CBC panel results

[EveHarrington]

Yes, that’s about how long it took for my higher dose side effects to show up. My ceiling is a firm 300mg, 2x/day now.

Is it an option to return to a lower dose?

I had sedating side effects for I think 4+ months. My body has adjusted and it no longer makes me tired.

 

[DharmaGirl]

There must be a different reason for your cold hands and tiredness. How is your blood pressure? Mine was low, and I was cold and dizzy. Hopefully your doc can find an answer.

 

[Sideways]

Lots of things can be causing the cold extremities, including your meds.

Like @DharmaGirl just said, it’s often an issue with circulation. Common things contributing to that:
Smoking
Obesity
Diabetes (have you been checked recently? You don’t need to be overweight to get diabetes)
Asthma
Heart disease
Lung disease
And on, and on...

My Grandad had chronically freezing hands and feet because he had CREST syndrome (which most sensible people have never heard of!). So, it could be a whole lotta things!

 

[Skywatcher]

Lots of things can be causing the cold extremities, including your meds.

Like @DharmaGirl just said, it’s often an issue with circulation. Common things contributing to that:
Smoking
Obesity
Diabetes (have you been checked recently? You don’t need to be overweight to get diabetes)
Asthma
Heart disease
Lung disease
And on, and on...

My Grandad had chronically freezing hands and feet because he had CREST syndrome (which most sensible people have never heard of!). So, it could be a whole lotta things!

I had a metabolic panel done as well. All of those levels were good. I keep watch for diabetes because people in my family have had it. My thyroid labs are good as well.

 

[EveHarrington]

Can you reduce your dose?

Sometimes there isn’t a possibility of adjusting to the med (at that dose).

I had to have a wash-out period of a few months in order to get the drug completely out of my system. Lowering the dose wasn’t an option as the side effects were still there after the dose was lowered. But, once I’d gone through the wash-out phase, I was able to start taking it again with no problems. My tolerance is 300mg, 2x/day.

 

[Skywatcher]

Finally spoke to my P-doc nurse with the updated results which had 6 red flags, but really close to normal. My p-doc wasn’t concerned. Then I was concerned about him not being concerned (due to these unaddressed symptoms). Also, apparently, the lab never ran the most important test he had listed which was a blood count on the medication itself; this determines if i have toxicity in the blood from the medication. So I will have to go back for another draw. Since they offered me a free lab for all my trouble, I’m going to see about a $399 micronutrients test. It measures which nutrients your blood cells are absorbing and which ones are deficient. I am so intrigued by all of this information. Hoping it includes B-12/folate and vitamin d. If not, I think I need to prioritize those tests.

 

[Nessa7]

I also do not think that it sounds like anemia, but I am glad that your doctor is sending you back for the missing test. That sounds like a good option for your free test.

 

[Atticus]

Several years ago I was on a medication for pain, and I became borderline anemic when I was on it (I don't think it was a side effect of the medication; more a by-product of its mechanism of action). My then-physician suggested an iron supplement and a B-complex, both of which helped me while I was on the medication.

Since I've gotten off the medication, my hemoglobin has been in normal range, so I no longer take iron. I still take the B-complex though.