OT-Medication

[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