[SueAndHerZoo]

#1060400

I had a TT in July of 2013 and have been pretty darned close to getting my labs in a good place. Me and the doc keep slowly tweaking my Levo down to get me out of the hyper levels and we were almost there at my last check up (three months ago). Since that check up I lowered my dose a slight bit more and was very eager to hear about my results at yesterday’s appointment. Shocker alert: not only am I not in a good range yet, I took giant steps backwards! My TSH is bottomed out again (.01)! I was in total shock but I guess I should be grateful that I don’t feel as bad as my labs say I should. Sheesh!

So after exclaiming disbelief for a while I asked how this could possibly happen and he shrugged and said “It happens” and then he suggested we go back and try to think of things that may have changed in my life in the past 3 months. Bingo! I had been able to wean myself off of my colitis meds (I’m officially in colitis remission) and he suspects that THAT is what caused this drastic change. Most likely the colitis med (Entocort – a corticosteroid) was affecting the absorption of my Levothyroxine, and now that I’m not taking the Entocort, I’m metabolizing a lot more of my Levo. Can’t win for losing!

Anyway, the moral of the story is, if things change for you and you can’t figure out why, look at what else you’re taking and what you may have changed recently.

Sue

[Raspberry]

#1182411

Hi Sue, congrats on the colitis remission, that is wonderful! I hope the thyroid meds situation can be sorted out quickly. I’m always reading about foods interfering with levo absorption, good to know steroids can too.

[SueAndHerZoo]

#1182412

Thanks, Raspberry, but how frustrating, huh? I mean, now that I’m real hyper again, my colitis will probably flare up, which means I’ll start taking colitis meds, which means my levothyroxine med will be affected, etc. etc. etc. Talk about a vicious cycle!

Ah well, could always be worse. I was trying to figure out why the “side affects” from the last dosage change were lasting soooooo long (rather than just the usual 5 or 6 weeks) and now I see it’s because my dose KEPT changing, not from my levothyroxine intake, but from my colitis med reduction and eventual elimination of it.

Guess there’s always more to learn about this challenge of ours, but as long as we all keep sharing with each other, we’ll soon be “know it alls”.
Sue

[Kimberly]

#1182413

SueAndHerZoo wrote:

Since that check up I lowered my dose a slight bit more and was very eager to hear about my results at yesterday’s appointment.

Hi Sue – Hopefully, the dose change that you mentioned above was done in conjunction with your doctor. (I wasn’t sure from your post). Making a dose change — even if you are feeling specific symptoms — without a current set of labs and a doctor’s OK can definitely cause a setback.

That’s interesting about the colitis meds…I had not heard of issues with that specific med, but I do know of patients who have discontinued taking birth control pills and have had to start over in finding the “sweet spot” of their thyroid meds. Definitely a good reminder that nothing happens in isolation when it comes to medications and supplements!

[SueAndHerZoo]

#1182414

Kimberly wrote:

SueAndHerZoo wrote:

Since that check up I lowered my dose a slight bit more and was very eager to hear about my results at yesterday’s appointment.

Hi Sue – Hopefully, the dose change that you mentioned above was done in conjunction with your doctor. (I wasn’t sure from your post). Making a dose change — even if you are feeling specific symptoms — without a current set of labs and a doctor’s OK can definitely cause a setback.

That’s interesting about the colitis meds…I had not heard of issues with that specific med, but I do know of patients who have discontinued taking birth control pills and have had to start over in finding the “sweet spot” of their thyroid meds. Definitely a good reminder that nothing happens in isolation when it comes to medications and supplements!

Hi Kimberly.
Yes, after my last appointment the doc offered me the choice of staying where I was with my meds or bringing it down a tiny bit more. At first I told him I’d stay where I was but a week later I called him and told him I was going to lower it.

The colitis med was a steroid drug…… don’t know if that’s a common contraindication or not, but I have to guess that’s what caused my bottoming out again.

Now I’m in for 6 weeks of feeling “hormonal” as my body adjusts to another change, then I’ll have my blood checked again. Really wish I liked rollercoasters.
Sue

[Kimberly]

#1182415

Thanks for clarifying – hoping that you can get *off* this rollercoaster soon!

[sarawebberdurnell]

#1182416

What a huge bummer I am glad that you figured it out though and hopefully can get back on track. I’m always slightly disheartened by the 6 week wait while the meds start to work. Hang in there

Sara

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