Re: Today's the big day!!!

[Guest guest]

Karrel, regardless of the low TSH, what were your Free levels, with the normal lab ranges? This shows much more than the TSH. All the TSH shows is that your thyroid isn't being stimulated to create more thyroid hormone. Unless your thyroid is "over-creating" on it's own, then the TSH is worthless. If you are hypothyroid and having to supplement with other hormone, it is the Frees that count the most.

Tx

Re: Today's the big day!!!

Hi everyone,

Well yesterday turned out great! I really really like this Dr. He took a lot of time with me and did not make me feel hurried at all. He asked me questions that no other dr. has asked me before regarding the cancer.

He asked me how I felt and really listened when I told him.

Thank you Jan for the outline on the questions I needed to ask him and the info I needed to bring with me. He really seemed to be impressed and it seemed to really help him to just look at that and then go into answering and asking me questions. He had me take him through my history starting from when the nodule was found to date.

The blood work he ordered was TSH, Thyroglobulin, Free T3, and Free T4. I didn't have to say a word about the Free T3 or 4, that was automatic.

Well I am kinda at a loss for what to tell next, if anyone has anything they want to ask please help me out here.

He did tell me that he thinks I am getting to much Levoxyl, because of what I told him on how I feel, and instead of my numbers being 0.1 for TSH he would like to see them a tad bit higher. He said that if he were worried about cancer that he would leave it lower but if I continue to be so low that it would cause problems. He does want me to have a bone density test done.

Everyone in the office was very nice and helpful. I think this guy is a keeper:o)

Thanks again for the support.

Karrel

[Guest guest]

,

I don't have a thyroid.

Thanks

Karrel wrote:

Karrel, regardless of the low TSH, what were your Free levels, with the normal lab ranges? This shows much more than the TSH. All the TSH shows is that your thyroid isn't being stimulated to create more thyroid hormone. Unless your thyroid is "over-creating" on it's own, then the TSH is worthless. If you are hypothyroid and having to supplement with other hormone, it is the Frees that count the most.

Tx

Re: Today's the big day!!!

Hi everyone,

Well yesterday turned out great! I really really like this Dr. He took a lot of time with me and did not make me feel hurried at all. He asked me questions that no other dr. has asked me before regarding the cancer.

He asked me how I felt and really listened when I told him.

Thank you Jan for the outline on the questions I needed to ask him and the info I needed to bring with me. He really seemed to be impressed and it seemed to really help him to just look at that and then go into answering and asking me questions. He had me take him through my history starting from when the nodule was found to date.

The blood work he ordered was TSH, Thyroglobulin, Free T3, and Free T4. I didn't have to say a word about the Free T3 or 4, that was automatic.

Well I am kinda at a loss for what to tell next, if anyone has anything they want to ask please help me out here.

He did tell me that he thinks I am getting to much Levoxyl, because of what I told him on how I feel, and instead of my numbers being 0.1 for TSH he would like to see them a tad bit higher. He said that if he were worried about cancer that he would leave it lower but if I continue to be so low that it would cause problems. He does want me to have a bone density test done.

Everyone in the office was very nice and helpful. I think this guy is a keeper:o)

Thanks again for the support.

Karrel

[Guest guest]

Then the TSH counts even less because there's nothing there to stimulate to MAKE more hormone. Think about it.

Tx

Re: Today's the big day!!!

,

I don't have a thyroid.

Thanks

Karrel wrote:

Karrel, regardless of the low TSH, what were your Free levels, with the normal lab ranges? This shows much more than the TSH. All the TSH shows is that your thyroid isn't being stimulated to create more thyroid hormone. Unless your thyroid is "over-creating" on it's own, then the TSH is worthless. If you are hypothyroid and having to supplement with other hormone, it is the Frees that count the most.

Tx

[Guest guest]

It makes ME nervous because I've not had a scan or ultrasound on my thyroid since the first yr that I was diagnosed, and am unable to do so at this time. With all the swelling I've had in the thing, I've often wondered, in these past several months or so.....???....I just want it to go away, but I'm not going to drive myself insane wondering about it. Money is the main factor with me, but, when I did have the insurance and money, poor decisions were made for me, concerning my thyroid. All that wasted money, etc...Makes me mad still!

Tx

Re: Today's the big day!!!

I don't have much time right now. But I read the chapter of Thyroid Manager on thyroid cancer. They do speak of greater and lesser degrees of suppression, but I kept seeing the word "metastases" in relation to differentiated thyroid cancer (papillary and follicular). That made me nervous, so I did some further searching.

There is a choice as to the degree of suppression that is suitable for any individual at any particular time, but I think those choices should be presented to the patient, and the decisions made together with the patient.

The argument for lesser degrees of suppression is statistical. In other words, it is a crapshoot. What if I am one of the 5% (this is not an exact figure) who will get metastases with lesser degrees of suppression? Do I want to take that chance? Do I want the doctor to make that decision for me?