REPOST: Dr. Ain: (2) Re: Driving-hypo --> Debbi

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(Dr. Ain # 1 )

Date: Thu, 04 Nov 1999 11:20:21 -0400

Subject: Re: hypo hell & hell-on-wheels

Dear ThyCa Members:

The following warning is verbally given to all of my patients, as well as a

written copy, for when they stop their Cytomel in the hypothyroid preparation

for I-131 scanning or therapy: Please note that you will become

significantly hypothyroid at this time and you are advised to avoid driving or

operating dangerous machinery.

Sometimes my patients do not heed this warning and this has been responsible for

some auto accidents. Please note that auto accidents may involve other people

besides the hypothyroid driver. It would not be wrong to call a severely

hypothyroid driver an " impaired driver " , similar to drivers taking some

prescription medicines, alcohol, illicit drugs or other similar items which

affect their driving abilities. Likewise, my hypothyroid patients who are

nurses, pharmacists, physicians, or other professionals with like

responsibilities, are advised to be aware of these problems when prescribing

medicines, running IVs or making important decisions. A word to the wise SHOULD

be sufficient.

**************PLEASE BE ADVISED**********************

THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS COMMUNICATION IS INTENDED

FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. IT IS NOT INTENDED, NOR SHOULD

IT BE CONSTRUED, AS SPECIFIC MEDICAL ADVICE OR DIRECTIONS. ANY

PERSON VIEWING THIS INFORMATION IS ADVISED TO CONSULT THEIR OWN

PHYSICIAN(S) ABOUT ANY MATTER REGARDING THEIR MEDICAL CARE.

*************************************************

B. Ain, M.D.

Associate Professor of Internal Medicine

Director, Thyroid Nodule & Oncology Clinical Service

Director, Thyroid Cancer Research Laboratory

Division of Endocrinology and Molecular Medicine

Department of Internal Medicine, Room MN520

University of Kentucky Medical Center

800 Rose Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40536-0084

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(Dr. Ain # 2 )

>Date: Wed, 15 Nov 2000 08:54:35 -0500

>

>Subject: Re: questions and answers (driving)

>

>> > 4. Should I be driving now?

>>

>>*** was told to not drive in the last 5 days....but she noticed a

>>difference as early as the first five days off Cytomel. Nevertheless, she

>>drove CAREFULLY to a few spots close to her apt. I think YOU will know,

>>when it's not safe. She said she noticed herself staring at intersections

>>and taking too long to focus and get going. That's when she stopped.

>

>

Dear ThyCa Members:

I am strongly against the advice given above.

I advise all patients to avoid driving or operating dangerous machinery for the

entire time that they are hypothyroid off of Cytomel and for at least one week

after resuming their thyroid hormone medication. Likewise, I do not want my air

traffic controller patients to work at their job, nor do I want nurses to

measure out intravenous medications to patients or surgeon patients to operate

on their patients. It is of no concern to me whether my patient is willing to

risk a " fender-bender. " I am more concerned with the school bus of children

that he/she may hit. Do any of you want your loved ones on the same highway as

a severely hypothyroid driver, possibly asleep at the wheel? Are hypothyroid

individuals confident that their driving reaction time is sufficiently fast to

avoid running down the 5-year old chasing his ball into the street?

All of us have greater responsibilities in this society than merely ourselves.

No man/woman is an island.

A severely hypothyroid individual is as impaired a driver as one who is driving

under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The impaired mental acumen and

judgement in hypothyroid individuals make them incapable of accurately judging

their own driving abilities.

**************PLEASE BE ADVISED*********************

THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS COMMUNICATION IS INTENDED

FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. IT IS NOT INTENDED, NOR SHOULD

IT BE CONSTRUED, AS SPECIFIC MEDICAL ADVICE OR DIRECTIONS. ANY

PERSON VIEWING THIS INFORMATION IS ADVISED TO CONSULT THEIR OWN

PHYSICIAN(S) ABOUT ANY MATTER REGARDING THEIR MEDICAL CARE.

************************************************

B. Ain, M.D.

Associate Professor of Internal Medicine

Director, Thyroid Nodule & Oncology Clinical Service

Director, Thyroid Cancer Research Laboratory

Division of Endocrinology and Molecular Medicine

Department of Internal Medicine, Room MN524

University of Kentucky Medical Center

800 Rose Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40536-0298 </blockquote></x-html>

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At 11/8/01 02:49 PM, you wrote:

>Today I feel like I hit a brick wall. I stopped taking synthroid on Oct. 12

and have been using Cytomel. I expected the second time to be worse due to no

residual(hopefully) tissue to make supplemental thyroid hormone. This is pretty

bad. I am very dizzy, dry eyes, fluid retention and have no memory whatsoever.

I don't remember things being this bad last time around. Is this normal for

going hypo the second time? I won't have blood drawn for TSH check until Nov.

16th. I stop cytomel tomorrow.(nov 9).

>

>At this point I really don't think I should be driving a car due to the

dizziness and slowed reaction time. I have no idea how I will get to doctor

appointments and get children from school.

>

>Debbi E