[Kimberly]

in reply to: New to Grave’s Disease #1067974

For those who are having issues getting labs done, do you have a choice as to which lab you use? My endo’s office uses two different labs, and one of them (Sonora Quest – I think they are only in Arizona) actually books online appointments. This is soooooo much more convenient!

[Kimberly]

in reply to: Sending PMs – Issues with Out Box #1067884

Thanks, Ski!

What was odd was that I noticed that I had one other message "stuck" in my out box from May, plus the ones I tried to send today. (All of which were eventually received. ) I guess the individual from last May never logged back on.

I learn something new every day. ” title=”Very Happy” />

[Kimberly]

in reply to: New Here and Very Thankful #1067937

Mykena – Thanks for the PM with the info! I tried to send you a reply, but it seems to be "stuck" in my out box. I’ll try to send another message if it doesn’t go through in a little while…

[Kimberly]

in reply to: Weigh-in (just for fun) #1068762

So at last weekend’s weigh-in, I was down a pound (WOO HOO!) to 140.8, but all my clothes are feeling really, really tight. (D’OH!)

I am still struggling with the urge to stress eat. Actually, it’s more like "anger" eating. My termination date from my job is on 10/9, and the head of our division is being a complete insensitive #$%&!*@#!. I am really trying to find some other activities (reading, walking, etc.) that will be a distraction.

I got the OK to start exercising again at my last endo visit, and I am thinking of calling the office to see if they have a physical therapist they could recommend. I don’t want to overdo things on my own (which is my tendency), but I have *got* to start getting rid of this fat and start re-building my lean muscle mass!

Oh, and in case anyone forgot, Halloween is about a month away…then Thanksgiving…then Christmas. The weight loss thing is not gonna get any easier. ” title=”Sad” /> Good luck to all of us!

[Kimberly]

in reply to: Well who would have thought – HyperM back at work :) #1067913

YEA – Congrats!!

[Kimberly]

in reply to: Allergic to methimazole and PTU? …RAI? #1067964

Ski wrote:That’s a question for your doctor, or your pharmacist ~ either could probably answer it definitively. I’ve never seen this question brought up here before, and I’ve been here a LONG time.

Another possibility to discuss with your doctor or pharmacist might be whether a lower dose would keep your levels in check without causing the hives. I’ve read stories from other patients who had issues at high doses, but not at lower doses. (Obviously, this is a moot point if the low dose sends you hyper again…)

Best of luck!

[Kimberly]

in reply to: New Here and Very Thankful #1067936

mykena wrote: It will be on stands Oct. 15, just in time for the conference. Unfortunately, I just found out about the conference so it’s not in the budget. Maybe, I’ll catch you all next time. (Note: I didn’t say what magazine because I don’t know if that’s against the rules for the board.)

There would certainly be a concern with re-printing copyrighted material in its entirety here on the boards…but personally, I wouldn’t see an issue with giving everyone the name of the magazine. Hopefully, one of the moderators will weigh in, because I’d love to read the article! Maybe I’ll even buy it at the airport on the way to Charlotte. ” title=”Smile” />

[Kimberly]

in reply to: New here…TSH low & waiting on endo appt. #1067979

Hello – Everyone’s advice here has been good…the eye issues and hyperthyroid symptoms would *seem* to point to Graves, but you will want to consult an endocrinologist to make sure.

If it does turn out to be Graves, you might also consider establishing a relationship with an opthalmologist who is familiar with Graves (instead of an optometrist) to help manage your eye issues.

Best of luck!

[Kimberly]

in reply to: New to Grave’s Disease #1067970

Princess wrote:I was on PTU for six-weeks and was recently told that I have gone hypo. My doctor has taken me off my meds for another six-weeks until my next blood test which has been every six-weeks since July. Her explanation is either my thyroid has burned itself out (which I read usually takes 5 or more years), I am in remission, or she told me that this some times happens with some patients. They can go from hyper to hypo to hyper again.

Hello – It seems to me that your doctor should have considered the third option that LaurelM mentioned…that sometimes we swing from hyper to hypo and back until we find an appropriate maintenance dose of Anti-Thyroid Drugs. I wonder how much experience she has treating patients with ATDs. Perhaps your family’s suggestion to find another endo is a good one.

I hate getting blood drawn as well, but it’s really necessary for you at this point to make sure that you get your levels stabilized…so you can hopefully start feeling good again!

Why is your husband pushing RAI? Is it because he thinks the problem will be "over with" once the RAI is done? If you read the posts from others on this board, you will see that you *still* have to go through a stabilization process…except that you are adjusting the dose of Thyroid replacement instead of ATDs. All three treatment options have pros and cons, so it is important to do your own research and pick the one that *you* feel most comfortable with. It’s not your husband’s thyroid. ” title=”Wink” />

Best of luck!

[Kimberly]

in reply to: Shameless Plug for the Conference #1068174

Bumpity, bump, bump…

Friday is the last day for the killer hotel rate!

I am actually going to call the hotel tomorrow and extend for a day, since I won’t have a job to rush back to on Monday. Might as well make the best of it! ” title=”Smile” />

EDIT: The hotel is sold out for Sunday night, so I am on the waiting list now. Hopefully, something will open up, as I already changed my flight and I’d rather not switch hotels for a night! I figured *no* hotel would be sold out on a Sunday in this economy…but I guess this is peak season for NC…

[Kimberly]

in reply to: looking for help with PTU treatment #1068117

Bobbi wrote:Thanks, James and Kimberley, for the update. My free levels were tested early on, so that must have been while I was on PTU. But they were not done all the time: only once or twice. But I am a bit of a dinosaur here: my RAI was (gulp) twelve years ago!

No worries! Endos seem to sloooooooooowly be coming around to routinely testing FT3 and FT4. When I was diagnosed in 2007, I got into an absolute dogfight with my endo’s office about the need for FT3 and FT4 testing. They gave me all sorts of B.S. about how the insurance company wouldn’t pay for it. (Wrong, they *do*.) I would actually take their lab slip, and then circle all of the tests that they left off before having my blood drawn.

Now they routinely test FT3 and FT4 without me having to ask…and they are basing my dosing decisions on that as well. Progress!!

[Kimberly]

in reply to: looking for help with PTU treatment #1068114

boobookitty712 wrote: I do have one question for you Bobbi. Back in the states, my civilian endocrinologist who diagnosed me was the one who originally told me that the "old" way of doing things was basing dosage changes off TSH, but that FT3 and FT4 levels were better indicators, and my research since then has always led me to believe that, which led me to part of my frustration on the doctor here. But if yours bases off of TSH and you’re doing ok, who am I to argue that point.

Sorry if this ends up being a double post…I was typing a response when my post went "poof". Weird.

boobookitty712 – Everyone is different with Graves, and you should never just take someone’s word and say "who am I to argue".

Bobbi – When your doctor was using TSH, was this to determine your level of ATD…or the appropriate level of replacement hormone following TT/RAI? My understanding from the Thyroid Manager site is that FT3 and FT4 are the "gold standard" for patients who are on ATDs, because TSH can remain supressed for quite some time. If this approach worked out for you on ATDs, it must be because your TSH bounced back quickly, which does *not* happen with all Graves’ patients.

And for those of us that have that issue (including me), ignoring the FT3 and FT4 and continuing to increase the dosage of ATDs based on TSH will send us into hypO territory.

[Kimberly]

in reply to: looking for help with PTU treatment #1068111

boobookitty712 wrote: He even consulted with the closest endocrinologist in Hawaii who said there was no reason to ever run FT4 or 3, and that you dose based on TSH. But both my TSH and FT4 decreased. Wouldn’t increasing my dose decrease my FT4 even more making me hypo?

Yes, increasing your dose *would* make your FT3 and FT4 drop even further. You don’t list ranges, but 0.8 for FT4 looks pretty close to the bottom of the "normal" barrel.

My guess is that most of the Hawaii endo’s patients all feel miserable — that’s awful. TSH is not a good benchmark for dosing when we are hyper, because it is a lagging indicator and can remain supressed for long periods of time.

Hopefully, Nancy will be able to hook you up with someone who actually knows what he/she is doing!

Hang in there!

[Kimberly]

in reply to: Is Doing nothing an option? #1068143

hockey wrote: He doesn’t listen, and he seems to think that TSH levels are the end-all, be-all rather than how I am actually feeling.

Remembering back, it seems as though my thyroid problems started when I came off the pill. Any thoughts out there as to what the outcome would be if I went back on the pill – at least that’s reversible. Thanks again.

Ah, if your doctor is determining dosage solely based on TSH, no wonder you keep having issues headed into HypO territory! Are you able to get Free T3 and Free T4 tested as well? That is really the best measure of or levels, since TSH can remain supressed for long periods in Graves patients.

As for the pill, I was on it prior to my diagnosis, so I don’t think that makes a difference in terms of getting Graves. However, I have heard that being on the pill can serve to "bind" or inactivate thyroid hormone…which could potentially cause our *free* hormone levels to increase.

Hope this helps!

[Kimberly]

in reply to: Shameless Plug for the Conference #1068173

Ski – Just sent you a PM with my travel info.

Nancy – Let me know if there is anything I need to do prior to the conference on the letters. I know that AARDA has a form letter, so perhaps Dr. Rose will have some suggestions.

Thanks!

[Author]

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