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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by lattecrzy on October 8, 2001, at 4:30:09
A year and a half a go before my Pdoc started prescribing for me, he tested my thyroid and said it was ok(I think it was a THC test). I have been on thyroid meds for years (low thyroid). I needed a refill for my regular prescription of meds so I went to my PCP who wanted to run a thyroid test, (THC). She is a new doctor for me. Now she wants to increase my level of levothyroxine. I'm feeling uncomfortable about that and I will bring that up with her.
My thyroid levels have been monitored pretty well over the past several years with T3 and T4 tests taken by past doctors whose results I need to get for comparison. The question I am asking is, with the medicine I am taking, does it change the level of my thyroid? I am currently taking depakote and topamax.
I would appreciate anyone's help!
Posted by Mitch on October 8, 2001, at 9:05:46
In reply to BP2 and thyroid, posted by lattecrzy on October 8, 2001, at 4:30:09
> A year and a half a go before my Pdoc started prescribing for me, he tested my thyroid and said it was ok(I think it was a THC test). I have been on thyroid meds for years (low thyroid). I needed a refill for my regular prescription of meds so I went to my PCP who wanted to run a thyroid test, (THC). She is a new doctor for me. Now she wants to increase my level of levothyroxine. I'm feeling uncomfortable about that and I will bring that up with her.
>
> My thyroid levels have been monitored pretty well over the past several years with T3 and T4 tests taken by past doctors whose results I need to get for comparison. The question I am asking is, with the medicine I am taking, does it change the level of my thyroid? I am currently taking depakote and topamax.
>
> I would appreciate anyone's help!Depakote tends to promote a syndrome of "metabolic slowing" that presents itself generally as fatigue and weight gain. It is possible it could have depressed your thyroid function-lithium definitely can. You may need to increase your T4 a tad to offset it-there shouldn't be anything to get overly concerned about, though. Just make sure your pdoc and your PCP are on the same page.
Posted by Noa on October 9, 2001, at 15:33:32
In reply to Re: BP2 and thyroid » lattecrzy, posted by Mitch on October 8, 2001, at 9:05:46
I know lithium can lower thyroid hormone levels--I became more hypothyroid while I was on lithium. Sorry, I don't know about depakote and topomax. But I do suggest you have the more detailed tests you used to get to monitor your levels.
Posted by Mark H. on October 9, 2001, at 18:28:14
In reply to BP2 and thyroid, posted by lattecrzy on October 8, 2001, at 4:30:09
Dear Latte,
Forgive me if this is too obvious to mention, but the thyroid supplements you are taking affect all of the blood thyroid tests, including the TSH. Now if your TSH were high, despite taking thyroid supplementation, then it might be indicative of something that needs correcting, yes?
In my experience, if I take too much thyroid, within 2 days I have heart palpitations, difficulty getting to sleep, and a sense of nervousness and anxiety in general. It is not necessarily wrong to experiment with increasing your T4, especially if you are experiencing a general sense of slowness and fatigue, but my totally non-professional advice is to listen to your body and tell your doctor what it's saying.
Best wishes,
Mark H.
Posted by Chloe on October 9, 2001, at 19:31:18
In reply to Re: BP2 and thyroid, posted by Mark H. on October 9, 2001, at 18:28:14
> In my experience, if I take too much thyroid, within 2 days I have heart palpitations, difficulty getting to sleep, and a sense of nervousness and anxiety in general.I know very little about thyroid stuff, so excuse my budding in. But the heart pals and nervousness, etc that you describe is what I feel all the time since I started Li from my BP2. I was under the impression that Li *lowered* thyroid hormone. Is it possible the Li is increasing my thyroid level? Or am I just more "jazzy" on Li?
One other note, I went to the gyn today because I have had excessive bleeding. She ordered a TSH and CBC. She said sometimes thyroid problems can cause bleeding...Hum, is this just a coincidence??
(BUT, of course I couldn't get the labs drawn today because I have this weird insurance that only draws out of two labs in the state (more than an hour away), or it's not covered by insurance. GRRR Makes me so mad...)
Interesting subject...
Thanks, Chloe
Posted by MB on October 11, 2001, at 20:10:01
In reply to Re: BP2 and thyroid, posted by Mark H. on October 9, 2001, at 18:28:14
I have the heart palpitation/anxiety/fatigue (like wired to the point of fatige, if that makes sense) problem. I've been in to have my TSH tested, and I've been to a cardiologist for an EKG. The TSH came out to be in the low range of normal, and the cardiologist thinks there was no problem...he said that some extra beats and some skipped beats are common on even low doses of thyroxine. Do you think lowering my dose of l-thyroxine might lessen the side effects?
Posted by lattecrzy on October 12, 2001, at 4:16:41
In reply to BP2 and thyroid, posted by lattecrzy on October 8, 2001, at 4:30:09
I spoke to my Pdoc the other day and he said the increase of lthyroxine won't affect my other meds so I guess I'll go along with the change my GP wants for now. I guess I'll take a wait and see attitude. If I have any problems I'll just have to bring it up with her. She didn't order the T3 or T4 tests, but as I say, I'll wait and see.
Thanks for the feedback.
This is the end of the thread.
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