General Medicine

» cybee - Mixed up Help!!!!!

In response to Mixed up Help!!!!! posted by cowlover614:

No, I have never been to an Endo before, so am worried about it like you are (this is your first visit too?). I read/hear how eager docs are to do RAI! Actually, my sister had Graves and she opted out of having her thyroid ablated and now has been symtpom free for 10 years and is doing just fine (she never had the eye symptoms though..lucky!)! ( obviously there is a bit of heriditary tendancy in my family for such as this!). ON this matter, I first visited with my regular family doc (ocular allergies, she thought..but no, it wasn't)..then I went to an eye doc, but it took him some real pondering to suspect it was thyroid (likely more tricky for him as I presented as his sister in law!)...now I will see an endo...hope it is the right thing to do (suppose it is..or should I just have my family doc retake my thyroid tests, I wonder). OH, well...my eyes happily are better today..but everytime I say that , they are worse the next day...so I best not say that! How are your eyes? I am still not registering the no-coffee suggestion yet! ha!

-- posted by cybee

» cowlover614 - Mixed up Help!!!!!

In response to Mixed up Help!!!!! posted by cybee:

Yes my first time! I've kinda decided I don't want to give up my coffee and I don't want the RAI. I am wondering if this guy will find nodules like the other doc did. I'm not gonna say anything to him because, when I went to my PC she said she didn't feel anything. So I don't want to give him a heads up. I want to see what he says. If anything I want to try the meds and diet thing first and go from there! I'm glad your eyes are better!!!! Mine have been so so today. I'll just be glad when tomorrow is over. I get to nervous I'm not a big one on Docs and test! Shirl aka Cowlover614

-- posted by cowlover614

» cowlover614 - Mixed up Help!!!!!

In response to Mixed up Help!!!!! posted by daisyelaine:

Thanks so much Elaine! You are such a big help. I'll let you know what Endo says tomorrow.

-- posted by cowlover614

» cybee - Mixed up Help!!!!!

In response to Mixed up Help!!!!! posted by cowlover614:

I agree totally with you ! I am not doing RAI (if I can help it) and (Elaine, don't read this next part) I am not giving up coffee !! Maybe Elaine has not even told us not to have coffee? Who gave you this advice? Sounds like jibber jabber to me! (I have been told to quit coffee for other things before, but always I have sudden hearing disorders when I am told this ). Anyway...you go , girl! I hope tomorrow works out well! (think you are wise about not giving your doc the heads up on the nodules idea!)

-- posted by cybee

» mariammc - hair loss

In response to hair loss posted by daisyelaine:

Hi Elaine,

Thank you for the information, I really appreciate it. Yes, I have received an Rx for methimazole 10 mg-once a day for 3 weeks, then I'll have more lab tests done. But, after reading about the side effects, I have not begun taking the meds yet.

What happen to you after your ablation? A lady at work had ablation and she had a really difficult time.

I don't know what to do, but I'm going to start a low iodine diet, add selenium, goiter producing foods, biotin, B5, more protein and possibly the bugleweed. Thanks again.

Take care,

Maria

-- posted by mariammc

» cowlover614 - Mixed up Help!!!!!

In response to Mixed up Help!!!!! posted by cybee:

I saw the coffee, pop and tea thing on one of the sites I was on. We'll have to ask Elaine about that! Also I read about this other treatment called [arterial embolization] Have you heard of it that's another question to ask! Gosh their sure is alot to this thyroid thing!! I talked to a lady at the store today she looked at my eyes and straight up said [You have Graves]. Said somebody she had taken care up had eyes just like mine. Poor soul! I can feel for her and anyone else who has thyroid disease! Shirl.

-- posted by cowlover614

» cowlover614 - Mixed up Help!!!!!

In response to Mixed up Help!!!!! posted by daisyelaine:

Elaine do you know about arterial embolization? Is that safe? I also read that you should avoild coffee pop and tea when your hyperthyroid is that true. Doc told me no more then two cups a day.She said all it does is make you have less energy if that is possible. I feel tired with it or without even I can skip the bread but coffee that's my life line! I did switch to 1/2 the caff. Shirl aka cowlover614

-- posted by cowlover614

» cynthia62 - Graves' treatment??

In response to Graves' treatment?? posted by daisyelaine:

Hi Elaine,

It has been a couple months since I wrote.I have found a local chiropractor who performs accupuncture/accupressure and massage. He also specializes in chinese medicine. I have only been to him once (so far) but he seems to be very encouraging and knowledgeable about his profession/art. He also seems to be very forward and caring, which I find refreshing after dealing with so many Endos. My primary care physician is very cooperative and is going to assist by ordering any bloodwork/tests my new dr may suggest.

At my first visit, the chiropractor(Dr S) briefly mentioned a saliva test that he would like to have done.I believe it is a fairly new test and would like to know more about it. I'm not sure if this is just for the thyroid function or exactly what as we didn't get a chance to discuss it any further at this visit(By no fault of the Dr). Do you know anything about saliva testing? I will be seeing him again this Friday (and will discuss it further) but am looking to find out any information you may know about this test.

Also, I would like to get another opinion from you regarding what bloodwork you would suggest? This is to set a baseline to see how this course of treatment progresses. I would like to keep in touch with you and obtain your input with these test results and treatment.

It was amazing to me that after my first treatment of accupressure and accupuncture how much more relaxed my shoulders/neck areas felt. I hadn't realized that I had been walking around with my shoulders up around my ears. Or at least that is how it has felt for a long time. I have slept better and felt more relaxed since this session. I also hadn't realized how the muscles in the shoulder/neck area had been affected by my throid disease.

I know this treatment is going to require many changes which I must follow, e.g. diet, lifestyle, elimating stressors(or at least learning to manage them better) and time. I am very hopeful about the process and possible remission of my gd and ted problems. I have started to work much more on my diet. I have found that I can eat snow peas and get the same crunch as when I eat potato chips and it's much healthier for me. I am also now down to one caffinated drink a day and have increased my water intake. It is still difficult to make healthy choices when eating out but will keep trying.

I truly appreciate your help and knowledge. Thank you very much.
Respectfully, Cynthia

-- posted by cynthia62

» Phoebe_2007 - Started Methamazole 11 Days Ago & Feeling Great :-)

Hi - I posted to this board 11 days ago just before I started my ATD regimin at 20mg/day. Since then, my symptoms have greatly improved. I feel a calmness that I've not felt in a long time, my tremors are gone, and my body feels cool and comfortable instead of hot and moist all the time. I can stay awake at work now when before I couldn't get through a single day without nodding off at my desk. My generalized itching is almost completely gone, I'm thinking mabe this occurred because my skin was so hot and uncomfortable (?). Mabe I'm lucky to be feeling better so soon, or mabe my symptoms were considered 'mild' in comparison with other people (I did check my FT4 and it was 10.8, my T3 was 9 hundred forty something), but wanted to say methamazole is working for me. I've stopped my atenolol, and though I probably shouldn't do this on my own I backed my ATD down to 10 mg/day to see if I can continue feeling good with less meds (so far so good). Its good to feel 'normal' again. Hoping the rest of you are feeling better soon also - Rgds, Phoebe

-- posted by Phoebe_2007

» Elaine Moore - Mixed up Help!!!!!

In response to Mixed up Help!!!!! posted by cybee:
Hi,
Gluten is a protein that's found in wheat, rye, and barley. Processed, it's a cheap form of protein, and that's why it was added to the pet food. What an unfortunate circumstance. I've known for some time that my dogs can't handle gluten in table scraps any better than I can. Many reliable sources consider gluten and other grains the major cause of auotimmune diseases. I suspect there are quite a few environmental causes with gluten among the most significant ones. Best, Elaine