I am very frustrated with my hypothyroidism. I felt so good two weeks ago and was sleeping much less and actually had energy but now this past week I’ve been very tired again, hence the frustration.
I’ve been trying to figure out what was different between then and now. Here’s what I came up with: I was eating more salads, at least one every day and the other thing is that I was drinking more root beer and less water. Now none of that made much sense to me until I read a recent post on this blog. She mentions fluoride and the link between it and hypothyroidism and how those of us with hypothyroidism should stay away from foods, etc. that have fluoride in them.
Well, that means tap water because as most of us know, they have been adding fluoride to the local water supplies for many years. Now, I’m seeing a link to explain how I have been feeling and the difference between how I felt two weeks ago and now. I’ve been trying to drink 80 ounces of water each day and that water is tap water.
I think I may try an experiment and drink spring water instead of tap water and see how I feel after a week or so. It can’t hurt to give it a try and the results may mean more energy! That would be wonderful!
I’ll keep you posted!
Til next time!
Linda <3
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Withdrawal
During the years of my treatment for depression, I have been on 4 different antidepressants. In May/June of 2009, I decided to wean off of my Welbutrin and did so without difficulty as I was still taking Effexor XR. I did not notice any changes in how I felt and was pleased.
In November 2009, I decided to also wean off the Effexor XR and weaned the dose down to 75mg and then took that every other day for a couple of weeks then stopped. It was only a couple of days until I started experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Those included…irritability, moodiness, crying for any reason at all, inability to concentrate, muscle aches, joint pains, hot flashes, and just felt miserable all over. I did some investigation on the internet and was somewhat surprised to learn that all these things were reported withdrawal symptoms for the Effexor XR. I stayed off of it for 2 weeks, thinking these things would get better but they kept getting worse and so I gave in and went back on the Effexor at a dose of 150 mg daily. I was amazed that the withdrawal symptoms went away after only two doses of the Effexor XR.
This got me to thinking how people on narcotics and illegal drugs must feel when they need a fix; it must be similar to what I was feeling. I do not like being physically dependent on any medication that affects me emotionally, mentally, and physically. It is scary that one medication can do this to a person.
With the advice of some wonderful family members, I talked to my doctor about getting off the Effexor XR and so started weaning the dosage down much slower than before. I stayed on the 150mg daily for 2 months, and then decreased to 75mg daily for a month and lastly 37.5mg daily for another month. I completed the month at 37.5 mg on Thursday, April 8th but by Tuesday, April 13th I was having all the withdrawal symptoms again. It is so frustrating and a part of me wants to go back on it just to stop the withdrawal pain but so far I have refrained from doing that. I hope to see my doctor soon and get his ideas on how I can get through this.
All prayers are appreciated!
Till next time!
Linda <3
In November 2009, I decided to also wean off the Effexor XR and weaned the dose down to 75mg and then took that every other day for a couple of weeks then stopped. It was only a couple of days until I started experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Those included…irritability, moodiness, crying for any reason at all, inability to concentrate, muscle aches, joint pains, hot flashes, and just felt miserable all over. I did some investigation on the internet and was somewhat surprised to learn that all these things were reported withdrawal symptoms for the Effexor XR. I stayed off of it for 2 weeks, thinking these things would get better but they kept getting worse and so I gave in and went back on the Effexor at a dose of 150 mg daily. I was amazed that the withdrawal symptoms went away after only two doses of the Effexor XR.
This got me to thinking how people on narcotics and illegal drugs must feel when they need a fix; it must be similar to what I was feeling. I do not like being physically dependent on any medication that affects me emotionally, mentally, and physically. It is scary that one medication can do this to a person.
With the advice of some wonderful family members, I talked to my doctor about getting off the Effexor XR and so started weaning the dosage down much slower than before. I stayed on the 150mg daily for 2 months, and then decreased to 75mg daily for a month and lastly 37.5mg daily for another month. I completed the month at 37.5 mg on Thursday, April 8th but by Tuesday, April 13th I was having all the withdrawal symptoms again. It is so frustrating and a part of me wants to go back on it just to stop the withdrawal pain but so far I have refrained from doing that. I hope to see my doctor soon and get his ideas on how I can get through this.
All prayers are appreciated!
Till next time!
Linda <3
Depression VS Hypothyroidism
In 1991, I had a total abdominal hysterectomy, due to uterine cancer, which meant I went through menopause at the age of 33. In the months following the surgery, I noticed some changes in me one of which was that I did not want to go to family activities. Now you must understand that one of the things I love about my husband is his family. Those of you, who know them, know they are very special and I fell in love with that so when I did not want to attend activities, I knew something was wrong with me. I could go to work and be fine but if I saw someone I knew at the mall, I would do everything I could to not have to see them face to face.
When I told my doctor about these things, he felt I was suffering from depression related to the hormonal changes from the hysterectomy. (I was not able to take estrogen for five years because of the cancer.) I wasn’t sure what was going on and what he was saying made sense so I have been taking antidepressants since 1992.
Since my diagnosis of hypothyroidism, I have been doing some reading on the subject, especially the book “Living Well with Hypothyroidism” by Mary J. Shomon and have learned so much about how the thyroid hormones affect our bodies. One of the things I have learned is that there is a belief that depression may be related to the hypothyroidism which means that I would not get better by taking antidepressants but rather need to get the thyroid hormone levels in the proper range for me. This is good news because I hate taking so many medications.
Next time, my experience with weaning myself off the antidepressant Effexor XR…you won’t believe it!
Till next time,
Linda <3
When I told my doctor about these things, he felt I was suffering from depression related to the hormonal changes from the hysterectomy. (I was not able to take estrogen for five years because of the cancer.) I wasn’t sure what was going on and what he was saying made sense so I have been taking antidepressants since 1992.
Since my diagnosis of hypothyroidism, I have been doing some reading on the subject, especially the book “Living Well with Hypothyroidism” by Mary J. Shomon and have learned so much about how the thyroid hormones affect our bodies. One of the things I have learned is that there is a belief that depression may be related to the hypothyroidism which means that I would not get better by taking antidepressants but rather need to get the thyroid hormone levels in the proper range for me. This is good news because I hate taking so many medications.
Next time, my experience with weaning myself off the antidepressant Effexor XR…you won’t believe it!
Till next time,
Linda <3
A New Diagnosis
For the first three months I was off, I still had heart palpitations and difficulty remembering things but they did seem to be occurring less frequently. The big thing was my sleeping. I would sleep 12-14 hours each day then get up and usually fall asleep in the chair. At first I thought I was trying to get “caught up” on my sleep but it never seemed as though I was gaining any ground. No matter how much I slept it never seemed like enough.
Being the patient that good nurses make – NOT! I did not go to my family doctor until September 2009! I know, I know, if it was someone else I would have told them to go to the doctor much sooner but I’m sure you’ve heard that doctors and nurses make the worst patients!
Anyway…. I told the doctor about the sleeping and he checked to see if they had done a TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) level. They had and it was high indicating hypothyroidism so I was started on Synthroid which is an artificial hormone replacement drug. I really did not notice any difference for a few months and an increase in dosage but now I am only sleeping 12 hours in bed and then I’m not falling asleep in the chair. To some this may not be a big deal but it is a big deal to me. I still have a lot to learn about hypothyroidism but at least I feel as though I’m on the right track!
More later!
Linda <3
Being the patient that good nurses make – NOT! I did not go to my family doctor until September 2009! I know, I know, if it was someone else I would have told them to go to the doctor much sooner but I’m sure you’ve heard that doctors and nurses make the worst patients!
Anyway…. I told the doctor about the sleeping and he checked to see if they had done a TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) level. They had and it was high indicating hypothyroidism so I was started on Synthroid which is an artificial hormone replacement drug. I really did not notice any difference for a few months and an increase in dosage but now I am only sleeping 12 hours in bed and then I’m not falling asleep in the chair. To some this may not be a big deal but it is a big deal to me. I still have a lot to learn about hypothyroidism but at least I feel as though I’m on the right track!
More later!
Linda <3
Personal Health
In January 2009, I took a medical leave of absence from my job for health problems that I believed were related to stress. Boy was I wrong!
At that time, I was experiencing heart palpitations and was extremely fatigued even though I was sleeping soundly aat night. I would have to drag myself out of bed in the morning just to go to work. Then I would find myself falling asleep at the computer in the afternoon. I would be so tired that I literally would have to talk myself into leaving for the day because the idea of walking to the car was exhausting. I was having some difficulty concentrating at times, along with trouble remembering things. I blamed all these symptoms on work related stress.
I had been seeing a psychiatrist for a few months and now had a diagnosis of Adult Attention Deficit Disorder. She felt the time off would help me adjust to medication and allow me to learn how to work with the ADD instead of it running me. I was hopeful some time away from work would be beneficial, what I didn’t realize was just how long I wouldn’t be working. The Lord had plans for me.
Thanks for stopping by!
Linda
At that time, I was experiencing heart palpitations and was extremely fatigued even though I was sleeping soundly aat night. I would have to drag myself out of bed in the morning just to go to work. Then I would find myself falling asleep at the computer in the afternoon. I would be so tired that I literally would have to talk myself into leaving for the day because the idea of walking to the car was exhausting. I was having some difficulty concentrating at times, along with trouble remembering things. I blamed all these symptoms on work related stress.
I had been seeing a psychiatrist for a few months and now had a diagnosis of Adult Attention Deficit Disorder. She felt the time off would help me adjust to medication and allow me to learn how to work with the ADD instead of it running me. I was hopeful some time away from work would be beneficial, what I didn’t realize was just how long I wouldn’t be working. The Lord had plans for me.
Thanks for stopping by!
Linda
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