thyroid

[Crystal13579]

My mother has had thyroid problems.  She is on synthroid daily.  What medical results do you know on memory loss.  My mother has been on synthroid since she was around 55 years old.

[ifupleze]

When was her last lab taken and what were the results?  Hypothyroidism can certainly add to memory loss, believe me.  How old is she now? and how bad is her memory? What is the dosage of her synthroid?  Is she on any other meds?  If you can post as much information as you can, it will be helpful.

[nancy633]

I write this not just for you but for anyone out there that may benefit from my story.  Be careful with thyroid and make sure her Doc doesn't change her thyroid meds without running consecutive tests on he thryroid levels.  I've been through hell and back this past year with my mother and her thyroid.  She began having memory loss slowly but in Jan '08 she started getting confused, had auditory psychosis, severe memory loss, depressed and we lived with it sad day after sad day. Psychiatrists and Dr's told us it was most likely the beginning of Alzheimer's.   We were scared and yet I wouldn't give up, Alzheimer's doesn't come on that fast, she did say her Doc had changed her diabetes meds and after researching on the net and crying myself to sleep most every  late night I came to the conclusion that diabetes doens't cause what she was going through it had to be her thyroid.  I finally called the pharmacist and he confirmed the Doc had increased her thyroid meds not her diabetes meds.   A few days later we could see a change and she slowly came back to us yet not 100% her memory took a beating.  I confronted the Doc and he said he had run a test once and noticed she needed her synthroid increased! Once will not determine anything, you need to have your levels checked over the course of a few weeks to have comparisons. If your mother is going through memory loss keep having her levels checked before they change anything! We are now trying to switch her to Armour slowly which is natural thyroid.  Good luck and keep your eyes open to any changes.  If her memory isn't the greatest like my mothers was she may easily misunderstand.

[lmr5321]

I totally identify with this.  I'm going through this right now with my mother.

She is in her late 70's and been hypo for several years.  She has an HMO and has always been managed by her primary doc.  She's never had significant relief from exhuastion, sleep problems, feeling cold, thinning hair etc.  When I asked, she always told me that the dr. said her levels were fine.

Over the past two months or so her memory and confusion got worse.  Also, the fatigue and cold are terrible.  She has a "funny" feeling in her hands and feet.  

A month ago they increased her synthroid.  No improvement.  She want went to doc and he said wait another month.  Now I'm trying to get consents signed so I can call the dr office myself and talk to them.  I will be going to her appts. from now on (she doesn't understand as well and can't relay back to me what was said).

I just don't understand how she has all these symptoms, and the dr. says her tests are all normal.  Did the guy even run t3 and t4?   I'll find out.

The memory issues are scary and upsetting to see in your parent, especially suddenly.  I read the same thing about hypoT and the elderly, which is why I intend on pursing this, too.

Hang in there.  Hopefully you'll find answers.

[nancy633]

I feel for you. I nearly lost my mind when she began having memory loss and confusion.  You can't ever imagine your once powerful and strong parent decline and therefore hand over the care giving to you when it's been the other way around all your life.  I have another appointment in 2 weeks so we'll see.  This Dr deals with natural and western medicine so hopefully best of both worlds.  If anything comes up, I'll be here to chat.  Good luck.