hypo brain

[firefly7]

So I ended up slightly hypo for a while over medicated on methimazole - FT4 right at the bottom of the range back in January.   The endo has been reducing my dose and for the last week I've been on 2.5mg and for comparison I was on 5mg in December.   I was on 3/4 of a pill in the middle of that time.    So I am really and I mean REALLY having serious emotional and brain problems.   My emotions are intense, angry, sad, overwhelmed, can't deal with anything going wrong, can't remember important things.   I don't *think* this is due to hyper surge but is a continuation of "hypo brain" combined with adjusting to the lower dosage.    My pulse and bp are still staying consistent.  

I'm growing so discouraged because I thought I'd be better by now.   I had always imagined 2.5 mg of methimazole was the promised land because many people are on that as their long-term maintenance dose.    I still feel like crap.  True, my joints don't hurt like they were and my feet seem less puffy, so a little progress.   But it's NOT ENOUGH!!!!   How am I supposed to ever go back to work like this?   Support myself?   I don't have anyone to help carry any part of the load of my life - in fact I've got others expecting me to carry parts of their lives.   And I can't.   Back when I thought this was temporary till I stabilized on meds it wasn't so scary, but now I wonder what the future looks like for me and in my current state of mind it doesn't look good.

I really need some encouragement tonight.

[firefly7]

Thanks again for your reply goolarra!   Actually I haven't had hyper labs as far as the FT4 and FT3 go since last May.   I ended up with first an endo who didn't dose by TSH but reduced my methimazole too early too much and I had strong hyper reactions and later an endo who dosed by TSH and delayed.   Still each time I'd try on my own or through their order to reduce I'd have unbearable symptoms.   The first success I had with reductions was in December.   And yep my doc had me reduce from 3/4 to 1/2 of a 5mg pill at those last labs which is what I'm reacting to now.   I'm hoping I can adjust if I hold on long enough!

[goolarra]

Those labs are still pretty hypo, especially for someone who has recently been hyper and used to higher levels of hormone.

Symptoms vary with the individual.  Some of us don't tolerate variance in hormone levels at all, and some can actually swing considerably with few symptoms.  You really can't compare your experience to that of others with similar (or worse) labs.

Did your doctor suggest a meds change after those labs?

[firefly7]

More patience than I've got!!!!   If labs would help here's mine from 2/15:

TSH 3.0
FT4 1.1 (.8-1.8)
FT3 2.7 (2.3-4.2)

Do you think these labs would explain how severe the emotional symptoms are for me?   Sometimes I read about other people with much worse labs who seem to have it a lot more together than I do.   I don't want to fall into rut of trying to treat psych symptoms that are really from the thyroid but I was feeling seriously unglued last night.  Calmer today though.

[goolarra]

I know...it takes a lot of patience.  A four week re-test schedule is good, though; she's staying on top of it.

Do you have your last blood work to post?  

[firefly7]

Thanks Goolarra!   I was diagnosed with Graves last April.    Lab work was 1.5 weeks ago and due again in 2.5 weeks.    So the endo is really keeping track of it - mixed feelings on this doc but for now she seems to be doing the right things.   I just get really frustrated and the months tick by and I still feel so sick.

[goolarra]

Don't be too discouraged.  If your FT4 was on the bottom of the range in January, it's going to take a while to bounce back from that.  It's kind of a double whammy to have FT4 so low since you were hyper and are somewhat used to very high levels.  

When was the last time you had blood work, and when are you due again?  Maybe you don't even need the 2.5 mg?  I know I should know, but refresh my memory...do you have diagnosed Graves'?