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Hypothyroidism? Foot swelling, trouble swallowing.
I’d love some help to figure out what’s going on. The underlying problem.
About a week and a half ago I woke up to having my right foot and ankle swollen for absolutely no apparent reason. My lower leg looks like a tube. And sort of painful to touch. Went to the chiropractor thinking maybe something was out, maybe sciatica, went twice and it didn’t change my foot.
Also been having trouble swallowing for the past few months but been trying to ignore it.
Kind of avoiding the worst case scenario. 
But then I’m also having trouble losing weight. Hair loss. Dry skin. Cold feet and fingers. Bunch of other little symptoms that seemed unrelated. Did my own research and then I was wondering if I have hypothyroidism.
So I went to my doctor yesterday and asked him to take all the tests. He also felt my throat and said he could not feel my thyroid. I thought maybe it was enlarged. But I have trouble swallowing. Feels like there’s something blocking my food going down. Like it just sits at the base of my neck waiting to be forced down with liquid. Like my esophagus has tightened up and is smaller than it used to be. I have to drink a sip of water with every mouthful or it feels like it’s clogging up in my throat. Hopefully it’s something simple.
I spent the past 24 hours looking into hypothyroidism, dysphagia, inflammation, gut health etc. I just don’t want to have them say we can’t find anything in the blood test or here take a pill and not know what’s really happening. Especially if there’s something underlying. I hate taking pills if not necessary, especially if there’s a natural way to take care of it.
So… My request is this: that the real reason for all this would be identified. Soon. And that it could be treated with natural changes in my diet, supplements, lifestyle change. Etc.
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Please rule out a blood clot in your leg then deal with the thyroid issues
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1 ReactionSecondary Hyperparathyroidism. One doctor says I have this yet another doctor says I do not have this. (This after laboratory tests). However I continue to have continuous symptoms and worsening. I am not being treated with any medications and I now have severe osteoporosis of the hips, and serious mental aggravation. Help! Please! (PS) there seems to be a severe lack of endochronologists and kidney doctors (nephrologists). (Especially the ones who know what they are doing). Oh! and one who graduated from Harvard. (Supposedly?) Will the real doctor please stand up and save this persons life?
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1 Reaction@peach414144
There is a lab test called TSH that measures your thyroid gland and whether it is over/under acting. A couple of years ago, my value went from normal 3 to 3000, just out of the park. My doc prescribed Levothyroxine and I am back to normal values. A kidney doctor cannot help you as much as an endocrinologist or diabetic doctor can. Thyroid patients are best served by an endocrinologist, and depending upon where you live, there are plenty as well as PAs and Nurse Practioners. It also sounds like you also have other underlying problems which obviously must be dealt with as well.
Thank you for caring but yes I do have hypothyroidism and diabetes type 2: But I now have the PARAthyroids included as well. This seems to be a problem that almost all endochronologists run away from. It is quite confusing to work with. Sorry for me. Thanks
I had some blockage in my throat area, doc did an Endoscopy and cleared the area.
Get an EGD (upper scope) done to check esophagus.
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1 ReactionA Vascular Doc can do you a test (it doesn’t hurt— I’ve had about 50 of them) which measures blood flow in your legs. The test takes about 45 minutes.
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1 Reactionhello!
I have had similar. Do you have acid reflux? I have what the doctor called laryngopharangealreflux LPR, which he said was caused by my acid reflux. I went there because I had developed a situation. I swallowed my am pills and the fish pill got stuck exactly like you say yours gets stuck on the way down. Mine felt like if it went down any farther I would have choked and stopped breathing from blockage. Anyway, it is essentially when the second sphincter tightens up anticipating acid. I was in the hospital because i could not swallow normally. By the time I left, I was crushing pills and was able to swallow it with applesauce. Thank God. I take a lot of meds and had to have the hospital get me on track with swallowing water and take meds. I was in trouble but fortunately got through that and got home and saw specialists. I was doubled up on antacids and took another antacid on top of that. I take way to much in my opinion but its helping the reflux.
Fast forward, I cant access a swallowing test. I gave up, bigger fish to fry. So I have been living with this. I need physical therapy to show me how to basically massage the area to loosen up the muscle to enable better swallowing.
This started in 2021 and is ongoing. I still mash pills up but am able to take very small pills in applesauce. So, I still have a swallowing issue. Unresolved. I have a referral for that. Its on a list of medical things to do.
Sometimes I feel the bottom of the throat tighten because to swallow water at times when I push down something and follow wish water it takes a while to pass that area and typically gurgles a little because its trying to pass that sphincter. The gi doc gave me additional meds for this (the antacids) and referred me to the special ent who works with swallowing cases. At that appointment I saw both an ent and speech dr…
I get swelling in lower calves and feet. Sometimes both. Its painful and happens on top of the diabetic neuropathy. I do take blood pressure meds. But am off the furosemide for medical reasons but I think it kept this in check. Not all sure about the swelling. For the last two weeks the swelling went down considerably.
I have 5 thyroid nodules they are following etc…
I have 2 lung nodules they are following etc, etc…
The swallowing issue I’ve been learning to work around. I see a neuromuscular doctor for different things I’m gonna bring the swallowing thing up. We’ll see if I can get more help with that.
Good luck on your journey to wellness.
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2 ReactionsI’m facing these same things…just in November I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and this past Thursday the leg issues, like yours sent me to the ER and I have blood clots! Nothing in my immediate family history of either.
Today I have a swallow test scheduled…could be part of the diabetes or something else apart from that.
Please get tested for both! Best wishes.
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3 ReactionsJust had parathyroid surgery and have had the legs & feet swelling and also very painful at night...right now I have post surgery voice problems they say will clear up in 6 months. I hope to get my normal pre-surgery voice back. I am also type 2 diabetes controlling diet & no medication. Do not stick my fingers, so lucky there. But have your doctor check out parathyroid for you. Good luck. I am wondering if there is a post surgery type of self-treatment to help the voice muscles return to normal?
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