Tingly foot and hand for past few days

[Amee_B]

I recently wrote a post on how my hair and eyebrows are still falling out a year later two weeks ago, but now for the past few days my right foot has had the feeling of pins and needles and has been consistent, and has today spread to my hands as well, and i feel the numbness at the bottom of my leg and my wrists too. I have read that this may be linked to the hypothroidism. I am going to see my doctor tomorrow along with some articles I have printed out about focussing on T3 in additition to the others. But I do not hold much hope. This pins and needles feeling is a little painful in the wrists. What can I do? I am only on 25mcg of Levothyroxine, and I asked my local chemist, they only stock T3 in dosages of 10mcg.
I don't know if this is linked, but I'm on 25mcg Monday-Thursday and 50mcg the rest of the week, but today (Monday) I accidentally took 50mcg.. however this tingly feeling has been there since Saturday.

[Amee_B]

I did have my calcium checked and was taking vitamin D + calcium for two months. I will ask my GP again about the selenium as it is very true that the ultimate goal is to help the conversion.
Thank you all so much for all your advice!!

[Barb135]

Yes, since you have Hashimoto's, your thyroid function will continue to decrease, necessitating increases in your medication.  What happens in the early stages of Hashi's is that your thyroid continues to produce hormones, along with the hormones you take; since we never know just what your thyroid is really going to do, it's sometimes hard to regulate the hormones, but as the Hashi's kills the thyroid, it produces less and less hormones, until eventually, it's completely "dead" and produces nothing.  At that time, you will be completely dependent on the replacement hormones and with your thyroid contributing nothing, it should be easier to regulate your levels.

You can ask for TRH to check for pituitary or hypothalamus issues, but it's quite likely your doctor will decline, and it's probably not real necessary.  

Contrary to your doctor's belief, many people do not get enough selenium (or other minerals) in their food, because too many soils are being depleted of minerals, so even foods noted for certain minerals, may not have sufficient quantities.  I take selenium daily, but it's never done anything to lower my antibody count.  The reason I take it, is because it seems to help with the conversion of FT4 to FT3, which is the ultimate goal.

Yes, you should ask for a thyroid ultrasound, as this will confirm/rule out nodules and inflammation, which you most likely have.

[blsdnsvd]

I haven't gone through everyone post, however, Low Calcium level can cause numbness and tingling especially in the finger and toes, it will be good to have your Calcium Level Checked as well.

[Amee_B]

Also, do you think I should ask for an ultrasound too, as I've only ever had blood work done and no other type of testing?

[Amee_B]

So does that mean that gradually my dosage will keep on increasing as my thyroid function becomes nonexistent?
Also, do u think it is necessary to do a TRH test to determine if the decrease in thyroid hormone is due to a defect of the pituitary or hypothalamus?
I have asked my GP to test my selenium levels but she declined as she believed I get enough selenium from foods, do you think taking selenium makes a difference to the TPO? I will definitely speak to my GP about B12, and hopefully get to see the private endo too. I have had anaemia due to lack of iron as my dermatologist failed to believe my hair hair loss was due to my thyroid and not lack of iron, she is now putting me on minoxidil

[Barb135]

I'd suggest that you go back to the endo willing to prescribe the T3 med.  Take your labs along with you and point out to him that your FT4 is right at mid range, but your FT3 is WAY below what most of us feel comfortable at (approx upper 1/3 of range).  TPOab indicates that you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, which means your thyroid function will continue to decline as your thyroid is destroyed by the antibodies....

You might ask the endo to start you on a low dose of T3 med (maybe 5 mcg), then get tested in a few weeks to see if your FT3 levels come up and/or if any symptoms are alleviated.

If my B12 levels dropped to 405, I'd be dragging myself horribly.  The range my lab uses is 200-1100; if I don't keep my levels right near the 1100 mark, I feel like death warmed over......just went through that this week, when I forgot to do my B12 shot.

While fibromyalgia symptoms can often be lumped into hypothyroidism and many/most are alleviated with proper thyroid treatment, It's been determined that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome may actually be a totally separate autoimmune disease.

TPOab can be present with several autoimmune diseases, including Hashimoto's, pernicious anemia, RA, CFS, lupus as well as others.  

I was dx'd with Hashimoto's based on the high TPOab, long with ultra sound verification of inflammation of the thyroid, plus nodules and hypothyroidism. I was dx'd with pernicious anemia based on the TPOab, coupled with B12 deficiency.  I actually have permanent nerve damage in my feet/hands due to untreated pernicious anemia....

You might want to supplement B12 to see if your levels go up, but do keep an eye on them, because pernicious anemia can be as debilitating as hypothyroidism......

[Amee_B]

My last blood test gave these results:

TSH: 2.75 [0.27-4.2]
FT4: 17.6 [12-22-
TPOab: 459 [0-34]
FT3: 4.4 [4.0-6.8]
My B-12 was said to be 405, which was ok, but the range wasnt given.

Going to see a private endo is definitely an option as I have tried it before with a endo who prescribes T3, but unfortunately he believed that I did not need it as it is just too potent.
Since writing the original post, the general tingly feeling has gone, however when I bend my toes forward and back, I still feel the tingly nerve feeling all across my toes, and in general my right foot feels different compared to my left.

[flyingfool]

Yep fibromyalgia is a set of symptoms. And "they" are finding that are helped when the patient takes Thyroid medication. Yet the Thyroid levels are "in the normal range" of most of these patients!

I personally believe that a vast percentage of fibromyalgia is the result of under treatment of Hypothyroid due to the "normal" ranges NOT being established correctly.

The Dr's when puzzled by the patients series of symptoms but everything seems normal just basically throws their hands up and declares them having fibromyalgia and/or chronic fatigue syndrome.

Again chronic fatigue also just happens to go away or be helped when the patient is put on Thyroid meds.  evne though their TSH and other thyroid labs are all "within the normal range"

What a surprise!

You would think the medical industry would see this trend.

Also it is interesting to note that the incidence of both fibromyalgia  and chronic fatigue syndrome just happen to skyrocket just AFTER the TSH test was invented and used as the gold standard for determining Thyroid health.  Prior to that Dr's looked at the patients symptoms and prescribed natural dissected thyroid medication.  And there was virtually no such thing as these two "diseases".

Now with lab results Dr's believe the numbers are God and if within range there is "NO WAY" that it is a Thyroid problem.  And they WILL NOT budge from this positions/ideology.  Even though the evidence would point to the FACT that it is utterly wrong position.

I will private message you a link you may find interesting to read.

[Barb135]

Unfortunately, vitamin B12 is sort of like the thyroid hormones, in that just "ok" or being in range is not good enough.  The range for B12 that my lab uses is 200-1100, and if don't keep my levels very near the top, I don't feel well.

Be aware that fibromyalgia is a set of symptoms, for which there is no explanation, but can often be attributed to lack of thyroid hormones (hypo)

For some of us, it takes years to get our thyroid hormones regulated and we hear from many of our members in UK that it's very hard to get proper testing/treatment there, due to the NHS and their specific guidelines, regarding thyroid testing/treatment.  We do have a few members who have been able to go "private" and get adequate treatment; if that's an option, let us know.

As soon as you can, please post whatever thyroid test results you can, that will best show your current status.

[Amee_B]

I think I have had my B-12 checked and I seem to be ok. I am definitely still quite hypo, but it's so hard to get a good doctor in the UK that will give the right treatment

[Amee_B]

But I've been using the same generic brand of Levo for over a year now and I'm scared it's fibromyalgia. I don't want to have to take more medication in addition to the thyroxine. I will post my latest results soon, but I think they may be before I started the 25/50 mix as I'm due another blood test soon

[Brucergoldberg]

i had pins and needles on t4 on drugs.  I still have the ear ringing, the the pins and needles is gone.

[Barb135]

"Pins and Needles" can be attributed to a variety of issues, so please post your latest thyroid test results, along with the lab's reference ranges, as these vary from lab to lab, so members can help assess your situation and comment more fully.

  

[flyingfool]

I know that pins and needles can be a sign of low B-12.

Sounds to me you're still quite Hypo.

T4 med is very slow acting drug.  So one day doesn't matter that much at least as far as the hormone is concerned.

Now you could be having an allergic or some other reaction to the fillers used as buffers in the pill.

25 to 50 mcg is a pretty common starter dose for most people.