Head Tingling all day for 2 years: Hi, I hope you... - Thyroid UK

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Head Tingling all day for 2 years

bubbatetley profile image
22 Replies

Hi, I hope you are all hanging on in there.

This is my second post on here for head tingling, face , arm and legs which I've had daily for 2 years now.

It's driving me crazy and causing severe anxiety as I keep thinking I'm heading for a stroke, or a brain Aneurysm.

Had an MRI and CT scan and all clear. Now waiting for a spinal tap via my Neurologist.

Any advice or feed back greatly appreciated.

Thank you and take care.🍁🍁

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bubbatetley profile image
bubbatetley
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22 Replies
Rainbow-Lover profile image
Rainbow-Lover

Presumably you’ve had blood tests and these have excluded vitamin deficiencies, especially folate and B12?

Can you share here any blood results (with ranges)? Also any meds or supplements which you’re taking and any consultations or investigations other than with your neurologist.

Kiki_76 profile image
Kiki_76

are you on any med? I’ve recently started put for graves and I have it occasionally in my head but permanently from the knees down

Kiki_76 profile image
Kiki_76 in reply to Kiki_76

Ptu*

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK in reply to Kiki_76

helvella - Editing HealthUnlocked Posts/Replies

Having read a post or reply you have made, I wonder if you realise that you can edit (or delete) any posts or responses you have made here. That means the title, the text or images.

This is not to say you have done anything wrong. This is meant to help you by pointing out this option, and help to do so, not to criticise.

There is no need to reply to this! If it was helpful, ticking the "Like" button lets me know.

Follow the link below for details

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

bubbatetley profile image
bubbatetley in reply to helvella

Thank you.🍁

bubbatetley profile image
bubbatetley in reply to Kiki_76

Hi, thank you for replying and I hope you are well.

Yes, I am on Levothroxine 50mcg for 2 years from Endocrinoligist, now had an increase to 75mcg.

Vit D 3,000 units daily, and thats all I take for Thyroid problem.

Take care

Bubba🌸🌸

Bonjour, les picotements aux mains et aux pieds sont un symptôme d'hypothyroïdie, mais sur le reste du corps je ne sais pas

Rainbow-Lover profile image
Rainbow-Lover in reply to

Il s’agit parfois d’un symptôme neurologique pouvant être induit par une carence en folate ou en vitamine B12

I sympathise as I get episodes of parathesia, if you've had clear brain MRI and CT scan then its unlikely to be anything serious. It could be low B12 or low iron that commonly causes this sort of problem, low magnesium is another.

Could be a trapped nerve in the neck or a bit of extra bone in the spine compressing part of the spinal cord. This is common as we get older. Even migraines can cause weird tingling sensations.

Even anxiety is a possibility, you mention its making you anxious, could be you are subconsciously feeding the sensation by worrying about it. Have you tried relaxation techniques, breathing techniques or CBT.

There are certain conditions that make parathesia more common, MS has been ruled out but Fibromyalgia, which I have, can cause it as well as diabetes. Have you been screened for those? Have you checked other medications you take as it can be a side effect. High levels of vitamin B6 can sometimes cause pins and needles.

bubbatetley profile image
bubbatetley in reply to Sparklingsunshine

Thank you so much for advice.

Take care🍁🍁

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Previous posts showed on far too low a dose of levothyroxine and terrible vitamin levels

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

A month ago you were going to get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing

What were results

You will need to retest again 6-12 weeks after increasing levothyroxine

Only add one supplement at a time then wait 10-14 days before adding another

Retest 6-8 weeks after adding last vitamin supplement

bubbatetley profile image
bubbatetley in reply to SlowDragon

Serum lipid levels

Serum cholesterol level 5.3 mmol/L

Serum electrolyte levels

Serum sodium level 141 mmol/L [133.0 - 146.0]

Serum potassium level 4.6 mmol/L [3.5 - 5.3]

Serum chloride level 102 mmol/L [95.0 - 108.0]

Serum creatinine level 64 umol/L [48.0 - 128.0]

Haemoglobin A1c level - IFCC standardised

Haemoglobin A1c level - IFCC standardised 39 mmol/mol [18.0 - 41.0];

Serum total 25-hydroxy vitamin D level

Serum total 25-hydroxy vitamin D level 64.8 nmol/L; Total 25OH Vitamin D

Thyroid function test,

Serum free T4 level 12.5 pmol/L [11.0 - 22.6]; This assay may be affected in patients

taking biotin supplements.

Interpret results in clinical context.

Serum TSH level 0.10 mu/L [0.2 - 4.0]; Low TSH on thyroxine - uncertain significance

Suggest continued monitoring; Outside reference range

Borderline

What you need to do

Need to repeat test, Communicate Patient

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to bubbatetley

No B12, no folate, no ferritin test results

Get these tested now

Vitamin D far too low

Aiming for at least over 80nmol and between 100-125nmol may be better

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/218...

vitamindsociety.org/pdf/Vit...

How much vitamin D are you currently taking

GP will often only prescribe to bring vitamin D levels to 50nmol.

Some areas will prescribe to bring levels to 75nmol or even 80nmol

leedsformulary.nhs.uk/docs/...

GP should advise on self supplementing if over 50nmol, but under 75nmol (but they rarely do)

mm.wirral.nhs.uk/document_u...

Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.

Test twice yearly when supplementing

Can test via NHS private testing service

vitamindtest.org.uk

Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is very effective as it avoids poor gut function.

There’s a version made that also contains vitamin K2 Mk7.

One spray = 1000iu

amazon.co.uk/BetterYou-Dlux...

It’s trial and error what dose we need, with thyroid issues we frequently need higher dose than average

Vitamin D may prevent Autoimmune disease

newscientist.com/article/23...

Web links about taking important cofactors - magnesium and Vit K2-MK7

Magnesium best taken in the afternoon or evening, but must be four hours away from levothyroxine

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

livescience.com/61866-magne...

sciencedaily.com/releases/2...

Recipe ideas

bbc.co.uk/food/articles/mag...

Interesting article by Dr Malcolm Kendrick on magnesium

drmalcolmkendrick.org/categ...

Vitamin K2 mk7

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

healthline.com/nutrition/vi...

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to bubbatetley

Low TSH …..suggesting Central hypothyroidism

Also quite likely low vitamin levels, especially low Ferritin levels

Free T4 (fT4) 12.5 pmol/L (11 - 22.6) 

Ft4 (Levo) only 12.9% through range

Was test early morning and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

you absolutely definitely need to increase dose Levo to 75mcg

Most people, on just levothyroxine will need Ft4 result (levothyroxine dose) at least 75% through range

You’re likely to need further increase in dose of Levo over coming months

Retest again in 6-8 weeks

Which brand of levothyroxine is your 50mcg

Which brand is 25mcg levothyroxine

You could take 25mcg dose later in day, or at bedtime

Or just take 75mcg all at once

Levothyroxine is an extremely fussy hormone and should always be taken on an empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after

Many people take Levothyroxine soon after waking, but it may be more convenient and perhaps more effective taken at bedtime

verywellhealth.com/best-tim...

markvanderpump.co.uk/blog/p...

markvanderpump.co.uk/blog/p...

No other medication or supplements at same as Levothyroxine, leave at least 2 hour gap.

Some like iron, calcium, magnesium, HRT, omeprazole or vitamin D should be four hours away

(Time gap doesn't apply to Vitamin D mouth spray)

If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test

If testing Monday morning, delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning. Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning. Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to bubbatetley

Request GP test full iron panel test including ferritin as your last ferritin test showed your ferritin was deficient at 18 (below 30 is deficient)

And request B12 and folate levels tested too

Alternatively test privately

Vitamin tests £69 - in clinic only blood draw

randoxhealth.com/en-GB/in-c...

Clinic locations

randoxhealth.com/en-GB/heal...

Optimal vitamin levels

Serum B12 over 500

Active B12 over 70 (private testing only)

Folate towards top of range

Ferritin at least over 70

bubbatetley profile image
bubbatetley in reply to SlowDragon

I take Teva in both dosages. I have only been on 75mcg for 3 weeks on my own accord. after reading your replies. I will have all the bloods done that you have suggested privately instead of keep waiting for NHS. I have lost faith with all of them, especially Endo.

I would like to say a huge thank you for all the help and advice that you have given me.

Take care🍁🍁

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Guidelines of dose Levo by weight

approx how much do you weigh in kilo

Even if we frequently start on only 50mcg, most people need to increase levothyroxine dose slowly upwards in 25mcg steps (retesting 6-8 weeks after each increase) until eventually on, or near full replacement dose (typically 1.6mcg levothyroxine per kilo of your weight per day)

pathlabs.rlbuht.nhs.uk/tft_...

Guiding Treatment with Thyroxine:

In the majority of patients 50-100 μg thyroxine can be used as the starting dose. Alterations in dose are achieved by using 25-50 μg increments and adequacy of the new dose can be confirmed by repeat measurement of TSH after 2-3 months.

The majority of patients will be clinically euthyroid with a ‘normal’ TSH and having thyroxine replacement in the range 75-150 μg/day (1.6ug/Kg on average).

The recommended approach is to titrate thyroxine therapy against the TSH concentration whilst assessing clinical well-being. The target is a serum TSH within the reference range.

……The primary target of thyroxine replacement therapy is to make the patient feel well and to achieve a serum TSH that is within the reference range. The corresponding FT4 will be within or slightly above its reference range.

The minimum period to achieve stable concentrations after a change in dose of thyroxine is two months and thyroid function tests should not normally be requested before this period has elapsed.

Some people need a bit less than guidelines, some a bit more

Medics should be dosing by Ft4 and Ft3 results….NOT by TSH

Santolina profile image
Santolina

Thermography might reveal more as it did for me when an MRI came suggested 'normal'.

jacrjacr profile image
jacrjacr

d3 levels, b12, and iron panel...you need these test...each would cause some issues but not uncommon at all to be low in d3 and b12....i take both daily....and iron if low effects oxygen all over the body....pull down your lower eyelid....it should be blood red...if not..it is a one sign of low iron....but follow up w a test....b12 and d3 have to be optimal...not just in range....for you to feel good w thyroid....i agree something is off but your electrolyte panel looks good....

bubbatetley profile image
bubbatetley in reply to jacrjacr

Thank you, my lower eye lid is red. Going to get GP to do more bloods.

Hope you are well.

Take care

Bubba

CernCrystal profile image
CernCrystal

Hi, not sure if this helps - I had awful tingling and numbness - hands and feet then up legs and arms then in face and mouth and head, and eventually across chest which really scared me. I took advice from here and got my levo adjusted up to right amount for me (took a while) and meanwhile I bought and took under tongue B12 and ate homemade chicken liver pate for folate plus used apple cider vinegar for low stomach acid. I also started to take the levo on it's own at 3am to make the most of what little they were giving me (BTW Teva didn't work for me and am now on Accord). I noticed an improvement in tingling quite soon - it felt as if it was slowly washing out of my body each day. My Dr had no idea about how to sort me out. I had to do the research (on here with advice from fab women) and persuade Dr. Best of luck to you.

humanbean profile image
humanbean

Ask for your vitamin B6 to be tested.

Both deficiency and toxicity of B6 can cause peripheral neuropathy.

Deficiency : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitam...

Toxicity : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megav...

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