[ely2009]

#1069812

Sue,
I too have a very understanding boss – although I only work VERY part-time (about 6 hours a week.) I took an unofficial leave of absence while I was waiting for my meds to kick in and even since I’ve been back to work, I can call in if I’m having a bad day. Being surrounded by supportive and understanding people, including everyone here, is SOOOOO important.

Hopefully, you’ll begin to have some symptom relief in the next 3 weeks. After about that amount of time, my symptoms were less, not gone, but noticiably decreased. I still (frustrated) have some lingering symptoms after a little more than 3 months. So maybe you’ll get some relief soon from some of your symptoms so you can "rationally" think through the decision you are facing – meds vs. surgery.

And DO slow down some. It really will help and your world won’t shatter around you. I’ve let so much go these past few months that I can’t believe it – I’m proud of myself (sometimes still annoyed, but don’t tell anyone).

Emily

[Sue_Conard]

#1069813

Thanks so much Emily, I appreciate it!! It’s never been in my vocabulary to say "NO" til GD !! ( And, I get annoyed by saying NO too!!) I’m learning to add it slowly to my vocabulary and will give myself time to make the decision of meds vs. surgery. It’s not an easy decision to come to in any situation but I’m one to exhaust all my resources with the meds and research first b/f I consider surgery…it’s just me with a sick, sick thyroid…ARGH!! ” title=”Sad” />

[lakeview]

#1069814

Hi everyone
Just wanted to say that I add my support to you! I understand what you are going through. Mamabear, that was a very sweet and lovely post.
Reading these posts makes me realize how type A, I am too…. so I am going to try to make an effort to slow down.
I hope that things start turning around for you soon Sue… there is an end to this… we just have to hang in.
Lakeview

[Sue_Conard]

#1069815

You’re so RIGHT Lakeview…Mamabear has it RIGHT and THANKFULLY she continues to reminds us that lag behind with this monstrous disease. I’m going right now to SLOWWWWWWWWWWWWW DOWNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN…..per Mamabear!!

[mama_44]

#1069816

Sue Conard wrote:I feel so dumb asking this ? What does PTU represent? I’ve been on tapazole since last yr. I see my Endo dr. tomorrow & think he may change me so I was curious if someone could explain to me what PTU is and if it’s a beta blocker or what family this falls into?? THANKS!!

ptu is proplythiouracil, ive been on it 5 months, it has messed with my liver enzymes and my bone marrow, but i am 400mg a day. lower doses might not be so bad. also a lot of weight gain. it dont work for me, so ive decided rai. it is not a beta blocker, i also take propranolol, its a beta blocker.

[Kimberly]

#1069817

Sue Conard wrote:Just got back from the Endo dr. & he’s increased my Tapazole, 4x the dosage I’ve been taken b/c I’m back in HYPERthyroidism & he’ll see me back in 3 wks. My TSH was 0.02 (low) & my T4 was 1.7 (normal).

Sue – Somone with a medical background could answer this better, but I don’t think you are officially hypER if your TSH is suppressed and your T4 is normal. Did they test Free T4 or just total T4? Also, did they test T3 as well? TSH is a lagging indicator and can take a while to recover into "normal" territory…so while we are being treated with ATDs, it’s not the best measure of where our levels are.

With a normal T4 and your doctor increasing your Tapazole by 4x, please be on the lookout for hypO symptoms and DEMAND a new set of labs ASAP if you think you are headed into that direction.

Best of luck!

[Sue_Conard]

#1069818

Thanks Kimberly for responding to my question. The labs on 9 July were as follows: TSH 0.02 & T4 Free was 1.7. On 29 July (3-4 wks. later), they were TSH 0.01, T4 FREE 1.1 and TSI was 310. They did not run my T3 FREE?? Any addl. insight you can provide me would be appreciated? I don’t think my labs are going in the right direction for hypo??

[Ski]

#1069819

When your T4 is dropping, that’s an indication you’re either coming back into normal range OR going hypo (depends on how low it drops). TSH can take weeks to catch up and show a true "balanced" answer ~ once we’re stabilized, TSH is the best possible marker, but while levels are fluctuating a lot, TSH isn’t always the best thing to judge by. T3 can fluctuate even within hours, so it’s not necessarily critical in terms of figuring out where you are. If it’s chronically high or low, that’s something to consider, but it’s usually not the first thing the doctor wants to see in order to evaluate what’s up.

[Kimberly]

#1069820

Sue Conard wrote:hanks Kimberly for responding to my question. The labs on 9 July were as follows: TSH 0.02 & T4 Free was 1.7. On 29 July (3-4 wks. later), they were TSH 0.01, T4 FREE 1.1 and TSI was 310.

Hi Sue – You didn’t list the "normal" ranges for Free T4, but if it’s similar to the lab that I use, 1.7 is on the high end of "normal" and 1.1 is on the low end of "normal". When the numbers drop that drastically, many endos will cut the dose by half or more to put the brakes on the Free T4 "freefall" and hopefully level things out.

However, since your dose was *increased* by 4x, you will definitely want to be on the lookout for symptoms that you are headed into hypO territory.

If you can, it might be a good idea to call your doctor’s office and double-check the dosing. If your doctor made the decision based on your TSH dropping, you might mention that TSH is a lagging indicator and can remain supressed for months while our levels stabilize. That’s why Free T4 is a better benchmark to use in determining dosing during the early stages of treatment.

Best of luck!

[Sue_Conard]

#1069821

Hey Ski & Kimberly!! Thanks for the info. The "normal levels for T4 FREE is 0.9-1.8 and I AM FEELING MORE HYPO EVERY DAY so this makes sense to me. My Endo is also trying to convince me that I need to have my thyroid taken out surgically, but according to these numbers, I’M FINE, right? Don’t understand why my TSI is still 310 though?? It was in the 600’s when I was first diagnosed so that’s come down?? Would you know "why" that’s a little high too? It went from 188 to 310 in the past month?? I’ll be getting more labs done in the next few wks as I have an appt. mid-Sept. and I’ll report what they are before I go to see him. Doesn’t make sense that he increased my meds 4x over either then to me…HHHmmm….THANKS ALL!!

[Ski]

#1069822

The antibodies rise and fall for reasons no one understands ~ PTU doesn’t affect them, it just affects the way the thyroid reacts (or doesn’t react), so you don’t stay hyper. The fluctuation in your antibodies is still important to know ~ I understand that, if you were at a point where you may want to consider going off the med and seeing if you’ve achieved "remission" (usually 1-2 years out), you’d want those antibody levels to be low in order to maximize your potential for a successful remission ~ but you don’t adjust your meds in relationship to the antibodies.

Good thing they’re keeping an eye on your thyroid hormone levels ~ right now your dose may go up & down a bit, but ultimately you should be zeroing in on a dose that keeps you "normal." Good luck with that!!!

[Lori_Gaudette]

#1069823

I am on tapasole 1 time a day… My thyorid has gone hyper to hypo and normal for over a year…
Than it came back… Hyper to normal to hypo .. I notice after ahange in diet excerise I went hypo

My doctor just put me on 1 pill 5 mg a day…
She also mention salenimin **not correct spelling 2 times a day
Exercise more

I am wondering if this is correct since most people I notice do this 2 pills a day for a round the clock..

Part 2…
I had 3 pets that had thyroid issues and all 3 died of cancer..
But, not of the thyroid….

Anyone feel any ties between thyroid and cancer?

What does anyone think … Thanks Lori G

[Sue_Conard]

#1069824

Lori G…THIS IS MY [b:1sx6396r]PERSONAL[/b:1sx6396r], [b:1sx6396r]ONLY PERSONAL OPINION[/b:1sx6396r], but YES!! I do believe that MY CANCER was driven by the overproduction of the thyroid hormones b/c it was breast cancer, ESTROGEN RECEPTIVE CANCER. With THAT being said, I’ve been on thyroid meds for 1 yr. now AND, I haven’t had ANY CANCER MARKERS this past year!! YEAH!! Only MY HOPE and MY PERSPECTIVE that this could be a link to my cancer; however, I can’t get my Endo or my Oncologist to ADMIT there is a link!!
I’m sure a facilitator will help answer your question better; however, in my heart of hearts, I’VE ALWAYS BELIEVE THIS was MY case and still do.

[Lori_Gaudette]

#1069825

I found it kinda odd that my pets 1 dog 2 cats had thyroid issue and than got cancer within 6 months to 1 year. I believe them to be hyper thyroid they all lost weight. I have a nother cat showing same symptoms of starting to get thin and eating alot. Which were all the same symptoms.

My new thyorid doctor is abit of a naturalists,
I believe my thyroid is from stress, lack of movement and bad diet.

Anyway she put me on selium 2 times a day
did suggest the diet excerise which I am working on.

My thyroid was fine till I fell off my diet excercise rout

My doctor did mention I could possibly be correct in my thoughts of the diet excerise routine.

[Sue_Conard]

#1069826

Good luck Lori on your quest for answers and your diet/exercise…don’t know how many people on this site have had cancer, along with the GD DX, etc. I’m positive there’s a correlation b/t stress and the thyroid and my GD too, no doubt…I HATE being a TYPE A personality…just don’t know WHEN to stop.

[Author]

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