A Change in Meds

When I was first diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, I was put on a small dosage of Levoxyl.  It helped for a short while, then I started to not feel well again.  I was then put on a higher does of Levoxyl, which helped some, but not much more.  I was also without medical insurance, trying to see the endocrinologist, and paying for thyroid medication.  I didn't see the endo very often, and when I did, I was lucky enough that he would work with me on paying for labs and such.  This was my life until I married my current husband.

I moved to California, and I finally had health insurance with Kaiser through my husband's job.  My medication was then switched from the Levoxyl to Levothroid.  I had been on Levothroid ever since...until now.  

Recently, the Kaiser pharmacy sent out a letter stating that it would no longer carry Levothroid but would substitute it with another generic equivalent.  I have been taking it for the last two months, and I've been awfully tired lately.  I know that part of the reason for my sluggishness is due to the fact that I've become more forgetful, which turns into me forgetting to take some or all of my required pills for the day (137mcg of generic T4 and 5mcg of Cytomel twice a day).  If anything though, I remember to take the T4 meds.  I know that I can't survive the day without at least one Cytomel, but between being super tired and the forgetfulness, I may often go a couple days or more without.

I guess for me to truly know if the new T4 medication is working as properly as it should, I probably should try to make more of an effort to take all the pills correctly and daily.  I have tried alarms, pill boxes, putting it by my bed, etc., but I eventually fall out of the routine.  Anyways, tomorrow I'm going to start taking them like I should, see how it goes, and get some thyroid bloodwork done after I think there's been sufficient time to see if it makes a difference.

UTI's Are No Fun

All this last week I thought I was going through one of my thyroid phases where I just get run down for about a week. I had been feeling nauseated, was tired all the time, and then a sharp pain was in my stomach last night. This morning I feel a funny sensation when I urinate. Funny in a way that was uncomfortable.

The first time or two it was just terrible to go to the bathroom. Then I started needing to go about every five minutes. All of a sudden, there was blood in the urine. I called for an appointment, but they had me speak to the advice nurse. It really is quite convenient when you are basically just going to be put on antibiotics anyways. I was told it could take up to four hours to get my medication, and by that time, the pharmacy would be closed since it was already after 3 p.m. (pharmacy closed at 6 p.m.).

The nurse told me about some OTC drugs to help with the urinary tract infection symptoms (the pain, the urge, the pressure). They were Azo and Uristat. I HAD to get something. I couldn't keep going to the bathroom every five minutes.

I decided that I would go into town and at least get the pain med. I figured that I would call and maybe, by some miracle, it would be filled (it had only been an hour). Low and behold, it was! I also lucked out in finding Azo was sold there, too, which was great because I didn't want to make several stops. The Azo worked great with the exception of some pressure when I actually go. At least I'm not going every five minutes now. There is only one problem with Azo though. You have to make sure that when you're using the bathroom not to get any urine on clothes as it turns it orange and will stain.

It's bad enough that the thyroid slows me down some days, but when I get sick or infections of any kind, it takes me longer than a normal person to recover. I still have a lump in my right shin from my fall several months ago. At least it doesn't hurt anymore when you press it.