Arms are ballooning but no other weight gain

[Rios8234]

I have this ongoing issue with my thyroid replacement (desiccated) in that every time my dose is raised, I feel great and lose a little weight, but then a few weeks later I start feeling bad again and weight starts slowly coming back.  I'm now up to 4.5 grains for the last 6 weeks and I'm feeling fatigued and achy again.  However, this time...just in the last 6 weeks...my upper arms (and even a bit in my forearms) have gained so much weight.  It's very flabby, leading me to believe it's all or mostly water.  It looks like I have cellulite on my upper arms which I never had a problem with before; although I have had mucin build up in this area for years.  

I'm getting labs done this week to explore the possibility that I may need to cut back on desiccated and add in some T3 since my symptoms keep coming back.  So, I have no recent labs to post.

Just wanted to see if anyone else has experienced this sudden 'flab' issue that comes out of nowhere...does it sound thyroid related or could I have some other hormonal imbalance (36 yr old female, still menstruating).  Thanks all!

[Red_Star]

I have had oedema with various conditions but with hypothyroidism the fluid is notably in my abdomen and face.

[Rios8234]

Thank you Barb.  I will definitely post labs when I get the results.  The info about the free T4 is something I had not thought of but will research it further.  I do regular weight lifting exercises, have been for years, but the arm flab has suddenly come on out of nowhere and is excessive (like my shirt sleeves are almost too tight in a matter of 6 weeks), so this makes me think it's hormonal and probably mostly water.

[Barb135]

At 4.5 grains of desiccated hormones, I'd have to wonder whether your Free T4 is adequate, since it's common for people on desiccated hormones to have lower Free T4 and higher Free T3.  I can't imagine that you'd need to add T3 with that much desiccated.

Being over medicated (too high Free T3) can cause fatigue and aches/pains, just as being under medicated can, but if you have and imbalance of high Free T3 and too low Free T4, you still aren't going to feel right.

The next thing I'd wonder about is the amount and type of exercise you get.  Without proper exercise, it's not unusual for muscles to turn to flab... I've noticed my own arms getting more flabby than they've been, because I haven't been exercising adequately.

[Barb135]

I forgot to mention that when you get your labs done, if you'll post them, we'll be happy to take a look and help decipher them.  

It would be easiest if you post them on this same thread and be sure to include the reference ranges.