Thyroid Issues

Hi JK, @contentandwell

I so appreciate your sense of humor! Thanks for a smile.

Teresa

@hopeful33250 Honestly, I don't think he likes me. I feel like he abandoned me while I was pre-transplant and I really think he would be quite happy if I changed doctors but until I find a good one that is accepting new patients I will stick with him.
JK

@contentandwell Probably a good decision until you find someone to replace him.

Teresa

Hi, @parus. You'd mentioned in a previous post you were not seeing improvement with your thyroid and were feeling kind of negative. How has your thyroid and your mood been lately? Is your blood work coming up soon?

Well, I was bragging about my thyroid in my last post. I have been on a dose of 112 mcg. for about 1.5 years. I started seeing an endocrinologist last May, and I just saw him a couple of days ago for a 6 month checkup. My TSH, T3 and T4 were tested a couple of weeks before my appointment. He told me to stop taking my Levotyroxin for 3 days as my levels are very high. Then he changed me to 75 mcg. My PCP had just lowered my prescription to 100 mcg the week before. So, I am totally without Levothyroxine today and tomorrow, then I start on the much lower dose of 75 mcg.

I have been having small anxiety attachs for a few months, but I didn't think too much about them. Also, I asked him about my full flushing and sweating after I eat anything, and he said it's from too much medication. I've been having that for about a year now! Man, thyroids are so important and so touchy if a person who is not completely knowledgeable about them tries to treat thyroid problems.

I highly recommend going to an Endocrinologist if you have diabetes, thyroid, calcium problems. I'm glad my PCP referred me to the one I have now! I'm expecting to feel much better on the lower dose of medication.

I also am taking 1/4 of the Valsartan that I take for high blood pressure. My PCP cut my Valsartan in half to 40 mg. about 8 months ago. But my blood pressure is still quite low and I have been having quite a few dizzy spells. So, I decided to cut the 40 mg. tablets in half, and now I'm taking only 20 mg. I told the endocrinologist, and he looked at my current BP and said to keep taking the 20 mg as my pressure is good. I'm so happy to be taking less and less medicine! For one thing, it's expensive, and it always messes with your body in some way.

My back is much better now that I'm using ART therapy, so I'm also cutting back on my Tramadol 50 mg. I'm taking it 3 times a day instead of 4 times now. I do notice pain before the 8 hours between pills, but I'm hoping that dissipates over time. If not, that will tell me that I still need it. I notice primarily at night still.

Well, my update is done. I hope everyone is doing better. Thanks, Gail B

@gailb Gail, your post is very timely for me. I have "sweats" that I thought were related to my immunosuppressants but my transplant team suggested that I have my thyroid medication checked, so I did. I lost my endocrinologist so my PCP is handling my thyroid and my diabetes now. He halved the dose and my numbers indicated that the lower dose was better. I think that the very low dosage I am taking now may be unnecessary also - still having sweats. My blood pressure is a bit high now also. Could that happen when you are taking more levothyroxine than you need?
I think that I should probably go to an endocrinologist again, maybe even my original one, he's very highly thought of and about an hour away.

Glad to hear that your back is doing well, that must be a huge relief.
JK

I just wanted to update my situation this morning. I have started taking the lower dose of thyroid medication and i feel better. I am no longer having the complete body flushing I was experiencing every time I ate anything. That alone is a huge relief. I am having some feelings of anxiety now that I'm taking the Levothyroxin again, so it may still be too high a dose. I felt best when I was completely without any Levothyroxin for the 3 days between dosage changes. I will continue to work with my endocrinologist to get my dosage right. Thanks, Gail B

Glad to hear the lower dose is helping you feel better and not have the flushing anymore, @gailb. That's a relief.

You are thinking the anxiety you are experiencing is a side effect of the Levothyroxin, if I understand you correctly?