...Because Being on Seven Different Medications Just Isn't Enough
Last week, I went to see my internist for my annual lady-bits/physical/whatcha-ma-hooey exam... I got the results back today and, while my reproductive system appears to be normal, my glands appear to be out of whack: I was a bit surprised to learn that my (T4) thyroid level is slightly low. (The TSH Thyroid test, however, was well within desired levels.) Still, my T4 level was low enough that the doctor wants me to make an appointment to discuss low-dose thyroid replacement therapy.
I don't know about the rest of ya'll w/ MS, but the thought of taking even one more medication makes me want to weep. When I was diagnosed with MS I was already on anti-depressants and allergy meds and the occasional sleeping pill; then we added the MS drugs and then we had to bump up the ADs and add in another one altogether, just to counteract the side effects of the new drugs!
And even after all that I still felt depressed and sluggish and was unable to focus. But here's the thing: MS causes fatigue, and hypothyrodism causes fatigue, and depression causes fatigue. AND the Copaxone prescribing information lists thyroid disfunction as a side effect. So the question is, whot the heck is going on with my body, what's causing it, and how do we fix it? (And is there a way to fix it without taking another pill?!) Is it one of these things? All of them? Just a couple?! Who the H knows?!
Last Saturday (3/8) I reached my limit and stopped taking the Copaxone. Again. I'm not exactly sure why, but my gut was telling me to stop taking it and - more often than not - when I listen to my gut feelings, things seem to work out well. Usually much better than when I think it through from 12 different angles. And now that this thyroid thing has cropped up... well, I'm not sure what to do or think. I'm hoping that by stopping the Copaxone I'll be able to get back to a baseline of some sort: let my body stabilize and get back to "normal." And then I can reassess what to do next. Frankly, I kind of want to just ignore it and hope it goes away. Sigh...
Anyway, my mom suggested I talk to my neurologist and psychiatrist about this latest bit of data and get their thoughts before talking again with my internist and/or making a decision. This seems like sound advice, so this week I'll be on the horn to the neuro and the shrink, trying to gather professional opinions in order to make some kind of decision. And I probably should, at a minimum, tell The Good Doctor that I've quit taking the Copaxone. :o)
(Oh, and (not so) confidential to my HP: ENOUGH ALREADY!)
Comments
whatcha-ma-hooey! Love it!
Gosh I hope your HP is nice to you this week. : )
~F
Posted by: FranSky | March 18, 2008 10:20 AM
my annual lady-bits/physical/whatcha-ma-hooey exam... now that is the greatest, funniest description I have ever seen! I love it!
Posted by: Kim | March 18, 2008 01:51 PM
Geez I gotta quit reading blogs at night AND after steroid infusions! I read "HP" and thought, "Why is she talking to her Hewlett Packard computer?!?!" Whew...glad it only took me a minute to figure THAT one out! LOL
Linda D. in Seattle
Posted by: Linda D. | March 18, 2008 09:26 PM
maybe it's because i'm NOT on solumedrol but i still can't figure out the HP reference.
i really hope you figure out all your medications and get all the various issues under control. are you still planning on finding a new neurologist?
FYI, at my next neuro appt. in April i'm telling my doctor to put me on tysabri -- i'm done with the "crab" medicines. just mentioning it again as a possible alternative for you to consider, too.
Posted by: jen | March 19, 2008 01:47 AM
Apparently I must be rather knackered as I thought you were asking Harry Potter to give you a break, luckily upon reading it a second time I got who you were actually talking about - hope the correct HP gets the message, as I'm not sure how Harry or Hewlett could actually help you.
BTW today is mum's 27th anniversary - I'm so proud of her!!!!!
Posted by: Sara | March 19, 2008 04:12 AM
I, too, added synthroid to my regimen last year in addition to increasing the anti-depressants. It made a very positive difference and was one of the easiest meds to add to the routine. Good luck.
Posted by: Lisa Emrich | March 19, 2008 06:45 PM