General Medicine

» Elaine Moore - Help with labs

In response to Help with labs posted by kitykatt:

Hi Jackie,
If those labs were taken more than a week ago, it's possible that your FT4 has fallen too low.
Current labs would help tell, but your symptoms sound like you may have moved into hypothyroidism.
When FT3 is disproportionately higher than FT4 it's important to use only enough ATD to keep FT4 in range (since we have far more FT4 than FT3). What many doctors do is add a beta blocker, like atenolol or propranolol to help reduce the conversion of T4 into T3. This helps reduce your FT3 level without needing a high ATD dose. Perhaps your doctor will lower your ATD dose to 5 mg and add a beta blocker. Best, Elaine

» kitykatt - Help with labs

In response to Help with labs posted by daisyelaine:

Hi Elaine, Thank You. These labs were taken eight weeks ago. It was after my doc reviewed these results, that she told me to stay on the 10mg. dose once a day. I was so reluctant to follow her instructions with the meds because I felt pretty good. I have taken a great deal of time researching this; truly because I wanted to be an active part in my care. Who could know my body better than myself? I've been taking her recommended dosage for the past six weeks. It was only a week ago or so when I became angry and took myself completely off. It never made any sense to me to wait so long in between monitoring meds. I was so happy that I had not gained any weight when these labs were taken. I was exercising every day and had great energy, moods were great etc... then BLAMO! out of nowhere I start feeling lethargic, sleepy, stopped exercising. My family has been concerned. I just had new labs taken yesterday with being off the meds for nine days.( I didn't tell her) I have an appointment with the new doc Friday. She is actually quite young, so perhaps she will be a refreshing new pair of eyes with all of this. The old doc looked a bit funny when I asked for a copy of my labs and interjected by telling me she's also tested my liver. I don't have a lot of doctor experience and have not really been sick up until OCT.07 What I also don't understand is if docs don't know how to regulate meds, why do they tend to over medicate? It would make more sense to me to perscribe a little less and see the patient more frequently and have a wait and see approach. I would love to post my new numbers when I have them. Had you not been here I would be flying a little blind. Thanks so much. Jackie

-- posted by kitykatt

» nurseheatherone - Internal Racing Feeling

In response to Internal Racing Feeling posted by daisyelaine:
Hi Elaine,
I just went to chiropractor this week for the ongoing upper back and chest ache thatI have been complaining of for all this time, especially around the time of my periods, and he said that he is pretty sure I have costochondritis or tietze syndrome. I looked in to this and am wondering if this has anything to do with the thyroid since I only developed it a couple of months into ATD's. This explains the pain, breathing issues and one of the main triggers for my aniety attacks. I am hoping with some rest and chiropractic manipulations I may be back to myself.
Thanks, Heather

-- posted by nurseheatherone

» cowlover614 - Please Help

Hi Elaine, Help!!!!! I got the other labs from the endo for Dec and Jan. I thought she was doing FT4's but on these labs it just says Thyroxine [T4] Here they are Dec. TSH 0.036 low [0.350-5.500] T4 7.0 [4.5-12.0] Jan TSH 0.014 low [0.350-5.500] and T4 6.5 [4.5-12.0] this is what she based 150mgs of PTU's which I didn't take. I am so confused. Please I really need some help understanding all this. Shirl

-- posted by cowlover614

» Elaine Moore - Help with labs

In response to Help with labs posted by kitykatt:

Hi Jackie,
I agree that it would be better to undermedicate and not have thyroid hormone levels fall too quickly or get to low.
But many doctors mistakenly think it's better to be hypo than hyper, which is wrong and totally unnecessary. I hope your new doctor works out better. Best, Elaine

» Elaine Moore - Internal Racing Feeling

In response to Internal Racing Feeling posted by nurseheatherone:

Hi Heather,
I had costochrondritis or a similar condition when I was hypothyroid and also under stress. It healed with manipulations and physical therapy and getting my thyroid hormone levels back to where they needed to be. Best, elaine

» Elaine Moore - Please Help

In response to Please Help posted by cowlover614:

Hi,
The total T4 is often falsely elevated in women and yours is already on the low side. Maybe a lower dose of meds like 50 mg PTU would be more appropriate. TSH can be falsely decreased from both stimulating and blocking TSH receptor antibodies so it's often misleading. Your FT4 and FT3 tests are much better for assessing your thyroid status. Best, Elaine

» mariammc - supplements

Hi Elaine,
Hope you are doing well. I found this company, CNCA, that claims to supply pure supplements, no lead, etc.
They have supplements for the immune system, but with graves' disease is it ok to take a supplement for the immune system? I'm a little confused on stimulation/suppression of the system.
Thanks! Maria

-- posted by mariammc

» mariammc - supplements

i just noticed that the formula contains iodine! oh well.

-- posted by mariammc

» aviano - Reverse T3 and other questions

In response to Reverse T3 and other questions posted by aviano:

bump

-- posted by aviano