Quote:
Originally Posted by hooligan
explains a lot.
I was only on lithium for a year. My pdoc never once checked my thyroid levels.
My general practitioner asked me this week when last my thyroid was checked. Um. Never. She quickly ordered tests.
General levels should be between 3-6. Mine read 600.
Told me to stop taking lithium immediately. Starting on 25mg lamatrogine.
Pdoc fired. How many times i complained to him about feeling tired. Intolerable of cold - i'd go in to his office with 3 layers of clothing on and he'd be sitting in a t-shirt making some snarky remark about how many layers of clothing i've got on.
It's caused a lot of problems at work - fatigue, lack of concentration etc. Not working anymore but hey that's a different story.
I feel like reporting him for not monitoring my thyroid but not sure where that will get me. Live down under. Feel like sending him his bills back that he posted with a copy of tm thyroid levels saying thanks dork you can have these back because i'm now on thyroid hormone therapy for life!
Those of you on lithium - how often does your pdoc check your thyroid! Feel like this could have been stopped a long time ago before the irreparable damage was done.
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i must jump in to reply: I faithfully took 450mg lithium daily for 35 years up until a year ago.
This is my personal experience: Yes, i had thyroid issues early on, followed by parathyroid removal due to over calcium production caused by lithium and most recently kidney issues, all directly caused by lithium. All my p/docs checked for lithium level toxicity but not one in 35 yrs. Ever looked at the creatine or protein levels or whatever the other blood tests results were when having regular blood work done.
Do your research as only recently did i learn of at least 20-30% of long-term lithium users will suffer renal damage. I am scheduled for kidney ultrasound in a few weeks after having taken addl. Blood work tests and peeing in a bottle for 24 hrs. On several occasions. Educate yourself cause the drs. May not even be looking for kidney issues but only the lithium toxicity levels when doing regular blood work.