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Not taking my levothyroxine
Okay, I'll admit it. I've not been taking my levothyroxine. Everyone tells me I could die from this and I've read some of the posts here about people going into comas etc but I've not had that. What is really going on and what are the possibilities of anything truly happening to me? My endocronologist is one of those that doesnt like questions and just says take it. I'm one of those people that has to know why. PLEASE! As a doctor tell me what is or could go wrong or how I should be feeling if things are going south.
I'm just bad about remembering to take it in the morning. I know! I'm lazy!
I'm just bad about remembering to take it in the morning. I know! I'm lazy!
A common side effect of NOT taking T4 meds is Myexedema Coma then Death....
and thats plain and simple truth.
The organs start to shut down, the heart rate goes alarmingly low and the body then starts to fail.
Take responsibility for your own health as no-one else will.
and thats plain and simple truth.
The organs start to shut down, the heart rate goes alarmingly low and the body then starts to fail.
Take responsibility for your own health as no-one else will.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Your thyroid controls several body functions - heart rate and body temperature to name 2 of them. Before I was dx'd, my heart rate had gone down to alarming levels, especially during sleep and actually caused my pcp to send me to a cardiologist to make sure my heart wasn't failing. I still have a somewhat slow heart rate, but at least it's up to normal most of the time.
How often are you getting tested? Not taking your med will give a false impression on your labs - your doctor may think you need more med and increase your dosage, which could be even MORE dangerous for you.
I'm with the others - be lazy all you want about taking your med but just remember that if there's any ONE thing you need to be diligent about - it's that!! And if you refuse to make it a daily habit, then you need to be prepared for anything and everything to happen to you.......... most of all --- DON'T plan on feeling better or getting *UNlazy* any time soon.........
How often are you getting tested? Not taking your med will give a false impression on your labs - your doctor may think you need more med and increase your dosage, which could be even MORE dangerous for you.
I'm with the others - be lazy all you want about taking your med but just remember that if there's any ONE thing you need to be diligent about - it's that!! And if you refuse to make it a daily habit, then you need to be prepared for anything and everything to happen to you.......... most of all --- DON'T plan on feeling better or getting *UNlazy* any time soon.........
Ok first of all...what dose are you normally taking when you do remember? What are your thyroid test levels showing? Do you have severe hypothyroidism?
The reason you need to take the medication is so that the thyroid, which does at least 8 functions in the human body, can work at its best. You omit taking the tablet and in a few weeks your body will start to complain. Going more hypo is not fun. There is the hair loss, the weight gain, the depression, the mood swings, the constipation.....shall I go on?
You won't go into a coma unless you totally stop taking it. Even then it can be a few months. If you still have your thyroid intact, this can take longer. If you had it removed, then you will go into a coma sooner (in the few months) BUT you WILL get psychosis before then. It is not a pleasant thing to have happen to you. If you live alone, and do not go to work, not many people will see you going through that. If you go to work, and have a good connection socially, people are going to start wondering about your mental health. If you choose to continue to ignore this kick up the butt, then you will go into a coma...maybe not peacefully in your bed, maybe driving your car......I think you get the picture.
You can be lazy all you like. I am lazy sometimes brushing my teeth, but I have lost a lot of them due to that. You can only lose your life....so I guess that to you is not important. Do the right thing, buy an alarm clock, wake up, take the darn tablet!
The reason you need to take the medication is so that the thyroid, which does at least 8 functions in the human body, can work at its best. You omit taking the tablet and in a few weeks your body will start to complain. Going more hypo is not fun. There is the hair loss, the weight gain, the depression, the mood swings, the constipation.....shall I go on?
You won't go into a coma unless you totally stop taking it. Even then it can be a few months. If you still have your thyroid intact, this can take longer. If you had it removed, then you will go into a coma sooner (in the few months) BUT you WILL get psychosis before then. It is not a pleasant thing to have happen to you. If you live alone, and do not go to work, not many people will see you going through that. If you go to work, and have a good connection socially, people are going to start wondering about your mental health. If you choose to continue to ignore this kick up the butt, then you will go into a coma...maybe not peacefully in your bed, maybe driving your car......I think you get the picture.
You can be lazy all you like. I am lazy sometimes brushing my teeth, but I have lost a lot of them due to that. You can only lose your life....so I guess that to you is not important. Do the right thing, buy an alarm clock, wake up, take the darn tablet!
Maybe if you would take it you wouldn't feel so lazy? That's probably one of the most common complaints when hypo.
If you are not taking your medications, then don't go to the doctor to complain about symptoms is the way I look at it.
No one can make you take them. But don't complain when you get the symptoms of hypo.
Not trying to be a smart a$$ about it, just giving my opinion.
No one can make you take them. But don't complain when you get the symptoms of hypo.
Not trying to be a smart a$$ about it, just giving my opinion.
First and foremost, we are not doctors. This is a members' forum, and we are just fellow patients trying to help each other out by exchanging information.
How often do you think you miss your levo? Do you rarely take it or miss a dose now and then, and about how often?
If things start going south, you will start experiencing hypo symptoms. You can google "hypothyroidism + symptoms" for the list (it's long). Do you have hypo symptoms?
You should be asking your endo for a printout of your labwork every time you have it. Free T3, free T4 and TSH should be ordered for every lab. This is important for you to have for your records and to establish a history. Changes in results will signal changes in your thyroid status.
Probably the most important thing about taking thyroid meds is consistency. If you don't take your meds every day, you can throw things off considerably. If your doctor isn't aware that you don't take your meds all the time, he might increase your dose when it shouldn't be.
How often do you think you miss your levo? Do you rarely take it or miss a dose now and then, and about how often?
If things start going south, you will start experiencing hypo symptoms. You can google "hypothyroidism + symptoms" for the list (it's long). Do you have hypo symptoms?
You should be asking your endo for a printout of your labwork every time you have it. Free T3, free T4 and TSH should be ordered for every lab. This is important for you to have for your records and to establish a history. Changes in results will signal changes in your thyroid status.
Probably the most important thing about taking thyroid meds is consistency. If you don't take your meds every day, you can throw things off considerably. If your doctor isn't aware that you don't take your meds all the time, he might increase your dose when it shouldn't be.
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