Guest guest Posted April 3, 2007 Report Share Posted April 3, 2007 Hi, everyone, The good news is that I finally was able to see an endocrinologist and am being treated for my goiter for the first time since I was diagnosed in 2000. The bad news is that I feel worse. I'm sleeping all day - I get up at 8 am, and fall asleep by 9 am, sleep until 11 am, fall asleep again by noon, up at 2:30 pm, then I'm up until 2 am. I'm also more depressed. Yesterday I felt like my life wasn't worth living like this. What good am I to anyone like this? (I'm married with 4 kids at home.) Thankfully, that only lasted 1/2 hour, but overall I am more discouraged. I take Cymbalta (60 mg before bed) for the depression and Ambien CR (12.5 mg before bed) for the Cymbalta-induced insomnia. I'm diabetic and take 1000 mg of Glucophage XR in the morning with food (working up to 2000 mg). I just started Synthroid 3 weeks ago, I took 50 mcg (1/2 hour before breakfast) the first week and have taken 75 mcg (1/2 hour before breakfast) for the past 2 weeks. I don't have any test results yet. I just had blood drawn 3 weeks ago at my first appointment, and will get those results in 3 more weeks at my next appointment. Is the Synthroid increasing the effects of the Ambien? Or is this just an adjustment phase? I know it's very early in treatment, but I'm alone with my 4 year old all day and I can't continue sleeping all day. Thanks for any help! Jodi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 3, 2007 Report Share Posted April 3, 2007 It take our bodies about 4 to 6 weeks to adjust to a change in dosage with thyroid hormone, that includes when you first start on it. So aiming for labs 4 to 6 weeks, 6 is better, after a dosage adjustment is what you are aiming for. It's gonna take some time for your body to adjust to the addition of the hormone, and most likely you will need more increase. The key is patience, and it's HARD to have it when all you can think about is getting your life back. There are some things that you can do to help a bit with your energy levels, but don't expect them to make you marathon ready!!! It has helped me a lot to do mini meals. Small balanced meals that are eaten every 3 to 4 hours. This will keep your blood sugar more even, and also increase your bodes ability to convert the T4 hormone that you are taking (Synthroid) into the T3 hormone that your body needs to function. Its also important not to skip meals. Try to avoid meals that are high carb or high sugar, you may already be doing that...but it's a good thing to say to remind everyone, balance carbs and sugars with complex carbs, proteins and fats.. the simple analogy is to thing of a fire. If you get the fire started and only feed it small twigs and leaves it will burn fast and hot and then be out of fuel and die. If you get it started with the twigs and leaves to get it burning and then add bigger twigs, sticks and then logs, it will burn more steadily and for a LOT longer... the complex carbs, fats and proteins are your sticks and logs. They will keep your energy up longer and keep you from having the short surge of energy and then crashing in an exhausted lump. Your difficulty sleeping at night and the sleeping all day can be a couple of things,my first suspicion is that your adrenals are on the fatigued side. If that is so starting on the Synthroid probably made it a bit worse, and upping the dose after only a week made it that much worse again. Your body needs time to adjust to getting the hormone back into it... The depression.. that's all part of being hypo... once your thyroid hormone levels come up to where they need to be that depression lessens and tends to go away. What is your diagnosis, the reason that you are hypo and needing to take thyroid hormone? Topper () On Tue, 03 Apr 2007 20:48:08 -0000 " jlwitz " jlwitz@...> writes: > Hi, everyone, > > The good news is that I finally was able to see an endocrinologist > and am being treated for my goiter for the first time since I was > diagnosed in 2000. > > The bad news is that I feel worse. I'm sleeping all day - I get up > at 8 am, and fall asleep by 9 am, sleep until 11 am, fall asleep > again by noon, up at 2:30 pm, then I'm up until 2 am. > I'm also more depressed. Yesterday I felt like my life wasn't worth > living like this. What good am I to anyone like this? (I'm married > with 4 kids at home.) Thankfully, that only lasted 1/2 hour, but > overall I am more discouraged. > > I take Cymbalta (60 mg before bed) for the depression and Ambien CR > (12.5 mg before bed) for the Cymbalta-induced insomnia. I'm > diabetic and take 1000 mg of Glucophage XR in the morning with food > (working up to 2000 mg). I just started Synthroid 3 weeks ago, I > took 50 mcg (1/2 hour before breakfast) the first week and have > taken 75 mcg (1/2 hour before breakfast) for the past 2 weeks. > I don't have any test results yet. I just had blood drawn 3 weeks > ago at my first appointment, and will get those results in 3 more > weeks at my next appointment. > > Is the Synthroid increasing the effects of the Ambien? Or is this > just an adjustment phase? I know it's very early in treatment, but > I'm alone with my 4 year old all day and I can't continue sleeping > all day. > > Thanks for any help! > > Jodi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 3, 2007 Report Share Posted April 3, 2007 Jodi Never take the Synthroid any less than a full hour before meals, or it won't be absorbed properly. Also, if you're eating high calcium foods for breakfast, even more time should elapse. How long have you been on the Cymbalta, but particularly the Ambien. It is a sleep med, with all the early morning ramifications of a sleep med, i.e., hangover, and I don't care what the drug reps say, they all have a hang over effect, or at least a second or third-pass sleepy period. Waiting for your test results. Why am I worse? > Hi, everyone, > > The good news is that I finally was able to see an endocrinologist > and am being treated for my goiter for the first time since I was > diagnosed in 2000. > > The bad news is that I feel worse. I'm sleeping all day - I get up > at 8 am, and fall asleep by 9 am, sleep until 11 am, fall asleep > again by noon, up at 2:30 pm, then I'm up until 2 am. > > I'm also more depressed. Yesterday I felt like my life wasn't worth > living like this. What good am I to anyone like this? (I'm married > with 4 kids at home.) Thankfully, that only lasted 1/2 hour, but > overall I am more discouraged. > > I take Cymbalta (60 mg before bed) for the depression and Ambien CR > (12.5 mg before bed) for the Cymbalta-induced insomnia. I'm > diabetic and take 1000 mg of Glucophage XR in the morning with food > (working up to 2000 mg). I just started Synthroid 3 weeks ago, I > took 50 mcg (1/2 hour before breakfast) the first week and have > taken 75 mcg (1/2 hour before breakfast) for the past 2 weeks. > > I don't have any test results yet. I just had blood drawn 3 weeks > ago at my first appointment, and will get those results in 3 more > weeks at my next appointment. > > Is the Synthroid increasing the effects of the Ambien? Or is this > just an adjustment phase? I know it's very early in treatment, but > I'm alone with my 4 year old all day and I can't continue sleeping > all day. > > Thanks for any help! > > Jodi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 3, 2007 Report Share Posted April 3, 2007 Hey, Topper, Thanks for the reply And the encouragement. It is hard to wait. I knew there should be some reaction in 6 weeks, since he wanted me back then. But I feel worse this week than I did last week, and last week was worse than the week before One thing that I am doing is skipping lunch. I had complained about not being able to get this extra 60 pounds off, and he said the synthroid and glucophage would kill my appetite. I took that to mean it was ok to only eat when I was hungry. Which is about every 12 hours, but I'm still not losing weight I like your analogy of the fire and sticks and leaves I'll have to write that down somewhere. I'm being treated for a goiter. It was found in 2000, but I couldn't continue seeing that doctor, and no other doctor was concerned about it, or my symptoms. Since it has been growing and I've been feeling worse, I decided to see an endocrinologist on my own. He agreed that we shouldn't just sit around and watch it grow. Thanks again! Jodi > > It take our bodies about 4 to 6 weeks to adjust to a change in dosage > with thyroid hormone, that includes when you first start on it. So aiming > for labs 4 to 6 weeks, 6 is better, after a dosage adjustment is what you > are aiming for. > > It's gonna take some time for your body to adjust to the addition of the > hormone, and most likely you will need more increase. The key is > patience, and it's HARD to have it when all you can think about is > getting your life back. > > There are some things that you can do to help a bit with your energy > levels, but don't expect them to make you marathon ready!!! > > It has helped me a lot to do mini meals. Small balanced meals that are > eaten every 3 to 4 hours. This will keep your blood sugar more even, and > also increase your bodes ability to convert the T4 hormone that you are > taking (Synthroid) into the T3 hormone that your body needs to function. > Its also important not to skip meals. > > Try to avoid meals that are high carb or high sugar, you may already be > doing that...but it's a good thing to say to remind everyone, balance > carbs and sugars with complex carbs, proteins and fats.. the simple > analogy is to thing of a fire. If you get the fire started and only feed > it small twigs and leaves it will burn fast and hot and then be out of > fuel and die. If you get it started with the twigs and leaves to get it > burning and then add bigger twigs, sticks and then logs, it will burn > more steadily and for a LOT longer... the complex carbs, fats and > proteins are your sticks and logs. They will keep your energy up longer > and keep you from having the short surge of energy and then crashing in > an exhausted lump. > > Your difficulty sleeping at night and the sleeping all day can be a > couple of things,my first suspicion is that your adrenals are on the > fatigued side. If that is so starting on the Synthroid probably made it a > bit worse, and upping the dose after only a week made it that much worse > again. Your body needs time to adjust to getting the hormone back into > it... > > The depression.. that's all part of being hypo... once your thyroid > hormone levels come up to where they need to be that depression lessens > and tends to go away. > > What is your diagnosis, the reason that you are hypo and needing to take > thyroid hormone? > > Topper () > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 3, 2007 Report Share Posted April 3, 2007 Hi, , Thanks for the suggestions - I think I can arrange to take the Synthroid earlier. I eat cereal and milk for breakfast - what would be considered high calcium? I've been on Cymbalta for 7 months and the Ambien for 6 months. As long as I get 6 hours of sleep, I don't experience that hung over feeling. That's why I was wondering about the Synthroid exacerbating symptoms. Thanks again, Jodi > > Jodi > > Never take the Synthroid any less than a full hour before meals, or it won't > be absorbed properly. Also, if you're eating high calcium foods for > breakfast, even more time should elapse. How long have you been on the > Cymbalta, but particularly the Ambien. It is a sleep med, with all the > early morning ramifications of a sleep med, i.e., hangover, and I don't care > what the drug reps say, they all have a hang over effect, or at least a > second or third-pass sleepy period. Waiting for your test results. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 4, 2007 Report Share Posted April 4, 2007 If you're having high calcium or iron foods for breakfast, then I would wait about 3 hrs to eat. I was under the impression that you're not feeling well and thought that maybe one of these meds was involved with that, especially since you are hypothyroid. Re: Why am I worse? > Hi, , > > Thanks for the suggestions - I think I can arrange to take the > Synthroid earlier. I eat cereal and milk for breakfast - what would > be considered high calcium? > > I've been on Cymbalta for 7 months and the Ambien for 6 months. As > long as I get 6 hours of sleep, I don't experience that hung over > feeling. That's why I was wondering about the Synthroid > exacerbating symptoms. > > Thanks again, > > Jodi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 4, 2007 Report Share Posted April 4, 2007 , What is your suggestion for breakfast when you are waiting an hour. Thankyou, Bernetta -- Re: Re: Why am I worse? If you're having high calcium or iron foods for breakfast, then I would wait about 3 hrs to eat. I was under the impression that you're not feeling well and thought that maybe one of these meds was involved with that, especially since you are hypothyroid. Re: Why am I worse? > Hi, , > > Thanks for the suggestions - I think I can arrange to take the > Synthroid earlier. I eat cereal and milk for breakfast - what would > be considered high calcium? > > I've been on Cymbalta for 7 months and the Ambien for 6 months. As > long as I get 6 hours of sleep, I don't experience that hung over > feeling. That's why I was wondering about the Synthroid > exacerbating symptoms. > > Thanks again, > > Jodi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 5, 2007 Report Share Posted April 5, 2007 This is exactly why I take my thyroid hormone in the evening, so that I can have more play with that time. I have a strange scedule when it comes to food, as I'm strictly a night worker, lol. When I come in, in the mornings, I may be having veggies and meat, yet having a bowl of cereal for "supper", as the "normal" world calls it, or maybe an egg with toast. I would definitely not take a calcium supplement, as in a pill form, that close to thyroid meds. It really isn't hard for me to wait that hour, as I have absolutely NO appetite when I wake, not for hrs. Re: Re: Why am I worse? , What is your suggestion for breakfast when you are waiting an hour. Thankyou, Bernetta .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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