Nails

Hi.

Way before diagnosis I began to get white spots and vertical ridges on my nails. I was diagnosed in Oct.

Currently on 100mcg levothyroxine.

I take B12 alongside B complex.

I had severe vitamin D deficiency so taking 7000iu vitamin D (one of the sprays has K2) and magnesium. Retesting soon and plan to drop to 3000iu a day.

Ferritin was 9 at diagnosis. Had risen to 34 latest test. On iron tablets and vitamin C.

I plan on retesting everything privately including thyroid mid April as due TSH tested at GP in May. But am I missing anything that could be causing my nails to be so horrific and is there anything else I could be taking to help?

I feel way better than I did. I wouldn't say 100% yet but I'm on my way there.

The symptoms I still am plagued with is terrible weak nails still with white spots and ridges, constipation and dry skin.

Thanks again.

[janeroar]

Hello I get white spots when I’m deficient in zinc. I use the zinc piccolate which is supposed to be easier to absorb. You might find that magnesium citrate is good for your constipation. It draws water into the bowel. Alternatively you might try significantly increasingly your water consumption as a first step.

The iron might be constipating you although it’s a common symptom of Hashimotos ? Do you have vitamin C with it and take the iron well away from your Levo?

It might be good to post your latest results on here to see if a little increase in levo is warranted

.

[Hidden in reply to janeroar]

I will repost results when done new bloods as only been on increase of levo for 5 weeks.

I take iron with vitamin C. Away from everything else and levo at night on its own.

I drink 2 litres of water most days. Sometimes only 1.5. Constipations been a constant symptom of hasimotos and driving me insane. Lol.

I'll look into zinc. Thankyou.

[janeroar in reply to Hidden]

I found increasing water the most important difference to constipation. Sometimes the simple things are most effective. Tea or coffee doesn’t count! 🤗

[Hidden in reply to janeroar]

I used to be a quite active before Hasimotos took it away from me. Used to do a lot of running for charity.I'm getting there. But I've always drank 2 litres most days. I'll go through phases of being fine then constipation is back.

Blood tests in a month so will find out if I'm under medicated and if that's the cause still.

[Mlinde]

Yes, brittle nails is one of the (many) symptoms of an underactive thyroid as is the ridges that your photo shows (I assume you don't smoke as this can have the same effect). Ditto dry, thin hair, skin breakouts (with me on my back) and digestive issues, I feel distinctly 'under the weather' if I don't have regular meals. But a healthy, varied diet definitely helps eg, cut out as much sugar as you can, especially refined sugar. I supplement my diet with Vit D/K, C and Zinc/Copper and the occasional magnesium, given as how industrial agriculture has removed most of the essential minerals from vegetables by as much as 60%! Try to buy organic if you can, I know it's more expensive and not always easy to find but unless you grow your own, you owe it to yourself! And stay the hell away from processed foods!

[Hidden in reply to Mlinde]

Don't smoke. So yes assume all damn thyroid related lol.We've been making changes and cut out a lot of processed foods over the last year. I'm going to add zinc into supplements.

We all have such crazy schedules and I have 5 kids so been relying on the slow cooker and cooking from scratch most days. It definitely makes me feel better. Thankyou.

[csj113]

I’m interested in this as my nails are exactly the same and really annoying as they split and catch on fabric so I have to file them to the quick. My thyroid is well replaced and other vits ok though I tend to low ferritin and struggle to raise that. Wondering if that’s the cause? But my GP said it was age (I’m 50). I’m not convinced as it came on quite suddenly…

[Mlinde in reply to csj113]

Yeah, that's always the getout with GPs! The problem is that the thyroid is so central to virtually every process that it interacts with a bunch of other processes! No wonder GPs don't want to deal with it and endos are mostly clueless. I have to keep my nails short or exactly the same thing happens to me. But check your vits, especially D/K as they are crucial for effective immune function. And stress. At least now it's being acknowledged as part of the problem of dis-ease as stress leads to inflammation due to the chemicals the body releases when stressed (cortisol and adrenaline), the so-called HPA Axis. Not easy to deal with in an insane world.

[Hidden in reply to csj113]

Yea my Ferritin was 9. And raised to 34 last test. Struggle to raise it but getting better slowly. It's really frustrating. I'm forever filing mine and they just feel brittle and awful. Was hoping they would or improved by now lol

[Noelnoel in reply to Hidden]

Constipation is annoying especially as it makes a belly look bigger and as if we don’t have enough problems with controlling weight BUT (and I don’t much like either of these two remedies but they work) I’ve found my solution. Sit ups. I do them before I leave the bedroom in the morning because if I go downstairs and start getting on with my day the sit ups don’t get done and a positive is, the abdomen starts to gain some tone

Secondly, a large teaspoon of coconut oil. I squeeze half a lemon then put the half lemon in a cup, pour on cooled boiled water, add the oil and honey to taste and off you go. Might sound disgusting to some but it’s fine. It oils and hydrates the bowels simultaneously and helps address dry skin, nails and hair. I drink it before my thyroid glandulars in the morning as sometimes the effect is pretty much instant and I don’t want my glandulars going to waste down the loo but normally it just keeps me regular

A tablespoon of castor oil is also fantastic but the taste, smell and feel in the mouth is truly one of the most disgusting experiences but I do it if things have gone a bit beyond, shall we say. I should warn you that you shouldn’t do this if you’ve got to leave the house because the effect is immediate (if you’ve taken enough) and you’ll go at least once more at some point during the day but it’s usually with a sense of urgency so if you’re out and about … doesn’t bear thinking about!

[EMBoy]

It's a real pain - I still have the same problem with my nails despite having been on 175 mcg Levo for 10 years and lower doses for 2 years before that. Also, before I started treatment, I lost all the hair on my legs and it hasn't grown back.

I just put it down to chronic damage that happened before I was diagnosed (I am sure I was hypo for at least 10 years before I was diagnosed).

I do eat a balanced diet, but don't take any supplements apart from the occasional multivitamin. Maybe I should get my levels checked.

[Hidden in reply to EMBoy]

Definitely worth checking from what I've learnt on here. My vitamin D was in severe deficiency range.

My ferritin was way under. And B12 wasn't great. Wouldn't of had any idea from the tests GP did when I was first diagnosed as all they was concerned about was telling me I was depressed lol.

I had symptoms for 2 years before I was listened to and only got GP to listen by doing private blood tests. Crazy isn't it.

[klr31]

It sounds like you may need an increase in your thyroxine especially with the constipation.

Karen

[Hidden in reply to klr31]

That's the next battle lol. I'm due blood tests next month so depending on results I'm gonna push for another increase.

[klr31 in reply to Hidden]

Good luck!

[RoboTh]

I had nails like that with ferritin of <10. After an iron infusion they have massively improved x

[Hidden in reply to RoboTh]

That's interesting. Mine was 9 and was given ridiculous dose of iron I couldn't stomach lol. Ferritin had risen to 34 last time though so things are improving. Hopefully reflects in my nails soon lol x

[RoboTh in reply to Hidden]

Obviously mine will be sky high now. Iron is so hard to tolerate. Took me 2 weeks to recover from the iv Infusion 🤢

[MirandaIV in reply to RoboTh]

In what way did you suffer after the infusion? I can’t tolerate oral iron so I was hoping an infusion might be the answer.

[RoboTh in reply to MirandaIV]

Nausea, no appetite. Tiredness. Flu like. I don't think that these symptoms are expected. I just really can't tolerate it in any form. Most people go back to work the next day and are fine. I'd still 100% do it again

[Sueislove]

Hi eternety84 yes those are all signs of thryroid issues I have those on my nails as well and I have been medicated now for 15 years or so . Not sure why though never asked my doctor