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Help Severe Swelling!!
For the past 6 months, I have had terrible swelling. The swelling is everywhere. My ankles, calves, thighs (so swollen my skin feels like it will tear when I squat), hands, and belly. At one time the left side in the back of my head began to swell, and stayed that way for almost a week. The swelling is so bad, that it is hard for me to do daily tasks. My legs and feet start having pain after being on my feet for more than 30 min. I wake up with this swelling, and go to bed with it. It might go down SOME, just to come right back. If you poke on my legs they feel like stress balls. And your finger dint stays there for atleast 20 seconds. I was just diagnosed with hypothyroidism 1 month ago. Been taking levothyroxin for a month. When I went to the doctor 2weeks ago and showed him my swelling, he scared me. He said I needed to see a heart doctor asap and that he thinks im having heart failure! So thursday I go to get my echocardiogram, bnp, and stress test done. I do know that I have a MurMur. But Im scared of having heart failure. But above that I feel like Thursday is too far! I literally feel like Im about to die. Smothering feeling, cant sleep, pinching pains all over body, sharp pains in chest. Ive also gained 50lbs in 4 months. This is a long question.. I know :) Im sorry , I wanted you to understand my situation. But I guess my question would be, Do you think this constant swelling could be caused by my thyroid? or are you leaning towards the "get to the heart doc asap" as well?
COMMUNITY LEADER
I had rapid heart rate when I was hypo as well. Your anxiety over the situation could be causing that, as well as your high blood pressure, but of course, we never take chances with things like that... they must always be checked out.
Wow - unreal - you saw your doctor 3 times for swelling and he didn't give you anything for it? Does your blood pressure medication have a diuretic in it? If it says HCl in the name, it might and he might think that's enough...
Are you drinking plenty of water? Sometimes, if we don't drink enough, our body will hold onto fluid... when I start swelling, it's often because I'm not drinking enough water and when I step up my fluid intake, the swelling will start to go down.
You should always get a copy of your lab tests every time you have them. I never leave my doctor's office without a copy and mine have become a running record of my thyroid disease. I note on each lab report, the medication(s) I was on when the labs were drawn, as well as what symptoms I was having. That way I know what levels I feel best at and what levels to target.
Levothyroxine is dosed in mcg vs mg, so you're on 50 mcg... I doubt that will be your final dosage, but that depends on what your initial levels were and how your body responds to the med.
If they didn't run thyroid antibody tests, then you weren't tested for Hashimoto's. Treatment won't change, but if you have it, you'll know that your med dosage will have to be adjusted periodically to keep up with destruction of thyroid tissue. If you aren't familiar with Hashimoto's, I'll be glad to explain it to you.
It's good that you're scheduled for blood work once/month... if you were diagnosed a month ago, you should be due again soon.
When you go in, specifically, talk to your doctor about a diuretic, if you go in before Thursday when you have your heart work up. If you have that first, talk to the cardiologist about the swelling.
Heart problems run in my family, as well. My mother died from congestive heart failure, my brother died from a stroke, my father died from a massive heart attack and another brother had blockages and has stents... I know how scary anything, heart related can be. That's why you have to remain calm because anxiety can worsen symptoms.
It is common for hypo symptoms to get worse or for new ones to appear, when starting thyroid medication, however, I can't stress enough - if, at any time, you feel in medical distress, call 911 or have someone take you to the nearest ER.
If it helps to relieve stress, keep posting here. I'm not always online, but I usually pop in several times/day, so I might not always see your posts right away, but it won't be terribly long and others may respond, as well.
Wow - unreal - you saw your doctor 3 times for swelling and he didn't give you anything for it? Does your blood pressure medication have a diuretic in it? If it says HCl in the name, it might and he might think that's enough...
Are you drinking plenty of water? Sometimes, if we don't drink enough, our body will hold onto fluid... when I start swelling, it's often because I'm not drinking enough water and when I step up my fluid intake, the swelling will start to go down.
You should always get a copy of your lab tests every time you have them. I never leave my doctor's office without a copy and mine have become a running record of my thyroid disease. I note on each lab report, the medication(s) I was on when the labs were drawn, as well as what symptoms I was having. That way I know what levels I feel best at and what levels to target.
Levothyroxine is dosed in mcg vs mg, so you're on 50 mcg... I doubt that will be your final dosage, but that depends on what your initial levels were and how your body responds to the med.
If they didn't run thyroid antibody tests, then you weren't tested for Hashimoto's. Treatment won't change, but if you have it, you'll know that your med dosage will have to be adjusted periodically to keep up with destruction of thyroid tissue. If you aren't familiar with Hashimoto's, I'll be glad to explain it to you.
It's good that you're scheduled for blood work once/month... if you were diagnosed a month ago, you should be due again soon.
When you go in, specifically, talk to your doctor about a diuretic, if you go in before Thursday when you have your heart work up. If you have that first, talk to the cardiologist about the swelling.
Heart problems run in my family, as well. My mother died from congestive heart failure, my brother died from a stroke, my father died from a massive heart attack and another brother had blockages and has stents... I know how scary anything, heart related can be. That's why you have to remain calm because anxiety can worsen symptoms.
It is common for hypo symptoms to get worse or for new ones to appear, when starting thyroid medication, however, I can't stress enough - if, at any time, you feel in medical distress, call 911 or have someone take you to the nearest ER.
If it helps to relieve stress, keep posting here. I'm not always online, but I usually pop in several times/day, so I might not always see your posts right away, but it won't be terribly long and others may respond, as well.
To answer your questions::
I have Rapid heart rate, and being treated for High Blood Pressure. 180/106 bp at last doctors visit.
The swelling is actually worse then described.(wish I could post pics) I wondered why he didnt give me anything for swelling myself. Especially since swelling is the reasons for my last 3 visits.
I wasnt given my thyroid levels. But will ask for them. (thanks)
I was giving levothyroxin 50mg. taken daily. with water.
Have been sceduled once a month for blood work.
Im not sure if I was tested for Hashimoto's, no ultrasound.
I have heart problems in my family. My mother has heart failuren with blockages. And her father died from a Massive heart attack.
I have Rapid heart rate, and being treated for High Blood Pressure. 180/106 bp at last doctors visit.
The swelling is actually worse then described.(wish I could post pics) I wondered why he didnt give me anything for swelling myself. Especially since swelling is the reasons for my last 3 visits.
I wasnt given my thyroid levels. But will ask for them. (thanks)
I was giving levothyroxin 50mg. taken daily. with water.
Have been sceduled once a month for blood work.
Im not sure if I was tested for Hashimoto's, no ultrasound.
I have heart problems in my family. My mother has heart failuren with blockages. And her father died from a Massive heart attack.
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I'm finding it very hard to believe that your doctor didn't give you something to help relieve the swelling, if it's as bad as you say, which I have no reason not to believe.
In short, you need the heart work up, so now let's turn to the hypothyroidism as that can cause your issues and I'm surprised your doctor doesn't know that ...
Please post your actual thyroid hormone levels and be sure to include the reference ranges, which vary lab to lab and have to come from your own report. If you don't have a copy of your report, your doctor is obligated, by law, to give you one upon request.
What medication did your doctor prescribe for the hypothyroidism and what dosage? Are you taking the medication daily per instructions on the insert that came with the med?
Swelling and rapid weight gain (a lot of the weight gain is most likely fluid) are symptoms of hypothyroidism and it takes 4-6 weeks for the medication to reach full potential in your blood. It's important to note that the initial dose prescribed isn't usually the final dose needed.
It's also important to note that symptoms can get worse or new ones crop up when beginning the med or changing dosages.
Since you were diagnosed hypo a month ago, you should be about ready for follow up testing to see if the medication is doing its job, since it's customary to retest in 4-6 weeks. If your doctor hasn't scheduled you for retesting, you should call and make an appointment.
A lot of the pains you're having may also be symptoms of hypothyroidism, though some may be caused from the swelling... I've had severe swelling and I know what it feels like when the skin gets tight - it hurts!!
Were you tested for thyroid antibodies to determine if you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis? What about a thyroid ultrasound to determine why you're having trouble swallowing? That could be caused by swelling/inflammation of the thyroid. You could also have nodules.
Last, but not least, if at any time, between now and Thursday, you feel that you are in medical distress, please call 911 or have someone take you to the nearest ER.