Posted by Chloe on November 19, 2001, at 11:01:05
In reply to Re:Lithium/thyroid+neuropathic pain? » Chloe, posted by Mitch on November 19, 2001, at 9:39:05
Mitch
All of what you say is quite useful. I was so depressed and suicidal over the weekend I considered going to an ER. But then I thought, the docs are just going to think I am totally nuts, becuasue "I won't take my Li because my hair hurts." I think they would have put me on an AP and back on the Li and send me home in a few hours.
I think this would have happened because there is no rash or flaking on my scalp. It just really hurt when I move my hair or lie on it! It does sound crazy. But I do know it's real. And the hair pain hasn't greatly improved since I stopped the Li two nights ago. But hopefully with time and increased neurontin, it will get better???I wish I knew what kind of doc to go to, to straightent out all this mess. My pdoc clearly is out of her realm, and thinks it's some skin condition that I am having from the Li. An invisible skin condition?...She also didn't seem concerned about the TSH.
Man, this is so upsetting to me that I can't get a good med regime that I can tolerate. I really miss the "cognitive dulling" of the Li. I LIKE not being too focused, or so aware of everything. Li just turn down the volume and that was such a relief. AND I am off the Li and still have scalp pain...GRR
Who knows, maybe I have just gone nuts! Is neuropathic pain even a side effect of Li or other mood stabilizers, like Trileptal, the other culprit for me?
Thanks again, Mitch.
Chloe>
> Chloe,
>
> I mentioned 2.0 being the "top" side of the TSH level but failed to explain why. I was on an "official" endocrinology site, and it is true much higher TSH values were used in the past to "call" hypothyroidism. It is now recommended that endocrinologists treat people whose TSH levels are now between 2.0 and the older threshold of 5.5 you mentioned. Sorry, I don't have the link.
> I wonder if your hair follicle pain is some sort of neuropathic type pain. That should respond well to Neurontin. You also were on Tegretol in the past and it should have helped, too (maybe add back the TEG at a lower dose that doesn't get your guts churning?). I also think TCA's are used for that as well. BTW, SSRI meds tend to *aggravate* pain for me. I have some arthritis in my right ankle. Well, when I am on higher doses of SSRI, I almost limp when I walk at times it is so painful (arthralgia). Zoloft and Prozac both cause fairly nasty lower back pain as well. Celexa for some reason seems to spark pain in the tendons for the striatal muscles in my neck. I don't know which TCA is used the most for neuropathic pain-I think amitriptyline?? Well, there are a few more options to think about.
> Hope this helps,
>
> Mitch
poster:Chloe
thread:84008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011113/msgs/84649.html