Help Wanda Wisdom Needed!!!!!!!

kmatthew · 12-08-2006, 01:24 AM

I posted to you earlier this month. I have been doing much better since we talked last, but I have been having fatigue that has been trying to resurface over the last week and half or so. I have been under some strain the last couple of weeks, but the doctor added a low dose of Lexapro about a month ago to help with my cortisol problems, thyroid disease, recovery from surgery to help restart me, and it has really helped. The way I feel now with stress is nothing like what I have had to deal with over the last several months, I don't consider it that bad. In fact, I have been pretty proud of how calm I have remained with some situations that have occurred over the last couple of weeks. I have not felt real well this week, as I have been trying to Christmas shop. I think I may have gotten the stomach virus from my son, it was not that bad just really upset stomach for 3 days or so, I was afraid it was my medicine, but it passed today and except for being tired I feel better this evening. My son had it last weekend, but his only lasted one night. This week with all the shopping is the first big round of strenous activity that I have done since I became ill 7 weeks ago with all the adrenal stuff and cortisol problems that we have discussed in previous posts. I am worried today because I was so TIRED today, I ended up taking a 3 hour nap...., and I am still tired. I could not even sit in a chair this morning without feeling like I needed to go to sleep and I went to bed around 11 the night before. (At least I wasn't dizzy)I ended up calling the doctor and they want me to come in on Tuesday to have blood taken again. I really think it is the thyroid rather than the adrenals but my left side of my back in the kidney area hurts some like an ache. I know they won't increase the meds for that because I am on the max, so I am hoping it is the thyroid.

I guess my question is can strain or overdoing it physcially with lots of walking make my adrenals and my cortisol, and my thyroid out of whack even if you are taking an SSRI like Lexapro, and you don't seem all that upset, just a little worried on occasion. I am just hoping that I am not going backwards.

Here were my thyroid counts on Oct 30th before they increased me to .75 of Synthroid and decreased to 1/2 pill on weekends
TSH .06 Normal .4-.5
Free T4 1.3 Normal .8-1.8
Free T3 300 Normal 230-420
The reason for decreasing on two days was to bring the TSH closer to 1 and I am assuming it got there I don't have last report.

I have been very ill for almost 7 weeks but have improved over the last 3, and now I am tired AGAIN. Been fighting the adrenal problems too. I am on 30mg of Cortef .1 of Florinef, and .75 of Synthroid, .5 of cytomel and .5 of dostinex two times a week.
I am lots better my hair has mostly stopped falling out and life is starting to let me live it again, but today was not good at all.
The only thing I have done differently is I think I have way overdone it the last 3 days and have had some stress going on for around 2 weeks but I am coping but I am wondering if has contributed to the creeping up fatigue that I mentioned earlier that has been creeping up on me for the last week or so. The fatigue was so out of control today.
I just hope I am not moving backward again.

Thanks for all your input and support.

WandaB · 12-08-2006, 01:29 PM

Believe me....I have no great wisdom. I only know from experience & what others with addisons have shared. There are so "MANY" others who know much more than I do. Wish they would pop in & talk to you.

Since your son was sick you probably had reason to have the upset stomach. If he had not been sick it could be a sign to increase your Cortef because of addisons. For the fatigue you are having an extra 5 or 10mg would probably be helpful. If you are still extremely tired you could take it now. One of the hard parts about addisons is knowing what is causing what & how & when to increase! We usually have to guess. You will eventually learn what you need. Or to make a good guess.

Sounds like you had too much going on at once. I no longer walk the malls Xmas shopping. If you were ill at the same time it would be way too much & cause a need for more cortisol. Get rid of the stress. It is the hardest thing on us. Many of us cannot go full out like before addisons. Some say they feel normal & do amazing things. Being younger helps. Your shopping or hard days shouldn't effect the thyroid. I do no adjusting with thyroid med for hard days or illness.

Could it be the Lexapro showing side effects? (sleepiness/nausea)? Maybe you wouldn't need this if on a bit lower dose???? Being on too much cortisol can cause anxiety. If you ever make a change be sure to only change one thing at a time.

Info from elsewhere..........
What are Lexapro's Typical Side Effects:
Pretty much the usual for SSRIs

headache
nausea
dry mouth
sweating
sleepiness or insomnia
diarrhea or constipation
weight gain
loss of libido

If I was taking max dose of Cortef & still feeling tired or ill, I would reguest a change to Hydrocortisone to see if I felt better on it. Your doc would probably say it would make no difference. Not true, as it could. I would then taper the dose by 2.5mg every two weeks to a dose of 25mg. Taking the max dose you don't know if you are getting too much which will cause the same symptoms as not getting enough.

I am currently taking 22.5mg. I can get by on 20mg & know others who do also. Everyone is different. It is common to be started on the max dose when first diagnosed & then very slowly tapering to the lowest dose you feel well on.

With addisons you don't really go backwards, but will have good days & bad days. Any time you have to increase, try to do it in the morning or at noon. Extra at night could keep you awake.

I have babbled long enough!!!! Hope you are feeling better.

kmatthew · 12-08-2006, 04:33 PM

Thank you so much for your help. I guess the next step will be to find a doctor here that specializes with autoimmune problems. My doctor is good but focused on the thyroid, and since the autoimmune antibody test was negative says we are not dealing with addisons, but I have all the symptoms except for the discolored skin.
I feel better today than yesterday, but very tired.

2jen · 12-08-2006, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmatthew

Thank you so much for your help. I guess the next step will be to find a doctor here that specializes with autoimmune problems. My doctor is good but focused on the thyroid, and since the autoimmune antibody test was negative says we are not dealing with addisons, but I have all the symptoms except for the discolored skin.
I feel better today than yesterday, but very tired.

I would get a second opinion! I also have addisons without the skin discoloration and my dr. takes every symptom I have very seriously. Sometimes I get upset because it feels like I am always being tested for something, but I would rather be safe than sorry. Good luck!

kmatthew · 12-08-2006, 08:46 PM

At this point I am so frustrated with the second opinion I tried to get by supposedly one of the best, I would not even know where to begin to try and find a good Endo.