[allie]

in reply to: news from doc appointment #1180183

Shirley-

I am on the short course with the prednisone, and will be tapering down to 20mg over the next four days. Doctor thinks that maybe that will help with the inflammation. My ANA test from a few weeks ago was very high (I think 2650) so he thought that trying a high dosage over a few days could bring some of that down.

Additionally, this is why he has suggested the supplements (fish oil, vitamin D, magnesium, multivitamin, etc). I was deficient on D and Mag, so those needed to come up, but he said that most people my age are deficient. Even though these are by no means “street drugs” or anything over the top, I rarely pop a tylenol! Now taking a handful of meds each day seems like a lot, but maybe necessary. I am going to look into that article for sure. This was also why the gluten-free was discussed… my doc mentioned at the first appointment that he believes nutrition to be the best medicine (which I feel is fair) — his argument is that wheat is very inflammatory and could be causing additional problems. Hey, if it helps, i’ll try it!

As far as the cytomel goes, I have been researching and have heard good and bad things. I have been on it for 3 1/2 weeks now and feel no change. I should have pushed my doctor more to find out his reasoning for having 10mcg on some days and 5mcg on others. My last labs (a few weeks ago) showed that my T4 was almost normal range but my T3 was low, so this was the first course of action. I asked about Armour as well, but the doc doesn’t think that we should jump into that just yet.

I am going to try to stay positive and see how this prednisone does. I could not sleep a wink last night!

[allie]

in reply to: Just need to vent…in other words, at my wit’s end… #1179907

Hi Becky,

I’m so sorry you have not been feeling well Welcome to the forum!

I can totally connect with you just wanting to feel “decent” and not even above average for a day. I was diagnosed last summer (during my summer college internship) and had RAI in November. Since then I have been on the decline, which was not what my doctor guaranteed. I have been thinking about how things were prior to all of this Grave’s business hitting me, and it really puts things into perspective. Some of your symptoms sound really similar to mine and I understand because my family is fairly annoyed with my “cranky” personality haha…if only they knew what this was like!! Constant nausea, vomiting, bowel problems, fatigue….not exactly easy to keep a job, spend time doing fun activities, etc. I just graduated from college and keep wondering why all of this is happening

I agree with everyone else about continuing to push your doctors. I recently found a really good doctor who is helping me to do more lab work but it took a while to get that accomplished…I am still wondering why it wasn’t completed earlier, but I guess you just have to focus on the present. I also have an appointment at the beginning of July and am hoping for good news, but am trying to be patient.

I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers as well : )

[allie]

in reply to: lab work question #1179796

I couldn’t agree more about this being good news! Even though I don’t feel any better “physically”, I am beyond happy that I simply got a phone call returned from the doctor…funny how that has become my “good news” for the day

I am already keeping a daily symptom journal, and now that I started the cytomel it will be interesting to see if anything changes or develops from this medication’s presence. My doctor thought that adding that to the synthroid was a better solution than starting the armour (although at 3 week check up that is plan .

Guess only time will tell!

[allie]

in reply to: lab work question #1179793

My test for lupus came back negative today, so that is good news! However, the doctor said he was still not sure why my level was so high and that I would need to be rechecked at the next appointment. On my labs its listed as a ratio, and mine was 1:2650. From what I have read that was pretty high. Somehow I feel like in 3 weeks it won’t be much different from where it is now.

I’m just wondering if there are other things that I should be looking for or mentioning to my doctor? As I posted before, my overall “sickly” feeling has been raging for months now and I feel like this could be an indicator to support whatever is going on inside. I don’t go back to the doctor for 3 weeks so I want to do as much as I can in the mean time.

Any advice or help is appreciated — thanks again!

[allie]

in reply to: lab work question #1179791

We did more lab work today, and I assume that I will hear back on the labs in the next few days. I made a follow-up appointment for the beginning of July to see if the new meds are helping the T3/T4 levels.

No other plan right now

Hoping I will have more energy soon!

[allie]

in reply to: feeling a bit more optimistic today #1179707

That’s the book that my doctor has been reading!

I’m going to try to order it on amazon and start making some slow changes to see if that helps

[allie]

in reply to: A Bad OMG day, not getting better #1179692

Sorry you are having a rough day Ann…sending good thoughts and prayers your way!

[allie]

in reply to: Helpful advice is appreciated! #1179493

Thank you all so much for your kind words and support. I made an appointment with my new PCP next week and am hoping that he will be able to help! I will update when I have more info.

Thanks again!

[Author]

Posts