Swollen calves and feet !

[Yorkshireman356]

Hi, I am currently taking 125 mg Levothyroxine. While on holiday my calves and feet have ballooned and swollen with skin being tight and shiny.I have been to Spanish hospital to rule out a DVT ! But they couldn't tell me what the problem was, and gave me some diuretic meds which after 3 days have made no difference.

Do you think this could be thyroid related, and would a change over to desicated natural thyroid would help?

Thanks in advance for any advice

[greygoose]

Pretty sure it is thyroid related. Water retention is a hypo symptom. And, the shine on your legs is the light reflecting off the water. I've had this most of my life, and doctors never have a clue what it is! And, to get rid of it you need pretty strong water pills. They rarely give you a strong enough dose.

I've tried T4 mono-therapy, T4+T3, T3 mono-therapy and NDT, and none of them really helps. But, sometimes, it does just go away by itself.

[Yorkshireman356 in reply to greygoose]

Thank for the speedy reply. I am waiting room now for Spanish dr, so will see what they say 1👍

[greygoose in reply to Yorkshireman356]

Good luck! Let us know how you get on.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

welcome to the forum

How long have you been on 125mcg levothyroxine

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

What’s reason for your hypothyroidism

Autoimmune hypothyroid …..RAI or Thyroidectomy

Which brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking

Do you always get same brand at each prescription

Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least annually.

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

When were vitamin levels last tested

Get FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing done when you get home

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...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning. 

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...

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test 

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee 

[Yorkshireman356 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi, yes it's under active and I have been on 125mg for about 3 years. They only tested my antibody years ago and were off the scale, sommat like a 1000 !

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Yorkshireman356]

So if high thyroid antibodies…definitely autoimmune

test TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 at every test

Essential to test vitamin levels at least once a year

Are you on on strictly gluten free diet or dairy free diet

If not get Coeliac blood test done once you get home BEFORE trying strictly gluten free

(GP should have done coeliac blood test at autoimmune diagnosis….they rarely do)

only 5% of autoimmune thyroid patients test positive for coeliac, but further 81% find strictly gluten free diet helps, or is essential

Similarly Approx 50% find dairy free helps

[Yorkshireman356 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for the info. I have made an appointment with English gp armed with that 👍

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Yorkshireman356]

Approx how much do you weigh in kilo ?

And approx age?

[Yorkshireman356 in reply to SlowDragon]

I am 56 and weigh 140kg, yes I know that's big but I am training at a gym 6 days a week and I recently lost 10 kg 😆

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Yorkshireman356]

So likely not on high enough dose levothyroxine

Guidelines on dose is Approx 1.6mcg per kilo of your weight…..though might not necessarily need that much when at higher weight

Assuming results show you aren’t on high enough dose levothyroxine, dose is increased by 25mcg …..and retest 6-8 weeks later

[Yorkshireman356 in reply to SlowDragon]

I'm going to ask doc for natural desiccated thyroid or to add t3

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Yorkshireman356]

You need full thyroid testing BEFORE considering changing anything

Most likely to need increase in levothyroxine and quite possibly vitamin supplements to improve low vitamin levels if been left on too low a dose levothyroxine

Test early morning and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Include vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

If Ft4 is low in range you need increase in levothyroxine.

If Ft4 is mid range and Ft3 lower then you likely need dose increase in levothyroxine and work on improving low vitamin levels

Only if Ft4 was high in range and all vitamins optimal and Ft3 still remained low ……then it would be time to consider getting T3 prescribed alongside levothyroxine

But you can’t get T3 or NDT prescribed at all in Spain ….it’s illegal there

[Yorkshireman356 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you, I really appreciate your in depth and well thought out answers 👍🏻