EDEMA????

[mommy2two2008]

OK - so I have another question (what else is new - huh??)  LOL -

We took the kids to the circus today and when we were getting up to leave, I noticed one leg (left) was VERY tight and made it hard to walk comfortably.  I got to the car and pressed on the right calf and it moved easy.  Pressed on the left, and it was full, tight and did not move.  The entire way home I put my left foot up on the dash and by the time I got home (about 20 minutes) it was normal again.  My ankle was not swollen looking, but my foot was a little puffy.

Any ideas what could cause this?  Is it related to my thyroid or thyroid med?  The circus was 3 hrs but, we only sat for about 45 minutes at a time b/c of intermissions.  This really freaks me out.   My body seems like it is falling apart.  I have not checked my blood pressure lately, don't have a monitor.  My heart rate is not bad either.  My neck is swollen today.  I am 5 foot 3 and I don't think I am overweight.  I currently weigh 144.  Thoughts on this??  Thanks!  ~Kim

[Jules77733]

The weight increase was likely from the water, but did you sweat it out or pee it out by the end of the day to get your weight to drop 3 pounds? Excessive sweating is a symptom of some things. Were you thirsty a lot, or were you just drinking as you normally do, except drinking solely water (where as maybe you would drink milk, orange juice, soda, etc.)?

My GP isn't worried about my edema that's been around for several weeks now, so I wouldn't worry too much about it. If you're experiencing problems with your nerves in addition to the edema, then that's a different story--i.e. tingling, loss of feeling, difficulty leaning on the leg, pain, etc.

[mommy2two2008]

Well, the lower than normal blood pressure happened before the switch to Armour.  I wonder if the Levo can cause that??  I did not switch to Armour until 8/12 and the low blood pressure was around for July 20 (ins eval) and the near breast biopsy (LOL - that is what I call it now) that was on July 30.  Good point, will have to check that out.  Drank nothing but water yesterday (for some reason my weight flucuated to 147.2) and by this a.m. I was back down to 144.2.  Guess I will keep up the water for the 2 weeks to maybe get rid of some extra water weight.  

[Jules77733]

Yeah, I'd definitely start off with walking. You don't want to shock your body when it's already hurting.

Is Armour known to lower blood pressure? I remember you saying that you had lower-than-normal blood pressure as a symptom of whatever's afflicting you--this could explain the edema, though I would then wonder why it didn't show up until only recently.

[mommy2two2008]

Thanks Julia!  I guess we are long lost twins!  LOL - I don't have any allergies and have not had any pain in my chest.  I think my doc will just think I am a lune.

Thanks Thy!  It is very comforting to know that someone else has been through this mess!  Her docs have never connected the dots?  Hmmmmm, maybe I have several issues.

I guess I am going to talk to him this next time of 1) what could happen to me if this is indeed not my thyroid causing this problem while taking thyroid medication (although the thyroid med has helped tremendously).  2) Is there any further testing he could do on my neck swelling that could show the carotid artery and anything else in there that is not supposed to be swelling (I know there are more tests he could do but this will be my way to prompt him I guess).

I know what I will do starting tomorrow......  1) go on a diet ***AGAIN*** 2) stop drinking any form of caffiene for 2 weeks, and 3) TRY to get my butt back to the gym.  I have not been to the gym since the end of March.  I guess I will still hold off on the gym until after 9/2 b/c the one thing the doc told me not to do when he said I had carotidynia is work out.  Will have to ask him why and if he still feels I should not.  In the interim, guess I will walk a little in the evenings??  Could not hurt I guess.

[Thypatient]

My mother had the same neck issue you've described having, blood pressure issues and has swelling in her legs that comes and goes.  I wonder if it's all related?

Good luck.

[Jules77733]

It might not be your heart.......I would strongly suggest getting an MRI of your brain. It won't hurt you (no radiation), and with all of your symptoms--gastrointestinal (potentially), swelling in your leg of the opposite side your neck swelling is on, normal thyroid bloodwork coupled with goiter, and the numbness/tingling in lips and the temporary partial paralysis on one side of your face--the brain would be the place to look for problems. The pituitary gland might be a good place to start.

Do you have allergies, by any chance? Do you have any cardiac arrhythmias or chest pain--near your heart or not?

I have edema, but it's in both legs and in my arms a little bit, though the right side of my neck remains more swollen than the left (seems more lymphatic for me). Why am I not surprised we have similar symptoms, yet again..............

[mommy2two2008]

Thanks Regina!  If it is thyroid related, they have got to fix it now.  30 is too young to have to be committed to the nut house which is where I will end up!  LOL - If its not, guess I'll be seening yet another doc soon.  So you are having edema with your thyroid problems?  I have right neck swelling (carotidynia and thyroid) and left leg edema.  Hmmm - I hate this mess as I am sure you do to.

What I would give for a magic pill about now.

[ras48]

I am having edema problems too and it seems the left leg is worse than the right. The Dr, has perscribed a diuretic but very difficult to take and go to work also. A word of caution, if you take any diuretic even otc make sure you replenish the potassium that it willl depleat. Banannas and sweet potatoes are a very good sourse.Good luck and don't give up. Regina

[mommy2two2008]

Thanks Amy and Julia!  I would check the edema (and tried in the car, but couldn't tell really, I had jeans on) but it went down.  It sometimes still has some tingling in it this evening, but can't tell a difference except to say that it was bigger, calf to ankle when this happened today.  I am starting to think maybe I have a heart problem (its the only thing to explain the carotid artery, headaches and swelling of one leg I can think of).  Oddly enough and I was telling my husband after the swelling incident (BTW - he did see the swelling of my calf when I pulled up both pant legs and "giggled" the right calf and tried on the left and it did not move) that last night (he fell asleep on the couch so I let him sleep) I woke in the middle of the night (the dog was crying to get on my bed - she's a doxie so she couldn't by herself) and decided to go the the potty - when I got out of bed I got out with my left leg, it buckled and I fell to the floor.  I sat a minute and then was able to get up and walk, just struck as odd after the swelling today.

I guess another thing to ponder on my road to break down city......  Maybe it has something to do with my blood pressure being lower than before this too.  

Julia - I do have some red/white spotting of the palms.  Also the stomach thing - it reminds me of being prego (and I am not).

[Jules77733]

Do you have any spotting on the palms of your hands (typically a mixture of red and white spots, if that makes any sense)--this is a sign your blood pressure is low. Low blood pressure can be related to edema.

Where is your abdomen swollen? Is it uniform swelling? Edema can be caused by more serious conditions, such as liver failure, kidney failure, and heart failure. It most likely has something to do with your compressed carotid artery, though.

Honestly, it sounds like your thyroid issue are a symptom of something else, so I wholeheartedly agree with you when you say that it's time to do more testing. There's something else going on, and the thyroid is just a casualty in all of this (as the mainly normal bloodwork, yet goiter, would indicate).

I hope you figure it out soon--it's already been far too long.

[Me967]

Hi there.  The first thing I would check at home if I were you is:  If you press your thumb on your legs does the imprint stay like silly puddy ?   It should go quickly away.  Is there any discoloration in your leg compared to the other one?  If the answer to either of these test is yes then I would as about maybe a venous doppler concerning circulation issues.  I don't know concerning thyroid issues.  Sorry.  I just thought I would offer other possibility issues.  

bump.  I hope someone else may add on something else for you.  ((((hugs))))   Amy

[mommy2two2008]

Hey Cynnie - hope you're having a good evening.  They did test me for thyroid things and a CBC, and ANA test, but what I meant was of all the blood testing (full panel w/o the FT3 in April, TSH in June, TSH, FTs - both this time, TPOab and TGab and calcium end of July) nothing pointed abnormal, I just have thyroid swelling and now I had this edema today.  Wierd.  My abdomen looks swollen to me some, but it is a little better since starting the Armour.  Wieght gain for me has been in the abdominal and upper thigh area for me.  (Gained 15-17 lbs since April 3, 2008).

[Cynnieb4]

That's the edema I was telling you about. I would ask about the water. They saw mine and are speeding me up, well, not enough. I can't drink enough to pee it all out. LOL:) I would try an otc, but you could ask doctor for one  to. It doesn't matter if i eat sugar, or not. Always there. And always bloated. How come they never tested you???? I am going to ask for some armour when I get my blood work done!

[mommy2two2008]

V!!!!!  Hey honey, how are you?????  Thanks so much for the response - that makes me feel better.  I have never had a blood test reveal hypo or hyper or hashi for that matter, so I don't know if my ENT will believe me!  I think he is getting to the point where he says - why don't we just take it out to see what is wrong with it!  He is the doc that changed me from Levo to Armour and I have to say, I like it better, but, can taking thyroid med when your blood says you are normal cause all of these strange symptoms?  He gave me the Armour without me suggesting anything b/c he says some have better luck controlling thyroid swelling with Armour.  

I am starting to worry about this thyroid of mine.  It seems to be sick with some other problem other than thyroid illness --- I think it's time they do some other testing.  They have never checked my Pituitary hormones...... he thinks he feels a nodule (sometimes, so do I) but, they haven't looked in on it (imaging) since April.  Guess 9/2 I will be requesting they do.

Maybe I could try the OTC water pill to see if it relieves it the extra swelling?  

[Venora Moonwind]

Hey sis its me Venora.
I was having the same problem My endo put me on water piill and I was loosing about 10 pounds a day from the water I was peeing out.
I got worried about taking the piills so I decided to stop taking them and stop drinking sodas.I am 5' 3' also but in 2 weeks I have gone from 198 to 187.
Sodium and sugar is in everything and it affects us throid people even more.
Give it up for a couple of weeks and see what happens.
Love Venora