posted
Curious here. I have been treating Lyme, RMSF, and erhlichia for 2 years now. Recently taking a break from abx. Also rifing with GB4000.
For the past month I have had to stop all my thyroid meds due to terrible heart problems after I take them. Im suddenly not tolerating thyroid meds at all.
For awhile on T3 slow release then had to stop due to cardiac probs. Tried levoxyl 50mg for a couple of months and now doing the same thing. No tolerance.
I am physiological low dose cortef so adrenals are supported. My last tsh has risen from 0.8 to 4.2 and my t3 and t4 are all low including frees.
Now can someone tell me why I can no longer tolerate any thyroid meds yet am becoming more hypothyroid.
My LLMD has been of no help and I'm ready to fire him and start over again. So can someone please enlighten me and help me figure this out!
Thanks! Mookie
I just recently stopped rifampin, flagyl, and art due to terrible go problems...that are def tmi.
Posts: 151 | From south east | Registered: May 2010
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
Have your heart problems improved after stopping the thyroid meds? Could these symptoms possibly be related to stopping antibiotics?
Even though you are on Cortef, maybe it is not the right dose. It might be a good idea to have your adrenal function tested again if it has been awhile.
Maybe you would do better on Armour thyroid which is T3 and T4 combined instead of a straight T4 or T3 med?
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
well to be honest with you I have been off the thyroid meds for just one day with the levoxyl yuck.
I have been off the slow release t3 for a month now and feel shakey almost adrenal like. I have not had a trial of armour in about a year and a half. It has not worked well in the past.
But you are right I do need to do another adrenal workup. I have been on 20-30mg of cortef for almost 3 years now.
I had some labs today, maybe it's electrolytes or mag. or maybe Im having some type of flare.
Thanks sammi for takin' with me. mookie
Posts: 151 | From south east | Registered: May 2010
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posted
I'm new here; but, I have been without a thyroid for over 10 years.
I also have adrenal insufficiency. First question: it appears you are on synthetic thryoid?
If so, it may be that your liver is having a hard time converting the synthetic thryoid due to the infections.
I was unable to take synthroid, it nearly killed me, I turned orange, had major heart palps and felt REALLY bad. Once I changed to natural dessicated thyroid i had no problems (I believe the Lyme and co's are what lead to damaging my thyroid.
You are hypothyroid, according to your labs... your body just isn't liking what you are taking. IMHO.
Armour's formula has changed and many (including myself) are/were not able to tolerate it. Have you tried Nature-Throid?
Posts: 396 | From EAPennsylvania | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
Thank you fourwinds, I did try armour, but it was before the reformulation.
I have tried Nature-Throid as well but a long time ago. So maybe I'm due for another trial once I get this synthetic junk out of my system.
My ferritin level is fine and do not have a reverse T3 problem either. The heart problems with this are absolutely awful and really kicked in my adrenal problems.
Ive been shaking nauseated, with chest pain for a couple of days and it kicks in around 6 am and lasts til about 4p.
I know Im hypo but Im hoping, that I can tolerate my thyroid meds soon. I hate being off them.
thanks!
Posts: 151 | From south east | Registered: May 2010
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Many of the top endos as well as LLMD(Insights into Lyme Disease Treatment) know that you have to be careful treating the thyroid when the adrenals are not up to par.
At this point being on Cortef for a while, have you had an adrenal workup? It would be nice to see cortisol at all hours of the day. You may have high cortisol? You may need to just keep supporting the adrenals with vit. minerals, and herbs.
If you can handle the symptoms, some doctors dont even treat the thyroid until the adrenals are good. You could support the adrenals(Adrenevive by ortho molecular or Energy Multi Plex by Researched Nutritionals)until you get the cortisol levels good and then slowly move into a dessicated or bio identical thyroid replacement?
I am in ERFA dessicated which I have had good luck with. I just found out that I have a tolerance to pork, so I think bio identical are in my near future, even though I have about 6 months worth of Nature Thyroid in my backup stash.
Hope this helps
Fuel
-------------------- IgM- 31,34,39,83-93 IND IgM- 41+
IgG- 31,34,39,83-93 IND IgG- 41++ Posts: 610 | From Lymeville | Registered: Nov 2010
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
It can be hard to tell what is causing what. Part of it could be from stopping the T3.
I hope you can figure it out soon and get some relief.
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
Fuel1212.. I also take Erfa Thyroid and I agree with you re the treatment of adrenals before thyroid...
It's in the Merck Manual as well as the little drug info that comes with the thyroid. Adrenals should be checked/treated before thyroid meds are administered, but most (regular) doc's don't read/know this.
Usually being hypothyroid (stopping T3) doesn't cause heart palps, but everyone is different.
This is a (frustrating) process of elimination but you are obviously hypthyroid per labs and when your thyroid doesn't work it pulls on the adrenals.
Low magnesium, (which Lyme and co's use from us) also can cause heart palps. Stealth infections, as we all know, hit the HPA axis hard.
My experiences with "shakiness" has been adrenal related, but that's just me.
I agree --adrenal testing (saliva 4X/day test is better than AM/ blood draw), you also need to find a thyroid med you can tolerate; and, absolutely support your glands nutritionally.
I hope you find relief... keep us posted.
Posts: 396 | From EAPennsylvania | Registered: Dec 2007
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nefferdun
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20157
posted
I have antibodies against my thyroid and have been on Armour for years. Two weeks ago I started LDN, low dose naltrexone, and noticed I was eating a ton more but not gaining weight. When I was too zipped up to sleep, I put two and two together and realized the LDN was correctly my thyroid problem and taking the armour was making me HYPERthyroid.
LDN is very good at halting, and sometimes reversing, auto immune diseases and many people have had good luck with it reversing thyroid disease. You might give it a try.
LDN works by increasing endorphins which boost and regulate the immune system. A lot of LLMDs give it to their patients. A few people on here that were given it for lyme, have reported that they were in remission for thyroid disease and Crohn's disease.
The endorphins give you a sense of calm and well being so the problem we have with stress and too much cortisol can be reduced (although you still need to address that).
Otherwise the infections themselves can cause heart problems. I know of a vet that was diagnosed with heart failure and then found out it was Lyme. Treatment got rid of it. So I believe you need to get back on abx after determining which infection is causing the problem.
I have never heard of anyone having heart palpitations from being hypothyroid. Usually that happens when you are hyperthyroid. But some people are sensitive to T3. It gave me heart palps.
-------------------- old joke: idiopathic means the patient is pathological and the the doctor is an idiot Posts: 4676 | From western Montana | Registered: Apr 2009
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posted
Today is Sunday and 3 days since I had that last dose of levoxyl, but have been off the t3 for over 1 month. I do feel better. I have been monitoring my b/p and doing orthostatics.
I really think I had episode of high cortisol, a shock! But obvious intolerance to levoxyl. I think I may have to wait 2-3 weeks to let all this clear.
Then I will go back to LLMD, and try armour again, after I get labs. The past 2 days I have needed much less cortef, than I've needed in a year.
Thyroid imbalance really plays havoc on my heart and exhausts me totally!! My internist hates natural thyroid and thinks synthetics are the only answer! I think she's crazy and she's in her 30's.
Where I live there is essentially no one who believes in #1 existance of lyme disease in the south, and #2-use of natural thyroid hormone.
I've been fighting these people on this issue for the past 5 years. But obviously slow release T3 is not the answer for me....neither are synthetics!!
If worse comes to worse, I can get thyroid out of canada, but hopefully it won't come to that.
How long does it take for synthetics to totally clear from my body? Do u think I can get rid of this in 2-3 weeks.
I hate being off thyroid meds!
U guys are great! mookie
Posts: 151 | From south east | Registered: May 2010
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posted
also, one other thing I have been on LDN for over a year. Could this be an issue? I've been wondering if I should stop all my meds. Just detox, and stop everything.
I am set up to see a new LLMD out of state oct. 24th and am going to see a new DO that deals with bioidenticals this month. I kinda have a feeling I just need to clear out everything and start all over again! mookie
Posts: 151 | From south east | Registered: May 2010
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
I believe it says on the LDN website that taking it may affect thyroid levles.
I take LDN and Armour. The LDN never affected my thyroid levels, but I think it is possible.
You have been on LDN for over a year. I don't know if it could affect thyroid levels when you have been taking it so long. You could ask your Lyme doctor.
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