Got a puzzle for you. Over the last few months I’ve developed a really nasty, uncomfortable problem with my feet. Both have now got very thick patches of dry skin on or around the heel with a tendency to crack, my Chiropedist likened it to a dry river bed! Having the joy of psoriasis and now eczema, that’s another story, I had a biopsy on one foot and it’s come up negative for either of them nor is it a fungus. As nobody seemed to know what’s going on I went on line and discovered that there appears that people with hypothyroidism can develop a similar problem.
Has anyone had a similar experience and if so how to get rid of it? Presently I’m using CCS cream, the Chiropedist is removing as much as she can, and Granuflex dressing on both feet, very attractive! Joking aside, it’s not only ugly but extremely uncomfortable to walk on.
thanks for reading.
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Roulette26
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As expected the Endo was happy with that as the results were in range!
I was still having issues with walking and energy levels and wanted to increase my dose, I was taking 75 levo and 5mcg lio x2 power day. He’s now got me on 75 levo, 5 mcg lio alternating with 100 levo, 5 mcg lio x2.
The best I felt was back in July last year ,
TSH 0.09
T3 6.47
T4. 15.3
But as expected he want happy about the TSH, which is all he cares about.
yes to the Liothyronine. It was only a few days after the consultation I realised that he’s left me 24 hours without a dose of Liothyronine. You mentioned I should insist on 100 levo, how about the lio? Should that be increased to 10 mcg every day?
I’ve quoted all the information to him, Nice etc, he ignores it. At one point he suggested I be transferred to another Endo, who is worse!
Last July I had been taking 100 levo and 20mcg lio, this was reduced to 75 levo and 20 lio.
I’m going to put a request out for a pm regarding a consultant on the list.
clueless AND arrogant! Every time I feel good he adjusts my meds because TSH isn’t within range. I’m now confused and depressed. It’s only been 6 weeks since he changed the prescription, I’ve got another 6 weeks before a scheduled blood test, I seriously doubt he’d consider any change at the moment, you’ve no idea how many disputes I’ve had with him.
I’m in East Sussex. The 2 endos at the local hospital are equally useless, I don’t have confidence in either. I noticed the Endo I saw for approval for RAI is on one of your lists. When I queried some issues I was having he ignored me saying he had thyroid problems as well.
I’ve requested help from the community regarding a metabolic consultant, maybe she could get to the bottom of the autoimmune diseases I’ve developed since starting treatment for thyroid.
You must not be dosed or monitored on a TSH reading BUT on your Free T3 and Free T4 readings - I'm sure I've said all this before to you and feel like a broken record.
NIKEGIRL - had similar issues with her feet - she's in NZealand but will hopefully pick this up later.
I’ve tried to tell the Endo this but he keeps wittering on about heart problems, won’t even listen to Nice guidelines. How does one deal with someone like this?! Neither of my local consultants should be allowed anywhere near a thyroid patient.
I’ll look forward to hearing from Nikegirl, it really is a nasty and uncomfortable problem.
In a study evaluating tissue function tests before total thyroidectomy and at 1 year postoperatively when using LT4, it was found that peripheral tissue function tests indicated mild hyperthyroidism at TSH <0.03 mU/L and mild hypothyroidism at TSH 0.3 to 5.0 mU/L; the tissues were closest to euthyroidism at TSH 0.03 to 0.3 mU/L [48]. A normal serum TSH level consequently does not necessarily indicate a euthyroid state at the tissue level.
If GP or endocrinologist says " I have to reduce your dose because the guidelines say i can't let you have a below range TSH" .....
The first paragraph in the NICE (NHS) Thyroid Disease, Assessment and Management guidelines says :
nice.org.uk/guidance/ng145
"Your responsibility
The recommendations in this guideline represent the view of NICE, arrived at after careful consideration of the evidence available. When exercising their judgement, professionals and practitioners are expected to take this guideline fully into account, alongside the individual needs, preferences and values of their patients or the people using their service. It is not mandatory to apply the recommendations, and the guideline does not override the responsibility to make decisions appropriate to the circumstances of the individual, in consultation with themand their families and carers or guardian. "
It’s extremely unlikely to have TSH within range and be adequately treated on levothyroxine plus T3
If your current endo won’t accept below range TSH, when Ft4 and Ft3 are within range……
List of alternative thyroid specialists and endocrinologists
hi. I had what u described. My heels had deep cracking that bled. The skin would peel off my feet also. I have psoriasis and excema as well. Getting my thyroid levels in balance is what made my feet better. If my levels were too high as I had graves or too low after my thyroidectomy my feet would go through the same process again. So essentially for me my feet were an outward sign of my thyroid problem and getting levels more normal made my feet better. I hope that helps u.
Since I've been messing around with my thyroid hormones and went off my higher doses of Levo I've developed the hardness and dry skin on the heels. Currently on T3 only. I've been putting petroleum jelly on my feet after a shower then put them in socks. It softens the skin so that I can gently exfoliate.
thank you jrbarnes, you’ve confirmed my suspicions. I’ve been using CCS cream because it got so bad. I’ll try the vaseline with the hope of keeping it under control.
Your feet endure a lot and dry cracked heels are not uncommon…friction from shoes, socks, showering and walking can cause this its your skins way of protecting its self …. You need to go have a pedicure
I always look after my feet. However it has become so bad that I’m having to past £80 each time to have the skin removed, that’s every 5 weeks. So I don’t think it’s simply down friction, walking etc. I always wear comfortable shoes.
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Roller coaster ride on Levothyroxine
