thewindsofchange

I am going to my doctor again today.

I have been unhappy for some time about my thyroid treatment. Given the number of symptoms I am having and the severity of some of them, I do not believe that my hypothyroidism is being adequately treated. I have spoken to the doctor about this a few times, and he just orders more blood tests, but then says they are in the normal range. Well, being in the normal range, and being at the level that is normal for me is two different things. I need my symptoms to be treated.

I will be going to discuss this again. If I am not happy with his response, I will ask to be referred to an endocrinologist. If he will not do that for me, I will go to a different doctor. I am sick of feeling lethargic, having oedema, and lots of other things feeling 'not quite right'.

Teresa

I am lucky to have a very good thyroid doctor . He does blood work every 3 months and I go see him . If the leveles are even a little off he will raise my medacation . I have not had very many symptems at all . I hope you get the treatment you need . I had a friend that lost a very lot of her hair becouse of an untreated thyriod. I had to have my med changed and I am noticing more hair lose . I will have to let my thyriod doctor know .I will see him on the 30th . If you feel that bad don't stop untill you get to see a good doctor or thyriod doctor.

I actually get thicker but coarser hair when my levels are wrong. I know hair loss is the usual thing, but mine seems to work the opposite way.

So right now, I have to go to the hairdresser every five or six weeks and get it thinned out.

Teresa

Do you have a over or under active thyriod . My is under active . I wish it were over active then I could maybe lose some of this weight easyer . Becouse of the weight gain I am scard of becoming diabetic . I would not mind having some thicker hair .


Julia

Mine is underactive too


I was very disappointed at the doctor's visit last Friday. He looked at the results of the latest blood tests, and said that it was all well balanced, despite my ongoing symptoms. He has now said my issues are because of my weight - I have put on around thirty kilos (nearly 70 pounds) in the last few years. He said I need to do some exercise. I told him that I do. He said he means more than just going to work. Well, I told him that I often walk in the evening with my son - a gentle walk but a walk all the same. I play hockey which is finished now, and I also have taken up playing soccer, which gives me a really good run around.

He actually looked at me as though he did not believe me when I said I play sport and looked at my husband for confirmation. Of course, my husband said yes that I go to soccer every Tuesday night. If my husband had not been there I think he would have thought I was making it all up.

Anyway, he has decided to treat the fluid retention with a low dose of a diuretic every second day. Well, I took one yesterday - it did help get rid of the fluid for yesterday, and I actually felt lighter and better, it was easier to get around. My brain did not seem to be in such a fog either.

But today, the fluid is gathering again, as I did not take one of them this morning.

But to me, that is just treating the symptoms, not trying to find the cause. To him, the cause is overweight and lack of exercise.

I will let it go like this and see how this goes, but I think I will find another doctor. There is a doctor in the nearest city, just over an hour away. I used to visit his wife for a type of therapy, but it got too expensive as it is not covered by any insurance. Her husband is also into a more wholistic treatment of the person, rather than giving a tablet to address the symptoms. I will see how that goes. But not now. Maybe in the holidays.

Teresa

Teresa

Teresa,
I am sorry to hear that it did not go well . I have put on 44 pounds since starting my medications . I know that it is hurting my body bad . If you are not happy with the doctor then I would find a new one . You know your body and know if it is more then weight . I tried water pills and they did not work . I know my weight problem is my bipolar medications , I can lose a pound but is is like trying to swim up stream.

It must be frustrating for your doctor not to believe you . It was good that your husband was there . Do you take any medications that could be causing your weight gain ? I could stop my medications but then I would be a mess again , I realy do need them . Does he do the right kind of blood work to test for thyroid ? He should be testing your TSH levels as well as your T4 and T3 .Mine was just a hair off when I was first treated for mine .The medication was a big help for my thyroid . Each teat after that came back just a hair off and he would raise my medication until it came back level .You are right treating the symptoms is what you need . Most people that are bipolar do have thyroid problems and even if they are not a lot of doctors use thyroid medications to treat the bipolar , at least that is what my doctor told me .

I hope you can get you mess all straighted out so you can start feeling better soon.


Julia

He does all of those tests. The TSH is in the so-called normal range. But many people can be in the so-called normal range and still not be right for them. That is how I am.

I know I am better than I was when this was not diagnosed or tested, but I know that I am not as well as I could be either. I have too many symptoms to say everything is fine.

I know that the Epilim (sodium valproate) I am taking can cause weight gain in some people. I think I have that tendency.

Teresa

I take six meds at this time for bipolar , but the Seroqule and Abilify causes rapid weight gain and mostly stomach weight . That is what I have and I hate it . I look more pregnant then I do over weight . It is hard to find cloths that hide the weight .

Julia

Yes a lot of my weight is in that area too. I also look pregnant, and have been asked if I am. Even though I am 51. lol

Teresa

I know what you mean , I have been asked the same thing at 50 . What is even funnier is the look on their faces when I tell them know I am just heavy .ioi


Julia

I have 2 more days of the Partial Hospitalization Program then I am done . The phdoc put me on 300mg of Lithium . I will see what happens . I have heard a lot of good and bad things about it . Do you know anything about it ?


Julia

I took lithium as my med for a long time.

From my own perspective, I know that you would be wise to have a good knowledge of the side effects that occur with too high a dose. The difference between a therapeutic dose and a too-high toxic dose is not much.

For me, if my dose was such that my lithium levels were bottom or mid range of therapeutic, I seemed to cope, but when they raised them even a bit, and the blood tests showed I was still supposedly safe, I actually was not. I was experiencing a lot of the signs of toxicity. That's just me - most people would not have had toxicity at those blood levels.

It can affect your thyroid gland and make it even more sluggish, so it is likely that you will need a higher does of thyroid hormone.

I seem to be a person sensitive to weight gain on any of these meds and lithium was no exception for me.

Also, lithium is available in the normal tablets and also a slow release version. In the end, I could not stomach the normal ones without throwing up. I had to take the slow release types.

It can be very good for some people. I used to think I was one who it was very good for, despite side effects. But actually I am better on Epilim (sodium valproate). Back then, for me, I thought good was that I did not spiral into deep depression, and it did stop me doing that. But I am less irritable and so on on what I take now.

But I think everyone is different.

Teresa

So far the Lithium makes me a little weak and shaky . Also a little sluggish too . I have at this point only taken 4 pills . It is the toxic part of the medication that scars me . I just wish that I can find the right mix that will start working for me again . It has only been a year and a half and now they have to be changed again , I expected for them to work for at least 4 or more years before having to miss with them again . Maybe that was wishful thinking .


Julia

I would not decide if lithium is right for you immediately. It does take a few weeks to 'settle in' so to speak. I remember they were taking blood tests a lot on me in those first few weeks.

Teresa

I am om 9oomg of lithium . One in the morning and 2 at night for right now . I will be gone for a week in KY for Thanksgiving . Will be back on the 30th . It is a little scary being gone when just starting the med. I hope I will be all right until I get home . I don't whant anything to go worng . Plus it won't be fun going to KY with side affects .

Julia