[amosmcd]

in reply to: Starting PTU today or tomorrow #1175862

Thanks for the name, Shirley!

Amy

[amosmcd]

in reply to: Starting PTU today or tomorrow #1175861

Hi, Shirley–
I have to see docs affiliated with Swedish, so UW docs are out unless they are also affiliated with Swedish. If you can PM me again with names, I can check against the list of docs affiliated with Swedish. I really appreciated your help with this.

Amy

[amosmcd]

in reply to: Starting PTU today or tomorrow #1175858

Are you doing a city name search or zipcode search, Kimberly?

Thanks!
Amy

[amosmcd]

in reply to: Starting PTU today or tomorrow #1175856

Thanks, Kimberly! One thing I’ve noticed in the links for find docs on the GTADF links for finding Endo’s or thyroid surgeons us that the Seattle area has none listed. Which seems odd to me since it’s a big city with several large hospitals and a medical school at the UW.

Thanks again!
Amy

[amosmcd]

in reply to: Starting PTU today or tomorrow #1175854

Heard back from my endo today. I’m to take 50mg of PTU three times a day. Pharmacist says every 6 hours is fine, since I sleep 9 hours a day.

Hopefully that will take care of the elevated heart rate and palpitations. I’m hoping the increased dosage doesn’t give me any sedation side effects like the MMI did, but since I haven’t had any of that on the PTU, it would surprise me to have it start.

Have an appt on Jan 9th with my primary care doc to get a referral to a thyroid surgeon (since my endo won’t give me a name) to talk about TT, just to explore all my options. I will also see who she recommends for a new endo. I’ve had a couple people recommend different ones in my area, so I have choices there.

I got back last night after spending 7 days with my best friend in California. She is feeling much better, her labs continue to improve on Prednisone (for hemolytic anemia.) Her energy will take a while to come back. It was such a relief to see her in person!

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year (or at least a better year of health in 2013!)

Amy

[amosmcd]

in reply to: Merry Christmas #1176053

Merry Christmas to all!

Amy

[amosmcd]

in reply to: Starting PTU today or tomorrow #1175853

Thanks, Kimberly! I’ll check in with my endo soon.

Amy

[amosmcd]

in reply to: Starting PTU today or tomorrow #1175852

Hi, Naisly–
Can’t too much about it this week since the endo prescribed it 50mg twice a day. I’ll call him when I get home from my trip, see what he says, unless dividing the total 100 mg into three doses a day is okay without checking with him. I divided the MMI into twice a day doses after asking my pharmacist.

Amy

[amosmcd]

in reply to: Starting PTU today or tomorrow #1175849

Hi, Bobbi– Since Im traveling, it’s been a little difficult to keep on an exact schedule, but I only take it every 12 hours. I took it last night a little after midnight and now it’s 10am and my heart rate and palpatations are up again. So, I seem to be running short of the med in between the 12 hours.

Amy

[amosmcd]

in reply to: Starting PTU today or tomorrow #1175847

Hi, Kimberly and Laurel–
Definitely Im a super-taster! I have recently discovered that taking the PTU with a few good swallows of caffeine-free diet Coke really helps mask the bitter taste. I also eat a snack.

Im not sure how well the PTU is working. It’s been 11 days since starting it and although Im tolerating it very well, my heart rate goes up and down and I get palpitations when Im getting close to the next dose. Im out of state visiting my friend (who is doing much better, although still not back to normal yet) until the 27th. I think I’ll give my endo a call when I get home. He may need to increase the dose.

Amy

[amosmcd]

in reply to: Starting PTU today or tomorrow #1175844

Thanks, Catstuart!

I hope the MMI works better for you. It has the same nasty taste, but for me the taste went away as soon as I drank something with a flavor to it. The PTU aftertaste just wells up like a bitter gas once it hits my stomach. Bleh! But I’ll trade that for the sedation of the MMI. I hope you don’t get that effect, but I seem to have been a rare case.

Take care,

Amy

[amosmcd]

in reply to: Starting PTU today or tomorrow #1175842

I got very good news from my friend! The CT ruled out lymphoma, so she is undergoing treatment for her spleen problem. We are all so relieved!!

The next day my son called me and told me my treadmill is broken (it’s 15 years old at least and he’s been running on it and the front roller is cracked.) So now I have to find a new treadmill. Hate walking outside in the cold and rain. Will look at used sports equipment places, because I can’t afford a new one. So another stress. I’m not made of money!

I’ve been taking the PTU for 3 days now. So far it’s not causing the drowsiness and sedation that the Methimazole (MMI) did, but it’s been upsetting my stomach and has the worst aftertaste. Yesterday at work I had a bout of diarrhea and had to go lay down and rest. Immodium helped with that, but hope that’s not a frequent side effect. It’s not listed on the side effects, although stomach upset is. I’m taking it with breakfast, and a snack at bedtime. Didn’t sleep well last night, but hoping that isn’t a new side effect. The MMI caused a lot of sleep disturbances. Probably take a little nap later.

It’ll be interesting to see how it plays out the longer I’m on it.

Amy

[amosmcd]

in reply to: Starting PTU today or tomorrow #1175841

Thanks, Kimberly! The studies I looked at were for RAI for Graves treatment.

I’m definitely going to get a second opinion, and might just switch endos if I find another one I like better.

Thanks for your support and help.

Amy

[amosmcd]

in reply to: Starting PTU today or tomorrow #1175839

Hi, Laurel–

I think I’ll start with the twice a day the doc prescribed, and then change to 3x/day if it makes me drowsy and sedated.

I hadn’t had a primary care doc for a few years and just got a new one early this Fall. So I’ve only seen her once. I like her so far. I’ll make an appt to see her; I need to anyway just to follow-up from my last appt. I’m glad you have a good relationship with yours. The last two I had went to concierge medicine and I really liked them and had been with them for years, so that’s been disappointing.

As much as I’d like to see your doc, starting the first of the year, my insurance is really cracking down on seeing docs only affiliated with the hospital in Seattle where I work. Otherwise they only pay 70%, which I can’t afford. I still have choices I can make within that for other endos. But I really appreciate your offer!

Amy

[amosmcd]

in reply to: Starting PTU today or tomorrow #1175837

Hi, Catstuart–

I did see it said 3x/day on the pt info sheet. I don’t know what to think. I want to take the PTU in whatever way will cause the least possible sedation. That’s the side effect that just wiped me out with the MMI. Don’t know which way would be best for that.

I do appreciate your suggestion!

Amy

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