[~Christina]

Originally Posted by Misterpain

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news ,but 20 mg is way to much ,your on the threshold of it being bad for sleep ,you should really try tapering your dose down . I have seen different responses from different brands .you might want to try buying the 5 mg of different brands and try cutting back on it slowly ,see which is more effective for you at what dose ,if you take it every night at that dose it's probably hurting your sleep more than helping .

I have tried every dose possible , my Pdoc is who pushed my dose to 20mg , I have tried many different brands.. maybe it would be wise to take a break.

Ptsd is what we feel drives so much of my trouble sleeping since childhood csa

Thanks for the information

[bizi]

My tsh was elevated 8 from the lithium....6 months on it.
I feel that I am more stable on the lithium.
She told me it was my decision to stay on it or get off of it. Taking synthroid is an easy answer.
what do you think?
bizi

[giddykitty]

Can't you just add the synthroid or increase it if you're on it?? I'm confused what the problem is.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

For me lithium helped and synthroid is no big deal to take every day. I know that's not how everyone feels though. (I have needed synthroid after having to stop lithium after repeated toxicities though; again it's no big deal to me).

[~Christina]

I was on lithium yearsss ago and although it really did help my stability. I had horrible cystic acne that nothing helped clear up , I was concerned about my Thyroid of course , but I went toxic on it and that was it for me.

I wasn’t willing to maybe need to take thyroid medications because lithium imploded my thyroid and certainly wasn’t willing to risk kidney damage.

It’s a personal decision, everyone needs to do a pro con list, my list absolutely went oh hell no when Doctors were discussing if I needed short term dialysis.

What’s your thoughts Bizi ?

[bizi]

Well my pdoc ordered more lab work, a complete thyroid panel. those results will be (hopefully) faxed to my GP whom I see on Monday for a pap/wellness exam. I was having elevated serum calcium levels from calcium supplements and high doses of magnesium oxide I was taking for constipation. Now I take sennicot 25mg....it is a laxative. and that seems to be working well.
my kidney function test are ok....my total cholesterol is high because my hdl is high. my ratio is fine.
bizi
I don't know how I feel. I don't like the idea of killing my thyroid.

but taking sythroid sounds like an easy fjix. I really don't have any side effects from taking the lithium and I seem to be more stable on it.
I think my pdoc wants me to keep taking the lithium and take the synthroid.
side.
I see my gp on monday.
bizi

I agree that it is your choice regarding the thyroid. I will say that going off Lithium doesn't always fix the thyroid. I've been off Lithium for maybe 4 or 5 years now and must still take the large dose of 150 mcg Synthroid. I don't see that ever changing, in my case. Like others wrote, I don't see that as a big deal. I have zero side effects from Synthroid and it's a rather small pill.

I went off of Lithium because of kidney damage. That is a very big deal. If I stayed on Lithium and my kidney damage worsened, obviously there wouldn't be any small pill to easily address that.

I don't mean to scare you about kidney damage. Of course not everyone gets that from Lithium.

[bizi]

I saw my GP today. liked her.
She wants to retest the TSH in a couple of weeks. I am hoping that I can quit drinking by then to see if that is what affected my thyroid.
I really don't want to be taking the thyroxine...one hour before eating or drinking....that would not be easy on me.
I am looking into tegretol, that is what she suggested the lamictal stopped working and that is why we switched to lithium in the first place.
I have not been happy on the lithium....don't want to constantly worry about my kidneys. I had stopped all of the calcium supplements and now magnesium ones too. due to elevated blood calcium. which is now normal. my vitamin d is low 37, for some reason she wants me to double it and take 10,000 units a day. for 2 months then go back to 5,000/day.

wonder why my d is low. I usually run 50-60??????
She is not happy with my total cholesterol 280 but that is because my hdl is 115. my ldl was higher too so she wants to recheck that is 6 months.
She did the kind of pap where you only have to have it done every 5 years so that is good. It hurts when she did it. ouch!
later this evening I sent a message via the on line portal Thanking her for our visit and her answering my concerns. and then I asked if she would prescribe klonipin .5mg because I was having a hard time sleeping.
will see what she has to say.
bizi

[~Christina]

It’s good she is wanting second round of blood tests. I once had blood work done 3 times in one week and each time there was a noticeable difference.

I’m on high dose Vitamin D also but I still run low. I am not a vampire ! I do go out in the sun. lol

I’m glad you had a good appt I’m sure she appreciated hearing positive feedback

[bizi]

Got a call about my labs from my pdoc office. my tsh was 5 and the t3 t4 were both normal. so no changes and retest in 6 weeks. This is good news.
Will wait and see if I hear from my gp?
bizi

[bizi]

This is what I wrote to my pdoc:

Dr. Orazio,

After much thought, I decided that I don't want to wait until my thyroid is done for or for my kidneys to have damage either.
As you mentioned during our last visit., I would like to try tegretol as my mood stabilizer and discontinue the lithium.
If after giving the tegretol a fair shake and it doesn't work out then we can always go back to the lithium as a last resort.

Thank you for your consideration,

[~Christina]

I think you took all info available and made a informed decision that your comfortable with

Good job !

[bizi]

heard from dr. orazio today.

She did not want to switch just yet.... and I did/do.
Hubby is in agreement.

So we are going to switch meds.
bizi

[Sunflower123]

I hope the switch goes smoothly for you.

[~Christina]

Proactive is good

[Misterpain]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

Proactive is good

My mother's motto "always be proactive instead of Reactive" ,good luck on the transition .

[bizi]

discontinue lithium, start tegretol 200mg twice a day. lab draw in 10 days see her again in 4 weeks.
I am happy to be getting off lithium..I am hoping that the tegretol dose does not need to be changed after the lab draw.

I looked on good rx and the new med is expensive compared to lithiums $4.
I will have to go to walmart to get the cheaper amount. It is $30 more expensive at my pharmacy. $75. ouch!
I hate going to walmart.
bizi

[~Christina]

Originally Posted by bizi

discontinue lithium, start tegretol 200mg twice a day. lab draw in 10 days see her again in 4 weeks.
I am happy to be getting off lithium..I am hoping that the tegretol dose does not need to be changed after the lab draw.

I looked on good rx and the new med is expensive compared to lithiums $4.
I will have to go to walmart to get the cheaper amount. It is $30 more expensive at my pharmacy. $75. ouch!
I hate going to walmart.
bizi

I hope the dose is just right for you

I hate Hellmart !!! But my meds are much cheaper there. Sucks.

[bizi]

The east coast is so expensive!
I just booked a flight to rhode Island for my nephews graduation in May.
3 nights at a fairfield inn next to the airport and airfare totals :$1,356. OUCH!
and that is just for me. I will be traveling by myself.
and staying at the same hotel as my family.
So that is good. I guess I need to get him a graduation gift,
money I presume. How much is the going rate??
bizi

[bizi]

I saved $220 by switching hotels at the air port so that is good. still very expensive trip for 3 days.
we are going to new port I guess on that saturday Jill is driving. I want to get some good sea food!!!!!
bizi
so far no side effects from the tegretol.
keeping fingers crossed.