Limbs falling asleep at night

[birchtree]

I've had it bad in the hands and up my arms - no tongue or feet problems...

GOOD LUCK - and congrats on being so proactive in getting yourself well! I had symptoms like this for years and thought - yep, ignore it, you're just getting old (I'm 41). Now looking back...I know not EVERYTHING's related to thyroid but...d'oh!!

take care and please keep us posted
birch

[wsue1023]

Birch, Have you ever asked your doc if the feelings in your hands and arms are likely related to your known condition? Just curious.
I get frustrated with the doctor I have now because to talk to him you'd almost think that we should be symptom free when at the "right dose". I don't think that's exactly correct.

[birchtree]

oh, yes, I got "no, just quit sleeping wrong" from two previous endos. I haven't asked my current doctor about it probably because of the reaction from the two previous docs. I'll be sure to write it in my notebook and ask.

btw, I'm with my current doctor now because, while he's certainly not perfect, he will consider symptoms even though the labs may be "normal". IM humble O, you may want to consider shopping around for a new doc...

to continue...at the time I was having a REAL problem with it I also had strange rashes everywhere, my hair was falling out in piles, anxiety, etc. - apparently, I was in raging thyroiditis from hashis - I just wasn't diagnosed yet. That's why I believe it autoimmune related. And..as stated in a number of books re: hypo...once you get one autoimmune disease...you're bound to get another. Aren't we lucky???

Are you on a combo med or just T4?

b

[wsue1023]

Originally Posted by birchtree

Are you on a combo med or just T4?

b

You'll have to exuse my ignorance! I'm not sure what this means, but I'm currently on Synthroid only. Nothing else!

When you're on meds do most of your symptoms completely disappear? I get rashes all the time... seems like there's always some part of my body broken out. I used Temovate for a long time, but now my Derm. won't prescribe it to me... says it's too strong! I don't get it. It's then only thing that's worked and I only used a small amount maybe once a month... usually try to give the rash a chance to clear on it's on or at least wait until it's raging before I treat it with the steroid cream. Once again, I think I need another doc in this area too.

[birchtree]

My dear, you are in the right place - and NEVER apologize for your valuable questions!

We have experts on this board who provide excellent explanations of T4 and T3, but I think I can give you a quick and dirty rundown....

T4 and T3 are produced by the thyroid...your body requires T4 and T3 to properly function. Synthroid is T4 only. When you take T4, you're body (is suppose to) convert an amount of that T4 to T3. It has been found that some people cannot convert T4 to T3. This "malfunction" is usually found through a low result in aTotal T3 or Free T3 blood test.

I'm one of those who have trouble converting - I'm currently taking 125 mcg levoxyl (T4 only) and 5 mcg cytomel (T3 only).

Lack of T3 is known to cause a variety of symptoms, including numbness, muscle aches, etc. My lack of T3 was causing shortness of breath and severe fatigue, not to mention (possibly) contributing to hair loss.

Does you doctor test for blood levels other than TSH?? He/she should be testing for at least TSH, Free T4 and Free T3 (if you can't get Free T3 then at least Total T3).

There are a number of books out there with all of this info - I highly recommend you go check them out. I did and, wow, what an awakening for me.

Again, this is quick and dirty...certainly not complete...hopefully others will chime in and give you more info...

hope this helps! all the best to you...
b