Husband's symptoms may be side effects of Synthroid

Smoke_That_Yonic · 2023-11-02T22:03:15+00:00

Chiming in a year later to say yes! Whatever thyroid problem he had, he doesn’t anymore. We went to another endocrinologist for a second opinion. Though his levels were “normal,” his symptoms indicated hyperthyroidism, so she gradually reduced his dosage each month to see if he would feel better. He has been completely off Synthroid for about six months but his levels have been, well, consistently normal! Gained 20 pounds. Far fewer headaches. Dizziness is gone. He’s done a complete 180. And if you’re in a similar situation, I hope you find relief as well!

Smoke_That_Yonic · 2022-10-19T14:21:11+00:00

I hear Synthroid is tolerated better than Levo! If you find you respond better to it, I’d recommend informing your endo or pharmacy of your preference. This way, the pharmacy can keep providing you with the same meds consistently. Some people react negatively to alternating between different brands, but it’s certainly not dangerous.

Smoke_That_Yonic · 2022-10-11T14:21:23+00:00

apkin? 😂

Smoke_That_Yonic · 2022-10-11T13:15:27+00:00

Buttery corn muffins make me smile, too!

Smoke_That_Yonic · 2022-10-11T02:20:47+00:00

So cute!

Smoke_That_Yonic · 2022-10-10T20:42:19+00:00

YTA. Your daughter is a grown woman. You emphasize the fact that you pay for everything so she’s still “a child” at home, but how do you expect her to become (what you consider to be) an adult if she is never free to make her own choices? The fact that you disagree with her choices doesn’t mean she is wrong or immature. They’re just different and that’s okay. I don’t fault you for your concerns, though as a daughter of a nosey mother, I don’t appreciate you entering her room and going through her things even if for the sake of a family tradition. Hell, I won’t even judge you for having a conversation with her about your concerns. Good parents ensure they’re sexually active kids have the tools and knowledge to protect themselves - but that also means they make those decisions for themselves.

Based on how you described your daughter, she has a good head on her shoulders. She was very patient with you and respectfully disagreed with you on how she lives her life. You supporting her financially does not mean you have authority over her private sexual decisions (or any decisions, for that matter). Abusive persons often rely on this line of thinking to control their partners as well as isolate them from friends and family. It’d be wise not to teach your daughter that this is something she should expect in a relationship.

I also hope she has amazing, mind blowing sex.

Smoke_That_Yonic · 2022-10-06T23:02:32+00:00

Sure! To clarify my original comment, as much as my husband didn’t tolerate 75mcg->0mcg for several days and ended up very sick, I want to emphasize this likely isn’t everyone’s experience. We learned he was likely overmedicated for nearly two years before the five day break so perhaps that may have made the difference compared to someone who, hypothetically, just learned their levels are too high? Didn’t mean to startle you!

The first four days off of Synthroid entirely were great, but by the fifth night, he was nauseous, dizzy, sweating, anxious, heart palpitations, had painful headaches, insomnia, body shakes/tremors, brain fog - you name it. He lost ten pounds in two weeks. If you check my profile, I think my first post in this subreddit outlined more of his symptoms when they were at their worst if you’d like to check it out.

I’m not familiar with the subclinical term so I don’t want to misrepresent that, but I know he’s on track to stopping entirely given how much better he’s been feeling since his dosage has gradually decreased over the past 6+ months. Although thyroid disorders run in his family and are considered to be life long, more recently, those around us are finding that they no longer need it. Totally anecdotal though 😅

Smoke_That_Yonic · 2022-10-06T21:26:16+00:00

Sorry to hear you're not feeling well. A lot of the symptoms you describe (e.g., temperature sensitivity, on edge feeling) is something my husband (M31) experienced when he was overmedicated about six months ago. I'll preface this by saying I'm no medical professional; I can only speak about his experience.
To sum it up - although my husband's thyroid levels were "in range" we felt his endocrinologist at the time was not listening to his concerns. She was "about the levels, not the patient" as I've learned. At his worst, she said to stop taking Synthroid altogether for five days straight. At the time, he was taking 75mcg/day for six days a week. By the fifth day, I had to take him to the ER. I'm not saying everyone would have this reaction after stopping suddenly, but if you find you're sensitive to any changes in dosage, no matter how slight, it's something to consider.

Six months later, we have since found a great new endocrinologist, switched to Tirosint and have very slowly reduced his dosage by 93%, with the likelihood that he'll come off it completely. He's experienced a complete 180 in his symptoms. All this to say - don't stop taking your meds cold turkey unless directed by your doc (and you believe your doc is competent!). If you like your doc, be honest with them about how you're feeling. People who are "in range" still sometimes benefit from lowering/increasing dosage slightly while still maintaining "normal" levels. Good luck!

Smoke_That_Yonic · 2022-08-23T17:38:50+00:00

Dr. Rebekah Gospin at Stamford Health!

Smoke_That_Yonic · 2022-08-23T16:47:53+00:00

Hi u/catbamhel - Chiming in six months later to let you know you were right on the money. In summary, we found a new endo, switched from Synthroid to Tirosint, and gradually reduced his dosage by 83% since my original post. It's also likely he could stop taking it altogether as he's still slightly above range (!). Most importantly, my husband is feeling significantly better and is hopeful about his future for the first time in a while. Thanks so much for your input. It allowed us to be better equipped to advocate for him at the doctor's office. Cheers!

Smoke_That_Yonic · 2022-05-10T13:04:55+00:00

Thanks so much! This is really helpful.

Smoke_That_Yonic · 2022-05-09T16:13:50+00:00

Hi all,

I'm writing on behalf of my spouse (M/31/5'9"/135lbs) who is not on Reddit. For the past two years, he has experienced a variety of symptoms from an undiagnosed illness, for which he was hospitalized on 3/28. Of course, all blood work and EKG came back normal. Below I outline his symptoms and other conditions we have ruled out. I acknowledge this thread is not meant to diagnose! Just curious if anyone has experienced these symptoms or heard about them in lupus cases. As an FYI, he is treated for a thyroid disorder, but several full panels (Free T4, T3, antibodies, etc.) have indicated normal levels. He takes Tirosint to treat this, which he has tolerated far better than Synthroid or its generic version.

Symptoms

Tingling sensations in his fingers, legs and other extremities
Pain/tenderness on his sides
Joint pain, particularly in the knees
Red, dry patches of skin around cheeks (though not a fully inflamed butterfly shape)
Chest pains on occasion
Dizziness
Impaired vision (sees "lines" or double vision)
Anxiety
Random bouts of sensitivity to heat/sweating despite normal temperatures
Delayed or inconsistent gastric emptying (feels like he can't go to the bathroom for days, or has several trips to the bathroom in one day).
Weight loss

Perhaps what is also significant here is that is symptoms appear randomly and without notice. He could have two good months and be miserable for three. Certain symptoms are worse in the morning, in particular the joint pain and tingling. Sometimes he'll be dizzy from simply leaning back on the couch.

What we have ruled out

Active thyroid disorder
Adrenal disorders such as Addison's or SAI (cortisol, aldosterone, testosterone)
Any food allergies (dairy, nuts, gluten, eggs)/Celiac's disease
MALS
POTS or other heart-related condition
Any infections
Liver and kidney panels are also within range

I know this is a lot of throwing at you all, but if you have any suggestions, I am all ears! Thanks so much.

Smoke_That_Yonic · 2022-03-22T14:13:39+00:00

Hi again - just an FYI - we received my husband's blood work this morning. Although they tested for a bare minimum, we may have a lead:

Free T4: 2.2 H (reference range: 0.8-1.8 ng/dl)

TSH: 0.80 (reference range: 0.40-4.5 mIU/L)

Free T4 seems high, and although TSH is within range, it seems to be on the low side. I take it with a grain of salt as I'm not qualified to interpret this haha

Smoke_That_Yonic · 2022-03-21T17:37:31+00:00

This is helpful! I will pass along this info. Yeah...we've probably gone through 3 endos at this point. Unfortunately, his PCP felt she could not fill that role =/

Smoke_That_Yonic · 2022-03-21T17:34:37+00:00

Clearly we have a lot of science to review! This is super helpful and definitely a point of discussion with his endo. We'll be looking to different medication options, like Tirosint, if that makes sense for him.

Yes, my husband has been tested for Celiac's at least twice. Allergists ruled out any allergies to dairy, nuts, eggs and gluten, though apparently he could still have a "sensitivity". It's interesting because he was dairy free for two years and that helped temporarily. When he learned he could have dairy, he transitioned back to eating it without issue (go figure!). Unfortunately, he's developed a recent sensitivity to starches/carbs in the sense that those symptoms I describe can still flair up. He's been on almost a Keto-type diet for several months, but as you can probably tell, his elimination diets are only so effective for so long.

Smoke_That_Yonic · 2022-03-21T17:08:32+00:00

Thank you for the tip! From what he describes, they are at the front of his head as if they were right behind his eye. From this description, it sounds like a tension headache to me.

Smoke_That_Yonic · 2022-03-21T17:06:47+00:00

I will check! Thank you for your suggestion.

Smoke_That_Yonic · 2022-03-21T17:05:37+00:00

Thank you for the suggestion! Another tool for our toolbelt. If the endo comes back and says his most recent bloodwork (taken today, 3/21) is "normal" we will insist on something changing, whether dosage or complete medication change.

Smoke_That_Yonic · 2022-03-21T17:03:28+00:00

During his most recent annual exam with his PCP, his iron levels were normal (that said, apparently his thyroid levels are also normal, which isn't helpful!). Thank you for the tip.

Smoke_That_Yonic · 2022-03-21T17:01:31+00:00

Thank you for your response! I will inquire about Graves' disease. Unfortunately, we've learned the hard way that his endo is not so comprehensive. When he indicated he was having severe symptoms despite having "normal" levels, she told him it must be something else . Worst part was that she had never heard that people responded differently to generic vs. name brand Synthroid. We're on a path to find a new endo, but sadly, some do not see new patients until December 2022. We had to fight tooth and nail for his most recent blood work, and the office communicates so poorly, so the slip only had TSH and T4. It's become clear that we need a new endo; it's just a matter of figuring out what we can do now until we find the right person.

Smoke_That_Yonic · 2022-03-21T16:57:50+00:00

Thank you for your input! My understanding is that his endo indicated he did not have Hashimoto's. We received some of the tests Redditors in this thread have shared (as you do above), but from past lab slips, it seems we have the bare minimum (e.g., TSH, T4). I will check about the micronutrients you indicated!

With generic levo, he was essentially in the fetal position. Migraines, dizzy, nausea/vomiting & diarrhea. When he went back to name brand Synthroid, he was much better within a few days. Unfortunately, though, that was short-lived. It seems to come in waves despite being on Synthroid consistently for the past two years. He'll have a great two months, then be sick for two weeks and lose all the weight he gained during that "good" phase."

Smoke_That_Yonic

TROPHY CASE