[Bobbi]

#1063271

Levothyroxin IS thyroid hormone. It is chemically identical to the thyroxin created by the thyroid. In order to make the chemical into pill form, inert, non-active ingredients are added, but the chemical that acts on our body is one that our body was created to use naturally.

The only problems with it, typically, are associated with the same problems we have when we have too much thyroid hormone, or too little thyroid hormone. Mood issues do result from too much thyroid hormone, or too little thyroid hormone, and the same sort of thing happens if we are not on the correct dose of levothyroxin. You indicated that your husband is not on the correct dose, yet. That might explain why he is still feeling "off" emotionally. There can be other reasons as well, but, assuming you are correct, that it is related to the medication dose, there is something I can mention that may help — hopefully.

Of primary importance to getting our dose of replacement hormone balanced out correctly is the way we take it. It may be that you already know this, but many of us were not informed about the issue by the doctor or the pharmacist, and we spent too long trying to get adjusted properly on the meds. Thyroid replacement hormone must be taken first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach, with a glass of water, and we need to wait a minimum of 30-45 minutes before eating anything else. The reason for this is that some of the minerals in food can attach themselves to the thyroid molecule and prevent it from being absorbed through the lining of the small intestine into the blood. Once the thyroxin is in the blood there is no problem. Getting it there, consistently in the same dose, requires taking it before we eat anything. For the same reason, we are told to wait some hours before taking vitamins or mineral supplements, or other medications (if possible).

Unfortunately, we need to be on controlled, normal levels of hormone for our bodies to heal from the effects of abnormal thyroid levels. If your husband has been fluxuating in and out of normal, his body hasn’t really had a chance to heal properly yet. Or heal completely, yet. That can be frustrating. None of us like the realization that our bodies have flaked out on us. Taking longer than normal to get back to feeling well again can be depressing, too, in the general sense of the word.

[JaredsWife]

#1018209

Hello, I am new to the support group. My husband was diagnosed with Graves’ Disease in September of last year. He is ony 32. He chose the RI treatment and has been taking the replacement meds to reverse being hypothyroid. His meds are still not adjusted and he has felt very numb and withdrawn emotionally. I am concerned because the meds he is on have a side effect of creating a chemical unbalance in his brain. It is levoxithyrone(not sure if the spelling is correct) I have been trying to read all I can on Graves to help him cope but a lot of information is about women. As his spouse, it has been difficult to see him change and am wondering what resources are out there to help us cope, any advice for us on how to support each other. We have three young children(a 6 year old girl, a 4 year old girl and almost 2 year old boy) as well and it has been an adjustment for each of them too. So any comments or experiences from others who have gone through this and have come out with hope would be greatly invited. Thank you!

[JaredsWife]

#1063272

Thank you for your response. He does take his meds the same time every morning, on an empty stomach too. Thank you for explaining about how not having the hormone levels fully adjusted is what really causes the off balance. I now have some hope that he can return to himself again. I didn’t even think about the fact that his body is probably still healing. When he was diagnosed a year ago, it was only because he was having what we thought was a reaction to antibiotics used to treat a sinus infection. He wouldn’t even had gone to the ER but his face was swollen and his heart was racing too. He had rapid weight loss about two years prior to his diagnosis. He had cut his thumb. We didn’t have insurance so he used his mom’s first aid kit when he probably needed stitches. Even before that he had started to get vitiligo on his hands and elbows too. He also had tremors, a racing heart rate too, even bulging eyes but it never occurred to us that he had graves. Family members thought he was on drugs. He had to get his heart shocked back into rhythm as well which was awfully scary in itself before starting the RI treatment. His mom and grandmother have low thyroids and a history of other autoimmune diseases as well. We now realize that the stress (my husband was in construction and we experienced many personal losses when the market plummeted) and maybe the cut thumb triggered the graves but we are not entirely sure.

I just hope his smile returns more consistently, his desire for life, his passion for me returns. I have seen some growth lately and am excited by these baby steps. Thanks again for your support.

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