Sulphite sensitivity… another spanner in the works!

[Lotika]

Hi -

I think, as well as the hashis, that I have a sensitivity to sulphites.

I feel tired all the time at the moment, so endo is doing tests and we will, I assume, tweak T4 and / or T3 in due course. I know where I likely want to go, depending on what the tests say.

In the meantime, I keep having dental work and reacting strangely to the pain killing injection - I get incredibly drowsy to the point that I struggle to day awake in the chair even though I’m terrified of dental work and feel exhausted for the rest of the day. The dentist says I am very unusual! I mentioned to the dentist that I react to cider and bottled juices in the same way as I seem not to tolerate whatever preservatives they contain very well… and she said, yup, sulphites, they’re in the injection we give…

And well, guess what else contains sulphites? My levo and my T3, in the form of the maize starch. Surely it was coincidence that I felt amazing on the day that I forgot to take my meds last week? Surely there is so little in the medication that it wouldn’t have an effect? So little that it doesn’t even make it on to the leaflet?

And even if sulphites in the medication are an issue, my current level of fT3 is probably also an issue.; even on T3 & T4, it’s never been more than 50% through range.

So, I’m going to speak to the GP about this sulphite reactivity I am experiencing and see if I am still safe to have dental injections and not about to progress to full blown allergy in the form of anaphylactic shock one day and probably flag with the endo. But otherwise… am I ever going to find levo or T3 without maize starch? Does NDT have it? Not sure whether this is something I need to take a long hard look at or if it is a red herring. Sure, I react to it, but sure, also, that there is so little… ?! Don’t know…

Any thoughts welcome!

Lotika xx

[greygoose]

Surely it was coincidence that I felt amazing on the day that I forgot to take my meds last week?

This is what usually happens. You don't take your thyroid hormones for a day or two and you feel fantastic. No-one knows why, but it happens to most people. It doesn't last, though.

I react badly to the dentist's injections, too. I tremble so badly I can't speak or hold a pen. And, I can't pay with my bank card because my hand shakes so violently, I can't type in the code! lol And, funnily enough, I have this over-whelming desire to drink coca-cola, not something I normally drink. But, it's all over by the following day.

[nightingale-56]

Hi Lotika , I know that Graves patients should ask for injections that do not contain adrenaline at the Dentist. Maybe this is the problem? Might this also be your problem greygoose , but thought you might already know?

[greygoose in reply to nightingale-56]

Yes, I have discussed that with the dentist, and he assures me that he does not give me any injections containing adrenaline. He knows about my Hashi's.

[Lotika in reply to nightingale-56]

Could be that too, although the sulphite issue is perhaps likely in my case, as we have the supporting evidence of bottled fruit juice and cider; interestingly, my googling so far suggests that it’s the ephipenine (sp?!) which contains the sulphites and the adrenaline, although the reaction is the same as to bottled fruit juice, so my best guess is sulphites in my case.

[Hedgeree]

Hi Lotika,

I also have a problem with sulphites. It took some figuring out and internet searching before I found out what was wrong. The gp was no help whatsoever so hopefully your surgery will be more helpful for you. He just told me to avoid eating nuts and raisins.

It was after consuming 3 or 4 glasses of orange juice (instead of alcohol as I was on painkillers) on a meal out and eating a big bag of trail mix beforehand after which I became unwell.

At first I did think I'd got food poisoning (I won't go into detail) but it wasn't pleasant and I was burping very sulphurous burps. Following this I was too scared too eat much and lost a lot of weight over the next few months.

It seemed the combination of orange juice and trail mix I'd consumed meant I'd overloaded on sulphites. I did a lot of online reading to find out what was wrong; as I said the gp wasn't any help.

If I accidentally get 'sulphited' I'm quite wheezy but don't have that extreme digestive reaction I initially had. I read all labels on ingredients and avoid them as best I can. Some foods are naturally high in sulphites so I also avoid them.

I really don't want a repeat experience of how ill I initially was.

Best wishes.

[shaws Administrator]

I had horrible sensations when injected with normal dental product as my heartbeats raced immediately and it was scary.

I was eventually told to insist on an injection of citanest/octapressin and that did resolve awful symptoms and heart remained calm.