where do I start / onycholysis: I was diagnosed... - Thyroid UK

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where do I start / onycholysis

Eraldo profile image
10 Replies

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism back in 2010 & prescribed 100mg of Levo. I’ve felt subpar for at least 15yrs but I’ve never known what to attribute this to (low iron, depression/anxiety, working long hours etc.) My bloods have always been ‘normal’. At the end of 2020 I noticed I was suffering from onycholysis (all toes & fingers). This co-incided with coming off Yasmin so it’s possible that that was the trigger rather than a thyroid issue? I wouldn’t say it’s severe but it’s still getting worse. I went to an endo a couple of times who told me that she’d never heard of a connection between thyroid issues & onycholysis - a quick Google tells me that there is a connection so I stopped seeing her!

Any thoughts either on onycholysis or just how to get more help / where to start in educating myself better on what I should/shouldn’t be doing with hypo would be amazing. I’ve realised that I just don’t know enough about it from a quick look at the discussion board here! Thanks!

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Eraldo profile image
Eraldo
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DippyDame profile image
DippyDame

This is how my nails looked in 2018 shortly after I introduced T3......horrible!Today my little finger has recovered, my index finger is recovering and my thumb nail and other 2 finger nails are much as shown here.

I believe this is thyroid hormone related

My GP had no idea about this

I'd suggest you first need a full thyroid test to include

TSH, FT4, FT3, vit D, vit B12, folate, ferritin and thyroid antibodies TPO and Tg.

Nails
shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply to DippyDame

You must have had a lot of pain due to your damaged finger nails.

DippyDame profile image
DippyDame in reply to shaws

More embarrassment than actual pain!!

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply to DippyDame

Just thinking how I would cope if my fingers were affected and I assume that to use your fingers i.e. preparing meals etc must have been very painful.

greygoose profile image
greygoose

Yes, there is a connection with thyroid - both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.

I get it from time to time, and what I've found works is massaging my nails with hemp balm every night. (Wonderful stuff, help balm. Quickly calms an itchy skin, whether from a rash, insect bite, or whatever. :) ) Although one reads that the nail cannot reattach to the nail bed once they have become separated, I have the impression that that's exactly what happens. But, I can't swear to it.

Having said all that, it might be a good idea if you can see a dermatologist first, just to make sure you haven't got a fungus infection that's causing it. :)

DippyDame profile image
DippyDame in reply to greygoose

Two of my nails have eventually reattached to the nail bed....the rest are slow works in progress.

I've had various nail scrapings lab tested....no infection found.

Must look into hemp oil though....thank you!

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to DippyDame

Hemp balm. I think there's a difference. :)

DippyDame profile image
DippyDame in reply to greygoose

Doh....stupid me!!!!

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

First step…get full thyroid and vitamin testing

Do you have autoimmune thyroid disease

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

Low vitamin levels always need improving to optimal levels

all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

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

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

List of private testing options and money off codes

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

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/

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning. Watch out for postal strikes, probably want to pay for guaranteed 24 hours delivery

Link about thyroid blood tests

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

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/wp-content/up...

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

This is an excerpt from following link:-

Brittle Nails

One of the thyroid symptoms that too often goes unrecognized is brittle nails.

thyroidsymptoms.ca/en-ca/hy...

The more we read about dysfunctional thyroid glands the more we find that few doctors have a basic knowledge about clinical symptoms.

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