I know that lyme itself causes hormone fluctuations but I swear it wasn't until i started rifampin that I'm showing all symptoms of hypothyroidism. i HATE IT especially the weight gain =( my diet is super strict but I'm still gaining weight, cold all the time, terrible anxiety, nausea, unrelenting fatigue, dry skin, etc.
Anyone else experience this ? And do you know if it gets better with treatment or should I be doing something different? Thanks
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Do you have a confirmed case of bartonella?
I only lasted 5 days on Rifampin. It is beyond rough.
Have you told your LLMD about these changes?
Posted by Semia (Member # 46837) on :
Yes I tested positive for bartonella.
It was so Rough on my stomach at first but now it just feels like it has messed with not just my gut but hormones. Been on it over a month now.
I don't see my new LLMD until jan 5 so I'll have to bring it to his attention. Im officially done with who I have now.. We are just not a good match.
But boy do I hate rifampin !!
Posted by nyclymedout (Member # 45977) on :
Semia you are a mess!
Posted by Nula (Member # 38409) on :
Semia,
Happy Holidays :-). I was on Rifampin for 8 months and it totally messed up my thyroid. My TSH kept climbing. So I researched the med and found out that it does affect the thyroid.
I told both my GP and my LLMD, and both actually said: "Well, that could be a coincidence. The TSH can fluctuate."
My response: "It's not fluctuating. It's continuously going up ... Ever since I started Rifampin."
Their responses: "----" "????"
Me: "I'd like to get off it. Now."
My TSH started dropping as soon as I stopped the med. But it took over a year for it to get back into normal range. And it's still not as low as it used to be.
I'd never touch Rifampin again.(Though it did help, mildly, with some of my symptoms)
I'm not the only "thyroid story" either. My friend, who also has Lyme, was on Rifampin at the same time as me. She already was hypothyroid and on thyroid meds before she started Rifampin. She had to increase her Levothyroxine dosage while on it as her TSH kept climbing as well.
I was thinking: Lyme has messed up almost my entire body. But it hasn't gotten to my thyroid yet. So I'll be damned if I let an antibiotic mess up my thyroid.
Hope this helps.
Posted by Semia (Member # 46837) on :
Thanks nula! That helps a lot!
I see a new and better LLMD jan 5th so I am Eager to bring this to his attention so I can stop it as well.
Im glad that even tho it took a while you were still able to get Ur thyroid goin back in the right direction.
May i ask nula -- what were ur symptoms when you knew something wasn't right with your thyroid? Thanks