Migraine

One of the labs the NP had drawn to be checked was a TSH for my thyroid levels. It is of course possible that is low and is contributing to the problem.

My thyroid levels have remaind very level over the last 7 years since I've had Graves Disease and had my thyroid shut down. It took initially about 4 months to get the level correct and it's remained in a slightly high range of normal since that time on the same dose of medication.

The depression has primarily come on since I started the Depakote in early March. I had been on nortriptyline for about 3 years as my first prevenative started by my PCP. It never helped the migraines, but since my mood was better and I had no side effects from it, she left me on it. My neuro took me off of it as she really didn't want me on any more meds than necessary and I agreed. I have been completely off of it as of 1/1/08.

I am hopeful the Lexapro helps. I know all of this is a fine line. The NP did not like treating the side effects of one drug with another which of course could introduce more side effects.....

But I am now rambling. It's a beautiful day out. I am hopeful that my health will start turning around. I have a tendency to react to medications sooner rather than later. I cannot begin to express how much the support from everyone means to me. It helps me so much, so very much.

Thank you and take care,

Cindy

ITA with Dragon on the thyroid stuff.

My mom and sis have both suffered from depression due to hypothyroidism.

My sister started on a T4 only med (Levoxyl), but her depression didn't lift completely 'til she switched to one containing T3 (Armour).

My mother was feeling tired and down- even though her TSH was in range. Once she switched to a doc that believed in getting the TSH below 2 mIU/L she perked up considerably. Not only did she have more energy (and cleaned her house from top to bottom, even painting!), her migraine frequency reduced.

In your shoes I would really push for a free T3 test. Also I don't know where your TSH is but you might have some room to improve there. There is some evidence that the current reference range for TSH may be skewed by the inclusion of people with mild thyroid disfunction. "In the future, it is likely that the upper limit of the serum TSH euthyroid reference range will be reduced to 2.5 mIU/L because >95% of rigorously screened normal euthyroid volunteers have serum TSH values between 0.4 and 2.5 mIU/L."
http://www.aacc.org/members/nacb/LMPG/OnlineGuide/Publi...yroidDiseasePDF.aspx

Personally I feel best with my TSH under 2 and my free T3 and free T4 above mid-range.

I hope you feel better soon.

Hey Cindy!

I really thought I posted in this thread already! Maybe it was in the other one you have going.....

I know I've said before how proud I am of you for realizing it right away and calling attention to it.

I am not too familiar with thyroid issues - but I am way too familiar with, as a lot of us here are, with depression from being in pain.

Good call talking to the NP about this. I'm so glad you didn't wait.

I hope you are feeling a bit better with the adjustment.

I forgot you were a fellow Graves' buddy, Cindy! We wish my levels would stabilize, but we don't think they ever will stick and stay put. I still go in for labs every six weeks, over eight years after a total thyroidectomy. Good thing I adore my endo doc, and don't mind visiting with her. I did horribly with synthetic hormone. I always felt like I was missing it altogether, and like it wasn't "meshing" with me. I'm very convinced that if they take the whole gland, then you need T3, too, and that natural hormone is the way to go for me. I also know that I'm not a good T4 to T3 converter, either.

Of course, the best thing for all this is still hugs. Lots and lots o' hugs! These are for you...

Droolie I did not have a thyroidectomy. I got to take a pill from a lead lined pill container that shut down my thyroid. Probably one of the strangest sensations knowing I was taking something so powerful it needed a lead lined case.

The only difficulty I had was my thyroid levels coming down after the treatment. They remained very high much longer than "normal". I got to experience Atrial Fribrillation due to the extended high thyroid hormones in my body. That was just a real treat.

I do have an update on the depression and Lexapro. I don't think it's going well. I started the Lexapro Wednesday, 5/7. I have started experiencing nausea pretty continuously. Also more depression, though that could be from the Depakote as the depression seemed to be worsening each day. I'm going to give it though Tuesday, a full week to see if my body adjusts to the medication. I'm taking it after I eat to see if that helps. But the nausea just progresses over the day, so I believe my body needs to get used to the drug vs the time of day I take it.

Since I leave Saturday 5/17 on vacation I feel like I need to make some decisions. My decision is leaning toward stoping both the Lexapro and Depakote and moving on. It makes me very sad as the two drugs that have helped (Depakote and Topamax) both have given me side effects I couldn't tolerate.

The NP and I briefly discussed moving to different class of drugs, but she saw my blood pressure (very low) and wasn't jumping for joy at the cardiac meds for me since most of them impact BP. So we'll see.

So you every feel like you're a living soap opera??????

Cindy

I'm so sorry things aren't going as you hoped.

I started Celexa, another SSRI, approximately three weeks ago. I think it may be helping, since I haven't had a migraine since Monday despite horrendous weather. When I started it, it took nearly a week for the nausea to stop, and then it was time to increase the dose! If the nausea hadn't stopped, I couldn't have tolerated it indefinitely. So I certainly understand where you are coming from on that.

Yeah, I kind of figured you did the RAI. I picked the surgery, because I didn't want to have to go through the isolation stretch after, RAI having an increased instance of Graves' eye disease, and because I've heard tales of people having to do RAI more than once. Faced with the same choice, and the same fallout after, I'd pick surgery again, too. I don't regret that choice one iota.

I had a horrid time coming back down afterwards, too. Despite all of our efforts, I was still quite hyperthyroid for months, until I suddenly crashed out, nearly buying the farm in the process. I know that particular date by heart. Definitely one of these... Oh, yeah. I know just what you mean. Treat, indeed.

Yep. Living soap opera. Or comic strip.

quote:

Originally posted by Cindy:
Droolie I did not have a thyroidectomy. I got to take a pill from a lead lined pill container that shut down my thyroid. Probably one of the strangest sensations knowing I was taking something so powerful it needed a lead lined case.

The only difficulty I had was my thyroid levels coming down after the treatment. They remained very high much longer than "normal". I got to experience Atrial Fribrillation due to the extended high thyroid hormones in my body. That was just a real treat.

So you every feel like you're a living soap opera??????

Cindy

quote:

So you ever feel like you're a living soap opera??????

All the time, hun, all the time! We get tired of hearing our own medical sagas, don't we! Hang in there - I hope you find some better choices soon!

- Megs

Oh, Cindy, honey, I'm sorry to hear you're not feeling better. You absolutely have my sympathies on the nausea. That's one of the worst side effects, in my book! I have pretty chronic nausea with my migraines so any medicine that makes me nauseous on top of it just makes me crazy!

I also had the sad realization this week that when I stopped the nortriptyline this week, that means that all five preventives I've tried in the past year plus I've had intolerable side effects from - and some of them had actually started to work when I had to back them down or stop them. Ugh. It just stinks, doesn't it? And you're right, it does feel like a soap opera!

Just try to hang in there - we're all here for you and know what you're going through!

I know you've had a lot of inputs, Cindy, but I was just taking a quick study break and thought I'd throw my $0.02 in...

I was on Depakote for bipolar disorder several years ago, and had to stop it because it made me a complete zombie. I couldn't think, didn't care about anything... it was like i was totally numb to life.

I have been taking Neurontin for migraines now for 6 months or so, and it has helped immensly with no major side effects. I also have problems with severely low blood pressure and pulse, but I still take 60 mg (pretty low dose) of Inderal LA to help with the migraines.

Depakote had very severe and intolerable side effects for me. I know that it can cause serious depression - please consider trying something else. Lamictal and Neurontin are in the same class, and many people report no serious side effects with them. If you are depressed enough that you do not enjoy things that you normally love to do, it seems to me like it's time for a change.

Oh, my sister has hypothyroidism, and I know that she had problems with energy and sluggishness until she switched off of the synthroid to a natural thyroid pill (i'm not sure which one, but i think it's derived from pigs).

Hope you feel better and are able to enjoy your vacation! I'd better get back to studying

Well I guess there is some hope here. I've had just some very minor nausea today, early on and it subsided. I've calmed down, I'm not feeling as significantly depressed. I'm tired, but unfortunately I'm being woken up a couple of times every night with my dog who is sick, so that's expected right now.

I know it's too early to know if the Lexapro is helping the depression associated with Depakote. But at least with the nausea subsiding I can give it chance and find out.

You all are really the best. You thoughts, suggestions and concern are so very helpful. While I have not had a specific issue with my current thyroid medication and thyroid levels, I will discuss the different medications with my PCP when I see her in a few weeks.

Cindy

Hi Cindy! You've gotten a lot of great advice, I just wanted to let you know that I hope you are feeling better (and your dog too so you can get some rest). From my personal experience, when I started Lexapro (10mg as a migraine preventative and to calm my nerves) it took about a week before I noticed anything. Hopefully it will work sooner for you. I admire you for being so proactive and wish you the best!

Cori

Well I do have good news, whether is't the Lexapro or the phase of the moon, the depression has lifted significantly. I'm able to focus, enjoy things, laugh, even dealing with losing my dog has been managable.

I see the neurlogist on June 10th so I'll see what the next step is than.

Thank you everyone for your help and concern. People who really understand what I was going through helped me so much.

Cindy

So glad to hear you're feeling better, Cindy!

Hope everything continues to go well for you

Hooray for Cindy!