Dizziness and many other issues?

[mvandiver]

Some background: I was diagnosed with hypothyroid back in April 2010. I had been having very noticable symptoms since March. I also have PCOS and am pre-diabetic. I'm a 32 year old female.

The issue: I have been having troubles with extreme dizziness, off and on, since April. It comes and goes. For a few months I wasn't feeling as dizzy, or at all, but then a month ago my endocrinologist upped my dose of levothyroxine from 50 to 75...and for the past two weeks I have been having EXTREME dizziness (ALL the time, it never ends), as well as weird head pain in the right side of my brain, which causes sensitivity to light and sounds, and sometimes my heart feels like it's slightly sped up.

In the past, my doctors have just dismissed the dizziness as stress. But this didn't start happening until my thyroid went nuts back in March. Around May/June of 2010, I had CT scans and also an MRI and everything showed up normal.

Just wondering if anyone has any insight as to what the problem may be or has anyone felt this before?

[blabhamilton]

Are you on any other type of meds? sometimes they can cause changes like this. Talk to your phamistis. sorry cann't spell tonight. They will be able to help you better. Sometimes they don't unless you ask. Also make sure to give them all of you meds. even over the counter ones. and any meds that you have had a reation to even if it was small. Like I can not take the generic synthroid or meds with certain dyes. Keep a diary of what you feel like every day. then you will be able to show your doctor. and have you had your blood pressure checked. if you can have it checked every day. most clinics will do this for free.

[mvandiver]

I don't drink soda or diet soda at all. Not even any diet foods. Nothing that would contain aspartame.

[flyingfool]

FYI

I had dizziness.  And I finally linked it to Diet Soda. Specifically, Aspartame.  I believe one of the known side effects of Aspartame is dizziness.

Since I eliminated Aspartame out of my diet, I have not had dizzy spells.

So if you recently switched from regular soda to diet soda, and you drink a lot of diet soda than you may want to give that a try.

But in your case it sounds like the dizziness directly corresponded to your increase in medication dosage.

[mvandiver]

Oh no! I wrote out a big response the other day and it's not here! booo. I wonder what happened? =(

Anyway, I'm calling my doc about all this in a little bit (as soon as the office opens). I just really want to speak to a nurse or my doc and see if these symptoms I'm having seems worrisome or if it's "just stress" like my doc has said in the past. This is just different than what I was feeling before.

As for the vials of blood...I just got tested yesterday for a complete thyroid testing as well as more diabetes testing...and they took 4 vials. I also had an ultrasound on my thyroid and should be getting results back from that soon.

[goolarra]

Just to clarify...a thyroid panel consisting of FT3, FT4 and TSH would only require one to two vials of blood.  If they're taking 18 vials of blood, they are doing much more than thyroid testing.

[blabhamilton]

Hi again, the other person forgot the t-free test. and do you remember how many tubes of blood they took. the reason why I am asking is because When I have to do my complete work up for mine, they take 18 tubes of blood. I'm on a dose that is high, 500.  but we have been doing it long enough that I listen to my body. I know most people laugh at seeing a nurse pract. but mine is great, it helps to that her husband is a doctor. but if you post you levels I might be able to help you.  you can always get a copy from the lab or from medical records for free for the first copy. your symptoms have me worried, because if you are on the right dose you should not have these. and just a heads up, stress can change your levels, so can a few other things.  it wouldn't hurt to see  your regular doctor and see what they say,
Good luck

[goolarra]

I don't want to undermine your trust in your doctor, but you should be getting a copy of all bloodwork every time it's done.  It's very important to develop a personal history, and if you make it a habit of getting results, you can track what's going on and will always have your history in your posession if you should have to change doctors, etc.  I get hard copy of the lab report and jot down symptoms, if any,and dose prior to the bloodwork  If you get your results verbally, remember to ask for reference range as well since ranges vary lab to lab and have to come from your own lab report..

Jumping from 50 to 75 can be a big jump, especially if you're sensitive to meds.  When your dose was raised did you have hypo symptoms returning?  Is your doctor testing FT3 and FT4 as well as TSH?  Am I correct that you have been on the increased dose for approximately four weeks and the dizziness, etc. are still bothering you?  If so, you might be slightly overmedicated, especially if you think your HR has increased.

If you get your results and would like to post them with ranges, members can help you interpret them.

When are you due for more bloodwork?

[mvandiver]

Yes, I went straight from 50 to 75 overnight. And before that appt., I had just had a bunch of bloodwork done, testing my thyroid levels as well as doing testing for diabetes. So I'm hoping my endocrinologist knew what he was doing (I just started seeing him a couple months ago). So far, he's got some good reviews from people and he really seems to care (more than my other doctors). So I was just trusting his judgment.

[blabhamilton]

When you started taking meds for the thyroid, did you just jump from 50 to 75 over night. and also when you were put on the 75 did the doc do the blood work to make sure that its the right doses.