puffy eyes

[shaz35]

Hi all looking for advice, i have puffy sore eyes for last two weeks and a mild constant headache.

My last test result's seemed ok, is this a common problem with hypothyroidism?

T3 3.4 (3.1-6.8)

TSH 0.10 (0.27-4.2)

T4 19.9 (10.5- 22)

This was done in March

I currently take 125mcg levythyroxine

Thank you x

[greygoose]

A lot of hypos do suffer from puffy eyes and headaches, but there could be a lot of other causes. I've only had puffy, sore eyes and mild headaches since I had covid last October (and may have had it again since but haven't been able to test). And, I'm someone who never had headaches before, from a family of headache sufferers, but that 'gene' seemed to have passed me by. Catching up a bit, now!

[FallingInReverse]

Puffy eyes and headaches are top of my symptom list! Puffy eyes I’ve read about as hypo- related, and mornings are terrible but getting better as I’m better medicated. Headaches were my first symptom for 7 years before I was diagnosed, which led me astray since I never see “headaches” on any hypo symptom list. I wondered if they were allergies, barometric pressure, sinus infections, inflammation. But now I am guessing it’s my brain with too little T3.

I’m not an expert, but your ft3 is at the bottom of the range. Would be interesting to know if your ft3 was different before the headaches/puffy eyes started .

[shaz35 in reply to FallingInReverse]

Bloods in August 2022

Thanks for the replies

I have been taking antihistamines to see if that helped but no difference so guessed it was thyroid related.

black and white

[FallingInReverse in reply to shaz35]

Re to allergy/antihistamine- I take a regular allergy pill every day because pre diagnosis I thought I had allergy issues. Like you, I think I will stop doing that one day but will wait til I fix everything else and then see if dropping it makes a difference. I bet it won’t !

[mrskiki]

I have same but have had it since thyroid issue began, I saw a mild improvement recently cutting out dairy - again as I find it difficult - so had lapsed, but I don’t think that my thyroid levels are optimal for me so I think that’s a factor too.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

FT4: 19.5 pmol/l (Range 10.5 - 22)

Ft4 78.26% through range

FT3: 3.4 pmol/l (Range 3.1 - 6.8)

Ft3 only 8.11% through range

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

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

Is this how you do your tests?

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested

Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease

For good conversion of Ft4 to Ft3 we need good vitamin levels

Do you know if you have autoimmune thyroid disease

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

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

Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing

thyroiduk.org/testing/

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/testing/thyro...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/signs-and-sym...

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

See detailed reply by SeasideSusie

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

[shaz35 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for all your advice, yes I have auto immune thyroid ( had high level of antibodies)

Have never had a scan.

I do blood test as you have advised but probably need to retest vitamins as not been tested for 18 months. I do take multivitamins but will start taking selenium and zinc.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to shaz35]

Multivitamins not recommended on here

Most contain iodine not recommended for anyone with Hashimoto’s

But likely do contain zinc and selenium

[Annajames]

Have You changed levothyroxine brands? I have found a couple of brands give me a continuous mild headache but others do not.

[shaz35 in reply to Annajames]

no have been on the same ones for 2 years

[Marymary7]

I’ve been getting headaches for the first time in my life really and when I checked (on my own machine) my blood pressure was a bit high. My under eyes swell into unsightly bags if I cut back on my thyroid meds at all.