Posted by Squiggles on May 23, 2003, at 8:18:02
In reply to Squiggly liners - reducing lithium, posted by Squiggles on May 22, 2003, at 7:19:40
Hi,
As a follow up to my reduction of lithium
(aiming for 800mg instead of 900mg per day)
i am reporting that i feel so well, i almost
feel sick.The relation between Synthroid (thyroxine
replacement for lithium-induced hypothyroidism)
and lithium is like this: imagine a scale -
on one side you have the lithium, on the other
the thyroxine hormone; if the lithium is too high
then the thyroid gland has to struggle to produce
more thyroxine. You get the picture. I am
according to my bloods hypothyroidic since my
Synthroid was reduced. I wondered to myself why
the lithium was not as well.And i asked my dr. if nothing could be done about
my hypothyroidism (shaking head sadly, nope);
Maybe, i've found a way.Anyway, so far here are the improvements:
- hands are not numb or feeling full of water
(a few yrs ago they were in stilts from acute
paralysis of the carpal nerve - neuro doc. said
it was not carpal tunnel syndrome from typing
but thyroid probably);
- i did not realize that it was not necessary or
normal to feel like an elephant when walking, esp.
getting up;- more mobile and sensitive skin wise and muscle wise;
- less appetite
- head feels clear with less brain heat waves;
- Heart rate up slightly (80 instead of 68 or 70);
Some disadvantages - wake up in the middle of the
night - but go back to sleep again; I'm still taking
3 0.50 klonopins but i don't think what i had was
withdrawal when i tried to get off 3 yrs. ago
- i think it was a lithium seizure as my head hurt so much every time
i had to take the lithium. It was the summer of
constant record heat; maybe it was an interaction
of w/d and lithium going up - not sure. Very sick then.
The incident was let pass.So, far so good.
Squiggles
poster:Squiggles
thread:228282
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030520/msgs/228545.html