CFS/FIBRO trial of Eltroxin Thyroid Medication

[karicci]

Hello Everyone,

I am new to this forum but not new to the trials & tribulations of Fibromyalgia/CFS.  Diagnosed in 1998 but I believe I had it for years prior.  You know how it is - takes years for anyone to put it all together.

I could probably write my own book on the subject and I won't go into all the stuff I have tried.....many many things.  The thing I want to know is has anyone tried low dose thyroid medication - specifically Eltroxin?  My Doctor thought she would try it as I fit all the symptoms of hypothyroidism but just borderline within normal test limits.  She did them all T3/T4 (free) TSH the works several times.  She insisted she had good success with this to give Fibro patients more energy which I am greatly lacking in - the fatigue is unbearable.

Well I agreed after reading so much on the subject that many Fibro patients are Hypo.  So here goes.  I have never felt so awful in my whole life.  My arms were weak, head fogged, pain in my sides like where kidneys are.  Headaches, nausea alternating with hunger like I have never had before - I gained 6lbs in 2 weeks!!!!  Sore throat and ears full feeling, tongue sore at the back like someone pulled on it? Weird.  Oh and then there is the brain fog and emotional crying alternating with anger......I had to ask myself what the heck is going on?????   I decided today to take myself off this trial - its not worth it at all.  Has anyone had similar experiences????

To all the Fibromates out there, never give up the fight. :)

[karicci]

Hello Trudie,

Nice to hear that it worked for you.  Unfortunately or perhaps fortunately I do not "have" to take Eltroxin.  I was put on it as a "trial" because my Dr. told me that it works for some Fibromyalgia especially CFS patients she has.  I do not have Hypothyroidism as per the standardized blood tests so thankfully I was able to stop them.  I have decided to go back to my Naturopathic Dr. and try some natural vitamins again.  I don't think I gave them enough time to really know if they were making a difference.  I cannot take Lyrica, Amitryptyline etc. as they do help with the pain but they make me litterally "dead" from the waist down.  I cannot acheive an orgasm and I am sorry but I may have Fibro and CFS but it is healing for me to share that part of myself whenever I feel well enough with my Husband.  Both of us have suffered so much from this condition that I am not willing to give that part of my life up for a drug.  Even trycyclic antidepressants do the same thing.  I am on Welbutrin and it is the only one I can take without that happening.  I mentioned it to my Dr.  the side effect and she told me "Oh, I never mentioned it to you because first of all it mainly happens to Men and secondly, you don't want to have sex at your age....my age???  What?  I am only 49 years old and yes I do want to have some pleasure in my life.  God Bless I love my Dr. but just because she is my age and doesn't like or have sex with her husband is not the yardstick measurement for the rest of us women!  LOL

Have a great day Trudie.
God Bless you for taking the time to answer me.

Kat

[TrudieC]

I have been hypothyroid for aabout 15 years.  At first I thought I was suffering from depression.  The Eltroxin helped me immensely.  I know that over the years I have suffered from fibro symptoms but they only got bad in the last year.  I have found great success with Lyrica, Remeron for depression (it was amazing how much better I felt when the depression lifted), massage therapy with myofascial release and some light exercise.