[cathycnm]

#1019873

Hi all – I was just wondering if anyone knows more than I do about the warnings on many of the decongestant meds. My eustation tube has been clogged since Thanksgiving. I am using nette pots (nasal saline flushes) 2-3 times a day, sudafed and afrin. Note that both sudafed and afrin have warnings about thyroid disease. I am assuming this is primarily a problem if Graves is not yet treated – as it can further increase metabolism.

I am currently at my daughter’s home in another state and getting ready to fly home in a day or two. I will probably go see my PCP soon for this – as it seems the tube closes more and more each year and it does impact hearing. In the mean time – has anyone asked their pharmacist or endo about these meds specifically? I am a little concerned because I have been using more of it than usual this time due to the travel and wanting to keep the tube open for the flights, etc. Just don’t want to over do. Cathy ” title=”Wink” />

[Bobbi]

#1074708

Hi, Cathie:

I think that this is a question that needs to be directed at your own endo/PCP. I had RAI, and am on replacement hormone. I was told that the restrictions no longer apply to me. I assume that means that if the disease is well and truly under control, we don’t have issues with these medications. But that does not mean that some restrictions wouldn’t apply to you, or someone who was on the meds, etc. Better to be safe than sorry.

And, I use the pharmacist ALL the time to help me navigate the waters of prescription drug use. They have been a huge help over the past few years. There is usually one available when I need advice, too. ” title=”Wink” />

Hope you are feeling better soon.

[cathycnm]

#1074709

Thanks, Bobbi – I will make an apt with my PCP as soon as I return home and I see my endo in less than two weeks. There are some RX meds that work differently than the decongestants but the last time this reared its ugly head I had not been diagnosed yet so I declined the RXs in favor of OTC remedies. Time to rethink that one, I guess. I appreciate your help. I fly home tomorrow so will keep the tube open with very low doses of everything until I can get in. Last TSH was normal but it was the first one post RAI to be normal and only the second TSH post RAI – so to say I am totally stable is jumping the gun a bit.

I will talk to my pharmacist at home, too – I have known him and worked with him for years professionally – always helpful. Cathy

[Mickey65]

#1074710

I have a really bad cold right now and my head feels like a stuffed pillow!

I haven’t taken anything besides cough syrup for my bad cough I have, and was wondering if Dayquil was at least okay to take?

I have an appointment with my endo tomorrow (a check-up after my RAI – 3 weeks ago).

[cathycnm]

#1074711

Mickey and other cold sufferers – I saw my PCP today and when she brought up sudafed – I told her I was getting a pulse of 90-100 an hour or two later and lasted for a couple hours. You know – they get in their routine and she forgot I just had my first normal TSH 2 months ago so was hardly stable. She agreed. She suggested the new med – Zicam – which is over the counter and totally safe with thyroid. It works differently and actually claims to shorten the duration of the cold. So – I switched.

Of course – about the time I posted my original question – I began to get a sinus infection. I flew home yesterday and it got way worse. Talk about green snot!!!! So, I guess I will be giving the Zicam a run for its money!!! I will let you know how it works.

BTW – there are lots of choices with the Zicam with desolving pills and the nasal swabs. Both allergy and cold. I picked cold for now but may switch to allergy once I am over the infection, as I think that is what is the trigger for my eustachian tube deal. The upside is I now have the opportunity to experience this new med and without Graves I would still be taking old sudafed. Maybe it will turn out to be more effective.

This (sinus infection) is definately a trigger for the irritated eyes. Cathy

[Mickey65]

#1074712

When I had a sinus infection a few years back, I took antibiotics – those 3 big horse pills – one a day for 3 days. Knocked it right out!

[cathycnm]

#1074713

Mickey – I forgot to mention that I am on antibiotics for the infection. However, doctors are steering away from antibiotics more and more now if the infection is mild because common use of antibiotics creates the "super bugs" like MRSA.

I am on decongestants primarily for the eustachian tube dysfunction – my ear gets blocked for weeks every time I get a cold or drive over a pass or have allergies. It leads to tooth pain and probably was one factor in developing this infection. So, if I can keep my ears open – I can stay off antibiotics as much as possible. I was delighted to find out zicam is something I can use to help keep my eustachian tube open throughout the year. Much better than having to use sudafed for me.

I am curious to see where my TSH is (she drew it yesterday) – my pulse is back down off the sudafed. Cathy

[kallikat]

#1074714

Oh Cathy! I have the same problem with my ears. It all goes back to bad ear infections as a baby (both drums burst at the same time when I was 8 mos old). When I was 12 my family dr said he couldn’t take out my tonsils due to adenoid and eustasian tube difficulties, so I have gotten sinus, ear and throat infections and illnesses every year my whole life. I have been told for years that I need tubes in my ears – but either my kids needed something or my insurance didn’t cover it all, or I was dealing with more serious things.
Now that my TSH is normal and I don’t have to go to the Dr for that every month, (and my kids are grown and I have good insurance) I am definately going to see an ENT about those tubes.
Maybe you should see an ENT, also.

[Mickey65]

#1074715

I had an appt with my endo today, and with my bad cold I have, I asked her what cold medicines to use and she told me Clariton, and Benedryl. So I bought some of that today.

I’ll be taking the bendryl before bedtime tonight and getting some good ZZzzzzzzz’s! ” title=”Wink” />

[cathycnm]

#1074716

Mickey – I use clariton when this acts up, as well – I take it once a day. I used benedryl for sleep for years when on shifts – but now I have other meds for that so don’t want to take something else that makes me sleep. I am finding the zican OK – really curous (over time) to see if it can help this without all the side effects of sudafed. I like that it is more homeopathic than a stimulant. Sounds like it holds up in the research – so how great to have something to make these illnesses pass faster until my immune system heals.

I got my TSH yesterday – down to 1.37 from 3.86 last time. He said that he wondered if some of my thyroid is still functioning – because I am on a very low dose (112 micrograms) now. He had expected to have to increase it – but actually talked about decreasing it a little. But we decided I was well and happy right now so to see what it did in 3 months. But being on the low side may help explain the fast heart rate I got with sudafed. It is a journey – Fasten your seatbelts! ” title=”Neutral” />

[Mickey65]

#1074717

I tried that Zican once, but I didn’t like shooting stuff up my nose.

I took a benedryl last night and feel a lot better this morning – altho the cold has moved into my chest! But at least I can go to work today.

My endo said to always check the packages for different cold medicines. I had bought Dayquil, but didn’t take any of it until I saw her, and lo and behold, I looked on the package when I got home and it said on there to not take if you have thyroid disease!

[Author]

Posts