Re: Need a doctor suggestion. Please help.

[Guest guest]

If you would like to post your lab results together with the reference ranges and the exact name of each test, we may be able to make some suggestions for you to take back to your doc. How long have you been on the Armour? How are you feeling? The closest doc we know of who may be willing to treat with normal numbers is Launius in ville. He takes no insurance, but has reasonable fees. Like I said, we know of maybe half a dozen docs in the whole state who are willing to treat with normal numbers. Ann wrote: Can anyone give me a doctor recommendation? I think my doc is in over his head. He started me on Armour and I take 60mg a day. My numbers were very borderline. I was actually in range on the TSH test @ 1.5. My T3 was below range, slightly and my T4 was at the low end of normal. I am feeling much better but I worry that I might need someone better to handle this problem. Any suggestions? I need someone who will agree to treat me and who will take insurance in the North Fort Worth area or a nearby area. Thanks! -- Re: Dr update and more Unfortunately, she had to go outside of the "standard of care" to treat you. She is putting her license on the line to do so and will most likely be looking for any non-compliance as an excuse to fire you. I suspect that the reason she wanted you to come in sooner is that she is concerned that the T4 in Armour will drive your T4 levels over range, since you were only low in T3, not T4. I don't think that is likely to happen, since the Armour will ordinarily suppress your production of T4 rather than supplement

it. If you can travel to DFW, Launius is good and not too expensive. Unless the prices have gone up, the labs he orders are a little cheaper than Healthcheck. Whichever doc you see, you will have to make up your mind to do what they ask of you. I know of maybe half a dozen docs max who will treat with your numbers. >> Hi, > > I heard back from my Dr. She became very angry at me. She told me > that I was treating her like she was not a Dr. She said she was the > Dr and knew what was best and had her own way of doing things. > > I was actually kinda shocked at her reaction. I was simply telling > her that I couldnt

afford to come back in right now and wanted to > know if she could give me a refill to last till the 3mth mark. This > is when she had told me to come back in but changed her mind when > she found out I needed a refill. > > Anyhow, she is upset that I actually have some knowledge about my > thyroid problem and is getting offended I guess. She is very offended > by me. I have never done anything but just ask questions and ask what > she thought about me taking the Armour every day instead of every > other day. I am not sure how she got offended. > > I told her I never meant to offend her in any way. She is not going > to refill my meds unless I come back in right now. I told her I was > confused because she had told me to come back in 3mths not 4 wks.> > The only thing I can think of is that she maybe was offended when she > wanted me to take t3 only meds instead

of the Armour. I told her I > would rather stick with the Armour if that was ok with her. > > So I guess I am back to feeling horrible. It sucks not to have > insurance. I dont think I will return to her. Any Dr that would make > you suffer because you cant come back in at the moment is one I dont > really trust.> > She also just now told me that where I got my labs done was > questionable. She didnt have a problem giving me Armour after > reviewing the results though. I got the testing done through Health > Check. > > __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

OK. The numbers:

TSH: 1.465 (0.2-2.0)

T4: 5.5 (4.5-12.0)

T3: 84 (85-205)

I have been on the Armour for two weeks. I am doing better. I have started sleeping again and I am feeling more normal. Somehow, the thyroid problem stimulated my adrenals at night time and I wasn't sleeping much. It was really weird. I sleep much better now and I only have sleep issues when I get over stimulated in the evening watching TV or in intense conversation. I wonder if anyone else has experienced this sort of trouble. I have been to so many doctors complaining about this and other symptoms and nobody could figure it out. Even with the obvious hair loss, dry skin etc. Thanks for your help!

-- Re: Dr update and more

Unfortunately, she had to go outside of the "standard of care" to treat you. She is putting her license on the line to do so and will most likely be looking for any non-compliance as an excuse to fire you.

I suspect that the reason she wanted you to come in sooner is that she is concerned that the T4 in Armour will drive your T4 levels over range, since you were only low in T3, not T4. I don't think that is likely to happen, since the Armour will ordinarily suppress your production of T4 rather than supplement it.

If you can travel to DFW, Launius is good and not too expensive. Unless the prices have gone up, the labs he orders are a little cheaper than Healthcheck.

Whichever doc you see, you will have to make up your mind to do what they ask of you. I know of maybe half a dozen docs max who will treat with your numbers.

>> Hi, > > I heard back from my Dr. She became very angry at me. She told me > that I was treating her like she was not a Dr. She said she was the > Dr and knew what was best and had her own way of doing things. > > I was actually kinda shocked at her reaction. I was simply telling > her that I couldnt afford to come back in right now and wanted to > know if she could give me a refill to last till the 3mth mark. This > is when she had told me to come back in but changed her mind when > she found out I needed a refill. > > Anyhow, she is upset that I actually have some knowledge about my > thyroid problem and is getting offended I guess. She is very offended > by me. I have never done anything but just ask questions and ask what > she thought about me taking the Armour every day instead of every > other day. I am not sure how she got offended. > > I told her I never meant to offend her in any way. She is not going > to refill my meds unless I come back in right now. I told her I was > confused because she had told me to come back in 3mths not 4 wks.> > The only thing I can think of is that she maybe was offended when she > wanted me to take t3 only meds instead of the Armour. I told her I > would rather stick with the Armour if that was ok with her. > > So I guess I am back to feeling horrible. It sucks not to have > insurance. I dont think I will return to her. Any Dr that would make > you suffer because you cant come back in at the moment is one I dont > really trust.> > She also just now told me that where I got my labs done was > questionable. She didnt have a problem giving me Armour after > reviewing the results though. I got the testing done through Health > Check. > >

[Guest guest]

Also...I am not completely back to normal. I have just notice a distinct improvement. Thanks.

-- Re: Dr update and more

Unfortunately, she had to go outside of the "standard of care" to treat you. She is putting her license on the line to do so and will most likely be looking for any non-compliance as an excuse to fire you.

I suspect that the reason she wanted you to come in sooner is that she is concerned that the T4 in Armour will drive your T4 levels over range, since you were only low in T3, not T4. I don't think that is likely to happen, since the Armour will ordinarily suppress your production of T4 rather than supplement it.

If you can travel to DFW, Launius is good and not too expensive. Unless the prices have gone up, the labs he orders are a little cheaper than Healthcheck.

Whichever doc you see, you will have to make up your mind to do what they ask of you. I know of maybe half a dozen docs max who will treat with your numbers.

>> Hi, > > I heard back from my Dr. She became very angry at me. She told me > that I was treating her like she was not a Dr. She said she was the > Dr and knew what was best and had her own way of doing things. > > I was actually kinda shocked at her reaction. I was simply telling > her that I couldnt afford to come back in right now and wanted to > know if she could give me a refill to last till the 3mth mark. This > is when she had told me to come back in but changed her mind when > she found out I needed a refill. > > Anyhow, she is upset that I actually have some knowledge about my > thyroid problem and is getting offended I guess. She is very offended > by me. I have never done anything but just ask questions and ask what > she thought about me taking the Armour every day instead of every > other day. I am not sure how she got offended. > > I told her I never meant to offend her in any way. She is not going > to refill my meds unless I come back in right now. I told her I was > confused because she had told me to come back in 3mths not 4 wks.> > The only thing I can think of is that she maybe was offended when she > wanted me to take t3 only meds instead of the Armour. I told her I > would rather stick with the Armour if that was ok with her. > > So I guess I am back to feeling horrible. It sucks not to have > insurance. I dont think I will return to her. Any Dr that would make > you suffer because you cant come back in at the moment is one I dont > really trust.> > She also just now told me that where I got my labs done was > questionable. She didnt have a problem giving me Armour after > reviewing the results though. I got the testing done through Health > Check. > >

[Guest guest]

At just two weeks on Armour, you cannot expect to be completely better.

I would suggest that you stay on dose for 6-12 weeks and then ask your doc to order Free T3 and Free T4 (direct, not "index") tests. The doc may have to write those tests in after calling the lab for codes. Most of us need to have both our Free T3 and Free T4 in the upper half of their ranges to feel well.

The tests you have are the semi-useful Total T3 and Total T4. They mostly measure bound hormone. It is the free hormone which can readily get into your cells.

If you are on birth control pills, HRT, are pregnant or have reasonable amounts of estrogen in your body, the Totals are totally useless.

It might also be useful to have a ferritin test and possibly other iron tests as well. But anemia shows up on the serum ferritin long before it can be detected with other tests. Ferritin below 50-70 can give symptoms like hypothyroidism.

Anti thyroid peroxidase antibodies and thyroglobulin antibodies test may also be helpful. The presence of antibodies might be ammunition for more aggressive treatment.

Difficulty sleeping is often associated with low T3 levels. Your Total T3 is one tick below range. Your Free T3 would probably be even lower.

If your doc is willing to continue to work with you, I would suggest sticking with him. 60 mg is an acceptible starting dose, but is only rarely an optimal dose. Increases should be 15-30 mg max, with testing in between.

Whatever you do, do not let him refer you to an endo. There is no DFW endo that we recommend. The few who will Rx Armour will keep you undermedicated due to TSH worship.

> Can anyone give me a doctor recommendation? I think my doc is in over his> head. He started me on Armour and I take 60mg a day. My numbers were very> borderline. I was actually in range on the TSH test @ 1.5. My T3 was below> range, slightly and my T4 was at the low end of normal. I am feeling much> better but I worry that I might need someone better to handle this problem. > Any suggestions? I need someone who will agree to treat me and who will> take insurance in the North Fort Worth area or a nearby area. Thanks! >

[Guest guest]

So are your lab numbers before starting

treatment with Armour or after?

What time are you taking your

Armour? If you take it too late in the day, it might be revving you up

and making it difficult to sleep. Just a thought.

Did you have your Ferritin checked?

Kim in No. Texas

From: Texas_Thyroid_Groups

[mailto:Texas_Thyroid_Groups ]

On Behalf Of Ann

Sent: Friday, October 19, 2007

8:17 PM

To: Texas_Thyroid_Groups

Subject: Re:

Need a doctor suggestion. Please help.

OK. The numbers:

TSH: 1.465 (0.2-2.0)

T4: 5.5 (4.5-12.0)

T3: 84 (85-205)

I have been on the Armour for two

weeks. I am doing better. I have started sleeping again and

I am feeling more normal. Somehow, the thyroid problem stimulated

my adrenals at night time and I wasn't sleeping much. It was

really weird. I sleep much better now and I only have sleep issues

when I get over stimulated in the evening watching TV or in intense

conversation. I wonder if anyone else has experienced this sort of

trouble. I have been to so many doctors complaining about this and

other symptoms and nobody could figure it out. Even with the obvious

hair loss, dry skin etc. Thanks for your help!

-- Re: Dr

update and more

Unfortunately, she had to go

outside of the " standard of care " to treat you. She is putting

her license on the line to do so and will most likely be looking for any

non-compliance as an excuse to fire you.

I suspect that the reason she

wanted you to come in sooner is that she is concerned that the T4 in Armour

will drive your T4 levels over range, since you were only low in T3, not

T4. I don't think that is likely to happen, since the Armour will

ordinarily suppress your production of T4 rather than supplement it.

If you can travel to DFW,

Launius is good and not too expensive. Unless the prices have gone up, the

labs he orders are a little cheaper than Healthcheck.

Whichever doc you see, you will

have to make up your mind to do what they ask of you. I know of maybe half

a dozen docs max who will treat with your numbers.

>

> Hi,

>

> I heard back from my Dr. She became very angry at me. She told me

> that I was treating her like she was not a Dr. She said she was the

> Dr and knew what was best and had her own way of doing things.

>

> I was actually kinda shocked at her reaction. I was simply telling

> her that I couldnt afford to come back in right now and wanted to

> know if she could give me a refill to last till the 3mth mark. This

> is when she had told me to come back in but changed her mind when

> she found out I needed a refill.

>

> Anyhow, she is upset that I actually have some knowledge about my

> thyroid problem and is getting offended I guess. She is very offended

> by me. I have never done anything but just ask questions and ask what

> she thought about me taking the Armour every day instead of every

> other day. I am not sure how she got offended.

>

> I told her I never meant to offend her in any way. She is not going

> to refill my meds unless I come back in right now. I told her I was

> confused because she had told me to come back in 3mths not 4 wks.

>

> The only thing I can think of is that she maybe was offended when she

> wanted me to take t3 only meds instead of the Armour. I told her I

> would rather stick with the Armour if that was ok with her.

>

> So I guess I am back to feeling horrible. It sucks not to have

> insurance. I dont think I will return to her. Any Dr that would make

> you suffer because you cant come back in at the moment is one I dont

> really trust.

>

> She also just now told me that where I got my labs done was

> questionable. She didnt have a problem giving me Armour after

> reviewing the results though. I got the testing done through Health

> Check.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hey Kim. The number are before any treatment. No I have not had my ferritin check. I am taking iron but I will have it checked on my next visit. Also, I am taking the Armour in the morning before breakfast. Thanks so much for helping me!

-- Re: Dr update and more

Unfortunately, she had to go outside of the "standard of care" to treat you. She is putting her license on the line to do so and will most likely be looking for any non-compliance as an excuse to fire you.

I suspect that the reason she wanted you to come in sooner is that she is concerned that the T4 in Armour will drive your T4 levels over range, since you were only low in T3, not T4. I don't think that is likely to happen, since the Armour will ordinarily suppress your production of T4 rather than supplement it.

If you can travel to DFW, Launius is good and not too expensive. Unless the prices have gone up, the labs he orders are a little cheaper than Healthcheck.

Whichever doc you see, you will have to make up your mind to do what they ask of you. I know of maybe half a dozen docs max who will treat with your numbers.

>> Hi, > > I heard back from my Dr. She became very angry at me. She told me > that I was treating her like she was not a Dr. She said she was the > Dr and knew what was best and had her own way of doing things. > > I was actually kinda shocked at her reaction. I was simply telling > her that I couldnt afford to come back in right now and wanted to > know if she could give me a refill to last till the 3mth mark. This > is when she had told me to come back in but changed her mind when > she found out I needed a refill. > > Anyhow, she is upset that I actually have some knowledge about my > thyroid problem and is getting offended I guess. She is very offended > by me. I have never done anything but just ask questions and ask what > she thought about me taking the Armour every day instead of every > other day. I am not sure how she got offended. > > I told her I never meant to offend her in any way. She is not going > to refill my meds unless I come back in right now. I told her I was > confused because she had told me to come back in 3mths not 4 wks.> > The only thing I can think of is that she maybe was offended when she > wanted me to take t3 only meds instead of the Armour. I told her I > would rather stick with the Armour if that was ok with her. > > So I guess I am back to feeling horrible. It sucks not to have > insurance. I dont think I will return to her. Any Dr that would make > you suffer because you cant come back in at the moment is one I dont > really trust.> > She also just now told me that where I got my labs done was > questionable. She didnt have a problem giving me Armour after > reviewing the results though. I got the testing done through Health > Check. > >

[Guest guest]

What is your issue with this doctor? Is it that he/she won't test your adrenal status? If you've only been on this dose a couple of wks, there may be more improvement to come. You need to be on that dose for at least another 4 wks, around 6 wks altogether to see where it stands. Does your doctor not want to leave you on the Armour or what?

Re: Need a doctor suggestion. Please help.

OK. The numbers:

TSH: 1.465 (0.2-2.0)

T4: 5.5 (4.5-12.0)

T3: 84 (85-205)

I have been on the Armour for two weeks. I am doing better. I have started sleeping again and I am feeling more normal. Somehow, the thyroid problem stimulated my adrenals at night time and I wasn't sleeping much. It was really weird. I sleep much better now and I only have sleep issues when I get over stimulated in the evening watching TV or in intense conversation. I wonder if anyone else has experienced this sort of trouble. I have been to so many doctors complaining about this and other symptoms and nobody could figure it out. Even with the obvious hair loss, dry skin etc. Thanks for your help!

[Guest guest]

I don't know if he will leave me on the Armour. He says I have a problem with mono that may be causing the low thyroid. This problem has been ongoing and getting worse for 10 years. Somehow, I think the mono thing has little or nothing to do with it. It makes me question him. He told my husband the same thing as me. I think he thinks we all have mono. He has me on anti viral stuff and also anti fungal stuff! I had mono in high school and he says it has come back. Hmmmm.

-- Re: Need a doctor suggestion. Please help.

What is your issue with this doctor? Is it that he/she won't test your adrenal status? If you've only been on this dose a couple of wks, there may be more improvement to come. You need to be on that dose for at least another 4 wks, around 6 wks altogether to see where it stands. Does your doctor not want to leave you on the Armour or what?

Re: Need a doctor suggestion. Please help.

OK. The numbers:

TSH: 1.465 (0.2-2.0)

T4: 5.5 (4.5-12.0)

T3: 84 (85-205)

I have been on the Armour for two weeks. I am doing better. I have started sleeping again and I am feeling more normal. Somehow, the thyroid problem stimulated my adrenals at night time and I wasn't sleeping much. It was really weird. I sleep much better now and I only have sleep issues when I get over stimulated in the evening watching TV or in intense conversation. I wonder if anyone else has experienced this sort of trouble. I have been to so many doctors complaining about this and other symptoms and nobody could figure it out. Even with the obvious hair loss, dry skin etc. Thanks for your help!

[Guest guest]

You may have low adrenal issues, but noone is sure of that, since you haven't said whether that was tested or not. If that is the case, then you may have been started out on too much for your body systems to handle, even though you may actually end up needing even much more than what you are taking now. This is something that can't be repaired in just a few weeks of time, it takes time.

[Guest guest]

Mono or other viral infection can be a contributing or precipitating factor for Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Unfortunately, the progressive destruction of the thyroid gland by antibodies is not reversible even if the infection is cured.

Have you had antibodies tests?

>> I don't know if he will leave me on the Armour. He says I have a problem> with mono that may be causing the low thyroid. This problem has been> ongoing and getting worse for 10 years. Somehow, I think the mono thing has> little or nothing to do with it. It makes me question him. He told my> husband the same thing as me. I think he thinks we all have mono. He has> me on anti viral stuff and also anti fungal stuff! I had mono in high> school and he says it has come back. Hmmmm. > > -- Re: Need a doctor suggestion. Please help. > > What is your issue with this doctor? Is it that he/she won't test your> adrenal status? If you've only been on this dose a couple of wks, there may> be more improvement to come. You need to be on that dose for at least> another 4 wks, around 6 wks altogether to see where it stands. Does your> doctor not want to leave you on the Armour or what? > > > > Re: Need a doctor suggestion. Please help. > > > OK. The numbers: > TSH: 1.465 (0.2-2.0) > T4: 5.5 (4.5-12.0) > T3: 84 (85-205) > > I have been on the Armour for two weeks. I am doing better. I have started> sleeping again and I am feeling more normal. Somehow, the thyroid problem> stimulated my adrenals at night time and I wasn't sleeping much. It was> really weird. I sleep much better now and I only have sleep issues when I> get over stimulated in the evening watching TV or in intense conversation. > I wonder if anyone else has experienced this sort of trouble. I have been> to so many doctors complaining about this and other symptoms and nobody> could figure it out. Even with the obvious hair loss, dry skin etc. Thanks> for your help!>

[Guest guest]

Can you give more detail on antibody tests? Are there more than one?

Thanks Re: Need a doctor suggestion. Please help. > > > OK. The numbers: > TSH: 1.465 (0.2-2.0) > T4: 5.5 (4.5-12.0) > T3: 84 (85-205) > > I have been on the Armour for two weeks. I am doing better. I have started> sleeping again and I am feeling more normal. Somehow, the thyroid problem> stimulated my a drenals at night time and I wasn't sleeping much. It was> really weird. I sleep much better now and I only have sleep issues when I> get over stimulated in the evening watching TV or in intense conversation. > I wonder if anyone else has experienced this sort of trouble. I have been> to so many doctors complaining about this and other symptoms and nobody> could figure it out. Even with the obvious hair loss, dry skin etc. Thanks> for your help!>

[Guest guest]

Anti-thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin antibodies are often associated with hashi. wrote: Can you give more detail on antibody tests? Are there more than one? Thanks Re: Need a doctor suggestion. Please help. > > > OK. The numbers: > TSH: 1.465 (0.2-2.0) > T4: 5.5 (4.5-12.0) > T3: 84 (85-205) > > I have been on the Armour for two weeks. I am doing better. I have started> sleeping again and I am feeling more normal. Somehow, the thyroid problem> stimulated my a drenals at night time and I wasn't sleeping much. It was> really weird. I sleep much

better now and I only have sleep issues when I> get over stimulated in the evening watching TV or in intense conversation. > I wonder if anyone else has experienced this sort of trouble. I have been> to so many doctors complaining about this and other symptoms and nobody> could figure it out. Even with the obvious hair loss, dry skin etc. Thanks> for your help! __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

My adrenals were tested by a different doc. I have out of range high cortisol at night, normal range during the day.

-- Re: Need a doctor suggestion. Please help.

You may have low adrenal issues, but noone is sure of that, since you haven't said whether that was tested or not. If that is the case, then you may have been started out on too much for your body systems to handle, even though you may actually end up needing even much more than what you are taking now. This is something that can't be repaired in just a few weeks of time, it takes time.

[Guest guest]

>

> What is your issue with this doctor? Is it that he/she won't test

your adrenal status? If you've only been on this dose a couple of

wks, there may be more improvement to come. You need to be on that

dose for at least another 4 wks, around 6 wks altogether to see

where it stands. Does your doctor not want to leave you on the

Armour or what?

>

>

>

> Re: Need a doctor suggestion.

Please help.

>

> Hello,

I am new on this site. I have some imput. I don't sleep either.

I have had this problem for a very long time. If I don't take

something at night I can't go to sleep, unless I stay up till

11:00 or so. I am on Dhea, Armour and now a synthetic T4. I just

want to get my enerby back and get back to my normal weight. I go to

a DR in Dallas. I am pleased with her. I started seeing her last

Nov. and she is the only one that even seems to get this T3 & T4

stuff. She really listens to me and my research. I am very grateful.

I can see a light at the end of the tunnel. I was on Synthroid for

10yrs and since I saw NO change I quit about four yrs ago. Well now

we can get to the bottom of this. YEA.

Ginger

> OK. The numbers:

> TSH: 1.465 (0.2-2.0)

> T4: 5.5 (4.5-12.0)

> T3: 84 (85-205)

>

> I have been on the Armour for two weeks. I am doing

better. I have started sleeping again and I am feeling more

normal. Somehow, the thyroid problem stimulated my adrenals at

night time and I wasn't sleeping much. It was really weird. I

sleep much better now and I only have sleep issues when I get over

stimulated in the evening watching TV or in intense conversation. I

wonder if anyone else has experienced this sort of trouble. I have

been to so many doctors complaining about this and other symptoms

and nobody could figure it out. Even with the obvious hair loss,

dry skin etc. Thanks for your help!

>

>

>

>

>

>