Problems from a lower dose
Posted , 6 users are following.
I am a male (31) who was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism at 19. I've spent the last 12yrs on a steady 175mcg with no change, and despite some side effects (excessive heat and sweating generally) have coped very well.
I've been asking doctors over the years if I can do something to combat the problems I am having with the overheating, but was always told that there was nothing, it was a common side effect. As anyone who has this knows, it can be pretty restrictive and debilitating, and so, a few weeks back; I asked my GP if there was anything I could do.
She suggested, because there was some 'tolerance' in my levels, that I drop my dosage to see if that helps. I thought she would say to go down to 150mcg, but she said straight away to drop to 125mcg with a blood test in 3 months,
It's 3 weeks later, and now I'm experience the following problems
1) Severe change in mood; am so so low (never before had this)
2) I'm getting patchy sleep
3) No energy
4) Stomach problems
5) Headaches
6) No concentration whatsoever, when usual concentration is quite intense
7) I'm extremely irritable
I went back to my surgery this morning for urgent help, as its badly affecting every area of my life; I sat at work yesterday and my head was just mush. I saw a different doctor who, gave me this rather bizarre option - do you want the sweating or the current problems. Shot or stabbed then basically? Then she told me she wouldn't change my level back to 175mcg without a blood test, which I now have to wait a week for. She also ordered an ABPM test for my blood pressure, which I've also never had before....
So I'm left here, totally alone, confused, down and now abandoned (or so I feel) and I just don't know what to do. It seems wherever I go, I get people who don't understand the condition or have any concept of what I seem to be going through. I just don't know what to do - I'm thinking of trying to see another doctor on Monday to see if they can suggest anything. I don't want other tablets, but I need to be better
0 likes, 10 replies
designergirl12
Posted
iain97106
Posted
designergirl12
Posted
mvwaugh
Posted
pippa22119
Posted
iain97106
Posted
designergirl12
Posted
iain97106
Posted
At the moment, it's making me really ill; physically and mentally, to the point where I can't concentrate at work for more then 2 minutes. I need some stability rather than huge change, so if thats 175mcg then so be it
txtch
Posted
you name a side effect, i've had it.. but you just have to learn to live with it and control it best you can....
specie8472
Posted
Doctors are human beings, very much so, and for all doctors to know all the possibilities and corrections is 100% impossible, they are general medical practitioners not supersonic humans.
Go sit in a docs waiting room and note which doc is calling them through quicker,, generally,, then avoid that doc or at least be dashed cautious.
The job is to find a doctor who has passion about his/her work and also,, to read up about it yourself so you can have a sensible logical conversation, don’t be apprehensive in this regard.
Walk together down the pathway to getting it resolved together, logically, remembering that the doc may have passed a medical exam but when it comes to disseminating information he or she may not be so good, after all and to be fair understanding all the intricacies is really quite a hell of a job, and they have generally 10 minutes,, then assuming they know all about it which they,,,, don’t,,,,,cant,,, its quite a task, cannot be done logically because of the variables, I am sure we all appreciate that.
Dropping your dose or changing it in ANY way needs to be done with your docs blessing, walk together doing this and remember you’re the one who is the barometer of these changes.
As you are aware different people suffer in different ways, because we are all different, and when it comes to the thyroid the permutations are quite massive. Its best to take your tablet at roughly the same time each day before eating anything and with water, its perhaps wise to avoid caffeine especially at this time, I take mine with decaf tea and 30 mins later have a normal instant coffee, no food yet,, but that’s me .
Avoid taking stimulants like coffee (caffeine) to much, stimulants heighten the senses and you can do without that.
I have found over time (for me) that even splitting a 25 micro gram can be desirable, doing this by having 125 one day and 100 the next and so on can be the answer for some.
If your heating up then I would say your on to much, (I was once) and I know what I would do, but you must do what YOU need to do hand in hand with your doc, your drop was quite a lot as some agree, but then 175 is a fair wack and I expect your doc took that into account, go back and try for 150 with the docs blessing, then remember that over time it may creep one way or the other, depending on you and your lifestyle, health etc. The old boy scout motto of “Be prepared” is wise. it may take more than the 6 weeks period to take real effect, keep trying, be patient (and patient ).
Really long term its worth remembering that thyroxine has a half life of between 6 and 10 days (seven if you like) (lots of factors) and a half of a half of a half of a half goes on forever, never getting to zero, if indeed it’s a real half life. You can work out what that means.
To quote the medical profession themselves the principal pharmacological effect of thyroid hormones is to increase the metabolic rate of body tissues, There may be a chap out there who it doesn’t make hot easily,,, there we go,,, we are all different,,, how do you know you are different,, you have to find out, go see your doc, one who you can talk to, its magic.
Whatever you do, do it with your doctor, one who will listen, you can both learn. Good luck.