RE: Which doctor's protocol? Advice?

[Guest guest]

I would fire them both and find a new doc. Neither one of these turkeys will give you what you need. Take a look at our list in "Files" on our site. (Dr. Levy still appears on the list, but will be gone with the next update.) Katy Deschenes wrote: I really hope a few of you can tell me what you would personally do in this situation. I currently take 1 Grain Armour and 50mcg Levoxythyrine. I started having problems after my last blood test and I’ve posted those results. I’ll paste them again below. I have two doctors that want to take totally different tactics for helping the problem and would love advice on what you would do as I have to make a decision which Dr. to go with. I took synthroid alone years ago and felt terrible. I took armour alone for a long time and felt great. Last year, I was feeling like I needed more meds and my doctor didn’t like my t3 to t4 ratio so added just the tiniest

bit of levoxythyrine several months ago and didn’t notice any problems. Lately, I’ve had sweating, racing heart rate, very high pulse, and waking up at night with a racing heart rate. Dr. Levy – Wants me to cut out the levoxythyrine and keep taking the 1Gr Armour for a month then do blood work. He did warn me, however that he likes to keep TSH close to 2. Dr. Herpin – Wants me to cut out the armour and take

levoxythyrine 100mcg for a month and then do bloodwork. She doesn’t dwell on my tsh, but I don’t know how I’ll feel on only t4 and how open she’ll be to adding armour back in if I want it. What would you do?? I’m so confused L I have to say that I am so glad to have found a group like this!!! Take Care, Katy Deschenes Blood test 01/13 Free T4 (thyroxine) 1.01 NG/DL (.73-1.95) TSH .5 UIU/ML (.3 – 5.1) Free T3 2.6 PG/ML (2.3-4.2)

Relax. Yahoo! Mail virus scanning helps detect nasty viruses!

[Guest guest]

Just an opinion on Dr. Herpin. I really like that she orders free

t3 and free t4. But when it comes to the TSH,

I know for a fact that she is very concerned about a suppressed

TSH. It looks like you are very close to that,

so she may be worried that you may go below that.

In my opinion again----she does not have the experience with the

combination of T4 and T3 drugs. When I

went in with the combination, she and her staff were very surprised that

I was on two different drugs. I don't think

she has the know how to really advise on what you should or shouldn't

do. I had to beg her to keep me on, only to

get the correct tests, and while I was transitioning between two

different Endo's.

She said that my case was too complex for her to do. FYI

Lynn

Dr. Herpin – Wants me to cut

out the armour and take levoxythyrine 100mcg for a month and then do

bloodwork. She doesn’t dwell on my tsh, but I don’t know how I’ll

feel on only t4 and how open she’ll be to adding armour back in if I want

it.

What would you do?? I’m so confused

L

I

[Guest guest]

Funny - I thought the same thing.

> v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:*

{behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}

..shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} I really hope a

few of you can tell me what you would personally do in this situation.

I currently take 1 Grain Armour and 50mcg Levoxythyrine. I started

having problems after my last blood test and I've posted those

results. I'll paste them again below. I have two doctors that want

to take totally different tactics for helping the problem and would

love advice on what you would do as I have to make a decision which

Dr. to go with. I took synthroid alone years ago and felt terrible.

I took armour alone for a long time and felt great. Last year, I was

feeling like I needed more meds and my doctor didn't like my t3 to t4

ratio so added just the tiniest bit of levoxythyrine several months

ago and didn't notice any problems. Lately, I've had sweating, racing

heart rate, very high pulse, and waking up at night with

> a racing heart rate.

>

> Dr. Levy – Wants me to cut out the levoxythyrine and keep taking

the 1Gr Armour for a month then do blood work. He did warn me,

however that he likes to keep TSH close to 2.

> Dr. Herpin – Wants me to cut out the armour and take levoxythyrine

100mcg for a month and then do bloodwork. She doesn't dwell on my

tsh, but I don't know how I'll feel on only t4 and how open she'll be

to adding armour back in if I want it.

>

> What would you do?? I'm so confused L

>

> I have to say that I am so glad to have found a group like this!!!

>

> Take Care,

> Katy Deschenes

>

> Blood test 01/13

> Free T4 (thyroxine) 1.01 NG/DL (.73-1.95)

> TSH .5 UIU/ML (.3 – 5.1)

> Free T3 2.6 PG/ML (2.3-4.2)

>

>

>

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

> Relax. Yahoo! Mail virus scanning helps detect nasty viruses!

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you, Jan J I’ve been

reading Dr. Arem’s book and I think I’m going to spend a few more

months with Dr. Herpin and see where she’s going with this. I

really hate to go to another Dr. and have to start the whole process over again

(lots of other health issues that she’s sensitive to), but I will if I

don’t think I’m getting the care I need down the line. I

think she’s doing this to get sort of a “baseline” of my

numbers on the t4 only and then add in some t3. That’s the way Arem

suggests doing it too. If this is not the case, and she expects me to

stay on T4 only, I will be doctor shopping again shortly. Anyway, thanks

so much for your response. You made me smile.

-Katy

From:

Texas_Thyroid_Groups

[mailto:Texas_Thyroid_Groups ] On

Behalf Of Jan

Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2006

2:55 PM

To:

Texas_Thyroid_Groups

Subject: Re:

Which doctor's protocol? Advice?

I would fire

them both and find a new doc. Neither one of these turkeys will give you what

you need.

Take a look at our list in " Files " on our site. (Dr. Levy

still appears on the list, but will be gone with the next update.)

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Lynn. Who did you end up going to and do you

like the new doc?

-Katy

From:

Texas_Thyroid_Groups [mailto:Texas_Thyroid_Groups ]

On Behalf Of Lynn

Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2006

3:01 PM

To:

Texas_Thyroid_Groups

Subject: Re:

Which doctor's protocol? Advice?

In my opinion again----she does not have the experience with the combination of

T4 and T3 drugs

[Guest guest]

I go to Dr Sarlis at MD . I had/have some cells that could

be cancerous in a

nodule I had/have. I say that because just recently they said it

went away, but for years

now, I've had it. So until it's gone for years, I still feel it's

part of me. Whether I want it or not! ha ha

He's very open with me taking more or less T3, but I know he doesn't like

Armour. Well, he didn't like

that I was on it, and convinced me to change.

Although I am happy with the change, I am not sure if everyone would end

up with the same results.

Lynn

At 03:49 PM 2/23/2006, you wrote:

Thanks, Lynn. Who did you

end up going to and do you like the new doc?

-Katy

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Lynn. I know what you mean about

something always being a part of you once you have it. I had heart attack

caused by viral myocarditis in 1997 and although I completely recovered, anything

to do with my heart still totally freaks me out. Since Dr. Sarlis is at

MD, do you know if I have to have a cancer-related diagnosis to see him?

-Katy

From:

Texas_Thyroid_Groups

[mailto:Texas_Thyroid_Groups ] On

Behalf Of Lynn

Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2006

4:20 PM

To: Texas_Thyroid_Groups

Subject: RE:

Which doctor's protocol? Advice?

I go to Dr Sarlis at MD .

[Guest guest]

Okay, so I’m in the market for a new

doctor. Does anyone currently see these docs and do they prescribe combo

or armour and not go by only TSH?

Thanks,

Katy

From: Texas_Thyroid_Groups

[mailto:Texas_Thyroid_Groups ] On

Behalf Of Carole Henning

Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2006

6:06 PM

To: Texas_Thyroid_Groups

Subject: Re:

Which doctor's protocol? Advice?

I agree with Jan. There are better doctors out there.

Find out who makes you, not numbers, a first priority!

Jan wrote:

[Guest guest]

I agree with Jan. There are better doctors out there. Find out who

makes you, not numbers, a first priority!

Jan wrote:

I would fire them

both and find a new doc. Neither one of these turkeys will give you

what you need.

Take a look at our

list in "Files" on our site. (Dr. Levy still appears on the list, but

will be gone with the next update.)

Katy Deschenes

wrote:

Dr. Levy – Wants me to cut out the levoxythyrine and keep

taking the 1Gr Armour for a month then do blood work. He did warn me,

however that he likes to keep TSH close to 2.

Dr. Herpin – Wants me to cut out the armour and take

levoxythyrine 100mcg for a month and then do bloodwork. She doesn’t

dwell on my tsh, but I don’t know how I’ll feel on only t4 and how open

she’ll be to adding armour back in if I want it.

What would

you do?? I’m so confused L

[Guest guest]

I am not sure if he will see someone without a cancer issue.

Lynn

At 04:48 PM 2/23/2006, you wrote:

Thanks, Lynn. I know what

you mean about something always being a part of you once you have

it. I had heart attack caused by viral myocarditis in 1997 and

although I completely recovered, anything to do with my heart still

totally freaks me out. Since Dr. Sarlis is at MD, do you know if I

have to have a cancer-related diagnosis to see him?

-Katy

[Guest guest]

We do not recommend Dr. A. The book is better than the doc. You can be undertreated by your GP for a lot less $$$$$$. You say you have done well on straight Armour in the past and have not done well on straight T4. Any time spent with a doc who will not put you on an adequate dose of Armour is time wasted. You can always see a different doc for thyroid and keep your current one for everything else. Katy Deschenes wrote: Thank you, Jan J I’ve been reading Dr. Arem’s book and I think I’m going to spend a few more months with Dr. Herpin and see where she’s going with this. I really hate to go to another Dr. and have to start the whole process over again (lots of other health issues that she’s sensitive to), but I will if I don’t think I’m getting the care I need down the line. I think she’s doing this to get sort of a

“baseline” of my numbers on the t4 only and then add in some t3. That’s the way Arem suggests doing it too. If this is not the case, and she expects me to stay on T4 only, I will be doctor shopping again shortly. Anyway, thanks so much for your response. You made me smile. -Katy I would fire them both and find a new doc. Neither one of these turkeys will give you what you need. Take a look at our list in "Files" on our site. (Dr. Levy still appears on the list, but will be gone with the next update.)

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