thyroid

[sydney6060]

I have been hypothyroid for about 20 years and on the same dose (.088) of synthroid for almost as long.  Last blood work showed my rates were even worse, and given an increase of synthroid to .100. 

Does anyone know if Sjogren's can make the thyroid worse, or could it be caused by the Plaquenil?  It just seems weird that after so long my thyroid now starts to act up.

On top of that, I think I may be gone hyper as I'm having really bad jittery attacks, and feel speeded up.  Which isn't a bad thing I case, but justs feels really weird. 

Thanks
Susan

[Linda196]

Susan, the thyroid is just one part of the puzzle, and levels respond to changes in levels of other hormones like pituitary, adrenal, and ovarian.

I had 7/8 of my thyroid removed in 1972, and I still occasionally have changes in my levels requiring adjustments of my dose. I have had to adjust dose twice in the 5-6 years since my SjS DX and starting Plaquenil, and neither time seemed related to those changes. When I started on high dose Prednisone (corticosteroids are adrenal hormones) I had to drop my dose, and when the Prednisone was reduced, I had to go back to the original dose.

According to my endo, thyroid levels are in a constant state of flux, and random measurements might or might not catch highs and lows, in fact he always monitors mine with a weekly test for 6 weeks before making changes in dose, to see if a high or low result was simply a spike, or an actual trend.

[Scottietottie]

Hi Susan 

I don't know whether autoimmune thyroid disease is connected to SjS or not. I do know that a lot of people with SjS do have thyroid problems though - and millions who don't have SjS too!

I was dxd with Hashimotos thyroiditis about a year before I was dxd with SjS. I've needed my thyroxine adjusted sveral times since then. It's mostly been adjusted up the way. Only once down the way and now its been put up again. I don't think it has any relation to Plaquenil though.

take care - Scottie 

[Patze]

Hi Susan,

I'm with the other ladies as I also have to have adjustments made now and then, and I also was diagnosed with Hashimoto's before SICCA.

Take care -

Patze

[Babs659]

Hi!  I can definitely relate.  I have had Hashi's since 1972, and had been on the same dose until about two years ago.  Suddenly it needed to be raised, then lowered, then raised, then lowered, then......

Anyway, the docs still have not been able to explain it but I wouldn't be surprised if mine is a malabsorption problem.  Don't know what is and what is not Sjs, which I have only been dx with for about six months....

Let me know if you figure it out!

[sydney6060]

I don't know if I'll ever figure it out!!  Feel like crap today.  Speedy one minute and then wanting to cry the next.  Don't know if it's my increase in synthroid, sjs, or just life in general. 

Heart palpitations, dizziness, weird feeling in stomach, IBS attacks.  I see the rheumy next week for the first time since I started on Plaq.  Maybe he'll have an answer.

Can't even type without having to do spell check. LOL

Susan

[Cheryl]

Susan,
Your symptoms sound like the ones I had when I had hyperthyroid trouble.  Are you shaky, too?
Cheryl

[sydney6060]

I'm a little shaky.  I just feel that I can't sit still.  Definitely not my usual self!!!  It seems to happen about an hour or 2 after I take my synthroid.  Guess I should call my doctor.  Sigh.  Get tired of seeing them.

[tuckerdog]

I went hyperthyroid too when the pharmacy gave me generic thyroxine.  I felt really bad, my head was so messed up I thought that I would have to be put in a nursing home at 53.  One lab test and they will find out if that is the problem.  Go to the Dr. ASAP.  I wish I had instead of suffering for a month.

Tuckerdog

[lelole]

Hi Sydney,

Since you have Sjogren's your thyroid disease is likely to be of an autoimmune origin, and like SJS you can have flares where your immune system sees your thyroid as public enemy number one, and sets about it's destruction.  As a result, less of your thyroid is working, and therefore you are naturally producing less of your own thyroid hormones.  This is likely why your dose needs an increase.  Though all of the hormones in our body are interconnnected, and finely balanced so it could be a myriad of things.  However both 0.088 and 0.100 are still very moderate doses.

You don't say how long you have been taking this new dose, but in general it takes about 6 weeks to take full effect.  It is pretty common to feel a little jittery and speedy in the beginning as your body gets used to the new dose.  It should settle down over the next few weeks...

Hope that helps,

Leah xx

[forest]

Hi Susan!

I would often go through a number of symptoms for the 6 weeks following a dosage change. Sometimes I would have hypo and hyper symptoms at the same time. I have been on .125 for quite a while now after bumping it up from a .112 dose.

Scott

[Linda196]

Hello Scott, welcome to Sjogren's World.

I hope you find the boards helpful and informative, but most importantly, friendly...you've moved into the friendliest little neighbourhood on the net!

Please feel free to start a thread introducing yourself, so we can get to know you.

[Scottietottie]

Hi Scott 

Welcome to the boards!  I met you briefly in chat last night.

My thyroxine has recently been bumped up to 175mcg per day but I have a feeling that in about 6 months I'll be told to alternate that with 150mcg every other day. We'll see. 150mcg wasn't 'holding' it.

Take care - Scottie 

[Patze]

Ouch Scottie!  Yuck, I hate the alternating day thing too!  Why don't they just develop a pill for it instead of alternating them?  Eh, guess there's not enough money to be made by it yet.


Patze

[lelole]

Hi, you can buy pill cutters quite cheaply, and cut the alternating dose tablet in half, so you take the same dose each day... I got mine from eBay. There is no problem cutting thyroxine...
Leah x