I have hypothyroidism and have been on medication for it since August last year, I'm having regular blood tests to monitor my thyroid levels. I also thought my symptoms were because of that but 6 months later I still have the symptoms. I also thought it was the menopause as I had my ovaries removed but again 6 months on HRT and I still have symptoms. I feel like alot of things have been ruled out. So now trying to find out what is wrong. I'm waiting for a appointment to see rheumatology.
if you still have symptoms then you are not being treated "effectively"
just having a TSH in the "normal" range is not good enough. there is a HUGE difference between "normal range" and "optimal" - you want to be optimal.
I too am fairly early in my thyroid treatment and still working toward optimal (finally diagnosed last Sept, despite years of suspecting it and trying to get docs to listen to me - had all the classic symptoms (except goiter) for a very long time prior to diagnosis - but they refused to listen because my TSH was still within the "normal" range - albeit at the upper end of that range.
Most docs are not up on current research in regards to hypothyroidism, and still rely on a test that has been proven over and over to NOT be an accurate indicator of thyroid health by itself. You need a complete thyroid panel to get a better overview of what is going on, including thyroid antibody tests.. If your primary care provider is not willing to work with you on this, then I would suggest trying to find a different provider - one that is more aware of the current research, and is willing to work with you to correct your
symptoms, not rely on just a single test.
There are multiple resources available - from actual medical studies to "patient to patient" discussions about what does and doesnt work.
One that I found years ago is "Stop the Thyroid Madness" - both a website and book title, written by a patient for other patients... the author has also collaborated on a 2nd a book written by and for doctors on current research, why the TSH alone is not enough, and so on.
Another is the "Thyroid Change" website that also discusses current research and thinking.
and for the record, while Hashimoto's is the most common form of hypothyroidism, not all hypothyroid is Hashi's. It is important to find out the reason for the hypo condition to effectively treat the problem.
I've been put on nortriptyline and duloxetine, has anyone had any experience with these medications ?
yes, i have had both in the past, but not at the same time...
the duloxetine made me extremely tired - as in total exhaustion, fall asleep pretty much anywhere, at any time, tired... and i looked the part, as well - even my partner commented on it, and he usually does not notice such things.
nortriptyline gave me tremors... so bad it was getting difficult to eat.
needless to say, I no longer take either one.
I went thru several different meds over the last several years, and to be honest, none of the more common ones really helped much.
I do currently take L. D. naltrexone, and it has helped some with the neuropathy in my legs - has not stopped it completely, but it is much less bothersome than it used to be.
My suggestion to you, Matilda71, is to talk to your doctor about discontinuing these two meds, as they may be causing you more harm than good.
Do not just stop taking them - as you could set off some nasty withdrawal symptoms - talk to your doc first!
And do not be afraid to insist you want off them (if you do). Doctors are supposed to help, not harm, but they are human, just like the rest of us... make sure you tell him/her ALL your symptoms when discussing these meds, and your concerns about them.
The choice to try a different medication, or not, should be entirely up to you. You decide what you think is best for you.
speaking strictly for myself - if I was just starting out on this journey again, I would not go down the medication route first. I would try other things first - like dietary changes, and alternative treatments to see if those things help at all (most are listed in that linked post above).. I would only turn to medications for fibro as a last resort.
It is also a very good idea to get the hypothyroid symptoms in check before trying to deal with other meds for pain.. hypothyroidism shares a lot of the same symptoms, as do nutritional deficiencies... something else to consider... Vit D, B12, Iron, and others - deficiencies in any of these can also cause similar symptoms - including anxiety and depression...
As you can see, this might be a multifaceted problem that requires a multifaceted approach to resolving. Having a good primary care provider that is willing to work
with you to discover all the facets and then try to correct them - rather than just throwing pain medications at you - is a key component to feeling better. without that, we are all in the deep end of the pool, flailing about and getting no where.
I say all of this as a person that is doing their best to cope with all of the above... hypothyroid, nutritional deficiencies, fibro, arthritis related problems - and am currently transitioning my primary care to a new provider (two actually... one for the arthritis & related musculoskeletal problems, and one for general health) It is not an easy road, but I am hopeful that I am finally getting things on a better track now than where I have been.
