Post by nikabe on Dec 11, 2008 22:41:30 GMT -5
I was diagnosed hypothyroid (Hashi's) in 2001, started taking Levoxyl. Father, Grandmother, uncle (and suspect others - but they are all stubborn) all have Hashi's.
Stopped eating meat this year (only eat fish).
Taking the Levoxyl over the last 7 years, I have had to steadily increase my dose, and would have bouts of fatigue in the evening often enough, have always had exczema, acne, and frequently had trouble sleeping through the night. Would wake up for hours unable to fall back asleep. (Side note - I tried melatonin once during a trip to Spain, and that seemed to make my hypothyroid worse - I read that melatonin can worsen auto-immune conditions - is this true?)
This summer, started having some hair loss and additional acne on my back. After researching t4 only treatments and watching my dad be treated for high cholestorol, decided to try a t3/t4 combo (didn't want to take armour - vegetarian **Yes I know I still eat animals - fish).
Oct 2
t-4 Free 1.5 (range 0.8 - 1.8)
t-3 Free 334 (range 230-420)
TSH .99 (range .4 -4.5)
Started thryolar on Oct 6, and at about the same time was taking Macrobid for a UTI.
Shortly after, started have odd symptoms: inability to tolerate ANY alcohol - lays me out for days with numbing in my hands, chills, and total disorientation. Pulsing in my upper left side ongoing, but has gotten better (which my doc wanted to treat as colon spasms, but I refused to treat since i figured this was all related to my thyroid), some pain in my left side periodically. Occasional bouts of extreme thirst and frequent urination.
Trying to make this short, but it's a long story. After a recent episode of chills, frequent urination and extreme thirst one day following drinking 1/2 glass of red wine, I went back in, had levels checked - they actually weren't that bad but my TSH was no longer suppressed. Instead of increasing, the PA wanted to lower me becuase he thought my "episode" was because I was on too much thyrolar! Went back to my doc a few days later - blood pressure was a little lower than it has been (I want to say 97/60 or something), and she LOWERED MY DOSE WITHOUT TELLING ME. I thought she was BID dosing, but she actually cut my dose in half. Needless to say I got MUCH worse.
After going back for new blood work, doc realized I was hypo. After reading my labels more closely on my meds, realized she had me on half thedose. She put me back up to 60mg (from 30mg) of Thyrolar. I'm now taking 30mg in the AM and 30mg before bed.
In the meantime had a miscarriage last week. I was only 3 wks, and didn't actually think I would get pregnant at that point because of how crappy I was feeling.
Going to a new doc next Tuesday (holistic approach, recommended on top docs, expensive, but hopefully worth it)
Now this morning when I got out of bed, I walked into the bathroom to get my robe, and the next thing I know I'm on the floor feeling like I was just waking up from a nap. I've never passed out in my life. Didn't injure myself, but it sure did scare the crap out of me. Minor bruise on my knee, must've hit my ribs and landed on my wrist. Over the last week or so I've had trouble with my short term memory much more than normal, have major brain fog, and most of the time can't remember what I was on my way to do or what I just got finished doing. Also, neck is hurting/feeling full. I'm SURE I'm hypo at the moment, and can't wait to see the new doc to hopefully get some HELP and get someone who will actually treat my whole body instead of just my symptoms.
So why am I posting? I guess to get opinions on A. why can't I tolerate alcohol? B. Should I have just stayed on the t4 only? C. Does this sound adrenal-related? Should I be cutting back on my thyrolar and start with adrenal support? D. Why the heck do I feel SO MUCH worse on t-3/t-4 combo than I did on t-4 only?
Stopped eating meat this year (only eat fish).
Taking the Levoxyl over the last 7 years, I have had to steadily increase my dose, and would have bouts of fatigue in the evening often enough, have always had exczema, acne, and frequently had trouble sleeping through the night. Would wake up for hours unable to fall back asleep. (Side note - I tried melatonin once during a trip to Spain, and that seemed to make my hypothyroid worse - I read that melatonin can worsen auto-immune conditions - is this true?)
This summer, started having some hair loss and additional acne on my back. After researching t4 only treatments and watching my dad be treated for high cholestorol, decided to try a t3/t4 combo (didn't want to take armour - vegetarian **Yes I know I still eat animals - fish).
Oct 2
t-4 Free 1.5 (range 0.8 - 1.8)
t-3 Free 334 (range 230-420)
TSH .99 (range .4 -4.5)
Started thryolar on Oct 6, and at about the same time was taking Macrobid for a UTI.
Shortly after, started have odd symptoms: inability to tolerate ANY alcohol - lays me out for days with numbing in my hands, chills, and total disorientation. Pulsing in my upper left side ongoing, but has gotten better (which my doc wanted to treat as colon spasms, but I refused to treat since i figured this was all related to my thyroid), some pain in my left side periodically. Occasional bouts of extreme thirst and frequent urination.
Trying to make this short, but it's a long story. After a recent episode of chills, frequent urination and extreme thirst one day following drinking 1/2 glass of red wine, I went back in, had levels checked - they actually weren't that bad but my TSH was no longer suppressed. Instead of increasing, the PA wanted to lower me becuase he thought my "episode" was because I was on too much thyrolar! Went back to my doc a few days later - blood pressure was a little lower than it has been (I want to say 97/60 or something), and she LOWERED MY DOSE WITHOUT TELLING ME. I thought she was BID dosing, but she actually cut my dose in half. Needless to say I got MUCH worse.
After going back for new blood work, doc realized I was hypo. After reading my labels more closely on my meds, realized she had me on half thedose. She put me back up to 60mg (from 30mg) of Thyrolar. I'm now taking 30mg in the AM and 30mg before bed.
In the meantime had a miscarriage last week. I was only 3 wks, and didn't actually think I would get pregnant at that point because of how crappy I was feeling.
Going to a new doc next Tuesday (holistic approach, recommended on top docs, expensive, but hopefully worth it)
Now this morning when I got out of bed, I walked into the bathroom to get my robe, and the next thing I know I'm on the floor feeling like I was just waking up from a nap. I've never passed out in my life. Didn't injure myself, but it sure did scare the crap out of me. Minor bruise on my knee, must've hit my ribs and landed on my wrist. Over the last week or so I've had trouble with my short term memory much more than normal, have major brain fog, and most of the time can't remember what I was on my way to do or what I just got finished doing. Also, neck is hurting/feeling full. I'm SURE I'm hypo at the moment, and can't wait to see the new doc to hopefully get some HELP and get someone who will actually treat my whole body instead of just my symptoms.
So why am I posting? I guess to get opinions on A. why can't I tolerate alcohol? B. Should I have just stayed on the t4 only? C. Does this sound adrenal-related? Should I be cutting back on my thyrolar and start with adrenal support? D. Why the heck do I feel SO MUCH worse on t-3/t-4 combo than I did on t-4 only?