Re: Not Skinny!!!

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/23/00 5:59:58 AM !!!First Boot!!!, Katdrem@...

writes:

<< Now, I don't say I like disease - but, since I've struggled with my weight

most of my life - I have to be honest - there is one side effect of Graves

Disease I would not mind - that of being slender - to be able to eat and burn

up that fuel - lickety split! But, no, I have hyperthyroid and I gained

weight!! Melinda >>

Hi Melinda and Everyone,

This is an interesting facet of hyperthyroidism and I recently ran across

a study on it. In general, hyperthyroid males lose weight while hyperthyroid

females tend to stay at the same weight or gain weight.

In the study the researchers looked at leptin which is the hormone

suspected of controlling body weight. In hyper males leptin levels decline

and this allows the hypermetabolism to cause weight loss. In hyper females

leptin levels remain the same or increase with a corresponding weight

maintenance or gain.

More than likely the increase in leptin in females is driven by estradiol

(estrogen) and is necessary to prevent catastrophic weight loss in females

because they may be pregnant. If this is true then you'd expect women with

low estrogen levels to experience more weight loss.

I'm not sure how this information might help us to correct hyperT (we'll

have to see how it fits into the whole picture), but hopefully it will enable

hyper women who are gaining weight to accept the weight gain with dignity and

realize that it's not a character issue. Hormones are stronger than will

power.

[Guest guest]

,

Thanks for your response. You are much kinder than most. What first got

my attention that something was wrong..........was a sudden weight gain -

about 15 pounds in two weeks, at that same time I noticed a lump on the left

side of my neck. Since I am in serious voice and music training and this was

too close for comfort to my " instrument. " I immediately made a doctors

appointment. (usually it takes wild horses to drag me to a doctor's office).

I am in a show, and sing - so appearance is very important. When I

expressed my concern over the rapid weight gain to my doctor.........and told

him, it was as if my appestat were turned on - how distraught I was by this

and that I knew something was off kilter here, he just looked at me as if I

were pathetic and trying to delude myself........by blaming a " thyroid "

problem for my increased appetite and weight gain.

" Oh, that's not the reason....that's not what's causing it. " He said with

a smirk in a, " you should know better than that. " tone.

Now, on to the question part of this letter.

1. I was told that the scan showed the middle of this enlarged part of

my gland is dying. The doctor said they want to radiate it and kill it, and

this should cause the other parts of the gland (which have shut down) to

" wake back up and start functioning. "

If it's dying..........should I bother to " kill it with raditation

- or let nature take it's course?

2. If they kill only 1/4 or 1/2 of the gland - will I become

" Hypothyroid " and will that make my voice " husky? "

Thanks again - for the information you seek for fellow - " hyper's. "

As far as " dignity " goes, hey - I have the " First Lady's " disease!

Melinda

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/23/00 4:17:58 PM !!!First Boot!!!, Katdrem@...

writes:

<< 1. I was told that the scan showed the middle of this enlarged part

of

my gland is dying. The doctor said they want to radiate it and kill it, and

this should cause the other parts of the gland (which have shut down) to

" wake back up and start functioning. "

If it's dying..........should I bother to " kill it with

raditation

- or let nature take it's course?

2. If they kill only 1/4 or 1/2 of the gland - will I become

" Hypothyroid " and will that make my voice " husky? "

Thanks again - for the information you seek for fellow - " hyper's. "

As far as " dignity " goes, hey - I have the " First Lady's " disease!

Melinda >>

Hi Melinda,

I really think your doctor is wrong. When I had an ultrasound exam of my

thyroid when I was very ill with hyperT, both I, the doctor, and the examiner

could see definite structural abnormalities in the thyroid. Probably what

your doctor would call " dying " . Well, with proper nutrition, it didn't die

and is doing fine and I'm no longer hyper.

Look at the doctor's hypothesis: If the enlarged part is dying, then why

" kill " it with radiation? It's already dying. What you want is for the

thyroid to get the proper nutrients so that it can perform its job correctly.

Then it will go back to its normal size.

Radiation will probably make you hypo and it may alter your voice. I

really believe that your thyroid will normalize in function and return to

normal size with proper nutrition.

[Guest guest]

I've been taking the supplements for a little while (about a month) and

though I do feel a little better, how long does it take for them to make

a real difference? Does it matter how long you were hyperT before you

started? My TSH did drop again and my tapazol had to be adjusted again

so in a way I'm a little bit disappointed. I didn't expect majic but I

guess my hopes were up.

My office just dropped my old medical insurance and gave us a new one

(not better). I lost my doctors so now I have to start over. I'm really

hoping I find someone who's willing to continue my treatment as is and

not push for rai. I don't intend to give up though. Do I give the new

doctor the list of supplements I'm taking?

thanks and everyone feel better.

__________________________________________

NetZero - Defenders of the Free World

Get your FREE Internet Access and Email at

http://www.netzero.net/download/index.html

[Guest guest]

,

I must disagree with you on this one. Some of women can not " accept the

weigh gain with dignity. " It just does not work that way. It bothers me

that doctors and others will prescribe meds that they KNOW may cause

weight gain in women and then expect the women to become passive about

looking like cows for the rest of their lives when they do not gain weight

because they overeat. It is not fair.

Joyce in Vermont

+====>>>>>>=====>>>>>>>>........<<<<<<<<<=======<<<<<<<<==========+

" Truth is a shining goddess, always veiled, always distant,

never wholly approachable, but worthy of all the devotion

of which the human spirit is capable. " Bertrand

+====>>>>>>=====>>>>>>>>........<<<<<<<<<=======<<<<<<<<==========+

On Wed, 23 Feb 2000 BU007@... wrote:

> In a message dated 2/23/00 5:59:58 AM !!!First Boot!!!, Katdrem@...

> writes:

> << Now, I don't say I like disease - but, since I've struggled with my weight

> most of my life - I have to be honest - there is one side effect of Graves

> Disease I would not mind - that of being slender - to be able to eat and burn

> up that fuel - lickety split! But, no, I have hyperthyroid and I gained

> weight!! Melinda >>

> Hi Melinda and Everyone,

> This is an interesting facet of hyperthyroidism and I recently ran across

> a study on it. In general, hyperthyroid males lose weight while hyperthyroid

> females tend to stay at the same weight or gain weight.

> In the study the researchers looked at leptin which is the hormone

> suspected of controlling body weight. In hyper males leptin levels decline

> and this allows the hypermetabolism to cause weight loss. In hyper females

> leptin levels remain the same or increase with a corresponding weight

> maintenance or gain.

> More than likely the increase in leptin in females is driven by estradiol

> (estrogen) and is necessary to prevent catastrophic weight loss in females

> because they may be pregnant. If this is true then you'd expect women with

> low estrogen levels to experience more weight loss.

> I'm not sure how this information might help us to correct hyperT (we'll

> have to see how it fits into the whole picture), but hopefully it will enable

> hyper women who are gaining weight to accept the weight gain with dignity and

> realize that it's not a character issue. Hormones are stronger than will

> power.

>

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[Guest guest]

:

There are tears in my eyes - I really needed someone to stand by me in

this........since I have invested years in developing my voice and am

currently in a show......singing.

The doctor told me this was the ONLY way to " cure " hyperthyroid.......he

would have popped a pill in my mouth that night if he had it!! I felt so

pressured by him. He said the pills like PTU he would only give to an older

woman or one who is allergic to iodine. That those type of medications don't

address hyerthyroid - they only address the symptons: ie. Heart palpitations

etc.

Thank God I was in the show - I said hold on - I can't take a chance that

I won't have a reaction........and I want to do more research.

I have an appointment to go to New York College of Hollistic Health for

acupuncture and herbs. I am going to try nutrition...........and your words

of encouragement have given me hope. I am so grateful for all the wonderful

people.....who are willing to share their experiences with this..........we

are not alone!

Cheers - Melinda

PS I have lost 6 pounds of the fifteen I have gained!!! I'm so happy - but,

realise I will have to slow the weight loss down a bit after the next

week...........to lose 6 pounds a week is not healthy.

[Guest guest]

dear deb im heyper and not skinny but i have lost weight 2 stone 18 months

ago looking back it wasnt the weight watchers it must have been when it all

started my husband said im hard to live with the last couple of years, tell

me is the acupuncture painfull i start myn next week my doc tryed to get it

on the nhs uk service but they only recognise acupuncture for pain relife any

way are you on herbs to im taking bugal weed at present as reccomended in the

green pharmasy sorry spelling im not taking any other meds at all the only

thig they give you in the uk is carbemazole and after a month taking that i

came out in hives was sick trapped wind like you wouldent belive what i

woldent have done for a good fart dear me any thing for the natural life

..hope to talk to you soon we are in this together babe hows your heart rate?

ruthxx

[Guest guest]

Melinda, let us know what herbs specifically they treat you with . I

have been doing diet for a month and have noticed a change the next day

when I eat seafood. I fall off the wagon on the weekend a little, just

to keep me going. I am having difficulty doing it 100%. I started

Indural, I think out of fear. My pulse was edging up at work to 117 to

120. That and I wanted to be more active and felt I couldn't. My

accupunture starts again this week. I had a treatment, then had to skip

a week. I have started some supps. I guess I have gotten discouraged

this weekend. IF I don't see an improvement in a couple weeks with the

accupunture, I guess I will try the Tapazole. It is slow going.

Deb

[Guest guest]

Ruth in Uk,

What does the bugal weed do? The accupuncture is not painful except in

the fingers sometimes. Usually you cannot feel it when the needles go

in.

So are you off the carbemazole? My heart rate is high at work. The

highest I have taken it is 117, but I think it it possible it has been

higher. I work in surgery and tend to get excited sometimes. Ha. THe

blood pressure medicine helps a little. I really don't want to take it,

but untill I can get something else that works, I guess I will.

Deb

[Guest guest]

Dear Melinda; Hang in there. I'm doing so much better than I thought

posssible after only three months on the supps and a month of accupuncture,

I'm elated. I've lowered my Tapazole from 60mg. to 5mg. daily in that time.

I'll have new results from blood tomorrow. I have moments lasting up to

several hours of heat or slight tremor but thats it. They are few and far

between and I feel better than I have since my first Graves episode several

years ago after being hypo (I realize in retrospect) for 20 or more years.

Peace and Light, '

[Guest guest]

good to here the acupuncture isnt to bad .yes im of my meds i took the

decition my self despite the docs warning of a heart attack.i am going to

see an endo next week and maybe he will know what he is doing my doc didnt im

sure, he even said i wouldent have any side efects and would be able to do my

work ( which requires a massive amount of empathy) .With regard to the bugal

weed there is more info about its use in the green pharmacy a book in the

case study the lhyper lady like me didnt want to take the meds he recommended

her to serious consiquences ect but she said no took the bugle weed and bobs

your uncle shes ok now .so im giving it a try .I wonder if my doc had

perscribed better i may have been ok this is what he did 20mgs for 2 weeks i

felt ok heart rate down to 80 bit dizzy but i could cope with that then 60mg

for 3 weeks got real sick so bad blood work came back hypo i had already

stoped taking it by the time i got results and the doc told me to cut down to

5mgs a day oh well this is boring.

do you get snappy im so mean to my husband and since ive been diagnosed im

sure im worse like ive been given carte blance to behave exactly how i like i

relly muhold back a bet we had a massive row last night and he ended up

smahing the telly in the lounge and pouring water down the back of the

portable set in the bathroom .wellthat knocked all the relaxation and

breathing i had been doing on the head pulse rokedup tp 115 i took some

valerian nture sleep but that still dosnt take away from the fact ive woken

up this morning an there is no teletubbies for my 2 year old to look at .all

part of lifes rich tapestry . as my mum said when i called last nigh well he

only hit the box if it had been you i would be down that motor way to hit him

..my goodness since ive had this i deserved it a few times. i was wondering

perhaps i should think of some revenge!!!!! no only joking another

installment tommorow love ruthxxx

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/25/00 2:11:31 AM !!!First Boot!!!, jkeeler@...

writes:

<< ,

I must disagree with you on this one. Some of women can not " accept the

weigh gain with dignity. " It just does not work that way. It bothers me

that doctors and others will prescribe meds that they KNOW may cause

weight gain in women and then expect the women to become passive about

looking like cows for the rest of their lives when they do not gain weight

because they overeat. It is not fair.

Joyce in Vermont>>

Hi Joyce,

I completely agree with you and did not state my feelings very

completely. What I intended to say was that there was a biochemical reason

why women hypers gain weight and that it wasn't a matter of weak will-power.

It is certainly not healthful physically or mentally to be overweight.

Overweight is indicative of nutritional problems that need to be identified

and corrected.

[Guest guest]

About not being able to lose weight:

I have just learned another reason why folk gain weight and can't get it

off. It has to do with a malfunction of the pituitary that can also

cause breastmilk to be produced and heavy menses and a general bloated

body. In other words, in women, the body thinks the woman is

pregnant. Such situations often result in " phantom pregnances " where

there is no fetus in the sac, or monthly menses that seem like

miscarriages, but they aren't. It is just the body trying to " deliver " the

baby that is not there, because it thinks you are pregnant. This is very

new info for me from med researchers who know the Endocrine system very

well. It is very surprising that I have not been reading about this in

women's magazines, when so many women suffer from trying to lose weight

and not understanding why they can't when they do all the right things.

Where the thyroid is indicated in these situations, I am not

certain---yet. However, since this involves the Endocrine system, I would

not be surprised if the thyroid was compromised in such situations, too.

J.

+====>>>>>>=====>>>>>>>>........<<<<<<<<<=======<<<<<<<<==========+

" Truth is a shining goddess, always veiled, always distant,

never wholly approachable, but worthy of all the devotion

of which the human spirit is capable. " Bertrand

+====>>>>>>=====>>>>>>>>........<<<<<<<<<=======<<<<<<<<==========+

On Mon, 28 Feb 2000 BU007@... wrote:

> In a message dated 2/25/00 2:11:31 AM !!!First Boot!!!, jkeeler@...

> writes:

> << ,

>

> I must disagree with you on this one. Some of women can not " accept the

> weigh gain with dignity. " It just does not work that way. It bothers me

> that doctors and others will prescribe meds that they KNOW may cause

> weight gain in women and then expect the women to become passive about

> looking like cows for the rest of their lives when they do not gain weight

> because they overeat. It is not fair.

>

> Joyce in Vermont>>

> Hi Joyce,

> I completely agree with you and did not state my feelings very

> completely. What I intended to say was that there was a biochemical reason

> why women hypers gain weight and that it wasn't a matter of weak will-power.

> It is certainly not healthful physically or mentally to be overweight.

> Overweight is indicative of nutritional problems that need to be identified

> and corrected.

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Why wait for a credit decision? Get one instantly! Apply for

> the Capital One 9.9% Fixed APR Visa Platinum!

> 1/1895/5/_/6563/_/951756715/

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> -- 20 megs of disk space in your group's Document Vault

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>

[Guest guest]

wow

i just brought that up in a previous email. where did you read this?

mary margaret

[Guest guest]

Joyce,

I agree with you whole heartily.

--kathleen

[Guest guest]

Joyce:

When I am not taking birth control pills (had a tubaligation, don't

need them for that), I go through the same thing. I can't count how

many times I thought I was pregnant (even after the tubal), and cried when

I thought I had miscarried! Never had a problem with wieght because

of it-just a little bloating.

joyce keeler wrote:

About not being able to lose weight:

I have just learned another reason why folk gain weight and can't get

it

off. It has to do with a malfunction of the pituitary that can also

cause breastmilk to be produced and heavy menses and a general bloated

body. In other words, in women, the body thinks the woman is

pregnant. Such situations often result in "phantom pregnances"

where

there is no fetus in the sac, or monthly menses that seem like

miscarriages, but they aren't. It is just the body trying to "deliver"

the

baby that is not there, because it thinks you are pregnant. This is

very

new info for me from med researchers who know the Endocrine system

very

well. It is very surprising that I have not been reading about this

in

women's magazines, when so many women suffer from trying to lose weight

and not understanding why they can't when they do all the right things.

Where the thyroid is indicated in these situations, I am not

certain---yet. However, since this involves the Endocrine system, I

would

not be surprised if the thyroid was compromised in such situations,

too.

J.

+====>>>>>>=====>>>>>>>>........<<<<<<<<<=======<<<<<<<<==========+

"Truth is a shining goddess,

always veiled, always distant,

never wholly approachable,

but worthy of all the devotion

of which the human spirit

is capable." Bertrand

+====>>>>>>=====>>>>>>>>........<<<<<<<<<=======<<<<<<<<==========+

On Mon, 28 Feb 2000 BU007@... wrote:

> In a message dated 2/25/00 2:11:31 AM !!!First Boot!!!, jkeeler@...

> writes:

> << ,

>

> I must disagree with you on this one. Some of women can not

"accept the

> weigh gain with dignity." It just does not work that way.

It bothers me

> that doctors and others will prescribe meds that they KNOW

may cause

> weight gain in women and then expect the women to become passive

about

> looking like cows for the rest of their lives when they do

not gain weight

> because they overeat. It is not fair.

>

> Joyce in Vermont>>

> Hi Joyce,

> I completely agree with you and did not state

my feelings very

> completely. What I intended to say was that there was a biochemical

reason

> why women hypers gain weight and that it wasn't a matter of weak

will-power.

> It is certainly not healthful physically

or mentally to be overweight.

> Overweight is indicative of nutritional problems that need to be

identified

> and corrected.

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Why wait for a credit decision? Get one instantly! Apply

for

> the Capital One 9.9% Fixed APR Visa Platinum!

> 1/1895/5/_/6563/_/951756715/

>

> -- 20 megs of disk space in your group's Document Vault

> -- docvault/hyperthyroidism/?m=1

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>

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[Guest guest]

joyce,

about the phantom pregnancies and lactation etc.. i have been experiencing

this!!!!!! not every month (although the lactation has been going on for

three years straight). every couple of periods i have a really heavy one and

think it's a miscarriage or something. weird.

mary margaret

[Guest guest]

I have had the same thing in the past. I have lost count on how many pregnancy

tests I bought at the drugstore. I never had the lactation though ....

Since the birth control pills, these symptoms have pretty much subsided.

How do you get rid of a pituitary tumor?

--kathleen

In a message dated Thu, 2 Mar 2000 10:38:12 AM Eastern Standard Time,

Notsed8@... writes:

> joyce,

> about the phantom pregnancies and lactation etc.. i have been experiencing

> this!!!!!! not every month (although the lactation has been going on for

> three years straight). every couple of periods i have a really heavy one and

> think it's a miscarriage or something. weird.

> mary margaret

>

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[Guest guest]

Hi Deb -

Since my thyroid scan showed it's running - cold - or has a cold spot which

is " suspicious..........ie cancer. I might not have a choice - but to use

the radioiodine - Needless to say - I'm very unhappy over this........I can't

pin anyone down to say if it's cancer or not - and is this the only way to

treat it if it is cancer - AND - will the lump in my neck go away only with

nutrition and herbs.

Honestly - the accupuncturist - was not too hopeful that my case would be

reversed with just accupuncture and herbs. However, they feel that this

holistic treatment will support me through whatever I decided to do.

I'll let you know what herbs when I go back this Thurs.

Cheers - Melinda

[Guest guest]

Dear Joyce,

Ever since my third miscarriage in a year, I'm running to get tested for

pregancy and haven't been lately, but have all the symptoms of a

miscarriage. I wonder if natural progesterone would help. I was on it but

went off because it makes me so fertile. I really miss it's other

" benefits " .

Le Ann

PS Did the article on this list herbs or anything to help alleviate

symptoms?

[Guest guest]

is it true if someone scrapes your face or arm with a gold ring and a grey

line shows up that they are anemic? my friend told me this and did it to

herself and nothing. then she started laughing and wrote her name on my

face, but stopped halfway through because my face was full of grey lines.

she told me a doctor told her this. is she pulling my leg?

mary margaret

[Guest guest]

Yes, it lessened the anemia. Waiting for workup by med researcher for

more info as to how to rid body of monthly " miscarriage. " It is a

hormonal imbalance that may compromise thyroid. All I know is supplements

help, but I still have increasing amount of heart involvement, even though

I sort of seem mostly hypo.

Joyce n Vermont

+====>>>>>>=====>>>>>>>>........<<<<<<<<<=======<<<<<<<<==========+

" Truth is a shining goddess, always veiled, always distant,

never wholly approachable, but worthy of all the devotion

of which the human spirit is capable. " Bertrand

+====>>>>>>=====>>>>>>>>........<<<<<<<<<=======<<<<<<<<==========+

On Wed, 8 Mar 2000, elh wrote:

> Dear Joyce,

> Ever since my third miscarriage in a year, I'm running to get tested for

> pregancy and haven't been lately, but have all the symptoms of a

> miscarriage. I wonder if natural progesterone would help. I was on it but

> went off because it makes me so fertile. I really miss it's other

> " benefits " .

> Le Ann

> PS Did the article on this list herbs or anything to help alleviate

> symptoms?

>

>

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[Guest guest]

Dear ,

I haven't a clue. But some easy ways to check for anemia is to look

under your tongue (in a mirror). If it is really pale, or you look at the

sclera in your eyes (pull your lid down and look at the pink stuff at the

bottom of your eye. A third way to check for anemia is to pinch your nail

beds between your fingers then count 1000, 1001, 1002. The color should

return by 2, if it doesn't it could be circulation or anemia.

Have a great day,

Le Ann