Raynauds syndrome?

[arTistapple]

The background. As part of my thyroid journey I noticed some time ago I was becoming clumsy. Knocking into doors, dropping things etc. When I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism I put it down to the sheer fatigue of every action I was required to make. I used to get this in my fingers as a child, swimming in the Council outdoor pool in summer. I got it a bit when I was pregnant too. So I do recognise it. Reading about it and experiencing the horrible feelings by introducing the new dose of levo apparently too quickly, I realise that my heart condition, old migraine type headaches etc are likely of similar cause. It’s at microvascular level. This all seems to be in the literature available. Cardiologist was no help during the many years I had the heart condition. Yes it all clearly points to undiagnosed hypothyroidism of many years standing. My question is Why has it returned now after many years and quite badly?It’s worse than I have ever experienced it. Numbness in arms and hands. Patchy. No colour change to skin. Hands unable to grip. Yesterday right hand. Right arm better but not ok. Today starting in left arm. Since reducing new dose I feel better in myself but it’s worrying that it’s not just numbness it’s more like paralysis - temporary thank goodness. Hopefully. Anyone had similar?

[Regenallotment]

hi

Isn’t it a minefield of conflicting symptoms.

My arm numbness and hand tingles can be mapped to B Complex & B12, it gets worse in the days before testing when I’ve stopped due to Biotin affecting results. I was advised here to have a separate methyl folate and methylated B12 supplement on those days.

I’ve also lost my ‘pinch’ in recent years. My opposable thumbs that signify humanity are failing, causing me to drop things. Have to carry differently etc, it’s very annoying. Initially I thought it was RSI and tendon damage from weeding a particularly awful allotment patch but no, 4 years on with lots of rest it’s still there. I think that it’s improving as I increase my T4. Only just up to 100mcg so not yet optimal but in the right direction.

Oh the outdoor swimming, makes me shiver just thinking about it .

My Dad has Raynauds, and hates the cold. Gets a whole white finger. I feel for you, so uncomfortable.

🦋💚🦋

[arTistapple in reply to Regenallotment]

Regenallotment and @Buddy195. Thank you for your comments and sources and personal info. I definitely appreciate. Everyone needs their hands and fingers to be working properly (preferably as well as everything else). I am an artist. I have, so far, worked around all this crap that has been happening. I don’t work with great precision thankfully. However it is necessary to be able to hold a paintbrush etc. I think there is no point going to the doctor. The stress alone of getting an appointment and a barely disguised blank look is more than I can handle at the moment. Thank you guys.

[Buddy195 Administrator]

I feel for you arTistapple, as I’ve experienced similar symptoms and reached out to the Raynauds Forum on HU. I’ve found that turmeric (with ginger and black pepper) has improved my circulation and also trialled horse chestnut gel and butchers broom. Ginko Bilbao was recommended by some on the Reynaulds forum, but is not something I’ve tried. Gentle stretches to improve blood flow also help if I have a flare.

healthunlocked.com/sruk

[caledoniancat]

Hi arTistapple, I like you, have had Reynauds from a very young age also first noticed while in an outdoor pool. It affects my hands and feet but there is always colour change when it happens. I wasn't diagnosed as hypothyroid until my 50s although had been tested as borderline as early as my 20s. One of my symptoms before being diagnosed as hypothyroid was carpal tunnel syndrome in both arms and hands. This presents as tingling in the thumb side of the arm and tingling and numbness in the hand, the thumb and next two fingers (sometimes ring finger too) but not the pinkie finger. There is no change in colour because it is one of the nerves (median) being compressed rather than a capillary issue. Once I started on levo the carpal tunnel syndrome resolved, it has returned on two occasions ( usually just one armahand) and both times resolved when my levo was increased. I wondered if you might be experiencing the same thing because you said there was no colour change?

[arTistapple in reply to caledoniancat]

This is very interesting . I have been very confused over the return of these very old symptoms, apparently out of the blue. As I said, I recognised the feeling right away but no colour change. What you say would make perfect sense. It’s good (for me) that you have had couple of other temporary incidents. I love this forum for bringing out all these oddities that we would find more scary if we did not have others coming forward with their experience. You have helped put my mind at rest. I really appreciate the time you have put in for me. PS You Scottish? It’s a wonderful Scottish name you have chosen.

[caledoniancat in reply to arTistapple]

Glad to read that my comment helped. Yes, I am Scottish 😀👍

[arTistapple]

I could not resist asking, due to your chosen name. I am too but living in exile. My family comes from the area of Scotland where hypothyroidism runs at 6%, which I understand might be the densest population of hypothyroids on the planet. I am not alone in thinking it is a genetic adaptation for survival. A specific slowing down of the metabolism to see out the times of starvation in the Highlands. Thank you again for replying.

[arTistapple]

For anyone who is interested and has has been reading this post, I have something to add. I have reduced my ‘increase’ of T4 taking half a twenty five mcg alternating days and I was ok. Today I took half a twenty five mcg without a day in between. Same thing has happened again. Maybe not so bad but pretty much knocked me out. Reading a bit more, T4 is known to be vasodilatory, apparently. So it’s acting like GTN. This would appear to be exactly what my heart condition and smoothe muscle problems need. So the faintingish symptoms are the result of lowering my BP and increasing my blood flow. I am thinking I am on the right road (hopefully) but it certainly needs tweaking.