Re: Re: Let's face the facts . .

[Guest guest]

Hi - your situation sounds similar to mine. A long term goiter. I just

had a bioposy to make sure it is noncancerous. But I also had a lot of fluid

removed to reduce the size. And I intend to do that a few times a years.

I'm wondering if aspirating it is an option for you, as long as you have ruled

out cancer as the cause of the increase in size.

Sandy

[Guest guest]

I take 5 mg. 6 days a week. But for many years I took nothing. According

to my endo., as long as I'm taking meds. my thyroid is functioning normally

and I don't need to worry about heart damage or any other problem that an

untreated hypert patient might have. He has patients that have been on Tapazole

for

20 years with no problems.

I should add that my goiter is alot of fluid so that's why aspirating is an

option of sorts to reduce the size for me. This endo. is more understanding

that most drs.

I briefly used an endo. that insisted on having it removed or using RAI.

When I didn't call to make an appt. for surgery or RAI, he wrote my primary and

cc'd me that I was being resistant to the idea of these options. I ripped up

the letter, it felt good.

The dr. I just mentioned above put me on a beta blocker also. I stayed on it

for a few months. From what I'm reading, it's the latest theraphy to put

patients on beta blockers until the ATM kicks in.

Hyperthyroid disease is no joke, I can see as I get older. For years because

the drs. downplayed it as far as treatment, I did also. The heart damage can

be serious.

Sandy

[Guest guest]

have you tried antithyroid meds? You said that w/o surgery the goiter

would grow. I think antithyroid medication could stop the growth. My endo.

said that goiters often shrink when on medication. Mine has shrunk abit as a

result of having it aspirated, I'm just noticing the difference in my skin in

that area this week. There's more skin there now.

Sandy

[Guest guest]

I questioned my endo. about how long can you be on antithyroid meds. and he

basically said indefinitely. He said he has a few patients that have opted to

go the route I'm taking and have been on Tapzole for 20 years with no problem.

I told him that another endo. that wanted me to choose RAI or surgery told me

it was only for short term use. I asked him why the other endo. would of

said that, and he said he didn't know why. He said that as long as it helps my

symptoms, gets my values in the normal range and I don't experience liver

problems or other side effects, I can stay on it forever.

I don't think I saw a reduction in size with meds. either. The aspirating

did make a difference. But not a real significant one. You would still notice

my goiter immediately upon meeting me. But my endo. said many patients do see

a reduction with Tapazole. But again, probably not a major reduction. I

should think it would happen within a few months if it was going to make a

difference in size.

Sandy

[Guest guest]

To answer your question about how long I've been on Tapazole. I started on

it back in 97, I think it was. I took it for awhile and then started self

medicating with it. My endo. had put me on a maintenance dose of three times a

week. Over the next several years I took it depending on my stress level. This

was not advise from the dr., just what I decided to do. I found it did bring

down the stress level like when my mother was dying from cancer. I was

taking it like candy during that period. I stopped taking it for a while. And

a

year ago I became very hyper, insomnia and weight lose, I now think from taking

Contact. I typically have a hyper reaction to Contact but that was the most

severe.

The endo. I was sent to decided to use my hyper stage to force me into a

quick decision for RAI or surgery. Never put me on Tapazole. Only gave me a

beta

blocker to protect my heart, but I think intentionally keep me in a hyper

stage. I was miserable. What he didn't realize is I've lived with this disease

for some long, I'm not a rookie with knowledge about it or dealing with it.

I finally paid out of pocket to go back to my old endo and he put me on

Tapazole.

Sandy

[Guest guest]

yes a familiy dr. can monitor blood levels and prescribe meds.. Some feel

comfortable doing this, some don't. I got caught up in an HMO nightmare. I've

had two different primaries that were comfortable treating my hyperthyroid

disease. My current primary is not so I am using my old endo who is not in my

HMO. yes a smaller goiter should remedy the swallowing and voice problems if

that's what the cause is. It is typcially the cause of those symptoms.

Call your family dr. and find out.

Sandy

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I think the group knowledge and experience is excellent. But it is not my only

source

of information by any means. I get a lot of information from searching on the

web and

also I borrow books from the library and read. I am developing my skills in

reading

formal treatises online - making sense out of the garble...And I talk to people

and

listen to what they have to say.

K

[Guest guest]

Here's three books I have that have been very informative and helpful.

Your Thyroid a Home Reference by Lawrence C. Wood, MD, S. , MD

and E. Chester Ridgway, MD.

The Thyroid Solution by Ridha Arem, MD

Graves' Disease A Practical Guide by Elaine and

Eventhough I don't have graves' disease this book was informative.

Sandy

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/11/2003 9:38:14 AM Central Standard Time,

SandyC7606@... writes:

Here's three books I have that have been very informative and helpful.

Your Thyroid a Home Reference by Lawrence C. Wood, MD, S. , MD

and E. Chester Ridgway, MD.

The Thyroid Solution by Ridha Arem, MD

Graves' Disease A Practical Guide by Elaine and

Eventhough I don't have graves' disease this book was informative.

Sandy

Don't buy Healing Options: A Report on Graves' Disease Treatments by Kate

Flax.

This book was a BIG disappointment. To say was vague is an understament. It

didn't tell me anything about what vitamins to take, what kinda diet who be

helpful or juice fresh would be help. You can find all the info on the web with

ease.

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