Very dry eyes and constipation linked to dose decrease?

[T808]

So me going down from 112mcgs to 100mcgs failed after 3 weeks. No blood test to confirm it yet but I'm supposed to get more blood work done at the end of the month. But are dry eyes a hypo symptom? Also started having bad constipation and bloat. Magnesium Citrate 600mgs a day doesn't seem to be working. Bought Senokot (Senna) just in case. Haven't tried it yet because the reviews scared me. Anyone have any tips for the dry eyes and constipation? I appreciate you all 🙏

[tattybogle]

3 weeks into new dose is a tricky time to get a clear picture . it wouldn't surprise me if there is a slowered gut/constipation as a reaction to lowering the dose , which then levels out to normalising regular bowel movements again as the body gets used to the new levels .I reckon It's probably best to stick at 100 for another 3 weeks so you can see if the constipation improves by itself .

(Same with the dry eyes .... i reckon 3 weeks is just too soon to know what the dose will be like when it's settled in.)

When i lowered from 125 to 112.5 i got a bit of constipation / bloating starting after about a week /10 days lasting for a couple more weeks ,and honestly for the first 4/5 weeks i thought lowering the dose was a mistake ,,, but it sorted itself out and got better instead of worse.

A few months later , when i felt OK on 112.5 the GP got me to reduce from 112.5 to 100 and the constipation/ bloating happened again , but this time it got worse for the full 6 weeks and didn't sort itself .. so i put dose back up to 112.5 . and bowel went back to normal in a couple of weeks .

maybe wait a bit longer and see if these issues improve, or remain a problem for another 3 weeks...if they remain a problem then go back to 112.5

How's the bladder so far on this lower dose ? Better or worse?

p.s I'm curious , what sort of antibodies did they give you for covid? do you think they might have had anything to do with everything going wonky since ?

You sound like there's lots of other stuff going wonky . cortizol crazy high etc , which i know bugger all about , but obviously needs investigating.

[T808 in reply to tattybogle]

Hey there TattyBogle! Yeah, I'm going to try to give it a little while longer to see if I balance out. My bladder pressure just recently went away as of the last week. I'll only go once a night now and during the day it's been pretty normal. I have been waking up every couple of hours now for no reason but I'm able to get back to sleep within 20min or so. Before it was 4-6 hours with waking up once.

The antibodies they gave me for Covid were called Monoclonal Antibodies. I know something is going on inside of me. Just not sure if it was from the low ferritin from frequent blood donations, covid, or the Monoclonal Antibodies. I've been taking iron/Vitamin C to try to boost my ferritin levels. Also taking Vit C when I eat any meat for lunch or dinner.

[pennyannie]

Hey there again :

Are you using any preparations for your very ' dry eyes ' ?

Please ensure that whatever potion, spray, drops or even the gunkier stuff that is better used a night as you'll not focus well with this heavy duty ointment that all your preparations are labelled " preservative free " .

You will, over time probably need to swop preparations as your eyes adjust but whenever you do please maintain the preservative free options.

As for your dose of T4 :

Considering you have had RAI thyroid ablation you will likely feel improved on full thyroid hormone replacement with either a T3/T4 combo or switching across to Natural Desiccated Thyroid as detailed in my previous replies ( I think ) to you.

A fully functioning thyroid would be supporting you daily with trace elements of T1. T2 and calcitonin plus a measure of T3 at around 10 mcg plus a measure of T4 at around 100 mcg.

Some people can get by on T4 alone :

Some people find that over time T4 seems not be working as well as it once did and need the addition of a little T3 to replace their 'lost T3 hormone ' making a T3/T4 combo:

Some people can't tolerate T4 at all and take T3 - Liothyronine - only :

Whilst others feel at their best taking Natural Desiccated Thyroid which contains all the same known hormones as that of the human thyroid gland.

Did you go into the Elaine Moore Graves Disease forum and try and link up with other Graves patients in your zip code and try and find a recommended endocrinologist within a suitable distance who has some experience of this poorly understood auto immune disease ?

[T808 in reply to pennyannie]

Hey Pennyannie! 👋 I'm using this stuff called "Systane Ultra high performing dry eye relief". I see it says 0.001% preservative.. Is that okay or any preservatives at all is a no go?

My Endo appointment is in a few weeks. That's when I'm going to inquire about T3 or natural thyroid hormone. At the very least hopefully they will let me trial some T3 along with my T4. Getting my private blood work done before I see them so I can bring it and see if it helps budge them on T3/T4 combo or natural.

I haven't been to Elaine Moore Graves yet. But that's a great idea. I'm going to do that today to see if people in my area have insight on a good doctor or practice. Thanks for the reminder 🙏

[pennyannie in reply to T808]

Hey there - please change your eye drops - and look for 100% preservative free - you may need to use it more often but there must not be any built up on the eyes as this makes everything worse and more painful for you.

Use a hottish, wet, clean face cloth and try and clean thoroughly around the lash base, massaging the area well and then use another clean dampish face cloth as a compress and rest over closed eyes and rest, and hopefully any build up will dislodge itself more easily and repeat process as you wish, for a couple of days to rid your eyes of any build up.

Arrange your blood test for early morning and fast over night just taking in water and take your daily T4 after the blood draw.

If taking any supplements leave them off for around a week, and try and get a ferritin, folate B12 and vitamin D run at the same time.

If you can get the results and ranges back in time, first post these on here in a new post and you will be advised of anything you need to discuss and you will then be better prepared at the appointment.

[Buddy195 Administrator]

I would recommend you use preservative free drops like HycoSan or Hyloforte for dry eye as often as needed.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

T808

Magnesium Citrate 600mgs a day doesn't seem to be working.

Presumably this is in tablet form?

I would suggest that you buy the powder form and adjust dose to suit. With the powder form you gradually increase the dose to as much as you need to produce a comfortable BM the next day. If too loose or diarrhoea then drop back slightly.

Measure on kitchen scales that weighs in grams or 1/8th of an ounce, you can't guarantee exact amount each time if you use a spoon so weigh it to know exactly the dose that works for you.

Once you are optimally medicated if your BMs change you can alter the dose of the powder.

I use Natural Calm Original (unflavoured and no additives) and buy it from here (other places sell it but this is usually the cheapest):

dolphinfitness.co.uk/en/nat...

You just add warm water to powder, let it fizz, then I add a little orange juice for flavour. Works a treat at the right dose.

[T808 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Yes, the Magnesium Citrate is in capsule format. I also have some "Calm" Magnesium powder around the house somewhere. I'll try to find that to try out as well. I thought it was Magnesium oxide though. Not sure about that. I'll have to find it and look. Thank you 😊