From the "Fair Warning" department

[featherynscale]

Something else about the medical blitz of the other week: They decided that my thyroid levels were in a sort of grey zone between the point where they want me on a .175 tab of replacement hormones or a .200 tab. They opted to go high instead of low.

I have fairly high sensitivities to most drugs, and this one is no exception. Bumping me up 25 micrograms has resulted in a fairly constant hypomanic state over the last few days, AND I'VE ONLY BEEN ON THE NEW DOSE SINCE SUNDAY. According to the literature, any noticible change from starting or stopping the hormone is supposed to take three to four *weeks*. And that's talking about a change of at least 75 micrograms - more for most people. I'm running hot on a 25 mcg upswing in less than a week.

On the one hand, I don't mind hypomania. I really don't even mind full-on mania on the rare occasions that I get to that. It's a lot better than depression and sluggishness, in any case. I get a lot more done, certainly, and I have a lot more fun. HOWEVER. There are a few downsides. One is that it can be difficult to focus on non-fun things. The other is that I may annoy the living light out of people I'm around.

So do me a favor, would you? If I'm irritating you with my moodstate, or especially if I am continually pestering you to go do something fun or obnoxious or whatever, please tell me to sit my chemically-enhanced ass down and shut the hell up. Thanks.

Comments

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

Heh. I started this thyroid adventure as a Graves patient -- I'm familiar with the palpitations and I'm already about as bug-eyed as I'm going to get (hopefully -- I got treatment before that got terribly noticible.)

[beccak1961.livejournal.com]

Oh, I've only been on the under side. Mine died when I was pregnant with Zach.

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

I've played both sides (as usual). Under sucks, but over is a little scary. Plus, the pills for under don't taste like anything. The pills for over have an alarming bitterness that spoil the taste of everything else you put in your mouth for several hours.

I was diagnosed with Graves' Disease when I was in high school, following a period of about a month in which I had migraines and vomiting every afternoon. They put me on the suppressant, then decided that radioactive iodine to kill off some of the gland was a better plan, especially as I had communicated how much it pissed me off to have to take pills every day to function. I was slated for the maximum iodine dose, but requested that they cut it to the minimum dose for starters. The minimum recommended dose destroyed the entire gland (whoopee), so now again with the dependence on pills to function :(

I have heard that pregnancy did damage to a lot of women's thyroid function, but (fortunately) have never had to deal with that.

[beccak1961.livejournal.com]

Between both my pregnancies I had a lot of stuff damaged, but they were worth it:)