General Medicine

» cowlover614 - mixed up

Oh I know what else I wanted to ask now being hypo does that change the hashi's and graves? Do they go in remission? Hope to have the rest of my labs soon. Shirl

-- posted by cowlover614

» cybee - mixed up

In response to mixed up posted by cowlover614:

Hmmm..so now you are low! Goodness! Hope that gets straightened out asap!

I finally got my lab report back and it appears I have the Grave's antibodies...but my thyroid is okay! So these antibodies are only affecting my eyes and not my thyroid at this point. I have to go back in a bit to make redo labs at the two month point after I stopped taking synthroid . So Elaine....I should be ...elevating my head yet...doing the things we mentioned (always up for helpful hints) and I guess that is that for now! (at least I don't have the RAI issue now, which I had feared). I wonder how long this generally lasts. My Endo said it really varies. Happily over all there is slight abatement, but I certainly still have symptoms. (less swelling of the lids generally but still watery eyes).

-- posted by cybee

» cowlover614 - mixed up

In response to mixed up posted by cybee:

Hey I'm glad for you! I'm glad you don't have to worry about the RAI one less problem. Yes thanks to a bunch of nitwits I'm all messed up! Endo's office called today he had talked to my reg doctor. He was upset because I had chose to go back on the ATD on my own after he had told me to stop them. Also he didn't like the fact my doc had up-ed my dose to thirty. So they both [THINK] maybe that this whole mess is from to much thyroid meds and then to much ATD. My doc said dhe doesn't know what is going on with my thyroid.I know my TSH was 33 but I have to wait for them to send rest of my results. I'm not supposed to take anything but my beta blocker for the next 4 weeks. I have labs again in May. My eyes and face are still swollen last night my left ankle was up their also. So now I have no faith in this bunch! Talk about still being confused that's me. Shirl

-- posted by cowlover614

» cowlover614 - mixed up more

Elaine, both doctors called today! My doctor said she doesn't understand what's up with my thyroid but that my labs are really crazy. I'm not supposed to take anymore meds for the next four weeks. I asked them to send me a copy of my labs so as soon as they come I'll post them! She said she can't understand why I am back to being hypo. Well I don't understand any of this!!! Shirl

-- posted by cowlover614

» Elaine Moore - Mixed up Help!!!!!

In response to Mixed up Help!!!!! posted by cowlover614:
Hi,
With a TSH of 33 you would be tired. Once you're no longer hypothyroid you'll feel better. If your levels weren't high to begin with and you no longer needed to be on meds you may not be hyperthyroid at all.Sounds like you need to stay off meds for now. Best, Elaine

» Elaine Moore - GD after RAI: now what?

In response to GD after RAI: now what? posted by macurious:
Hi,
We're left with a somewhat mutilated stump of thyroid tissue after RAI. This tissue has lots of bizarre changes and consists primarily of epithelial cells. RAI itself is a toxin and the immune system reacts to it just like it does to any toxin. The immune system also reacts to the mutated thyroid cells. Depending on other stimuli, general health, the rare of thyroid destruction, etc. thyroid antibodies stay elevated for quite some time.

You make a good point about diverting the thyroid antibodies to attack something else besides orbital or skeletal tissue. That's the premise behind oral tolerance therapy, which is in trials for diabetes. This is an old naturopathic technique. In some ways, glandular thyroid replacement hormone, like Armour, is thought to react with thyroid antibodies, sparing the other tissues. Glandular thyroid molecules can also stimulate the immune system and cause a rise in thyroid antibodies. But if they're targeting the glandular proteins they're effectively diverted.

The minimimum daily requirement for iodine is 75 mcg daily. Amounts greater than 150 mcg can trigger autoimmune thyroid disorders in those of us who are genetically susceptible. The average American diet provides 300-700 mcg of iodine daily. And diets loaded with fast and processed foods can provide more than 1,000 mcg.
So you want to eat more natural, raw, whole foods, and add goitrogens (foods that block iodine absorption) to your diet. The vegetables you mention are helpful although for the goitrogenic effects, eat some raw vegetables too.

Often, the lists of top doctors are comprised of doctors skilled in treating hypothyroidism, and most patients have Hashimoto's thyroiditis. They're easier to treat than we are because they generally have some thyroid function and don't have the misleading TSH results that we have. Ideally, you'd find someone who has experience treating patients who have had RAI.

There are several ongoing studies but since there's more money involved in making us hypothyroid (lifelong replacement hormone) there's not a lot of incentive. With patients becoming more involved in their own healing, the trend is changing. With more patients refusing RAI there's more incentive to explore newer treatments for us. Best, Elaine

» Elaine Moore - mixed up

In response to mixed up posted by cybee:
Hi,
The active phase of TED can last from a few months to a few years. Sometimes people just have flares of symptoms from time to time that alternate with periods of remission. A nutrient-rich diet along with stress reduction techniques and antioxidant vitamins can help keep things in control until you move into remission. Best, Elaine

» Elaine Moore - mixed up more

In response to mixed up more posted by cowlover614:
Hi,
You're probably back to being hypo from being on the ATDs. If your thyroid levels were only slightly elevated or normal, and you just had a low TSH, you can expect to quickly become hypothyroid on meds.

» cowlover614 - mixed up more

In response to mixed up more posted by daisyelaine:

Elaine Hey Got the labs for 4/19 T-uptake 38 range 32-48 TSH 31.26H Free T4 0.4L 0.6-1.6 Is this a complete lab? Are other test missing. I thought she was running for graves antibodies. i still don't understand what is going on! Got my lab slip for May they want freeT4 FreeT3 and TSH is that all they should check Thanks Shirl

-- posted by cowlover614

» fivebreaths - side effect?

Hello out there,

and hello Elaine......
Anyone have this experience?
I've been on the Methimazole for 2 weeks now. Boy oh boy, I didn't know I'd feel so totally groggy and drugged, and joint stiffness&pain! But it HAS slowed my heart rate some, and I don't have so much heat intolerance as before, and I have begun to sleep more than 3 hours without waking. So that's good, right?
However... everything is such a trade-off, because since going on the ATD I've gained even MORE weight on top of the 15-20 I had already gained since becoming hyperthyroid!! (yes, I'm in that 15 percentile)--I realize some people will gain on this med as a result of coming to balance after extreme weight loss from hyperthyroid. But is weight gain a side effect of the ATD ? or a result of it for those who lost weight? Am concerned.... any info or words of reassurance?
I know once the meds are truly effective my appetite will stop being so raving crazy. I know when my thyroid is regulated I have to do the hard work to lose this (ugh!) weight. (that unfortunately, this weight not going to fall away just because I become euthyroid! )( hopefully i will become euthyroid...)...but I sure don't want to be taking a med that CAUSES weight gain! and I can't seem to find out from the pharmacist, nor did my doctor say....
Thank you so much, in advance, to you Elaine, and to anyone else wi/ info, for your reply...!

-- posted by fivebreaths