[OhKay]

Over the last few months I've dropped almost 20lbs without trying. In fact, I've added RIDICULOUS amounts of chocolate to my diet.

I saw my PCP about a month ago for an unrelated issue and he didn't seem too concerned about the weight loss. I saw him today and he was alarmed at how skinny I am and I lost 8 lbs in a month.
I have a bilateral goiter and I probably have hyperthyroidism.
I go for a slew for tests tomorrow to test my thyroid function.

This is probably a med issue, but what if it isn't?

I have questions about how they'll treat this. Will they withdraw one or more meds?
The first suspect is obviously lithium. If I have to stop, how will they stabilize me?
The 2nd med is a drug called baclofen that I take for spasms related to MS. My MS is already getting worse and I need a dose increase because walking is becoming more difficult. I have no idea what my gait would be like if I stopped.

But what if this isn't a med issue?

Kay

[bizi]

keep posting kay....we are here and are listening to you.
Is the weight loss a good thing or are you alarmed?
if your thyroid is shot they can just give you thyroid meds and you keep the lithium. sending good thoughts your way.
(((((HUGS))))))
bizi

[Dmom3005]

Kay

Hugss We are here please keep talking to us.

Let us know how things are.

Donna

[Mari]

Dear Kay,

Good luck with the tests.
I pray that they can treat it successfully. You are resourceful. For now, take this one step at a time.

M

[waves]

Dear Kay

I am sorry to hear of this. How upsetting that your doc didn't "seem concerned" when you first reported the unusual weight loss... .

I hear you loud and clear as my labs just came back showing subclinical hypothyroidism. My case is mild so we may just wait and retest in a bit. On the other hand, I am not symptom-free so my pdoc may have other ideas...

In any event, I do know that what Bizi says is true. Thyroid problems can be treated, regardless of cause.

There are various drugs out there that can treat/prevent mania. If our meds must be changed, they will find something else for us. I have to think there must be an alternative to the baclofen too. Anyway, for now, you don't need to replace anything. Take the tests. Go from there.

Kay, I wish you well, and I will be keeping you in my thoughts. I believe things will work out somehow.

Now you hang in there, and keep us in the loop. We are here for you.

~ waves ~

[Brokenfriend]

Dear Kay My mother had MS for 30 years,or more till she passed away from something unrelated at 85. My sister has MS,and it affects different people differently. My sister Pam has had it for twenty years,and she is pretty upbeat about life,and proud of her two girls. I'm so sorry that you are afflicted with it. The illness seems to cause all MS suffers leg spasms,and my sister says there's a fiber optic type of feeling going down to her legs that burns. She says that she feels a mosquito sting type of feeling,then her leg starts to cramp. She has lost allot of weight also. She's not hungry,and she feels to warm if it's above 70 degrees. She had a numb area in the middle of her chest all of her life till she was diagnosed with MS. I'm sorry that you are suffering with this. BF

[OhKay]

Thank you for all the support guys!

I had my blood drawn yesterday at noon, and my PCP said they would know pretty quickly. No call, so I called at 2 and left a message for the nurse taking care of the test results today. It's about 5 here, and she's in the office until 5:30. I doubt I'll get a call back today.
I work best with the most info I can get my hands on. I feel out of control when I'm in limbo.

Bizi, It's been hard to get info on lithium induced hyperthyroidism cuz hypothyroidism is much more common with lithium. I read in a google book result that stopping lithium is recommended.
Usually anti-thyroid meds are given for 2-4 months to treat hyperthyroidism of any ideology.
I wasn't overweight before this all started. Weight loss would be a good thing though, but in this context it is alarming.
Waves, I hope that your hypothyroidism is transient. I'm sorry you have another issue to deal with though.

I take 20mg of baclofen 3 times a day because it's less sedating, but I take 4mg of zanaflex every night because of severe and extremely painful spasms in my legs. When I try to get out of bed to pee at night, I can't bear weight on my legs. I'm crawling now and sliding off the toilet seat. The zanaflex was working... I'm walking like crap and both meds need to be increased. I'm probably going to need botox injections. I don't think it's the baclofen anyway. Lithium is a better suspect. So, I'm not going to worry about that now.

My concern is that it may be Graves Disease. It's not uncommon to have more than one autoimmune disease.

Steve, Most people with MS pass away from something else. I'm glad that your mom was able to live to 85. I'm sorry that your sister is burdened by MS and am impressed by her positive attitude. I used to be like that.
I was diagnosed at 27, permanently disabled at 28, and am 31 now. I just keep getting worse. I have progressive MS.

It's 5:33 now. I'll get no answers today. UGH!!!
I'm going to the PCP's office early tomorrow to get a copy of the test results. I still have most of my nursing texts.

Thank you for the hugs Donna.
Mari, thank you for the encouragement.

Kay

[bizi]

Hugs to you kay, you have so much on your plate.
(((((HUGS)))))
bizi

[Mari]

Dear Kay,

Waiting for those phone calls can feel like forever.

I am pulling for you. 'Hoping for good news.

M

[waves]

Dear Kay,

I hope you get the answers you need quickly, and also that they can adjust your meds - or change to something more effective so you can walk better again.

(((hugs)))

~ waves ~