Hi
I am new to this forum, but wondering if someone may help. Apologies that I am writing an essay! I was diagnosed hyperthyroid 18 years ago, when my last child was 18 months old, and, after trying to avoid the RAI for years by taking Carbimazole and alternative therapies, finally I had the RAI, became hypothyroid and have been taking levothyroxine for 14 years. There have been a few ups an downs, but generally its been ok. I also have had discoid lupus for the same amount of time, which I have kept under control with a combination of staying out of the sun, covering up and factor 50 sun cream.
I am now 50 and perimenopausal. About 4 weeks ago I noticed a rash on my the back hands and fingers, at the same time as I had symptoms of cystitis. Within a day or two the rash spread to my palms and my feet, and it was very itchy, almost burning. I began to feel very ill in myself, constant headache, dizziness, depressed, feeling as if I was under water, and so tired I could hardly get out of bed, yet not able to sleep either. I saw a doctor, who confirmed a urinary infection, gave me antibiotics, and tested my thyroid levels, as I mentioned I am now hypothyroid. The result was that my TSH was over 18 ( normal 0.35 - 3.5) , only TSH as I didn't think to ask for the others, so I increased my regular dose from 125mcg to 175 for 2 weeks, and am now at 150.
But the rash spread thicker, into my palms and became bruise-like, thick and scaley, especially in the centre of my palms ( my husband joked I looked like I had stigmata) and the same on my feet. Then both my hands and feet swelled up, and the burning intensified. After a week of this, when I had gone back to the doctor, who had no idea what it was, the rash started peeling away, with the bruised layers coming up to the surface, hard and intensely dry. The third time I went to my doctor, I was finally sent to see a dermatologist, who said she had no idea what it was, but as it was now at the healing rather than acute state, she couldn't even do a biopsy. I has been dreadful and frightening.
The only time I have had anything similar was years ago, when I was on the 'block and replacement' (do they still do that?) and there was virtually no thyroxine in my body, when I got extreme dry skin all over my body that clumped together, but then I don't think I had it on my hands and feet.
The dermatologist didn't think it was connected to my thyroid, but it seems an odd coincidence that my levels were so low. Now I think about it I have been under a lot of stress with work and struggling for months, but I thought it was just normal.
Nearly 4 weeks later I am still knocked for 6 by it. Anyone else ever seen rash/swelling/flaking of the hands and feet with hypo? Any ideas?
Thanks for reading this far!
SLM