Re: Re: Elaine ...lab results

[Guest guest]

Hi Kim,

You're right. I looked at the thyroid peroxidase ab results too quickly. And

the fact that your levels are going down is indicative of remission. The

normal FT4 is usually around 0.8-1.5 so your 1.0 is on the low side of

normal. So it's OK but you wouldn't want it any lower. In fact, some docs

like to keep us formerly hyper patients on the higher end of the normal

range. Otherwise our bodies recognize the change from hyper down to low

normal as hypoT.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/2/01 9:49:48 AM Central Daylight Time, daisyelaine@... writes:

Subj: Re: Re: Elaine ...lab results

Date: 6/2/01 9:49:48 AM Central Daylight Time

From: daisyelaine@...

Reply-to: hyperthyroidism

hyperthyroidism

Hi Kim,

You're right. I looked at the thyroid peroxidase ab results too quickly. And the fact that your levels are going down is indicative of remission. The normal FT4 is usually around 0.8-1.5 so your 1.0 is on the low side of normal. So it's OK but you wouldn't want it any lower. In fact, some docs like to keep us formerly hyper patients on the higher end of the normal range. Otherwise our bodies recognize the change from hyper down to low normal as hypoT.

Would you take the 15 mg. of Tap instead of 12? I couldn't have a thyroid storm on a little low could I ( 12.5)? Wonder if drinking juice only would make me lose weight? thanks Kim

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/2/01 11:46:24 AM Central Daylight Time, tarbi@... writes:

Subj: Re: Re: Elaine ...lab results

Date: 6/2/01 11:46:24 AM Central Daylight Time

From: tarbi@... (Zoey)

Reply-to: hyperthyroidism

hyperthyroidism

Hi Kim,

I found that I seem to feel best with my FT4 somewhere between 1.5 and 1.7 (upper range 1.8 or 2.0). Anything below 1.5 and I feel all washed out and non functional. I must emphasize that that's what has been working for me. It may be different for you and others. I've been off meds for at least 6 months and doing fine. When I was taking tapazole, I kept reducing the dose by 2.5 mgs a week until my FT4 got to the upper range. At the end, I was taking 1.25 mgs of Tapazole a day (that's 1/4 of a 5 mg tablet) before stopping completely. So - probably no harm to keep your dose at 12.5 and maybe gradually a tad lower. Check it out with your doctor and see what you can work out. I hope you are doing well. Good luck and best wishes, Zoey

Zoey, so the lower the Tapazole is the higher your FT4 goes? thanks Kim

[Guest guest]

Hi Kim,

I found that I seem to feel best with my FT4 somewhere between 1.5 and 1.7 (upper range 1.8 or 2.0). Anything below 1.5 and I feel all washed out and non functional. I must emphasize that that's what has been working for me. It may be different for you and others. I've been off meds for at least 6 months and doing fine. When I was taking tapazole, I kept reducing the dose by 2.5 mgs a week until my FT4 got to the upper range. At the end, I was taking 1.25 mgs of Tapazole a day (that's 1/4 of a 5 mg tablet) before stopping completely. So - probably no harm to keep your dose at 12.5 and maybe gradually a tad lower. Check it out with your doctor and see what you can work out. I hope you are doing well. Good luck and best wishes, Zoey

Re: Re: Elaine ...lab results

In a message dated 6/2/01 9:49:48 AM Central Daylight Time, daisyelaine@... writes:

Subj: Re: Re: Elaine ...lab results Date: 6/2/01 9:49:48 AM Central Daylight Time From: daisyelaine@... Reply-to: hyperthyroidism hyperthyroidism Hi Kim, You're right. I looked at the thyroid peroxidase ab results too quickly. And the fact that your levels are going down is indicative of remission. The normal FT4 is usually around 0.8-1.5 so your 1.0 is on the low side of normal. So it's OK but you wouldn't want it any lower. In fact, some docs like to keep us formerly hyper patients on the higher end of the normal range. Otherwise our bodies recognize the change from hyper down to low normal as hypoT. Would you take the 15 mg. of Tap instead of 12? I couldn't have a thyroid storm on a little low could I ( 12.5)? Wonder if drinking juice only would make me lose weight? thanks Kim

[Guest guest]

Kim,

Yes, Tapazole and other ATDs lower FT4 and thereby make us less HyperT. Unfortunately as I and many others have discovered, it is easy to take too much Tapazole and become Hypo. For me, the worst part of this Thyroid mess were the 2 or so months I spent being Hypo. During that time I gained lots of weight, my metabolism practically stopped, I felt like a zombie, and began losing hair, Hypo for me, was the lower end of the normal range. It sounds like you're moving in the right direction. Best of luck, Zoey

Re: Re: Elaine ...lab results

In a message dated 6/2/01 11:46:24 AM Central Daylight Time, tarbi@... writes:

Subj: Re: Re: Elaine ...lab results Date: 6/2/01 11:46:24 AM Central Daylight Time From: tarbi@... (Zoey) Reply-to: hyperthyroidism hyperthyroidism Hi Kim, I found that I seem to feel best with my FT4 somewhere between 1.5 and 1.7 (upper range 1.8 or 2.0). Anything below 1.5 and I feel all washed out and non functional. I must emphasize that that's what has been working for me. It may be different for you and others. I've been off meds for at least 6 months and doing fine. When I was taking tapazole, I kept reducing the dose by 2.5 mgs a week until my FT4 got to the upper range. At the end, I was taking 1.25 mgs of Tapazole a day (that's 1/4 of a 5 mg tablet) before stopping completely. So - probably no harm to keep your dose at 12.5 and maybe gradually a tad lower. Check it out with your doctor and see what you can work out. I hope you are doing well. Good luck and best wishes, Zoey Zoey, so the lower the Tapazole is the higher your FT4 goes? thanks Kim

[Guest guest]

Dear Zoey,

What I would love to know from you, is have you lost the weight you mention

you gained whilst hypo.

I remember you making your own adjustments to your medication - I was in

England then and they were still toying around with the idea that I could

not take ATDs because I had a supressed neutrophil count. Turned out I'd

had a supressed neutrophil count from way before I was even diagnosed hyperT

so at my insistence they put me back on them.

When I came back to Australia, the endo was impatient and whacked me on the

highest possible dose of Carbimazole for some months. I have gained THREE

STONE (14lbs in a stone, so that's 42lbs between Christmas day and mid

March) My blood tests are nearly normal, though they are still marginally

hypo.

I keep swinging between rationalising that being fat is really the least of

my worries, and then thinking NO! I can't bear this!!! My endo sent me to

see a nutritionist - I find them both so patronising and unhelpful, they are

both skinny women and this just doesn't help things; even though they should

know better, it feels so much like they just think I eat too much and that

is why I am fat.

The nutritionis wants to see me again in 5 weeks time, when I have kept a

diary of everything I eat every day so I can show her where I am going

wrong. I am supposed to count fat units in everything I eat and make sure I

dont' go above a certain number. I cannot bear this approach and from a

long ago read thing on iThyroid, seem to remember that the low fat approach

to nutrition and diet might be one of the causes of hyperT in the first

place. Until recently I was exercising every day. I have stopped for two

weeks now. There seems to be no relationship between what I eat / how I

exercise and the weight I gain. Without exercise, my weight has sort of

stableised - go figure.

The nutritionist won't SAY how long she imagines it might take me to shift

this weight off - I asked her if the fact that it went on so quickly might

give me some hope that it's going to come off fairly quick, but you just

KNOW she wants you to loose a pound a week for the next five years and be

satisfied with that!

Sorry to whinge,and really glad that you have had such a success story with

your bloodt tests, but I am REALLY curious about what happened with your

weight since stopping ATDs and would love to know if you got tested for

antibodies and whether these too are normal for you now?

CHEERS

DAWN ROSE

>From: " Zoey " <tarbi@...>

>Reply-hyperthyroidism

><hyperthyroidism >

>Subject: Re: Re: Elaine ...lab results

>Date: Sat, 2 Jun 2001 11:58:06 -0700

>

>Kim,

>

>Yes, Tapazole and other ATDs lower FT4 and thereby make us less HyperT.

>Unfortunately as I and many others have discovered, it is easy to take too

>much Tapazole and become Hypo. For me, the worst part of this Thyroid

>mess were the 2 or so months I spent being Hypo. During that time I gained

>lots of weight, my metabolism practically stopped, I felt like a zombie,

>and began losing hair, Hypo for me, was the lower end of the normal range.

> It sounds like you're moving in the right direction. Best of luck,

>Zoey

> Re: Re: Elaine ...lab results

>

>

> In a message dated 6/2/01 11:46:24 AM Central Daylight Time,

>tarbi@...

> writes:

>

>

>

> Subj: Re: Re: Elaine ...lab results

> Date: 6/2/01 11:46:24 AM Central Daylight Time

> From: tarbi@... (Zoey)

> Reply-to: hyperthyroidism

> hyperthyroidism

>

>

>

>

> Hi Kim,

>

> I found that I seem to feel best with my FT4 somewhere between 1.5 and

>1.7

> (upper range 1.8 or 2.0). Anything below 1.5 and I feel all washed

>out and

> non functional. I must emphasize that that's what has been working

>for me.

> It may be different for you and others. I've been off meds for at

>least 6

> months and doing fine. When I was taking tapazole, I kept reducing

>the

> dose by 2.5 mgs a week until my FT4 got to the upper range. At the

>end, I

> was taking 1.25 mgs of Tapazole a day (that's 1/4 of a 5 mg tablet)

>before

> stopping completely. So - probably no harm to keep your dose at 12.5

>and

> maybe gradually a tad lower. Check it out with your doctor and see

>what you

> can work out. I hope you are doing well. Good luck and best

> wishes, Zoey

>

>

>

> Zoey, so the lower the Tapazole is the higher your FT4 goes? thanks

>Kim

>

[Guest guest]

Dawn Rose, I can't BELIEVE your doctor thinks it's alright for you to have gained that much weight so quickly! For Pete's sake, it's got to be the Carbimazole, right? Is all that really necessary?

Donna

http://trak.to/lifewww.reliv.comTake control of your health!

Re: Re: Elaine ...lab results>>> In a message dated 6/2/01 11:46:24 AM Central Daylight Time, >tarbi@...> writes:>>>> Subj: Re: Re: Elaine ...lab results> Date: 6/2/01 11:46:24 AM Central Daylight Time> From: tarbi@... (Zoey)> Reply-to: hyperthyroidism > hyperthyroidism >>>>> Hi Kim,>> I found that I seem to feel best with my FT4 somewhere between 1.5 and >1.7> (upper range 1.8 or 2.0). Anything below 1.5 and I feel all washed >out and> non functional. I must emphasize that that's what has been working >for me.> It may be different for you and others. I've been off meds for at >least 6> months and doing fine. When I was taking tapazole, I kept reducing >the> dose by 2.5 mgs a week until my FT4 got to the upper range. At the >end, I> was taking 1.25 mgs of Tapazole a day (that's 1/4 of a 5 mg tablet) >before> stopping completely. So - probably no harm to keep your dose at 12.5 >and> maybe gradually a tad lower. Check it out with your doctor and see >what you> can work out. I hope you are doing well. Good luck and best> wishes, Zoey>>>> Zoey, so the lower the Tapazole is the higher your FT4 goes? thanks >Kim>

[Guest guest]

Hi Dawn and others, too,

The good news is I have lost the weight I gained while on Tapazole without changing my diet or trying to lose weight. The tapazole slowed down my thyroid and metabolism so much I felt like a zombie and was so lethargic. I seemed to be gaining weight while eating practically nothing. I understand totally what you are going through. What helped turn things around for me was finding some old, pre-HyperT bloodwork which had my FT4 at 1.7. I knew I had to get my levels back to where they used to be in order to feel good again. I shared this info with my endo docs and very gradually began reducing my tapazole dose. I think ATDs are crucial in getting HyperT under control. I also think it's important that we don't let ourselves get too Hypo in the process. I hope this helps. With all my best, Zoey

Re: Re: Elaine ...lab results>>> In a message dated 6/2/01 11:46:24 AM Central Daylight Time, >tarbi@...> writes:>>>> Subj: Re: Re: Elaine ...lab results> Date: 6/2/01 11:46:24 AM Central Daylight Time> From: tarbi@... (Zoey)> Reply-to: hyperthyroidism > hyperthyroidism >>>>> Hi Kim,>> I found that I seem to feel best with my FT4 somewhere between 1.5 and >1.7> (upper range 1.8 or 2.0). Anything below 1.5 and I feel all washed >out and> non functional. I must emphasize that that's what has been working >for me.> It may be different for you and others. I've been off meds for at >least 6> months and doing fine. When I was taking tapazole, I kept reducing >the> dose by 2.5 mgs a week until my FT4 got to the upper range. At the >end, I> was taking 1.25 mgs of Tapazole a day (that's 1/4 of a 5 mg tablet) >before> stopping completely. So - probably no harm to keep your dose at 12.5 >and> maybe gradually a tad lower. Check it out with your doctor and see >what you> can work out. I hope you are doing well. Good luck and best> wishes, Zoey>>>> Zoey, so the lower the Tapazole is the higher your FT4 goes? thanks >Kim>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/3/01 12:41:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time, tarbi@... writes:

I think ATDs are crucial in getting HyperT under control. I also think it's important that we don't let ourselves get too Hypo in the process. I hope this helps. With all my best,

Dear All,

What Zoey is saying is the same thing I did when I was on meds--not let myself get too hypo, just decreasing my dose when I felt myself gaining weight. When I went through Graves, this board had not yet been started, so I knew nothing about FT3 or FT4 or whatever it is all you discuss (I still don't have a clue about what these numbers mean). All I knew is that I REFUSED to get fat or be hypo, so as soon as I started to feel this way, I'd decrease the dose. I would ask the doctor to check my blood, but he would tell me only if I was going hypo or not--I never knew anything more exact than that. However, I was cured in about 3 months. Maybe all those numbers are too confusing--some of them might have lag time, so you all might be getting hypo and the numbers or test results are not reflecting that yet. I went by common sense, by how I felt. I wonder if all these numbers are confusing what could be a simple process.

AntJoan