General Medicine

» cybee - Mixed up Help!!!!!

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

OOps..I meant that lady who had had eye surgery for TED said you could not tell she had had surgery ...in a good way, that is! She seemed to think she was feeling back to normal and was well satisfied with her surgery. Got to thinking my prior post could be construed in a way I did not intend! ha! B^)

-- posted by cybee

» cowlover614 - Mixed up Help!!!!!

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

I've decided I'm not doing the scan. From what I read on a another board an ultra sound and the right lab test should tell plently. And not to let them push me into anything while my eyes are unstable. And after that bout with the prednisone I don't ever want anymore of it. Talk about feeling really bad! That stuff messed me up bad! I had read that also. What are you gonna do if you hear the same thing I was told? It just scares me. Now the nice sweet thing I'm married to is hardly talking to me.Yeah!!!! Thanks to the crying thing [you know what I mean] my eyes are kicking up. Shirl

-- posted by cowlover614

» cybee - Mixed up Help!!!!!

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

Yes, I think I will do the same thing as you (if they try to push a RAI test or what not! ) No sir. It would seem sufficient to do an ultrasound plus labs. OH, I must have missed the part about prednisone with you! Terrible result? I will have to go back and look for what you wrote about that...that messed you up, eh? How so? Here I read that to keep eyes protected they give prednisone. Good to know that we need to be careful with prednisone itself! Thanks for that tip!

-- posted by cybee

» cybee - Mixed up Help!!!!!

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

Ah! I found your earlier post..I had kind of forgotten you had a bad reaction to prednisone! What did it to you specifically? Well, anyway, I will really push for ultrasound and labs (no RAI) as that seems what they do primarily in the UK and they all seem to get along fine there...I suspect!

-- posted by cybee

» u25000 - Post hypo rai-lt4 dosing & symptoms

After 9/03 rai, my tsh was -01,ft's had dropped but were nice ft3 3.2, ft4 2.2 in 12/03 but endo decided to start 60mcg lt4 but then he canceled after 1mth showed ft3 Hi at 4.4; However not on meds and clearly dropped ft4 to 1.37 he okayed me to conceive. After 2 mths I could not conceive and I became uncomfortabe w/him espec as I wanted preg. Untreated until new Endo 2/05 decided I needed ptu w/out regard for the fact I had Graves-Rai and my ft's were dropping. I was only on for 2 weeks due to hives but ironically my tsh started to rise (tho my gp,endo,gyn didnt feel I need lt4 "supposedly" until a/9/05 miscarry my tsh went above range max 5.5) to 15 Jan 06. So then I was on lt4 50mcg, 6wks later tsh 1.96 (no ft's done-isn't that nice-but were 2.5, .85 respectfully in prev Oct 05. Thats my history heres my questions.
BRAND VS GENERIC:
4mths after orig start,I stopped taking Lt4 due to family death 4/06. I restarted taking due to anxiety,heart palp,breathing issues, fertility 10/06. My tsh was 5.55 and ft4 1.03. I read several books on thyroid. I had developed numbness in extremities and brain fog, hi anxiety-I'm not sure if that had to do with generic or coincidentally hypo symptoms manifest at same time of restart of meds. So I started brand Synthroid within 2 weeks. I felt much better within days. Was that logical? More expensive,should I go back to generic to see?
DOSING:
Due to reading I increased dose to 75mcg in Dec 06 (since I was in range per labs and Drs were not going to change dose for "optimal ft's) My increase presented no hyper symptoms, subtle improved energy etc. More significantly my tsh was 1.66, ft4 1.13 after 2 months, not much of a bump, so I increased to the next easy measure 75 plus 1/2 tab=112mcg within 2 weeks my tsh was .02 but my ft's were optimal at 3.8 and 1.52 respectfully (w/max range of 3.9 and 1.7 respectfully). BUT 10 days before that test I errored in doubling my dose by taking 2 tablets of 75=150 for 5 days. What does it mean when they say that labs should be done 4-6wks after dose change;for the most truest report of that dose effect on my body? Did the 5 days of double dose show up on that lab test 1 week after I stopped it (a/5 days ON)? Could that have been why tsh was so low? I am waiting for the next lab (6wks after stopped 150mcg) to determine if 112mcg is too hi and perhaps should be on 88mcg (since I had to skip that dose in having done my own increase).
As I recall, symptoms improve within 5-7 days of lt4, but lab tests don't reflect true circulation of thyroxine for 4-6 wks? Isn't dosing determined from symptoms?
HAIR LOSS:
How is hair loss effected by dose increase/decreases. Is it ongoing? I thought once treated "in range" should be fine, or do incremental dose changes up or down affect follicles.
SYMPTOMS:
I am trying to conceive so I am hoping for optimal range. I don't have any symptoms except for an occasional palpitation, and I have had softer stools but not diarrhia. I have been gaining strenght as I've been exercising 3-5x/wk for past 3 weeks I notice increased stamina. Steady weight. Numbness remained in big toe until the 112 increase, does that say something?
LONG RUN:
Should I be concerned of being on too hi dose even w/no symptoms Is it better to be on low dose. Any other adverse effects. I'm aware of Osteoporosis w/hyperactivity, how can once know if dosage is too hi that it might cause this. Once I'm on this "optimal dose" will it last forever? So that I do not have to be seen other than annually?

Please educate me. Thank you much

-- posted by u25000

» cowlover614 - Mixed up Help!!!!!

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

Hey how are you today? In case things get to crazy this weekend,I hope you Have A Great Easter! Hope we both really start feeling alot better! SOOOOOOOOON. I started taken my ATD's again. Didn't ask anybody! But sinse I'm not doing scan another lady told me to get back on them! Also got the flexseed oil, but I don't wnat to take them till I ask Elaine. I'm still not sleeping good yes still sweating! And my hip and leg are really aching bad! I cried so much all day yesterday that my right eye looked like a goose had laid an easter egg on it! I still look like crap. I just want to at least look normal! I heard sometimes it can take a year for remission if I'm full blown graves. I still don't know for sure what I am anymore! I do know I'm sick of this! Shirl

-- posted by cowlover614

» cybee - Mixed up Help!!!!!

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

Hope you have a happy Easter too! I guess Easter is a holiday of hope, and we need that, eh? B^) Anyway, yes, I stopped taking my synthroids without aksing a doc and I think it was the right thing to do. Likely, if you are not having that scan, you might as well take your ATD for sure! I also picked up some ground flaxseed and have put it in my salads and some muffins! (oops...bread product!). Anyway, take care and Happy Easter!

-- posted by cybee

» cowlover614 - Mixed up Help!!!!!

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

I don't know if I asked but do you take a beta blocker also? I got the flax oil caps. But when I looked them up they said help with blood pressure so now I don't know with the beta blocker if it will interfere. But I know it has anti-inflamatory help. I also got the eggs today with the omega3 in them It's worth A try.{just don't know how many I can eat] Hey eariler I was at the department store and the cashier asked me if I have thyroid trouble and then she showed me her throat. Two scars! she said thirty years ago when she was twenty eight she got her thyroid abated. She had to drink that stuff she's on synthroid and now problem free. I'm glad it worked for her. But as far as me I say no thanks!! Just got done doing easter eggs! Hey I feel a little better sinse I'm back on ATD. Shirl [

-- posted by cowlover614

» fivebreaths - how & when to choose??

Hello to Elaine,
Please forgive me in advance if I ask some questions you've already answered many times. I've browsed thru almost all the 220-something postings, yet still (and I feel like it's partly my 'Graves-brain": my inability to focus,to concentrate), I am confused about some things.
I have an appointment this WEDS to see the endocrinologist I saw a few months ago. It will be the 1st time I've met with the her sincethe initial Graves dx., when she recommended all the scary tratments doctors recommend. My primary doctor(MD) had referred me to the Endo initially to confirm that I did indeed have Graves, and has been more than willing to guide me and have me follow a course of herbs and bionutrition, acupuncture, and homeopathy to see what results and changes I can effect on my own, before considering the more aggrssive treatments allopathy offers. OK---I repeat myself---maybe you remember me from a month ago---Anyway, --it seems I'm more willing to tolerate the manydifficult presenting symptoms even though they are driving me nuts---rather than try the ATD's, the RAI's etc.
I am really terrified to go that course, as all I seem to read of them are the horror stories. Even your story is pretty scary! But, I'm close to ready to throw in the towel, as all the holistic health efforts are financially costly (which is SO unfair -- that my health insurance covers NONE of my choices; will cover only medical tx's).
The Endo I spoke to a few months ago was really pushing the RAI. She said the ATD's are not reliable or difficult to modulate--that they use it more in Europe, and that the most popular choice in the U.S. is RAI. My logic tells me that the ATD's would be a better choice because it's NOT ABLATION!! and that at least you still have a thyroid producing natural thyroid hormones, even if you have to chemically slow it down!
The bugleweed- motherwort-melissa-scullcap-reishi-astragalus custom herbal blend I am taking fully matches my health values! but, while I await it's effectiveness, which may take months, my symptoms though not debilitating are really really challenging, and increasing.
so---what's one to do?
I know what the Endo will advise.
And she'll scare me too into beliving I have no window of time to take risks. And she will tell me to do the RAI.
I'm tempted to do SOMETHING, because I want a fix-it solution, or I'll go uot of my mind! But which is better? stay on course w/ the natural tx's? For how long? What's reasonable? Or better to just do the ATD? RAI? or are both horrific? will i go through months of feeling even worse while I become HYPOthyroid, gain 30lbs, lose all my hair, become hopelessly depressed? because that's what it sounds like happens.....
and/but i'm spending a ton of money I don't have on all the altrenative stuff,while feeling too unwell & too exhausted to work harder to earn more to afford the treatments I believe in.
It's a terrible catch-22. And I pray for the day when our health care system recognizes a broader spectrum of treaments as coverable by insurance.....
Thank you for listening, and thank you in advance for any advice you may offer, Elaine.
(& sorry so lengthy...)

-- posted by fivebreaths

» cybee - Mixed up Help!!!!!

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

Hi! No, I do not take beta blockers. My first Endo appt is next Monday....I hope to just do ATDs if needed. What are the beta blockers for? (heart?) Yes, I take fish oil capsules as they ahve that Omega 3 and maybe 6? Seems an easy way to get that included for me. Yes, I have a sister in law who had her thyroid ablated and seems to be doing fine..but I also have a sister who just did ATDs and now she is back to normal with no symptoms for 10 years...I would rather keep my thyroid and the stories of things going haywire with RAI ablation..I just really don't want to go there . Yes, we did our Easter eggs yesterday evening too B^)and now off to church! Take care!

-- posted by cybee