OT-Medication

[crazycanuck]

Ok, sittting here at my computer with a frozen right hand, sore wrist and plain annoyed...Ya know why...I haven't taken my thyroid meds regularly...OOPS....

So, because i've not been taking the eutroxig regularly...i've not been able to bike properly...use my mouse etc for a few weeks...My hand even went numb this morning at the pool....

Ventured to the dr & had myself checked out...asked me if i was on any meds..yep..eutroxig..have i been taking it regularly...nope...it's incovnenient & i just forget....

So, the dr said it's similar to symptoms of Carpal tunnel syndrome...hmmm..

Went to the way cool physio who said no prob not sts...something to do with a nerve-so i have to think about my neck/body position while at the computer & on the bikes...

Homework for biking!
c

[maillotpois]

So thyroid stuff can cause numb hands, carpal tunnell, etc.??? I never knew that.

I have hashimoto's thyroiditis (auto-immune low thyroid) - get the body temp fluctuations wildly, even on the levoxyl. I'm pretty religious about taking the stuff, though. The tricky thing was food interactions - so I take it right before bed along with my benadryl.

[makbike]

I too suffer from thyroid disease (Hasimoto's). The effects of hypothyroidism are far reaching (dry skin, numbness, feeling cold, weight gain, constipation, etc). I am to this day amazed at how taking my little pill the morning has turned my life around - gone are the days of extreme fatigue, unexplained weight gain (when I gain weight I know it is because of my eating habits now), not running around in 90F temps in long sweat pants and a sweat shirt, etc.

I too am forgetful so I found it helpful to put a pill box next to the bathroom sink along with a bottle of water. I take my pill first thing in the morning (given the bathroom is the first room I visit every morning I figured I might remember my pill if I put it there). The pill box also serves as a visual reminder and keeps me from taking multiple doses. It is important to take this medication on an empty stomach (at least 1 hour, perferably 2 hours before a meal). I've read that one should also avoid dairy products +- 2hours so as not to reduce the absorbtion of the thyroid replacement (I don't know how true this is but I do try to follow it as best I can).

[maillotpois]

Funny how you mention it turned your life around - I felt the same way. I got Hashimotos after having a child, and I just figured that my lot in life as a full time working mother was to be tired all the time. Dead tired like I'd never experienced before. And fat!

It was a huge relief to find out that I wasn't destined to be listless and fat for the rest of my life. Slightly chubby and occasionally tired I can live with!

[Running Mommy]

I don't have thyroid issues, though I am borderline. I've had to be retested a few times... But I do have cyclists palsy- or a compression of the ulnar nerve. Did it at IM over a month ago, and it's still hanging in there. The top of my thumb is sore to the touch. I can't put my fingers together and extend them at the same time (like to wave) and I have strength issues in my thumb and index finger. My doctor said there wasn't much they could do other than splint it, but it's really starting to bug me! I can't really swim as a result of it because I have no pull in that hand! arggh!!! I think I may go back and have her look at it again...

[btchance]

I have hypothyroidism also, I've been taking the levothyroxine for about a month. The only way I can take it with the food restrictions is to take it first thing when I get up. Otherwise, there is no way through the day where I can go 3+ hrs without eating. My body just won't let me.

I haven't noticed a huge difference in how I feel yet, but the Doctor started me on the lowest dose and just rechecked it today, so the dose may be going up. Hopefully I feel better then. We'll see.

Oh, and I've also heard of the carpal tunnel like symptoms from low thyroid. Can't remember what causes it though.

[makbike]

btchance, hang in there for it does get better. Thyroid medication has to be increased slowly or you can go to the opposite extreme and by hyperthyroid (not a pleasant experience). It took my doctor and myself nearly of a year of tinkering to find the right dose for me and oh how nice it is. It is so nice to have my life back and to function like a normal being. It is even nicer to know I was not crazy when I took myself to an endocrinologist (long story short the internal med doc I was seeing kept insisting I was simply depressed because I was a female - no gender bias there). You will be amazed at the difference the thyroid supplement will make in your life once they find the appropriate dose. Good luck!

[Tuckervill]

RE the ulnar nerve problems...I have pretty severe carpal tunnel syndrome due to having been a medical transcriptionist in a past life. When I say severe, I mean, my right hand is numb right now, and at rest I feel it curling up as if it were atrophying. Riding doesn't cause any more trouble than anything else, so I keep riding.

I have never had it treated, but when my right hand can no longer hold a paintbrush or something like that, I take a couple of B6 tablets. I think the commonly found "recipe" for CTS is a few B6s, some B12s and some other B, but I spoke to a dietician friend about that much B vitamin and I just don't want to tax my liver that much.

However--and this is anecdotal, I know--a couple of B6s is like a MIRACLE cure for me. Makes my hand usable again, in just hours. The first time I needed it (time crunch, painting inside my house with movers arriving with the stuff the next day), I used the "recipe". By the next time I had a serious episode that I couldn't afford, I had done a little more research and found it was the B6 that could be the "active" ingredient. Thinking the "smallest effective dose" was the way to go, I took 1 and then later another. It only takes two for me to see noticeable change. Later I take more, if I'm not getting enough relief. Ibuprofen usually helps with pain, but not the numbness and weakness. B6 helps that.

Maybe it would work for you.

Karen

[crazycanuck]

Am sitting here trying to stay awake...at 10am... this will be short post as i'm having problems remembering atm...

I just wanted to say yep i have hashimoto's and was diagnosed a few years ago..

I didn't tell anyone about my foot being numb nor part of my leg. I couldn't walk well on my right foot yesterday....I couldn't cut a tomato very well this am as i couldn't grip the knife well.

All i need to know is how long does it take before i start to feel normal again??? I'm going to call the dr this afternoon and ask but i don't want to bother him...I'm off work for a few days as it hurts to hold the mouse, type for long periods of time, walk on my right leg etc...

Might go to the pool (will walk....!!!) and do some water walking...

c

[tulip]

You don't want to bother the doctor?? Puleeze--that's why we pay them, it's their job! Call your doc, Canuk! You deserve to feel WELL!

I admire y'all for your persistance and good attitudes and biking even though sometimes not feeling well. I don't have thyroid problems. I have eye problems and everytime I go out on my bike I'm so thankful that I still have sight in my good eye! I also know that it might not last...it's important to live every moment, you know.

Okay, it's late. enought philosophy for today. Good night.

[J-hawk biker]

I'm another one with hypothyroidism. It can definitely play havoc with your body until you get the right med. dosage.

[crazycanuck]

Ladies, thank you so much for your support!!

I'm feeling a bit more normal now. My hand isn't right but i'm taking one more day from anything strenuous as we believe it also has something to do with the borrowed bike (neck position) and work position (neck too).

THanks again.

Crazyc

[velogirl]

Undiagnosed Hashi's for years (probably a decade or so). So frustrating to be terribly sick and not know why. I won't even mention the weight gain -- okay, I will -- 40 pounds in 3 years (and I ride 15-20 hours a week). Argh! Neither of my endos ever tested me for Hashi's (I was misdiagnosed as hyper -- please!). My ENT tested me for it for curiousity's sake in my pre-op tests before surgery for thyca. BTW, docs will tell you thyca is unrelated to Hashi's, but I've met way too many thycans who also had Hashi's to believe that, so keep getting tested and if you have nodules get an ultrasound or RAI scan every year.


You will feel better. I'm 17 months post-op and we've finally got my meds at a level where I feel fantastic! I'm on both levoxyl and cytomel (the cytomel gives me the little kick I need). Luckily my endo treats symptoms in addition to labs.

[betagirl]

I don't have thyroid issues, but just wanted to post that I can relate to the medication thing. When I first was diagnosed with crohn's, I was put on 16 pills a day. I was like what are you INSANE?! I don't even like to take cold medication. That was short lived thankfully. But over the past 4 years I've been on a variety of medications and have an awful time taking them regularly. I go through bouts of being a "good patient" and then I get sloppy. Have you considered using a pill box? I know, it's a sad thing to think about but it helps me remember to take all the dang things. I recently took a 5 month med holiday, and well that didn't go over too well. Anyway, I just wanted to say I understand the whole taking medication daily bit and how hard it can be. Even though it logically makes sense to just take it, we always can find a way to forget.

Hang in there.

[margo49]

My SO has Hashimoto"s and I will show him this thread in the morning. He also has Carpals Tunnels which so has 3/4 of the kibbutz over 40 because of horticultural secateurs so nobody complains - it is regarded as normal !
He has the tiredness and weight gain. He swears by a "no whites diet" as much as possible - sugar,flour and takes some pill (I'm hopeless with names since chemo - I differentiate by colour and/or size except pain-killers at which I became an expert after nearly getting squashed to death by a tractor)
Thanx 4 all this info