Thyroid meds??
 

Hey All!
I'm just wondering if any of you are taking Thyroid meds that are helping with your PN? I've been having lots of achiness in my arms and legs. The last time I saw my dr. he said he wanted me to try these 2 Thyroid meds...Levothroxine and Cytomel. I'm trying them for a month and then reporting back to him. Well after being on them for 2 weeks my pain is much less! I'm still taking Lyrica but it's not like I have to take it around the clock.....every 4 hrs like I have been doing because the pain was SO bad.
So anyway.....I guess this means I'm lacking some Thyroid in my system and now have to take 2 more prescriptions....like I don't take enough already...$$$! But I'm happy to have less pain.......I can't seem to win!

I've been on Armour and Cytomel since 2002. I notice no difference in the neuropathy. But then, I feel like I need a disclaimer that says: results not typical. :D

fanfaire
:cool:

HI Fanfaire!
Well I didn't expect any results from my taking the thyroid meds but they do seem to be helping with my pain. I just hate taking 2 more prescriptions since I take so many already.
All of my tests have come back ok.....but I guess that doesn't always show a problem.

My PN...
 

was mostly due to hypothyroidism.
I've posted that many times, so I won't go into it again.

I also have some arthritis, but that does not cause nearly the pain I had when my thyroid was messed up.

You want to make sure you do not take TOO much replacement hormone. That leads to osteoporosis.
So keep it tightly controlled.

Good Morning Mrs. D,
Thanks for your post. I'll mention to the dr. about the amount of meds I'm taking and the Osteoporosis, I sure don't need that on top of everything else! I'll look for your posts about your Thyroid problems. Thanks again!

Hi. Even if not from this med I would encourage you to get a bone scan if you haven't. I have osteo and am 29 and my mom has it too and is on meds for that. I know its not going to fix your other pain issues but at least may prevent other issues.

I take both of those meds, though I take a slow release Cytomel which is compounded. I can't say that correcting my thyroid changed the neuropathy, but it still makes a huge difference in how I feel.

hI ROXIE
 

I HAVE BEEN ON LEVOXYL FOR YEARS, IT WAS IT WAS LOWERED 1 YEAR AGO, ,HONEST DON'T KNOW. IF IT HELPS ARE NOT BEEN ON IT YEARS.
wHY DID HE SAY IT WOULD HELP pn. I'M BEHIND AND IN WORST PAIN I'VE
EVER BEEN IN. fRIDAY bOB HAD SURGERY,HE'S FAIR..i KOW SHOES OFF,
BROTHER FROM MI. IS BACK HOME,SO IS SON AND DAUGHTER-IN-LAW.
TOMORROW i GO TO SE dR. JOHN MCdONALD A WASHINGTON VERY WELL
KNOWN NEUROLOGISH IN BARNES ST. LOUIS AREA..HE HAS BEEN A DR. OF MINE FOR A FEW YEARS..ALSO CHRISTOPHER REEVES,MY BROTHER AND FAMILY INSIST,GOOOD RESON'S. ROXIE WILL PUT IT ON MY LIST..

i WAS A BIT AFRAID WHEN THEY LEFT CRYING TO BE HONEST..HEY MOM HOLD YOUR GRANDBABY,THE 1 I HAVEN'T SEEN,LITTLE OZZY,WITH A NEW TOOTH,
AND MY SON GRADY,MY BABY. THANK YOU,ALSO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE
FOR YOUR OFFER,YOU ARE A BLESSING. SORRY ROXIE AND ALL FOR BUTTING IN. GETTING A THOROUGH CHECKUP NEXT WEEK,WEEKEND I SCREAMED AND BIT MY LIPS...WHEN OZZY SMILES YOUR GOING TO GET BIT. THANKS FOR UNDERSTANDING,IF YOU DON'T THROW ME OFF...lOVE YOU ALL,THANKS SUE

I have been on thyroid medication since I was in my 30's. I take Synthroid 75MCG. My doctor has me do blood work at least once a year to make sure the dosage does not need adjustment.

Roxie, did your doctor put you on this medication without a blood test? I guess I don't understand the correlation between thyroid (high/low) and PN. My arms and legs ache sometimes, but I just attributed it to working outside or just the PN condition.

I was only diagnosed about 7 years ago, so I don't believe my low thyroid played a part in my PN.

Same Here
 

I DON'T SEE WHY ARE HOW THEY WOULD DO THAT WITHOUT BLOOD TEST.
I ALSO BEEN ON IT SINCE EARLY THIRTIES 61 NOW,MY ENDNDRO. HANDLES
THAT . mY SON SAID SAME THING INTERESTING. :eek::eek::hug: SUE

I had the worst
 

pain in my feet since before my son was born. It was like walking on broken glass shards, esp in the morning when I first got up.

30 yrs ago I did not think it was a thyroid issue..or even PN. I thought it was from standing on my feet all day for 13 hr shifts, etc.

After my son was born, my goiter grew. But my blood work was fairly normal.
Then I had an episode, resembling a heart attack, which was not the heart at all. But during all those tests, my doctor recommended an Endo. He was rude and said it was all in my head...but relented to a technicium scan because he felt the swelling. The rest is history... after being raised to 75mcg Synthroid, I stablized there. My feet went back to normal after about a year. In the beginning there was a lot of tingling--which was them waking up.
My carpal tunnel improved also.
http://thyroid.about.com/cs/symptoms...s/a/carpal.htm
http://www.tsh.org/askthedoctor/carpaltunnel.html

The way it works is that hypothyroid people produce a tissue substance that clogs the tarsal and carpal ligaments. This creates the PN symptoms.

Even today if I have alot of edema, from overusing salt etc, I get some symptoms back. So I use a diuretic about twice a week to control that.

My last TSH was 1.24, down from 2.0 from a year previously. As long as it is below 2, I don't push for increase. I know the connection between over use of thyroid and osteoporosis.

Mrs D
 

THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART,YOU JUST DON'T KNOW
HOW HELPFUL YOU HAVE JUST BEEN TO ME. bLESS YOU ALL.:) sUE

MrsD
 

I also thank you for the links. I have never had carpal tunnel and before I retired was a word processing specialist for over 30 years. I guess what I am saying is being diagnosed with low thyroid in early 30's and just being diagnosed with PN 7 years ago could this be related somehow? I guess I'll never know.

I never had the numbness/shooting pains in my feet when I was younger although in thinking back I always felt I had "weak" legs. So maybe there is a correlation - but 25+ years later??

Are any of you here on thyroid replacement and losing a LOT of hair? I see that this can be a side effect of Synthroid, although don't understand why. I thought that happened w/hypothyroidism...

Has everyone had their complete thyroid removed?

I don't know if the replacement hormone has anything to do with the pain level or not, I don't think I have been on it long enough to tell. I am only on Synthroid. I don't know anything about the other drug.


Cathie

No, not losing any hair other than the normal. I keep it short and it is thinner than when I was young. I remember having to have my hair thinned out! :eek: Wish I had some of that back.

I was under the impression that losing hair and thinning eyebrows was something that happens with hypothyroid before treatment, not after. Could it be your medication is not at the proper level yet? Believe me, I don't know, just asking. I do know of a wonderful forum, it's www.realthyroidhelp.com and I have read some excellent info there.

I have been trying to find a knowledgable doctor here who can look beyond the "normal range" and see the person. I truly believe I have adrenal/thyroid problems. I do believe I am hypothyroid along with adrenal problems and just can't get a doctor to listen to me. I always had thick eyebrows, now they have greatly thinned, especially the outside halves. My metabolism is shot, I gained over 25# while eating a 900-1200 a day calorie diet. I have celiac disease and so many intolerances now. The only bad thing I eat is ice cream and not much of that, no sugar, no breads, no grains, no red meats, no nightshades. One doctor wanted to jump start my metabolism by having me eat 100 calories every 2 hours, that was tough and didn't work. I walk 20 mins nearly everyday, at a good pace, to music (I take my headset and walk with Gary Allan, Josh Turner, Delbert McClinton, Keith Urban). I have not lost 1#. I go to bed exhausted, well, I fall asleep on the couch shortly after my walk, I wake up exhausted in the morning. I have a low body temp, average around 97.4. When I come back from walking, my body temp drops. I force myself to eat, I have no appetite, of course, I do take Topamax for my headaches, but I had no appetite before Topamax either. Even the Topamax has not caused me to lose weight!

Just recently, I have been diagnosed with borderline asthma, which I just read yesterday is another symptom of adrenal fatigue. My PCP sent me to a endocrinologist because of elevated antibodies and he told me I am high risk, but within the normal range and to come back in one year. That was last spring. Antiboldies attack your thyroid and kill it eventually. Now I carry an inhaler with me, but I am consider a healthy person. I have neuropathy, but I am a healthy person. Why don't I feel healthy like they keep saying I am?

I am so sick of feeling so horrible. Do you have to be on your deathbed to not be in the "normal range"? I'm not sure where to turn anymore. I am not a hypocondriac, yet I know this body. I spent over 20 yrs trying to figure out why I was so sick because of celiac disease and no doctor ever figured that out, we did and I don't want to wait another 20 yrs to figure this mystery out. Too much of my life has been wasted not feeling good already.

Sorry, rant over for now!

two aspects...
 

There are two aspects to thyroid treatment.

1) T4
2) T3

Taking Synthroid alone is T4. This version of the hormone is dependent on conversion in tissues to the active T3. Zinc and selenium (especially selenium) are cofactors for this
and if missing in the diet (or taking other drugs that deplete it), the conversion is less than optimal.

Small amounts of T3 are secreted from a normal thyroid, to help with immediate stress issues (trauma, cold temps). So some doctors now supplement with it as well. It has to be carefully done, because this is ACTIVE and will tear down bone and also speed up the heart if too high.

http://www.cenegenicsfoundation.org/...ects_Low_T.pdf

Do not take high doses of selenium daily however, keep it moderate if you do so. Some new studies show high selenium intake correlates with diabetes II.
So 100mcg daily is a good level to strive for. (or 200mcg every other day).
Most good multivits have at least 50mcg of selenium in them.

Roxie, from my own
 

'thyroid experiences' I would say you've gotten a lot of good advice. I have been on 'synthroid' for well over 15 years, since getting to perimenopause and then beyond. I have had probably almost all of the synthroid dose variations there are, exceptfor the very lowest and highest.
I recommend in addition to the sites suggested that you go to the following:
http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum....oid&redirCnt=1
This is one very active group, and there are a lot of good people there that help. In my case, I've referred you to the Hashimotos' or severely HYPOthyroid group. There is also a section for those with HYPER-thyroid issues [Grave's Disease]. There are lots of references to papers, articles and some good research sites that can put all of it into perspective.
Know that, finding the right thyroid meds, and doses is really a SKILL! When first having the hypo-thyroid issues, it took over 4-5 years to 'get it right'. There are also lots of advocates for the Armour and other 'natural'' replacement therapies...there are lots of pro's and con's to that and to the synthetic treatments. The need for therapy help isn't an issue tho. the hardest part is 'living' thru all the 'tweaking' of the dosages, at least in my opinion.
Another good site to try and take in is: http://www.endocrineweb.com/
I have found it both fascinating and scary that those little glands do so much work for us, and if any of them go klaphooey, well, we become a mess! More I learn, more I realize I have to learn MORE than I ever wanted to, but must.
Just remember, it may or may not all be connected. But what started the 'ball' rolling is hindsight. Most docs just treat the 'what there is now'. So we all have to go in informed and ask just the rite questions. Good luck! - j

Hair
 

Dana do I remember those thinners,now short hair and getting thinner.
This is interesting,because son with Thyroid Cancer is here...He said
until they ajusted the meds. He was tired all the time, going to school
was hard..He was 12 now 30,he still has to have it ajusted...

When something changes i always seem to go to whats the newest
med they put me on..Once again thanks to all,got some reading and
more learning to do...Bob doing much better...Sue

When my thyroid went into total
 

UNDERDRIVE, my hair fell out, and every thyroid symptom to boot! At the time I was attributing it to my CIDP, which also assaults some of the same systems. DUH? No one tested per se for the 'anti-body' aspects and my thyroid dose was simply 'upped'. That the two-plus-two equals IMMUNE SYSTEM ALERT! never ever occurred to anyone - at the time. Hindsight is a luxury, really but it does help to put puzzle pieces together ... sort of. When you have one 'immune assult' on your body, expect a lot of well 'immune insults'!
It only took 3-1/2 years for my body to SHOUT out that 'there's a problem HERE!' I am grateful it did, I'd sorta suspected it, just couldn't put my finger on it.
I had specifically some auto-immune thyroid tests for T-3 and T-4 they were very specific tests, If you want I can look up what they were, But the Immune numbers were 'startling' to say the least. After reading on other boards I found my #'s were rather high, but not as HIGH as that of other folks. Some small comfort in that, I suppose. SOOO DON"T PANIC! Yet. Keep your cool and find [I truly hope and all] a good doc to deal with it. :hug:'s - j

low zinc levels...
 

also cause hair loss.
Prednisone can cause hair loss.
Prednisone also depletes many nutrients including zinc.

Low zinc also impacts thyroid.

So there might be a connection here to nutrient depletion.

Prednisone depletes:

Calcium
magnesium
potassium
Selenium
zinc
folic acid
Vit D
Vit C

Here is a list of drugs that impact hair...
http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-a...uced-hair-loss

Well, they took me off of Synthroid, at least temporarily, and told me to call if I felt worse... Gee, which part of worse do I call about??? :) :) :)

Maybe I will be able to better judge the pain relationship, Roxie. I have only missed 2 days now, so it is hard to tell anything just yet... Also, pain assessment is kind of hard to judge when Prednisone is up...

Thanks MrsD. I see several connections to hair loss drugs on the site you posted. I have been on most for quite a while and not had hair loss like this... I am off of Calcium, Vit. D and Magnesium in preparation for Osteoporosis next week.

Cathie

This has all been interesting to me. I have some achiness in my ankles and arms. I have what my doc described as a mild case of hypothyroidism. He wanted to put me on Armour Thyroid, but it caused bloating. We tried Thyrolar, which worked well, but then there was some problem getting it. Now, I take Synthroid. He referred me to this website:
http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/
There is the possibility that I might take additional Iodine.
BTW, prior to taking the Synthroid, I had gained weight and had trouble with my hair falling out.
I switched to a mild shampoo (no detergents) and got on more and better vitamins. Also, exercised and ate healthier foods. This, combined with the Synthroid...seem to do the trick in terms of my hair and overall good health.
However, the entire thing has left me wondering about the Thyroid and its need to be monitored. IT seems if it is off, even just a little, it can cause a lot of problems.

HI All!
Thanks for all the great info about thyroid meds. I'll check out all the links you provided. I see my dr. on Tues and I'll be interested as to what he has to say about the thyroids meds helping with my severe achiness in my arms and legs. I still feel SO draggy, I'd love to have some med that helped with that!
I've had a full body scan so I know my bones are ok at this point and I've had MANY blood tests for T3 and T4 before that all showed my thyroid was ok.......as far at that can tell...tho he said that doesn't all prove anything! All this can really drives ya nuts!
I hope everyone is having a great weekend. It's almost 80 degrees, sunny and beautiful in Houston this weekend and I love it! Take care!!

Roxie, good to hear
 

that it's not all going downhill? Yes, 'draggy' is what both thyroid problems and low calcium/vit-d and magnesium felt with me. It's the feeling that you have to 'drive' or 'force' youself to just do basic normal things.

Yorkiemom/Cathie? Yes, that 'which part of worse' is a durn good way to describe it all. You had to go off the 'synthroid'? WOW! That's serious testing!

As for losing hair? Well, is it because of the original 'condition/symptom/problem', or the meds for each, or other additional 'conditions/symptoms/problems' and/or the meds for those? Or, all of the above? Just be the very bestest friend to your skin and scalp as you can be? You have had your body 'insulted/assaulted'-whatever- in many ways not normal, so you use the best lotions/potions/salves and/or supplements you can find to keep that part of your 'systems' supported. I have to tell you, I've a larger 'army' of the lotions, etc. than I do meds and painkillers!

:hug:'s to all! - j

Let us know how it's going...good and bad.

Roxie, forgive me, but I have lost track here. I can't remember if you still have your thyroid or not... Did you have thyroid antibodies?

It should be interesting to hear what your doc thinks about the thyroid meds helping your pain. You mentioned feeling draggy. Has anyone tried you on a low dose of Provigil?

Dahlek: I don't know which part/med is causing the problem, maybe it is just an exacerbation of earlier hair loss.... Autoimmune maybe?

Cathie

HI Cathie, Sorry I didn't answer sooner here.
Yes I still have my thyroid. The Thyroid meds really help with my achiness and over all pain but now I can't take them because really bother my bladder--Interstatial Cystitis....so now I'm not taking the Thyroid meds and letting my bladder heal again......what a pain!
No I haven't tried Provigill, what does that med do?

It is prescribed for me to help with the fatigue, although it does not eliminate it completely. I still have to sleep during some days(like naps). I notice that it seems to help my recall a lot. (Gee, maybe they should give this to Alzheimer's patients.) I haven't had any problem with it so far...

A friend here was able to obtain samples from her doctor; maybe yours would do the same if he thinks you are a candidate for trying this...

Cathie

HI Cathie,
After I get my bladder situation ok again I'm going to ask my dr. if I can try cutting the pills in two and see if smaller amounts bother my bladder as much. I'd really like to be able to take the thyroid meds. I wish there were thyroid patches but guess there's not :(
I do feel like J says......dragging putting one foot in front of the other sometimes because I'm just totally wiped out. It's an awful feeling to have!

Hi Roxie:

I have noticed that some of my other meds seem to irritate my Interstitial Cystitis like that, although I didn't notice that with the thyroid medication.

Singulair does, which is for my lungs. They had a drug called Urimax, which really helped bladder pain a lot, but I found out they took it off of the market. Too bad, it really helped with that pain and also the all over burning, for some reason.

Bladder pain is not the most fun, in fact, it is pretty miserable...

Cathie