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Anyone else experience wrinkled fingertips
My symptoms that sent me to the doc were impaired memory, lack of concentration, wrinkled fingertips ( like you have been in water), inability to lose weight, and fatigue. My doctor put me on a low dose of aderol which helped with the fatigue but not much else. She also tested my tsh, b12 and vit D. Lab came back tsh was 5.9 moderately high b12 was 238 and vitamin D was normal. I started taking b12 injections but continued to get even more tired. So I went back a couple months later and asked for a full thyroid test and a1c, as I am pre-diabetic. My tsh was 7.6 free t3 was 2.3 t4 was normal and a1c was 6.6. Started taking synthroid 100 mcg today. Just hoping it kicks in soon and i get my energy back. Anyone else experience the weird wrinkling of the fingers? Doc says it isnt related to thyroid but im not sure what else it could be.
Last year I went for B12 injections too for a few months but no difference in the wrinkling. Then my endo checked my B12 levels and it turned out they were way too high, outside the range. So I quit taking them. But, still no difference. It's a mystery and it came do sudden, one day I just had wrinkly fingertips. It looks like I'm 100 years old and I'm far from it.
Thanks for your input. I think I have seen some improvement in my fingers since my B12 is back up. I felt a lot better today as far as a headache. I just don't have my normal energy level which I know its way too early for that. Even with the aderol which I think I will discontinue after a couple weeks of levo. It makes me want to smoke and I quit over a year ago. 100 mcg seems a little high to me as well. I feel like its a little difficult to swallow. I think I read that is a side affect.
Gluten intolerance/Celiac wouldn't be the only cause though. It's just something I found at random and thought was interesting.
"People often assume that wrinkling is the result of water passing into the outer layer of the skin and making it swell up. But researchers have known since the 1930s that the effect does not occur when there is nerve damage in the fingers. This points to the change being an involuntary reaction by the body's autonomic nervous system — the system that also controls breathing, heart rate and perspiration. In fact, the distinctive wrinkling is caused by blood vessels constricting below the skin." - Science gets a grip on wrinkly fingers
"People often assume that wrinkling is the result of water passing into the outer layer of the skin and making it swell up. But researchers have known since the 1930s that the effect does not occur when there is nerve damage in the fingers. This points to the change being an involuntary reaction by the body's autonomic nervous system — the system that also controls breathing, heart rate and perspiration. In fact, the distinctive wrinkling is caused by blood vessels constricting below the skin." - Science gets a grip on wrinkly fingers
COMMUNITY LEADER
I have no idea what TPSA is ... I've never heard of that in relation to thyroid issues, though I have heard of it in relation to prostate issues. Your profile says you're female, so there shouldn't be any reason to run a prostate test...
Your TSH is way too high; your FT3 is on the floor of the range and your FT4 is only at 11% of its range.. I can see why you'd feel bad...
Most of us find that we need FT4 to be about mid range - You have a long way go to get from 11% to 50% of the range... In addition, most of us find that we need FT3 to be in the upper half to upper third of its range... again, you have a long way to go to get there...
I'm leery that your doctor started you at 100 mcg right off the bat. Those of us older than 50 should be started at a low dose and worked up slowly, but if you're young, you should be okay...
Your TSH is way too high; your FT3 is on the floor of the range and your FT4 is only at 11% of its range.. I can see why you'd feel bad...
Most of us find that we need FT4 to be about mid range - You have a long way go to get from 11% to 50% of the range... In addition, most of us find that we need FT3 to be in the upper half to upper third of its range... again, you have a long way to go to get there...
I'm leery that your doctor started you at 100 mcg right off the bat. Those of us older than 50 should be started at a low dose and worked up slowly, but if you're young, you should be okay...
TSH IS 7.58 range is 0.25-5.0
TPSA Range is 0.0-4.0 (not sure what that is)
My FT3 is 2.3 range is 2.3-4.2
T4 is 5.3 range is 4.4-12.4
Had a terrible headache all day and even more tired i think since starting the levothyroxine. Could be in my head i am more tired but definitely have a headache.
TPSA Range is 0.0-4.0 (not sure what that is)
My FT3 is 2.3 range is 2.3-4.2
T4 is 5.3 range is 4.4-12.4
Had a terrible headache all day and even more tired i think since starting the levothyroxine. Could be in my head i am more tired but definitely have a headache.
COMMUNITY LEADER
What are the reference ranges for your FT3 and FT4? Ranges vary lab to lab and have to come from your own report.
Also, what was your actual vitamin D level? Just because it was "normal" doesn't mean it's adequate...
A vitamin B-12 level of 238 is very low, so it will take weekly shots for about a month, to bring it up to something you might be able to live with. After that, most people can drop back to monthly shots.
It takes 4-6 weeks for the levo to reach its full potential in your blood, but you could start seeing subtle improvements within a couple of weeks.
Also, what was your actual vitamin D level? Just because it was "normal" doesn't mean it's adequate...
A vitamin B-12 level of 238 is very low, so it will take weekly shots for about a month, to bring it up to something you might be able to live with. After that, most people can drop back to monthly shots.
It takes 4-6 weeks for the levo to reach its full potential in your blood, but you could start seeing subtle improvements within a couple of weeks.
Red Star, in the fall of 2013 I went completely gluten free, including lotions, shampoo etc for 6 weeks, but there was no difference at all. I was losing tons of hair back then too so I thought I'll give it a shot especially since my mom has gluten intolerance.
I might go gluten free again since I'm unsure if 6 weeks is enough.
I might go gluten free again since I'm unsure if 6 weeks is enough.
I've read wrinkled fingertips is a sign of gluten intolerance/sensitivity or Celiac disease. Of interest, the prevalence of Celiac disease in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease is 4 to 15 times greater than that in the general population.
"Non-celiac gluten sensitivity is diagnosed by process of exclusion. Experts recommend that you first get tested for a wheat allergy and for celiac disease. If both of those are negative, then your doctor may recommend a gluten elimination diet. If symptoms improve on a gluten-free diet, then you likely have non-celiac gluten sensitivity." - Celiac Central - Diagnosis of Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity.
"Non-celiac gluten sensitivity is diagnosed by process of exclusion. Experts recommend that you first get tested for a wheat allergy and for celiac disease. If both of those are negative, then your doctor may recommend a gluten elimination diet. If symptoms improve on a gluten-free diet, then you likely have non-celiac gluten sensitivity." - Celiac Central - Diagnosis of Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity.
I've had wrinkled fingertips ever since 2013 when I first started to feel sick. And I still have it today even though my thyroid levels are within the range.
When I wake up in the mornings, my finger pads look normal but after a while they prune up looking like mummy fingers. I've thought myself it was due to hypothyroidism, but I don't think so now.
It could be adrenal but I have been drinking lots of licorice root tea, seasaltwater etc without any difference. I simply have no clue and when I have asked my endo about it she just shrugs her shoulders and don't seem interested.
One thing that has gotten much better after starting levothyroxine are my nail ridges. They used to be real prominent and deep but they're almost normal now. And my half moons in my nails are back, most of them were gone except for my thumbnails.
I hope someone here will chime in on what these prune finger pads mean.
When I wake up in the mornings, my finger pads look normal but after a while they prune up looking like mummy fingers. I've thought myself it was due to hypothyroidism, but I don't think so now.
It could be adrenal but I have been drinking lots of licorice root tea, seasaltwater etc without any difference. I simply have no clue and when I have asked my endo about it she just shrugs her shoulders and don't seem interested.
One thing that has gotten much better after starting levothyroxine are my nail ridges. They used to be real prominent and deep but they're almost normal now. And my half moons in my nails are back, most of them were gone except for my thumbnails.
I hope someone here will chime in on what these prune finger pads mean.
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