Re: Lab results/med change/ HoustonCFIDS Doc

[Guest guest]

Jan and ,

Sorry to have asked an important question and not been able to follow up sooner. Praise the Lord, I'm coming out of a severe 2 1/2 month physical and mental fog. No overt infection, but when the doc suggested I go on Levaquin 500 mg for 14 days I sensed it was the right thing to do (have not been on any antibiotic for over 4 years and wanted to keep it that way ! ) But about 4 days on the Levoquin there was a tremendous change with easier breathing, movement and thinking.....must be a CFIDS 'thing'. Anyway I'm thankful for that and for the Yahoo archives where I searched and found your helpful responses as well as the good news of the miraculous Yahoo quadruplet births !...and a good laugh. THANKS........

Re: Houston CFIDS Doc Dr Salvato She is not perfect, but did diagnose this mess (after 15 years and many, many docs had not), has addressed every need I have voiced and really listens with an open mind, and was instrumental in getting the appropriate testing to prove disability to SS and private LTD (long term disability insurance). Not a good leader with the thyroid/adrenal stuff but has worked with the info and understanding I already had to help me feel and function better in spite of the worsening CFIDS. She is open to running the appropriate thyroid labs when you request and to med changes according to how the patient looks and feels ...as opposed to a labs only approach. My life is better for her medical care and caring attitude. The office help can take some prayerful getting used to, but they have to deal with me and worse every day and come back for more. She has a stable office crew (same folks for the 21

months I've been her patient and some real jewels among them). She responds very well to lists of questions and written requests handed to her at my office visits...but have to be careful that the office help follows up on each one before you get ushered out the door as they tend to overlook things sometimes. When I had no insurance for a year, she reduced the office visit rate at my request (this really threw her helpers in a tizzy each visit cause apparently this is not a usual thing). Again she is not perfect, but has been the most helpful physician over a period of time that I have encountered in the last 25 years.

..

Re: Med change. I've changed from 2 1/2 gr dessicated thyroid and 12.5 mcg Cytomel to 3 gr dessicated thyroid for almost a month and it seems to be a little better. Do I need more labs or maybe try another 1/2 gr dessicated ?

Re:Labs

HGB 13.4 (12-16)

HCT 40.8 (38-47)

MCV 98.1 fL ( 82.0-100)

MCHC 32.8 g/dL ( 31.0-36)

R? 13.2 (11.6-16.5)

PLT 256 (150-375)

MPV 9.5 (7.4-11)

NE% 64.9 (42.2-75.2)

LY% 31.7 (20.5-51.1)

Sed Rate 6 mm/hr (0-20)

Chemistries

Sodium 139 (135-150)

Potassium 4.3 (3.5-5.0)

Chloride 99 (95-110)

CO2 30 (22-32)

Glucose 78 (65-110)

BUN 15 (5-27)

Creatinine 0.9 (0.4-1.6)

Calcium 8.4 (8.4-10.2)

Total Bili 0.4 (0.0-1.0)

Total Protein 6.6 (6.4-8.2)

Albumin 3.7 (3.4-5.0)

ALK. Phos 86 (50-136)

AST (SGOT) 42 (15-37)

ALT (SGPT) 45 (30-65)

Anioin gap 10 (5-20)

With CFIDS the liver enzymes can become elevated as mine have over the last two years (from a very normal mid range SGOT earlier). No overt nor positive testing for any liver disease. I'm on multiple nutritional and antioxidant supplementation as recommended by the doc (surprising but refreshing) and by my own explorations. Also I've had the assistance of a friend who has owned a health food store in Houston for many years (and has been a godsend in this area). Includes calcium at 1200-1500 mg/day, mg at 400-800 mg/day (has really helped the pain), potassium 99 mg 2 tabs several times a day to help with muscle spasms and cramping in legs. I do as much fresh food as able, but since it must be organic and I only get to shop organic about once a month I know that is a defecit area. About 99% of the liquid I drink is the highly filtered RO water from Whole Foods placed in glass 5 gallon jugs. Open to

suggestions........

Re: Armour thyroid. Does anyone have a listing of ALL the fillers in Armour, etc ? And is there anyone with really, really severe allergies who is able to tolerate Armour's fillers? Anyone who has had a reaction to Armour?

Think that's it for now. Thanks for wading through all this to the end. All suggestions and comments welcomed. Blessings to all my fellow Texas Thyroid Support Group compadres, a in Palacios

[Guest guest]

Jan and ,

Sorry to have asked an important question and not been able to follow up sooner. Praise the Lord, I'm coming out of a severe 2 1/2 month physical and mental fog. No overt infection, but when the doc suggested I go on Levaquin 500 mg for 14 days I sensed it was the right thing to do (have not been on any antibiotic for over 4 years and wanted to keep it that way ! ) But about 4 days on the Levoquin there was a tremendous change with easier breathing, movement and thinking.....must be a CFIDS 'thing'. Anyway I'm thankful for that and for the Yahoo archives where I searched and found your helpful responses as well as the good news of the miraculous Yahoo quadruplet births !...and a good laugh. THANKS........

Re: Houston CFIDS Doc Dr Salvato She is not perfect, but did diagnose this mess (after 15 years and many, many docs had not), has addressed every need I have voiced and really listens with an open mind, and was instrumental in getting the appropriate testing to prove disability to SS and private LTD (long term disability insurance). Not a good leader with the thyroid/adrenal stuff but has worked with the info and understanding I already had to help me feel and function better in spite of the worsening CFIDS. She is open to running the appropriate thyroid labs when you request and to med changes according to how the patient looks and feels ...as opposed to a labs only approach. My life is better for her medical care and caring attitude. The office help can take some prayerful getting used to, but they have to deal with me and worse every day and come back for more. She has a stable office crew (same folks for the 21

months I've been her patient and some real jewels among them). She responds very well to lists of questions and written requests handed to her at my office visits...but have to be careful that the office help follows up on each one before you get ushered out the door as they tend to overlook things sometimes. When I had no insurance for a year, she reduced the office visit rate at my request (this really threw her helpers in a tizzy each visit cause apparently this is not a usual thing). Again she is not perfect, but has been the most helpful physician over a period of time that I have encountered in the last 25 years.

..

Re: Med change. I've changed from 2 1/2 gr dessicated thyroid and 12.5 mcg Cytomel to 3 gr dessicated thyroid for almost a month and it seems to be a little better. Do I need more labs or maybe try another 1/2 gr dessicated ?

Re:Labs

HGB 13.4 (12-16)

HCT 40.8 (38-47)

MCV 98.1 fL ( 82.0-100)

MCHC 32.8 g/dL ( 31.0-36)

R? 13.2 (11.6-16.5)

PLT 256 (150-375)

MPV 9.5 (7.4-11)

NE% 64.9 (42.2-75.2)

LY% 31.7 (20.5-51.1)

Sed Rate 6 mm/hr (0-20)

Chemistries

Sodium 139 (135-150)

Potassium 4.3 (3.5-5.0)

Chloride 99 (95-110)

CO2 30 (22-32)

Glucose 78 (65-110)

BUN 15 (5-27)

Creatinine 0.9 (0.4-1.6)

Calcium 8.4 (8.4-10.2)

Total Bili 0.4 (0.0-1.0)

Total Protein 6.6 (6.4-8.2)

Albumin 3.7 (3.4-5.0)

ALK. Phos 86 (50-136)

AST (SGOT) 42 (15-37)

ALT (SGPT) 45 (30-65)

Anioin gap 10 (5-20)

With CFIDS the liver enzymes can become elevated as mine have over the last two years (from a very normal mid range SGOT earlier). No overt nor positive testing for any liver disease. I'm on multiple nutritional and antioxidant supplementation as recommended by the doc (surprising but refreshing) and by my own explorations. Also I've had the assistance of a friend who has owned a health food store in Houston for many years (and has been a godsend in this area). Includes calcium at 1200-1500 mg/day, mg at 400-800 mg/day (has really helped the pain), potassium 99 mg 2 tabs several times a day to help with muscle spasms and cramping in legs. I do as much fresh food as able, but since it must be organic and I only get to shop organic about once a month I know that is a defecit area. About 99% of the liquid I drink is the highly filtered RO water from Whole Foods placed in glass 5 gallon jugs. Open to

suggestions........

Re: Armour thyroid. Does anyone have a listing of ALL the fillers in Armour, etc ? And is there anyone with really, really severe allergies who is able to tolerate Armour's fillers? Anyone who has had a reaction to Armour?

Think that's it for now. Thanks for wading through all this to the end. All suggestions and comments welcomed. Blessings to all my fellow Texas Thyroid Support Group compadres, a in Palacios

[Guest guest]

Jan and ,

Sorry to have asked an important question and not been able to follow up sooner. Praise the Lord, I'm coming out of a severe 2 1/2 month physical and mental fog. No overt infection, but when the doc suggested I go on Levaquin 500 mg for 14 days I sensed it was the right thing to do (have not been on any antibiotic for over 4 years and wanted to keep it that way ! ) But about 4 days on the Levoquin there was a tremendous change with easier breathing, movement and thinking.....must be a CFIDS 'thing'. Anyway I'm thankful for that and for the Yahoo archives where I searched and found your helpful responses as well as the good news of the miraculous Yahoo quadruplet births !...and a good laugh. THANKS........

Re: Houston CFIDS Doc Dr Salvato She is not perfect, but did diagnose this mess (after 15 years and many, many docs had not), has addressed every need I have voiced and really listens with an open mind, and was instrumental in getting the appropriate testing to prove disability to SS and private LTD (long term disability insurance). Not a good leader with the thyroid/adrenal stuff but has worked with the info and understanding I already had to help me feel and function better in spite of the worsening CFIDS. She is open to running the appropriate thyroid labs when you request and to med changes according to how the patient looks and feels ...as opposed to a labs only approach. My life is better for her medical care and caring attitude. The office help can take some prayerful getting used to, but they have to deal with me and worse every day and come back for more. She has a stable office crew (same folks for the 21

months I've been her patient and some real jewels among them). She responds very well to lists of questions and written requests handed to her at my office visits...but have to be careful that the office help follows up on each one before you get ushered out the door as they tend to overlook things sometimes. When I had no insurance for a year, she reduced the office visit rate at my request (this really threw her helpers in a tizzy each visit cause apparently this is not a usual thing). Again she is not perfect, but has been the most helpful physician over a period of time that I have encountered in the last 25 years.

..

Re: Med change. I've changed from 2 1/2 gr dessicated thyroid and 12.5 mcg Cytomel to 3 gr dessicated thyroid for almost a month and it seems to be a little better. Do I need more labs or maybe try another 1/2 gr dessicated ?

Re:Labs

HGB 13.4 (12-16)

HCT 40.8 (38-47)

MCV 98.1 fL ( 82.0-100)

MCHC 32.8 g/dL ( 31.0-36)

R? 13.2 (11.6-16.5)

PLT 256 (150-375)

MPV 9.5 (7.4-11)

NE% 64.9 (42.2-75.2)

LY% 31.7 (20.5-51.1)

Sed Rate 6 mm/hr (0-20)

Chemistries

Sodium 139 (135-150)

Potassium 4.3 (3.5-5.0)

Chloride 99 (95-110)

CO2 30 (22-32)

Glucose 78 (65-110)

BUN 15 (5-27)

Creatinine 0.9 (0.4-1.6)

Calcium 8.4 (8.4-10.2)

Total Bili 0.4 (0.0-1.0)

Total Protein 6.6 (6.4-8.2)

Albumin 3.7 (3.4-5.0)

ALK. Phos 86 (50-136)

AST (SGOT) 42 (15-37)

ALT (SGPT) 45 (30-65)

Anioin gap 10 (5-20)

With CFIDS the liver enzymes can become elevated as mine have over the last two years (from a very normal mid range SGOT earlier). No overt nor positive testing for any liver disease. I'm on multiple nutritional and antioxidant supplementation as recommended by the doc (surprising but refreshing) and by my own explorations. Also I've had the assistance of a friend who has owned a health food store in Houston for many years (and has been a godsend in this area). Includes calcium at 1200-1500 mg/day, mg at 400-800 mg/day (has really helped the pain), potassium 99 mg 2 tabs several times a day to help with muscle spasms and cramping in legs. I do as much fresh food as able, but since it must be organic and I only get to shop organic about once a month I know that is a defecit area. About 99% of the liquid I drink is the highly filtered RO water from Whole Foods placed in glass 5 gallon jugs. Open to

suggestions........

Re: Armour thyroid. Does anyone have a listing of ALL the fillers in Armour, etc ? And is there anyone with really, really severe allergies who is able to tolerate Armour's fillers? Anyone who has had a reaction to Armour?

Think that's it for now. Thanks for wading through all this to the end. All suggestions and comments welcomed. Blessings to all my fellow Texas Thyroid Support Group compadres, a in Palacios