Hashimoto disease and diving

[mania]

Unfortunately this time is my turn to ask questions.
I have been diagnosed with medium Hashimoto disease and as a result the hypothyroidism. So I'm on a medications - it's called Euthorox (Levothyroxinum natricum) N 50.
So the basic question is Hashimoto and diving, and the second - does this medication may have any influence on diving? I know this is a hormone that should have been produced by my body so am I right thinking it should not have any inluence?

Mania

 

[h2odragon1]

All questions regarding health issues and diving should be presented to DAN DAN Divers Alert Network if they don't have the answer, the answer is not to dive.
Give them a call/e-mail.
Good luck with their answer.

 

[mania]

WEll there are several great MDs here, and this is why we have such forum on SB


So I do hope that for instance TSandM, Dr Deco or Doc Vikingo will answer my question.

 

[TSandM]

Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease, where the body's own T cells attack the thyroid. In the early stages, the patient can be hyperthyroid. Hyperthyroidism runs the risk of cardiac arrhythmias, mood instability (ironically, mania), and high blood pressure. Someone who is significantly hyperthyroid probably is best advised not to dive until the condition is corrected.

In the later stages of the disease, enough thyroid tissue has been damaged to result in hypothyroidism. At this point, the patient is placed on thyroid hormone replacement. There may be a period of dose adjustment, until the right amount for that particular patient is found. Mild hypo- or hyperthyroidism due to a dose that isn't quite perfect is a minor problem. But when first begun on hormone replacement, it is probably a good idea to wait a few weeks to see what the response will be before going underwater. (Thyroid hormone has about a one week half-life, so it takes at least three before you are even approaching steady state.)

Once the patient is settled on the correct dose of thyroid hormone, normal homeostasis has essentially been restored, and diving should be no problem.

DAN is an excellent resource for acute diving injuries, and their website has quite a few good articles on it about medical conditions and medications. But I don't think, in the case of something like this which is not urgent, that there is anything wrong with asking for advice from other sources, and turning to DAN if you can't get the information you need elsewhere. This particular question was an easy one to answer.

 

[mania]

mood instability (ironically, mania),

This explains a lot. So this was the reason why I was such a good MOD

Someone who is significantly hyperthyroid probably is best advised not to dive until the condition is corrected.

All test are showing - at least right now that I'm definitely hypothyroid. But I just started taking the medication so along with your advice I will wait one week more.
Gee, next week I'm going to El Orans for diving. Can I (this would be the end of second week of taking the hormone)?
I mean I feel good, only on the first day I felt strange, but now I'm OK.

Many thanks Lynne!!!!!!!

 

[DocVikingo]

All questions regarding health issues and diving should be presented to DAN DAN Divers Alert Network.

Hi h20dragon1,

I'm curious. If this is the case, then what do see as the reason for being of this Diving Medicine forum?

And, if I might, a few words about the "Call DAN" reflex. While it often is a wise idea to inquire of DAN, a world-recognized organization, one needs to appreciate the likely limitations of doing so.

For example, when one contacts DAN they first, and often only, speak with a paraprofessional (e.g., registered nurse, diving EMT). These folks often simply thumb to DAN's medical FAQs (http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/me...q/Default.aspx) and read or email a paraphrasing to the individual. They frequently are quite busy and give the briefest possible reply. For understandable reasons, DAN provides very limited direct physician access. As such, the answers received from one of the experts on the Diving Medicine and Ask Dr Deco forums are likely to be longer and more informative than the responses from DAN, even when both are in essence correct.

Also, these scubaboard.com forums typically afford more opportunity for rapid give and take between participants than is the case with DAN. Finally, links to previous board threads on the topic, professional magazine and journal articles on the topic, and other reference sources are often given on this forum, another nicety not usually provided in a DAN reply.

And, as do our forums, DAN occasionally gives a rather shaky response. For example, DAN's reply to a recent inquiry about the possible effects of massage on divers seems to be quite weak and disappointing (http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/diving-medicine/244105-pre-post-dive-massage-therapy-2.html).

It would seem wisest to inquire from a range of sources and see how the opinions rank based on the factual and theoretical support given an opinion, the thoroughness and clarity of the response, and similar factors.

DAN is a very worthy and valuable organization, but it in fact is not the be all and end all of diving medicine fact and opinion.

I fully agree with TSandM that "DAN is an excellent resource for acute diving injuries, and their website has quite a few good articles on it about medical conditions and medications. But I don't think, in the case of something like this which is not urgent, that there is anything wrong with asking for advice from other sources, and turning to DAN if you can't get the information you need elsewhere. This particular question was an easy one to answer."

Regards,

DocVikingo